a quakers sea-journal being a true relation of a voyage to new-england / performed by robert fowler of the town of burlington in yorkshire, in the year 1658. fowler, robert, of the town of burlington in yorkshire. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a40108 of text r37825 in the english short title catalog (wing f1736). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 12 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a40108 wing f1736 estc r37825 17060397 ocm 17060397 105847 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a40108) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 105847) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1616:4) a quakers sea-journal being a true relation of a voyage to new-england / performed by robert fowler of the town of burlington in yorkshire, in the year 1658. fowler, robert, of the town of burlington in yorkshire. 8 p. printed for francis cossinet ..., london : 1659. an account of a quaker's voyage from london to new amsterdam in a small vessel called the woodhouse. reproduction of original in the british library. eng voyages and travels. new york (state) -history -colonial period, ca. 1600-1775. great britain -history -commonwealth and protectorate, 1649-1660. a40108 r37825 (wing f1736). civilwar no a quakers sea-journal: being a true relation of a voyage to new-england. performed by robert fowler of the town of burlington in yorkshire, fowler, robert, of burlington, yorkshire 1659 2220 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a this text has no known defects that were recorded as gap elements at the time of transcription. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-01 jason colman sampled and proofread 2007-01 jason colman text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a quakers sea-journal : being a true relation of a voyage to new-england . performed by robert fowler of the town of burlington in yorkshire , in the year 1658. london , printed for francis cossinet , at the anchor & mariner in tower-street . anno 1659. a true relation of the voyage undertaken by me robert fowler , with my small vessel called the woodhouse , but performed by the lord , like as he did noahs ark , wherein he shut up a few righteous persons , and landed them as safe , even as at the hill ararat . the true discourse taken as followeth : this vessel was appointed for this service from the beginning , as i have often had it manifested unto me , that it was said within me several times , thou hath her not for nothing , and also new-england presented before me ; also when she was finished and fraughted , and made to sea , contrary to my will , was brought to london , where speaking touching this matter to gerrard roberts and others , who confirmed the matter in behalf of the lord , that it must be so ; yet entring into reasoning , and letting in temptations and hardships , and the loss of my life , wife and children , with the enjoyments of all earthly things , it brought me as low as the grave , and laid me as one dead , as to the things of god , but by his instrument g. f. was i refreshed and raised up again , which before that it was much contrary to my self , that i could as willingly have died , as have gone , but by the strength of god i was made willing to do his will ; yea , the customs and fashions of the custom-house could not stop me : still was i assaulted with the enemy , who pressed from me my servants , so that for this long voyage we were but two men and three boys , besides my self . upon the first day of the fourth moneth received i the lords servants aboard , who came with a mighty hand and an out-stretched arm with them , so that with courage we set sayl and came into the downs the second day , where our dearly beloved w. d. with mich. tomson came aboard , and in them we were much refreshed , and after recommending us to the grace of god , we lanched forth : again reason entred upon me , and thoughts rose in me to have gone to the admiral , and have made my complaint for the want of my servants and a convoy , from which thing was i withholden by that hand which was my helper : shortly after the south winde blew a little hard , so that it caused us to put in at portsmouth , where i was furnished with choice of men , according to one of the captains words to me , that i might have enough for money , but he said my vessel was so small , he would not go the voyage for her . certain days we lay there , wherein the ministers of christ were not idle , but went forth and gathered sticks , and kindled a fire , and left it burning ; also several friends came aboard and visited us , in which we were refreshed : again we lanched from thence about the eleventh day , and was put back again into south-yarmouth , where we went ashore , and in some measure did the like ; also we met with three pretty large ships , which were for the new-found land , who did accompany us about 50 leagues , but might have done 300 , if they had not feared the men of war , but for escaping them they took to the northwards , and left us without hope of help to the outward , which before our parting it was shewed to h. n. early in the morning , that they were nigh unto us that sought our lives , and called unto me , and told me , but said he , thus saith the lord , you shall be carryed away as in a mist , and presently we espied a great ship making up towards us , and the three great ships were much afraid , and tacked about with what speed they could for it ; in the very interim the lord god fulfilled his promise , and struck our enemies in the face with a contrary wind , wonderfully to our refreshment ; then upon our parting from these three ships , we were brought to ask counsel at the lord , and the word was from him , cut through , and steer your streightest course , and minde nothing but me , unto which thing he much provoked us , and caused us to meet together every day , and he himself met with us , and manifested himself largely unto us , so that by storms we were not prevented above three times in all our voyage ; the sea was my figure , for if any thing got up within , the sea without rose up against me , and then the floods clapt their hands , of which in time i took notice , and told h. n. again in a vision in the night i saw some anchors swimming above the water , and some thing also of a ship which crost our way , which in our meeting i saw fulfilled , for i my self with others , had lost ours , so that for a little season the vessels run loose in a maner , which afterwards by the wisdom of god was recovered into a better condition then before : also upon the twenty fifth day of the same moneth in the morning , we saw another great vessel making up towards us , which did appear a far off to have been a frigot , and made her sign for us to come to them , which unto me was a great cross , we being to windward of them ; and it was said , go speak him , the cross is sure , did i ever fail thee therein ? and unto others there appeared no danger in it , so that we did , and it proved a tradesman of london , by whom we writ back ; also it is very remarkable , when we had been five weeks at sea in a dark season , wherein the powers of darkness appeared in the greatest strength against us , having sayled but about 300 leagues , h. n. falling into communion with god , told me that he had received a comfortable answer , and also that about such a day we should land in america , which was even so fulfilled ; also thus it was all the voyage with the faithful , which were carried far above storms and tempests , that when the ship went either to the right or left hand , their lines joyned all as one , and did direct her way , so that we have seen and said , we see the lord lead our vessel , even as it were a man leading a horse by the head , we regarding neither latitude nor longitude , but kept to our line , which was , and is our leader , guide and rule , but they that did , failed . upon the last day of the fifth moneth we made land , it was part of the long island , far contrary to the expectation of the pylot ; furthermore our drawing had been all the voyage to keep to the southwards , until the evening before we made land , and then the word was , there is a lion in the way , unto which lion we gave obedience , and said , let them steer northwards until the day following , and soon after the middle of the day , there was drawings to meet together before our usual time , and it was said , that we may look abroad in the evening , and as we sate waiting upon the lord , they discovered the land , and our mouthes was opened in prayer and thanksgiving ; as way was made , we made towards it , and espying a creek , our advice was to enter there , but the will of man resisted , but in that estate we had learned to be content , and told him both sides was safe , but going that way would be more trouble to him ; also he saw after he had laid by all the night , the thing fulfilled . now to lay before you in short , the largeness of the wisdom , will and power of god , thus this creek led us in between the dutch plantation and long island , where the moving of some friends whereunto , which otherwise had been very difficult for them to have gotten too : also the lord god that moved them , brought them to the place appointed , and us into our way , according to the word which came to c. h. you are in the road to road island . in that creek came a shallop to meet us , taking us to be strangers , making our way with our boat , and they spoke english unto us , and informed us , and also guided us along : the power of the lord fell much upon us , and an unresistable word came unto us , that the seed in america shall be as the sand of the sea . it was published in the ears of the brethren , which caused tears to break forth with fulness of joy , so that presently for these places they prepared themselves , which were robert hoggen , richard dowdney , sarah gibbins , mary witherhead , and dorothy waugh , which the next day were put safely ashore : into the dutch plantation called new amsterdam , we came , and it being the first day of the week , several came aboard on us , and we begun our work : i was caused to go to the governor , and robert hoggen with me ; he was moderate both in words and actions . robert and i had several days before seen in a vision the vessel in great danger ; the day following this was fulfilled , there being a passage between two lands , which is called by the name of hell-gate , we happened very conveniently of a pylot , and into that place we came , and into it were forced , and over it was carried , which i never heard of any before that was ; and the scripture is fulfilled in our eyes , in the figure , hells gates cannot prevail against you : rocks many on both sides , so that i believe one yards length , would have endangered loss of both vessel and goods ; also there were a scull of fishes pursued our vessel , and followed her strongly , and along close by our rudder ; and in our meeting it was shewed me , these fishes is to thee a figure , thus doth the prayers of the churches proceed to the lord for thee and the rest : surely in our meeting did the thing run through me as oyl , and did me much rejoyce . finis . books lately printed , and sold at the anchor & mariner in tower-street , at mincing-lane end . the young sea-mans guide , or the mariners almanack , containing an ephemeris with the use thereof , teaching every ordinary capacity how to give an astronomical judgement of the wind and weather , and in what quarter the wind will sit , from the lunations and suns quarterly ingresses ; also the names and natures of all the 32 winds , with several tables of houses fitted for several latitudes , viz. for the elevation of 13 , 40 , 45 , and 55 degrees . by tim. gadbury philomath . the right devil discovered , in his descent , form , education , qualification , place and nature of torment , with many other divine secrets , never as yet extant . by laur. claxton . good news to some , bad news to others : or the last intelligence from our glorified jesus , wherein is discovered , how that every soul that is defiled with sin in the body , shall die , and sleep in the dust with the body ; also the nature of its rest , with the maner of its waking at the resurrection , &c. by john reeve and lodwick muggleton . a narrative of the proceedings of a great councel of jews assembled in the plain of ageda in hungaria ... to examine the scriptures concerning christ, on the 12th of october 1650 / by samuel brett, there present ; also a relation of some other observations in his travels beyond the seas ... brett, samuel. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a29331 of text r19639 in the english short title catalog (wing b4400). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 27 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a29331 wing b4400 estc r19639 12258677 ocm 12258677 57688 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a29331) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57688) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 172:13) a narrative of the proceedings of a great councel of jews assembled in the plain of ageda in hungaria ... to examine the scriptures concerning christ, on the 12th of october 1650 / by samuel brett, there present ; also a relation of some other observations in his travels beyond the seas ... brett, samuel. [4], 12 p. for richard moon ..., printed at london : 1655. reproduction of original in bodleian library. eng judaism -relations -christianity. voyages and travels -early works to 1800. a29331 r19639 (wing b4400). civilwar no a narrative of the proceedings of a great councel of jews, assembled in the plain of ageda in hungaria, about 30 leagues distant from buda, brett, samuel 1655 5244 0 0 0 0 1 0 19 c the rate of 19 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the c category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2003-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-05 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-09 jonathan blaney sampled and proofread 2003-09 jonathan blaney text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a narrative of the proceedings of a great councel of jews , assembled in the plain of ageda in hungaria , about 30 leagues distant from buda , to examine the scriptures concerning christ ; on the 12th of october 1650. by samuel brett there present . also , a relation of some other oservations in his travels beyond the seas ; and particularly , in aegypt , macedonia , dalmatia , calabria , apuleia , cicilia , assyria , sclavonia , france , spain , and portugal ; the islands of cyprus , candia , pathmos , delphos ; the cities of carthage , corinth , troy , constantinople , venice , naples , leighorn , florence , millaine , rome , bottonia , mantua , genoa , paris , &c. printed at london for richard moon at the seven stars in paul's church-yard , neer the great north-door , 1655. to the reader . there was nothing i more desired , then to travel beyond the seas , and to know the various manners of the nations of the world : for which , through god's providence , i had an opportunity offered me , to my great satisfaction , being chirurgeon of an english ship in the streights , where , for a cure that i did for orlando de spina of gollipulo , an eminent man in those parts , i was by him preferred to be captain of a ship of malta , which was set out by the said orlando , and committed to my command against the turks in the arches , in assistance to the venetian service : in the which service i spent about nine monthes , till the tempestuous season of the yeer enforced me to return into harbour again . and in this time of employment , i made five fights at sea , and two at land ; being chosen by lot to invade the turk's country , with a certain company of souldiers collected out of our fleet , to do some execution upon the borders of the enemy , and to get some provision for our relief ; in all which fights ( although very perillous ) god gave me the victory . the whole time i spent beyond the seas , before and after this employment , was almost four yeers , not staying long in any one place . but first i traveled to all the sea-towns of note for merchandizing , to know the trade of the places , and the conveniency of their harbours , that i might be able to do some profitable service in merchant affairs . also i travelled into several countries , and the most eminent cities and towns therein , viz. aegypt , macedonia , dalmatia , calabria , apuleia , cicilia , assyria , sclavonia , some parts of spain and portugal ; to the islands of cyprus , candia , pathmos , delphos ; to carthage , corinth , troy , constantinople ; besides many other towns and places : but my longest abode was in italy , and therein at venice , naples , leighorne , florence , millaine , rome , bottonia , mantua , genoa , &c. and at last looking homeward , i came into france , taking a brief veiw of many eminent places in that kingdom . and at paris i found many of my country-men , ( of which though some be persons of great quality , yet ) god knoweth they are in a low condition . and now i shall give a brief account of some of my observations , during the time of my abode beyond the seas . some observations in my travels beyond the seas . at paris our country-men live peaceably , and enjoy our religion without disturbance . there is a place allowed them , with necessary accommodations for the exercise of religion . doctor steward did often preach to them : and for their form of worship , it is the same that was formerly in england , with the book of common-prayer , and the rites therein used ; and also they continue the innovations that were practised by many of our clergy ; as , bowing at the name of jesus towards the altar , &c. which i know giveth offence to the good french protestants , who to me did often condemn those innovations for romish superstitions : doubtless , they would do our church , and our religion more credit there , if they did use less ceremony . as for the french-papists , truely they are more civil to them , then was expected : for the opinion of the world where i have been , is but mean of that nation . and i believe the italian may be their cousen-german , for both of them are false and faithless enough . and this consideration ( god having taken away orlando my noble friend , who did alwayes much countenance me ) did lessen my affection to continue in that service ; for my souldiers were all italians ( except a few greeks : ) and i never saw much cause to be confident in their fidelity ; but it was chiefly for fear of him , that they were so tractable to me . as for religion , in most parts where i have been , it is generally the same with the church of rome : but for the grecians ( for amongst them i was ) they are neither pure protestants , nor pure papists ; i mean , neither onely protestants , nor onely papists , but their religion is a mixture of both : for though they hold some fundamentals with us , yet they follow many of the romish superstitions ; and ( according to my observation ) they follow more the religion of rome , then the protestant church ; and they are much poysoned with heresies . but of all nations , according to my observation , none are more zealous for the religion of rome , then the spaniards , who , i think , for this , are more romanists then the romans themselves ; for with them there is an inquisition , and in rome i never heard of the same dangerous snare : there i had as much freedom , as i could desire ; and more courtesie then i could expect , without any temptation to apostate from my religion . as for the occurrences that i met with , they were many : but these four were the most considerable : first , the strangling of the great turk by the janizaries , at which time there was great fear and trouble in constantinople ; but they enthroned his son , and this brought a peaceable settlement : and with him there were cut off divers basha's heads ; all whose heads ( excepting the great turk's ) lay three dayes in chargers before the palace gate , for the publick view of the people ; which they say is the custome for the noblemen that are beheaded . the next thing is , the flowing of the river nylus in aegypt , the manner whereof is this : it beginneth to flow about the fifteenth of iune every yeer : the people know the time thereof , and expect it accordingly ; and this is after their harvest , which is usually ended about the beginning of may . as for rain , there seldome falleth any in aegypt . during the time the river is up , all the country appeareth like islands . their towns are seated upon hills , and their lower grounds are all covered with waters ; and the inhabitants use small boats to pass from place to place about their affairs : and because they know the yeerly flowing of nylus , they provide for the safety of their cattel till the waters are wasted away again . there are also certain pillars of stone set up , with divers marks upon them , by which they know the degrees of the rising , and the usual heighth that the waters do ascend unto ; and if the waters do ascend above the highest mark , they do expect some strange consequence thereof . but the greatest wonder is , the present cessation of the plague upon the flowing of this river . there died some thousands of the plague the day before the flowing of nylus in grandcairo , as they certified me ; & a day or two after , not one person more died of the infection . this i observed , that the land is full of unhealthy fogs , mists , and vapours , which cause the disease ; and it seems the waters of nylus do purifie it again . in the kingdom of grandcairo , alias , pharaoh's town , is the city , and it is greater then any elsewhere i did behold ; but memphis is the neater city : and being there , i went to see the land of goshen , where the israelites did inhabit : this is a very pleasant and fruitful land for pasture , such , as i have nowhere seen the like . at this time also , i had an opportunity to see the red-sea , and the place where ( as they enformed me ) the israelites did enter their journey through the same : there also they shewed me the great mountains that inclosed them , when pharaoh pursued them with his great army ; and the hills where the two armies lay in sight one of another : and there i found the true reason why it is called the red-sea ; not because the water is red naturally , but because the sand is red ; and this was clear to me , by plain demonstration : for i put some of the water into a clean vessel , and there i did see it had the same colour of other water ; but the sand is reddish , and giveth the same colour to the water . i shall omit many other things concerning aegypt ; onely this , it is under the turk's dominion , and the natives are his miserable slaves . thirdly , you may expect some news from rome , where also i was , and did behold their great solemnity , it being then the anno sancto , as they there call it , that is , the yeer of jubilee . there i beheld the pope in his glory , and how in great state he was carried about the city : the streets were thronged with the people ; and as he passed by , they made them even to ring with acclamations and rejoycings : he was carried by some eminent men , having a rich canopy over him . he made his crosses in the air with his fingers , and threw his blessings amongst them . and truly these delusions were so prevailing with the people , that ( poor souls ) they seemed to me to rejoyce , as if christ himself had been come to rome , and brought them down the foelicities of heaven . at one time i beheld in naples ( perhaps it will seem strange , but it is true ) about eight thousand pilgrims going to rome , for their absolution ; all which the vice-roy of naples maintained three dayes at his own charge ; and on the fourth day , they did present themselves before him at his palace in prilgrim weeds , ( viz. ) with leaden pictures of saints in their hats , with leather collers about their necks , which fell down half way over their arms , and their staves in their hands ; and thus they marched away from naples , in the posture of an army towards rome , and so farewel rome : vidi , satis est vidisse . i omit to recite many other occurrences , which by conferrence i shall willingly communicate to my friends ; they being too many to commit to writing : onely now the fourth remarkable thing remaineth to present you withal ; and that is , the proceedings of a great councel of iews assembled in the plain of ageda in hungaria about thirty leagues distant from buda , to examine the scriptures concerning christ ; on the twelfth of october 1650. it hath been much desired by many honest christians , that this narrative of the iews councel should be published , which i did intend only to communicate to private friends : the chief argument by which they have perswaded me to do it , is , because they do conceive it to be a preparative and hopeful sign of the iew conversion ; and , that it will be glad tidings to the church of christ ; and therefore i have yielded to satisfie their desires therein . and thus it was : at the place abovenamed , there assembled about three hundred rabbies , called together from several parts of the world , to examine the scriptures concerning christ : and it seems this place was thought most convenient for this councel , in regard that part of the country was not much inhabited , because of the continual wars between the turk and the king of hungaria : where ( as i was informed ) they had fought two bloody battels : yet both princes , notwithstanding their own differences , did give leave to the iews to hold their councel there . and for their accommodation there , the iews did make divers tents for their repose , and had plenty of provision brought them from other parts of the country , during the time of their sitting there . there was also one large tent , built onely for the councel to sit in , made almost foursquare ; the north and the south part of it , being not altogether so large as the east and west part thereof . it had but one door , and that opened to the east ; and in the middle thereof , stood a little table and a stool for the propounder to sit on , with his face towards the door of the tent . the said propounder was of the tribe of levi , and was named zacharias ; and within this tent round about were placed divers forms for the consulters to sit on . it was also inclosed with a rail , that stood a distance from it , to prevent entrance to all strangers , and to all such iews as could not prove themselves to be iews by record , or could not dispute in the hebrew-tongue , which many had forgotten which lived in such countries , where they are not allowed their synagogues , as in france , spain , and those parts of italy that do belong to the king of spain , viz. the kingdom of naples , with the province of calabria , and apuleia ; the kingdom of cicilia , and sardania ; in which places , if a iew be found , and he deny the popish religion , he is in danger to be condemned and executed for it ; and yet profit and benefit allureth them to dwell in those countries , notwithstanding their fears and dangers : and themselves are willing to forget , and so neglect to teach their children their native language , rather then they will lose their opportunity of profit : and some have burned the ancient records of their tribe and family , that they might not be discovered by searching , or otherwise . and for this defect , that they could not prove their tribe or family , they were not permitted to come within the rail , but were commanded to remain without with the strangers that remained there , to see the issue of their proceeding , which were above 3000 persons , and they were for the most part of them germans , almaines , dalmatians , and hungarians , with some greeks , but few italians , and not one english man that i could hear of besides my self . i was informed , that the king of hungaria not favouring the reformed religion , did give no encouragement to any protestant churches to send any divines thither ; but he did allow , that some assistants should be sent from rome : and their coming thither did prove a great unhappiness to this hopeful councel . when the assembly did first meet , they spent some time in their mutual salutations ; and , as their manner is , they kiss'd one the other's cheek , expressing much joy for their happy meeting : and all things being provided for their accommodation , they considered of the iews that were to be admitted members of this councel ; and they were onely allowed to be members , which could by record prove themselves to be native iews ; and for defect herein , i observed above five hundred refused : though doubtless they were true-born iews , yet they could not by record prove themselves so to be ; and for this they were not admitted to be members of the councel ; but they did abide without the rail with the strangers that were there : and the number of them that were accepted to be members , was about three hundred iews . and this was all that was done the first day . on the second day , the assembly being full , the propounder stood up , and made his speech concerning the end of their meeting : and , this , said he , is to examine the scriptures , concerning christ , whether he be already come , or whether we are yet to expect his coming . in examining this question , they searched the old testament with great care and labour , to be resolved of the truth thereof , having many bibles with them there for this end . and about this point there were great disputes amongst them . the major part were of opinion , that he was not come : and some inclined to think that he was come ; being moved thereunto by their great judgement , that hath continued now this 1600 years upon them . i remember very well , one of the councel in his conference with me , seemed to be very apprehensive of the great and long desolation of their nation , ever since their destruction by the roman emperours ; and he imputed this their affiction to their impenitency , and comparing their present judgement , with their other judgements they had suffered before . the same he ingenuously confessed , that he did conceive it was for some great wickedness ; and that their nation was guilty of the blood of the prophets sent from god to their nation , and the many massacres that had been committed by the several sects and factions amongst them . for ( said he ) we are no idolaters , neither do i think we were guilty of idolatry since our captivity in babylon ; and therefore ( said he ) i do impute this our calamity and present judgement , to the forenamed causes . and this was the sum of that which was disputed amongst them the second day of their meeting ; and so they adjourned till the next morning , which was the third day of their meeting . when being assembled together again , the point that was chiefly agitated was concerning the manner of christ his coming . and , this , some said , shall be like a mighty prince , in the full power and authority of a king , yea , in greater power then ever any king had ; & that he will deliver their nation out of the power of their enemies , and their temple shall be rebuilt again ; and , that the nations shall be of their religion , and worship god after their manner . for they hold , that the messiah will not alter their religion , whensoever he cometh . and further , concerning his parentage , they did agree in this , that he should be born of a virgin , according to the prediction of the prophets ; and they agreed also , that he may be born of such a virgin , which might be of mean note amongst their nation , as was the virgin mary . and here some of them seemed to me to incline to think that christ was come . therefore when they came together again the next day , the propounder demanded of them , if christ were already come , and who they thought he was : and to this demand , they gave this answer , that they thought eliah was he , if he were come , because he came with great power , which he declared by slaying the priests of baal : and , for the fulfilling of the scripture , he was oppressed by ahab and iezabel : yet they esteemed him to be more then a mortal man , because he so strangely ascended up into heaven . and because this opinion was contradicted by others , the day following they tooke into examination the same question , to answer them that said eliah was not the messiah . they of the contrary opinion did urge the care and love of eliah , for the good of their nation , in that he left them elisha his disciple to teach and instruct the people ; which they expect to be the care of their messiah . these were the chief arguments they had to defend their opinion : and the same day towards night , it came into question amongst them , what he then was that said he was the son of god , and was crucified by their ancestors . and because this was the great question amongst them , they deferred the further consideration thereof , untill the next day . when meetting again , the pharisees , ( for some of this sect were amongst them , that were always the enemies of christ ) they first began to answer this last nights question ; and these by no meanes would yeeld that he was the christ ; and these reasons they gave for their opinion . first , because ( said they ) he came into the world like an ordinary and inferior man , not with his scepter , nor royal power ; wherewith they affirmed the coming of christ should be glorious . 2. they pleaded against him the meanness of his birth , in that his father was a carpenter ; and this they said was a dishonor , that christ should not be capable of . 3. they accused him to be an enemy to moses law , in suffering his disciples , and in doing workes himself , that were prohibited on the sabbath day : for they believe that the messiah will punctually and exactly keep the law of moses : and where the gospel doth testifie of christ , that he did fulfill the law , they reject the testimony thereof , because they do not own the gospel . but i observed , these reasons of the pharisees , did not satisfie all that heard them , but there still remained some doubt in some of them concerning christ ; for there stood up one rabbie called abraham , and objected against the pharisees , the miracles that christ wrought whil'st he was upon earth , as his raising of the dead to life again , his making the lame to walk , the blind to see , and the dumb to speake . and the same abraham demanded of the pharisees by what power he did these miracles . the answer the pharisees returned to him , was to his purpose : they said he was an impostor and a magitian ; and blasphemously traduced him of doing all his miracles by magicke : thus , said they , he first caused them to be blinde , to be dumb , to be lame ; and then by taking away his magical charme , they were restored to their former condition . nevertheless this answer gave little satisfaction to the said abraham ; but thus he replyed , that he could not charme those that were borne in that condition , as blind , &c. and borne also before christ himself was borne ; as it appeareth some of them were : this seemed to him an absurd paradox ; and truely the pressing of this argument , did almost put them to a nonplus , till at last they had this evasion ( though weak and vile ) they were ( said they ) by other magitians convinced to be so in their mothers wombs ; & that although himself were not then borne when they were born with these evils , yet he being a great dissembler , & more cunning then any magitian before him , power was given him by the devil , to remove those charms which others had placed : and there was one pharisee named zebedee , that of the pharisees there did most opprobriously revile him , and vehemently urge these things against him ; but i conceive he did it not to the well-liking of many there that heard him , even members of the councel . and as the pharisees that day played their parts against him : so did the sadduces also endeavour , ( for some of that sect were also of the councel ) to render christ vile and odious to the rest of the iewes that were assembled there . i observed it was with them as it was once with herod and pilate ; though they two could not agree betwixt themselves at other times , yet they could agree together to crucifie christ ; for the pharisees and sadduces , though they be much divided in opinion among themselves , yet did they at this time too much agree to disgrace and to dishonor christ with their lyes , calumnies and blasphemies ; for the sadduces as well as the pharisees , did in other things accuse him for a grand impostor , and for a broacher of corrupt doctrine : in that in his gospel he teacheth the resurrection from the dead , which they there denyed to be true doctrine : but it is no new thing to see factions dissenting , to agree in some evil designe against others , as i found it by experience : being at rome in the year 1650. which was the year of their iubilee , there was a great strife between the iesuites and the fryers of the order of saint dominicke , both which were against the protestants : and although their differences have been by the care and vigilance of the pope , so smothered , that the world hath not taken much notice thereof , yet this fire broke out into a flame greater then ever it was before , ( as they certified me there ) both by publicke disputings , and by bitter writings one against another , opening the vices and errors of one anothers faction , thus seeking to disgrace one the other ; which caused the pope to threaten to excommunicate the authors of all such black and libellous bookes , that did tend to the dishonor of his clergy and religion , to make them infamous to the world . but this by the way . we are come now to the seventh and last day of their councel ; and on this day , this way the main quere amongst them : if christ be come , then what rules and orders hath he left his church to walke by ? this was a great question amongst them : and because they did not believe the new testament , nor would be guided by it , they demanded some other instruction to direct and guide them in this point : thereupon six of the roman clergy ( who of purpose were sent from rome by the pope , to assist in this councel ) were called in , viz. two iesuites , two friers of the order of s. augustine , and two of the order of s. francis : and these being admitted into the councel , began to open unto them the rules and doctrine of the holy church of rome , ( as they call it ) which church they magnified to them , for the holy catholike church of christ , and their doctrine to be the infallible doctrine of christ , and their rules to be the rules which the apostles left to the church for ever to be observed , and that the pope is the holy vicar of christ , and the successor of saint peter : and for instance in some particulars , they affirmed the real presence of christ in the sacrament , the religious observation of their holy dayes , the invocation of saints , praying to the virgin mary , and her commanding power in heaven over her son , the holy use of the cross and images , with the rest of their idolatrous and superstitious worship ; all which they commended to the assembly of the iewes , for the doctrine and rules of the apostles . but so soon as the assembly had heard these things from them , they were generally & exceedingly troubled thereat , and fell into high clamours against them and their religion , crying out , no christ , no woman-god , no intercession of saints , no worshipping of images , no praying to the virgin mary , &c. truely their trouble hereat was so great , that it troubled me to see their impatience : they rent their cloaths , and cast dust upon their heads , and cryed out aloud , blasphemy , blasphemy ; and upon this the councel broke up : yet they assembled again the eighth day ; and all that was done then , was to agree upon another meeting of their nation three yeers ; after which was concluded upon before their final dissolution . i do believe there were many iewes there , that would have been perswaded to own the lord jesus : and this i assure you for a truth , and it is for the honor of our religion , a trip to jamaica with a true character of the people and island / by the author of sot's paradise. ward, edward, 1667-1731. 1698 approx. 42 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a67527 wing w761 estc r905 12880851 ocm 12880851 94931 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a67527) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 94931) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 904:48) a trip to jamaica with a true character of the people and island / by the author of sot's paradise. ward, edward, 1667-1731. 16 p. [s.n.], london : 1698. reproduction of original in huntington library. attributed to edward, ward. cf. bm. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels. jamaica. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 john latta sampled and proofread 2003-04 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a trip to jamaica : with a true character of the people and island . by the author of sot's paradise . the third edition . london , printed in the year , 1698. to the reader . the condition of an author is much like that of a strumpet , both exposing our reputations to supply our necessities , till at last we contract such an ill habit , thro' our practices , that we are equally troubl'd with an iteh to be alwas doing ; and if the reason be requir'd , why we betake our selves to so scandalous a profession as whoring or pamphleteering , the same excvsive answer will serve us both , viz. that the unhappy circumstances of a narrow fortune , hath forc'd us to do that for our subsistance , which we are much asham'd of . the chiefest and most commendable tallent , admir'd in either , is the knack of pleasing ; and he or she amongst us that happily arives to a perfection in that sort of witchcraft , may in a little time ( to their great honour ) enjoy the pleasure of being celebrated by all the coxcombs in the nation . the only difference between us is , in this perticular , where in the jilt has the advantage , we do our business first , and stand to the courtesie of our benefactors to reward us after ; whilst the other , for her security , makes her rider pay for his journey , before he mounts the saddle . it is necessary i should say something in relation to the following matter : i do not therein present you with a formal journal of my voyage , or geographical description of the island of jamaica , for that has been already done by persons better quallifi'd for such a task . i only entertain you with what i intend for your diversion , not instruction ; digested into such a stile as might move your laughter , not merit your esteem . i quistion not but the jamaica coffee-house will be much affronted at my character of their sweeting chaos , and if i was but as well assur'd of pleasing every body else , as i am of displeasing those who have an interest in that country , i should not question but the printer would gain his end , which are the wishes of the author . a trip to jamaica : in the times of adversity when poverty was held no shame and piety no virtue ; when honesty in a tradesman's conscience , and money in his counting-house were as scarce as health in an hospital , or charity in a clergyman . the sword being advanc'd , and the pen silenc'd ; printers being too poor to pay down copy-money , and authors too poor to trust 'em : fools getting more by hazarding their carcasses , than ingenious men by imploying their wits ; which was well enough observ'd by a gentleman , in these following lines . when pens were valu'd less than swords , and blows got money more than words ; when am'rous beaux , and campaign bully , thriv'd by their fighting and their folly ; whilst men of parts , as poar as rats , with mourning swords and flapping hats , appear by night , like owles and bats : with hungry hast pursuing way , to sir john lend , or ' squire pay. till wit in rags , and fool in feather , were joyn'd , by providence , together . the one o'er bottle breaks his iest , like country parson at a feast ; for which he 's treated and exalted , by his dear friend , sir looby dolthead . vnhappy age , which so in vice surpasses , that men of worth must worship golden asses . i being influenc'd by my stars , with an unhappy propensity to the conversation of those unlucky kind of fortune-hunters , till at last , tho' i had no more wit to boast of than another man , yet i shar'd the fate of those that had ; and to bear them company , stragled so far from the paths of profit and preferment , into a wilderness of pleasure and enjoyment , that i had like to have been stuck fast in a thicket of brambles , before i knew were abouts i was ; to clear my self of which , i bustled like a fox in a gin , or a hare in a patridge-net : but before i could free my self from this entanglement , i had so wounded my feet , and stuck so many thorns in my side , that i halted homewards like a gouty puritan to an election , or a lame begger to a misers funeral . these little afflictions mov'd me to reflect upon my mis-pent time ; and like a thief in a goal , or a whore in a flux , i resolv'd for the future to reform my life , change my measures , and push my self upon something that might recover those lost moments , i had hitherto converted to the use of others , and not my self . i now began to peep into the business of the world , and chang'd the company of those who had nothing to do but spend money , for the conversation of such whose practice was to get it . but i , thro' inadvertency , neglecting to consult doctor troter , or some other infallible predicting wisaker , began my reformation in an unfortunate minute , when vserers were unbinding their fetter'd trunks , and breaking up their deified bags and consecrated sums , for the security of religion , and the further establishment of liberty of conscience , without which [ liberty ] join'd , conscience to them would be of no use . tradesmen grumbling at the taxes , merchants at their losses , most men complaining for want of business , and all men in business , for want of money : every man upon change looking with as peevish a countenance , as if he had unluckily stumbled upon his wife's failings , and unhappily become a witness to his own cuckoldome . these i thought but slender encouragments to a new reformist , who had forsaken liberty for restraint , ease for trouble laziness for industry , wine for coffee , and the pleasures of witty conversation , for the plagues of a muddy-brain'd society , who could talk of nothing but prime cost and profit , the good humour of their wives , the wittiness of their children , and the vnluckiness of their prentices ; and knew no more how handsomly to spend their money , than honestly to get it . the complaints of these philodenarians , the declination of trade , and the scarcity of money , gave me no more hopes of mending my condition , by pursuing my intended measures , than a good husband has of mending a bad wife by winking at her vices . i now found my self in great danger of a relaps , to prevent which , after two or three gallons of derby-ale had one day sent my wits a woollgathering , and generated as many maggots in my brains , as there are crotchets in the head of a musician , or fools in the million lottery , i e'en took up a resolution to travel , and court the blinking gipsy fortune in another country . i then began to consider what climate might best suit with my constitution , and what part of the world with my circumstances ; and upon mature deliberation , found a warm latitude would best agree with thin apparel , and a money'd country with a narrow fortune ; and having often heard such extravagant encomiums of that blessed paradise iamaica , where gold is more plentiful than ice , silver than snow , pearl than hailstones , i at last determin'd to make a trial of my stars in that island , and see whether they had the same unlucky influence upon me there , as they had , hitherto , in the land of my nativity . in order to proceed my voyage , i took a passage in the good ship the andalucia ; and about the latterend of ianuary , 1697. upon the dissolution of the hard frost , i passed , with many others , by the night tide , in a wherry , to gravesend , where our floating receptacle lay ready to take in goods and passengers ; but our lady thames being put into a passion , by the rude kisses of an easterly wind , drew her smooth face into so many wrinckles , that her ill-favour'd aspect and murmurings , were to me as terrible as the noise of thieves to a miser , or bailiffs to a bankrupt ; and being pent up with my limbs , in an awkward posture , lying heads and tails , like essex calves in a rumford waggon , i was forc'd to endure the insolence of every wave , till i was become as wet as a new pump'd kidnapper . in this condition i embark'd about two a clock in the morning , where the chief mai t , as master of the ceremonies , conducted me to a wellcome collation of cheese and bisket , and presented me with a magnificent can of soveraign flip , prepar'd with as much art as an appothecary can well shew in the mixing of a cordial . after this refreshment , i betook my self to a cabin , which fitted me so well , it sat as tite as a iacket to a dutchman , where i slep till morning , as close as a snaile in a shell , or a maggot in an appel-kernel . then rising , and after i had survey'd our wooden teretories , i began to contemplate upon things worthy of a serious consideration , which stir'd up in me that malignant spirit of poetry , with which i am oft times unhappily possess'd : and what my muse dictated to me , her emanuensis , i here present unto the reader . a farewell to england . i. farewell my country , and my friends , my mistres , and my muse , in distant regions , diff'rent ends my genious now pursues . those blessings which i held most dear , are , by my stubborn destiny , ( that uncontroul'd necessity ) abandon'd from me , and no more appear . ii. despair of fortune makes me bold , i can in tempests sleep , and fearless of my fate , behold the dangers of the deep . no covetous desire of life , can now my careless thoughts imploy , banish'd from friendship , love , and ioy , to view the waves and winds at equal strife . iii. o'er threatning billows can i fly , and , unconcern'd , conceive , 't is here less difficult to die , than 't was on land to live. to me 't is equal , swim or sink , i smiling to my fate can bow , bereft of ioy , i think it now no more to drown than 't was before to drink . iv. dear friends with patience bear the load of troubles , still to come , you pitty us who range abroad , we pitty you at home . let no oppression , fears , or cares make us our loyalty disband , which , like a well built arch , should stand the more secure , the greater weight it bears . v. farewell applause , that vain delight the witty fondly seek ; he 's blest who like a dunce may write , or like a fool may speak : what ever praise we gain to day , whether deservedly or no , we to the worlds opinion owe , who does as oft mis-take the same away . vi. something there is , which touches near , i scarce can bid adieu ; 't is all my hope , my care , my fear , and all that i pursue : 't is what i love , yet what i fly , but what i dare not , must not name , angels protect the sacred frame , till i to england shall return , or die. towards the evening the captain came on board , with the rest of our fellow-travellours , who , when we were altogether patch'd up as pritty a society , as a man under my circumstances would desire to tumble into : there was three of the troublesome sex , as some call them , ( tho' i never thought 'em so ) whose curteous affabillity , and complaisancy of temper , admitted of no other emulation , but to strive who ( within the bounds of modesty ) should be most obliging . one vnfortunate lady was in pursute of a stray'd husband , who , in iamaica , had feloniously taken to wife ( for the sake of a plantation ) a lacker-fac'd creolean , to the great dissatisfaction of his original spouse , who had often declar'd ( thro' the sweetness of her disposition ) that if he had marri'd another handsomer than her self , it would never have vex'd her ; but to be rival'd by a gipsy , a tawny fac'd moletto strumpet , a pumpkin colour'd whore , no , her honour would not suffer her to bear with patience so coroding an indignity . the other two were a pritty maid , and a comly widow ; so that in these three , we had every honourable state of the whole sex : one in the state of innocency , another of fruition , the third of deprivation ; and if we 'd had but one in the state of corruption , a man might have pleas'd himself as well in our little world , as you libertines can do in the great one. i shall be too tedious if i at large particularize the whole company , i shall therefore hustle them together , as a morefields sweetener does luck in a bag , and then you may wink and choose , for the devil a barrel the better herring amongst us . we had one ( as i told you before ) cherubimical lass , who , i fear , had lost her self , two more , of the same gender , who had lost their husbands ; two parsons who had lost their livings ; three broken tradesmen , who had lost their credit ; and several , like me that had lost their wits ; a creolean captain , a super annuated mariner , an independant merchant , an irish kidnapper , and a monmothean sciths-man , all going with one design , to patch up their decay'd fortunes . every thing being in order for sailing , the pilot came on board , who put on such a commanding countenance , that he look'd as stern as a sarazins head ; and the sins of his youth having crep't into his pedestals , he limp'd about the quarter deck ; like a cripple in forma pauperis upon a mountebanks stage , making as great a noise in his tarpaulin cant , as a young counsel in a bad cause , or a butcher at a bear-garden . as soon as we had weigh'd anchor , under the doleful cry and hard service of haul cat haul , there was nothing heard till we reach'd the downs , but about ship my lads , bring your fore tack on board , haul fore-sail hand , brace about the main-yard , and the devil to do , that i was more amaz'd than a mouse at a throsters mill , or the russian embassador at a clap of thunder . by the help of providence , the pilots care , and seamens industry , we pass'd safe to deal , where we anchor'd three or four days for a fair wind. in which interim , the prince of the air had puff'd up an unwelcome blast in the night , which forc'd a vessel upon the goodwin . the next morning the salvages man'd out a fleet of their deal skimming-dishes , and made such unmerciful work with the poor distressed bark , that a gang of bailiffs with an execution , or a kennel of hounds upon a dead horse , could not have appear'd more ravenous . from thence , with a prosperous gale , we made the best of our way into the wide ocean , which marriners say , is of such profundity , that , like a misers conscience , or a womans concupiscence 't is never to be fathom'd . 't was in the midst of winter , and very cold weather when we set out ; but in a fortnights time we were got into a comfortable climat , which yielded us so pleasant a warmth , than a man might pluck of his shirt upon deck , and commit murther upon his own flesh and blood till he was weary , without the danger of an ague . i happen'd one morning to hear two tar-jackets in a very high dispute ; i went to them , and ask'd the reason of their difference . why sir , says one , i 'll tell you , there was my master whistlebooby , an old boatswain in one of his majesties ships , who was superhanded , and past his labour , and the ambaraltie divorc'd him from his ship , and the king allow'd him a suspension , and this lubberly whelp here says i talk like a fool ; and sure i have not used the sea this thirty years , but i can argufie any thing as proper as he can . the chief sports we had on board , to pass away the tedious hours , were hob , spie the market , shoue the slipper , dilly dally and back-gammon ; the latter of which prov'd as serviceable to me , as a book of heraldry to a gentleman mumper , or a pass to a penniless vagabond : for ( like the whore who boasted of her industry ) i us'd to make my days labour worth two shillings , or half a crown , at two pence , or a groat a bout. the most powerful adversary i engag'd with , was a parson , who , when the bell rung to prayers , would start up in the middle of a hit , desire my patience whilst he step'd into the great cabin , and gave his sinful congregation a dram of evangellical comfort , and he would wait upon me presently . but that recreation in which we took a more peculiar delight , was the harmony we made , by the assistance of the two heaven-drivers , in lyricking over some antiquated sonnets , and for varieties sake , now and then a psalme , which our canonical vice-whippers sung with as penitential a grace , as a sorrowful offender in his last night-cap . to please my self at a spare-hour , i had taken with me a flute , and there being on board a spannel dog , who ( seaman like ) had no great kindness for wind musick , for when ever he heard me tooting , he 'd be howling , which , together , made a noise so surprising , that it frighted away a quotide●n ague , from a young fellow who had been three weeks under the hands of our doctor . one night , after we had well moisten'd our drouthy carcasses with an exhilerating dose of right honourable punch , there arose a storm , for which i had often wish'd , that i might not be a stranger to any surprising accident the angry elements , when at varience , might afford me . the heavens all round us ( in as little time as a girl might loose her maidenhead ) had put on such a malignant aspect , as if it threaten'd our destruction ; and aeolus gave us such unmerciful puffs and whiffs , that i was fearful to stand upon the quarter deck , lest , before my time , i should be snatch'd up to heaven in a whirle-wind . from all the corners of the skie their darted forth such beams of lightning , that i vow and protest the fire-works in st. iames's square , were no more to be compar'd to 't , than a gloworms arse to a cotten candle , which were instantly succeeded with such vollys of thunder , from every side , that you would have thought the clouds had been fortifi'd with whole canon , and weary of being tost about with every wind , were fighting their way into a calmer region to enjoy their rest. then fell such an excessive rain , that as we had one sea under us , we feard another had been tumbling upon our heads ; for my part , i fear'd the very falling of the skie , and thought of nothing but catching of larks . my spirits being a little deprest , by the apprehensions of the danger we were under , i went down into the gun-room ; to consult my brandy-cask about taking of a dram ; where one of our ladies , thro' want of better accomodation , was forc'd to be content with a cradle , in which she was praying , with as much sincerity , for fair weather , as a farmer for a kind harvest , or an old maid for a good husband : and i being greatly pleas'd at her most importunat solicitations , have given you a repetition of one part , viz. and if thou hast decreed , that we shall perish in this tempest , i most humbly beseech thee to punish with pox , barrenness , and dry-belly-ach , that adultrous strumpet , who , by robbing me of my husband , hath been a means of bringing me to this vntimely end ; may her whole life be a continued course of sin without a moments repentance , that she may die without forgiveness , and be damn'd without mercy . in which interim , a sea wash'd over our fore-castle , run aft , and came down the whip-scuttle , she concluding we were going to the bottom , shreek'd out , and fell into a fit ; whilst i , thro my fear , together with my modesty , scorn'd to take the advantage of so fair an oppertunity . in a doubtful condition , between this world and the next , we labour'd till near morning , about which time the storm abated ; but as soon as day-light appear'd , and the serenity of the weather had turn'd our frightful apprehensions into a little alacrity , some of the men , from aloft , espi'd a sail bearing after us with all expedition ; and being no great distance from the coast of sally , a jealousie arose amongst our officers , of her being a man of war belonging to that country , they having , upon the conclusion of the late peace with france , proclaim'd a war with england ; so that we thought our selves now in as great danger of being knock'd on the head , or made slaves , as we were before of being drown'd . this alarum kindled up amongst us new fears of approaching danger , more terrible than the former we had so happily surviv'd . command was given by our captain , to prepare for a fight ; down chests ; up hammocks , ●●ing the small arms upon the quarter and every man directed to his post , by orders fix'd upon the mizzen-mast in the steerage ; the bulkhead and cabins nock'd down , the deck clear'd fore and aft , for every man to have free access to his business . when all things were in readiness to receive an enemy , i took a walk on purpose to look about me , and was so animated with the seamens activity and industry , together with the smell of sweat , match , and gun-powder , that like ' squire witherington in chivie chase , i could have fought upon my stumps . by this time our suppos'd enemy was almost come up with us , under english colours , but his keeping close upon our quarter , and not bearing off , gave us still reasons to mistrust him ; but seeing him a small ship , and ours a vessel of 400 tuns , 28 guns , and about 50 men , we furl'd our main-sail with all our hands at once , as a strategem to seem well man'd ; put our top-sailes aback , and lay by , to let 'em see we were no more affraid than hurt . we had on board an irish-man going over a servant , who i suppose was kidnap'd ; i observ'd this fellow , being quarter'd at a gun , look'd as pale as a pickpocket new taken : i ask'd him why he put on such a cowardly look ; and told him 't was a shame for a man to shew so much fear in his countenance . indeed sir ( said he ) i cannot halp et , i love the bate of a drum , the pop of a pistol , or the bounch of a mushket wall enough , but , by my shoul , the roaring of a great gun always makesh me start . i ask'd him whose servant he was . by my fait , said he , i cannot tell ; i wash upon change looking for a good mashter , and a brave gentleman came to me and ask'd me who i wash ; and i told him i wash myn nown shelf , and he gave me some good wine and good ale , and brought me on board , and i have not sheen him sinch . by this time our adversary was come within hearing , and upon our hailing of him , prov'd a little ship bound to guinea , which put an end to our fears , and made us fly to the punch-bowl with as much joy as the mob to a bonfire upon a states holyday . after we had chas'd away the remembrance of our past dangers , with a reviving draught of our infallable elixir , we began to be merry as so many beggars ( and indeed were before as poor ) beginning to turn that into redicule , which so lately had chang'd our jollitry into fear and sadness . when we had thus refresh'd our bodies , and strengthen'd our spirits , by passing round a health to our noble selves , &c. 't was thought high time by our reverend pastors , to return thanks for our great deliverance from the hands of our enemies , tho' we had none near us , which was accordingly perform'd with all the solemnity a parcel of merry iuvenal wags could compose themselves to observe . by this time we were got into so warm a latitude , that ( god be thanked ) a louse would not live in it . we now began to thin our dress , and , had not decency forbid it , could have gladly gone naked , as our first parents . kissing here grew out of fashion ; there 's no joyning of lips , but your noses would drop sweat in your mouths . the sea , and other elements , began now to entertain us with curiossities in nature worth observing , as crampos , sharks , porpus , flying-fish , albacores , bonettas , dolphin , bottlenoses , turtle , blubber , stingrays , sea-adders , and the devil and all of monsters without names , and some without shape . as for birds , noddys , boobies , shearwaters , shags , pitternells , men of war , tropick birds , pellicans , &c. i shall not undertake here to describe these creatures , because some of them are so frightfully ugly , that if any friends wife with child should long for the reading of my book , it should chance to make her miscarry . but that which i thought most worthy of observation , were the clouds , whose various forms , and beauteous colours , were inimitable by the pencil of the greatest artist in the univers , cities , palaces , groves , fields , and gardens ; monuments , castles , armies , bulls , bears , and dragons , &c. as if the air above us had been frozen into a looking-glass , and shew'd us by reflection , all the rarities in nature . by this time we had gain'd the tropick , and come into a trade-wind ; the greatist of our fears being now a calm , which is fine weather to please fearful tempers ; but it brings us more in danger of being starv'd , than a storm does of being drown'd : tho' it was our fortune in a few days after , to make the leward-islands , and put us past the dread of so terrible a catastrophe , those we pas'd in sight of were , des●ado , a rare place for a bird-catcher to be governour of , birds being the only creatures by which 't is inhabited ; mountserat , antego , mevis , possess'd by the english ; st. christophers , by half english half french ; rodunda , an uninhabitable high rock . from amongst these caribbe islands , in a few days , we got to hispaniola , without any thing remarkable ; and from thence , in 24 hours , with a fresh gail , within sight of iamaica , which ( without malice or partiallity ) i shall proceed to give you some account of . a charactor of jamaica . the dunghill of the universe , the refuse of the whole creation , the clippings of the elements , a shapeless pile of rubbish confus'ly jumbl'd into an emblem of the chaos , neglected by omnipotence when he form'd the world into its admirable order . the nursery of heavens judgments , where the malignant seeds of all pestilence were first gather'd and scatter'd thro' the regions of the earth , to punnish mankind for their offences . the place where pandora fill'd her box , where vulcan forg'd ioves thunder-bolts , and that phaeton , by his rash misguidance of the sun , scorch'd into a cinder . the receptacle of vagabonds , the sanctuary of bankrupts , and a close-stool for the purges of our prisons . as sickly as an hospital , as dangerous as the plague , as hot as hell , and as wicked as the devil . subject to turnadoes , hurricans , and earthquakes , as if the island , like the people , were troubled with the dry belly-ach . of their provisions . the chiefest of their provisions is sea turtle , or toad in a shell , stew'd in its own gravy ; its lean is as white as a green-sickness girl , its fat of a calves-turd colour ; and is excellently good to put a stranger into a flux , and purge out part of those in humours it infallibly creates . the belly is call'd callipee , the back callipach ; and is serv'd up to the table in its own shell , instead of a platter . they have cuanas , hickeries , and crabs ; the first being an amphibeous serpent , shap'd like a lizard , but black and larger , the second a land-tortoise , the last needs no discription , but are as numerous as frogs in england , and borrough in the ground like rabbets , so that the whole island may be justly call'd , a crab-warren . they are fattest near the pallasadoes , where they will make a skelliton of a corps in as little time as a tanner will flea a colt , or a hound after hunting devour a shoulder of mutton . they have beef without fat , lean mutton without gravy , and fowles as dry as the udder of an old woman , and as tough as a stake from the haunches of a superanuated car-horse . milk is so plenty you may buy it for fifteen pence a quart ; but cream so very scarce , that a firkin of butter , of their own making , would be so costly a jewel , that the richest man in the island would be unable to purchase it . they value themselves greatly upon the sweetness of their pork , which is indeed lushious , but as flabby as the flesh of one just risen from a flux , and ought to be forbid in all hot countries ( as amongst the iews ) for the prevention of leprosie , scurvy , and other distempers , of which it is a great occasion . there is very little veal , and that lean ; for in england you may nurse four children much cheaper than you can one calf in iamaica . they have course teal , almost as big as english ducks ; and moscovy ducks as big as geese ; but as for their geese , they may be all swans , for i never see one in the island . there are sundry sorts of fish , under indian names , without scales , and of a serpentine complection ; they eate as dry as a shad , and much stronger than stale herrings or old ling ; with oyl'd butter to the sause as rank as goose-grease , improv'd with the palatable relish of a stinking anchove . they make a rare soop they call pepper-pot ; it s an excellent breakfast for a salamander , or a good preparative for a mountebanks agent , who eats fire one day , that he may get better victuals the next . three spoonfuls so inflam'd my mouth , that had i devour'd a peck of horse-radish , and drank after it a gallon of brandy and gunpouder , ( dives like ) i could not have been more importunate for a drop of water to coole my tongue . they greatly abound in a beautiful fruit , call'd , a cussue , not unlike an apple , but longer ; its soft and very juicy , but so great an acid , and of a nature so restringent , that by eating of one , it drew up my mouth like a hens fundament , and made my palate as rough , and tongue as sore as if i had been gargling it with alum-water : from whence i conjecture , they are a much fitter fruit to recover lost maidenbeads , properly apply'd , than to be eaten . of water-mellons and mus-mellons they have plenty ; the former is of as cold a quality as a coucumer , and will dissolve in your mouth like ice in a hot frying-pan , being as pleasant to the eater ( and , i believe , as wholsom ) as a cup of rock-water to a man in a hectick feavour : the latter are larg and lushious , but much too watery to be good . coco-nuts , and physick-nuts are in great esteem amongst the inhabitants ; the former they reckon meat , drink , and cloth , but the eatable part is secur'd within so strong a magazeen , that it requires a lusty carpenter , well arm'd with ax and hand-saw , to hew a passage to the kernel , and when he has done , it will not recompence his labour . the latter is big as a filbert , but ( like a beautiful woman well drest , and infectious ) if you venture to tast , is of ill consequence : their shell is black , and iapan'd by nature , exceeding art ; the kernel white , and extream pleasant to the palat , but of so powerful an operation , that by taking two , my guts were swep as clean , as ever tom-t — d-man made a vault , or any of the black fraternity a chimney . they have oranges , lemons , limes , and several other fruits , as sharp and crabbed as themselves , not given them as a blessing , but a curse ; for eating so many sower things , generates a corroding slime in the bowels , and is one great occasion of that fatal and intolerable distemper , the dry belly-ach ; which in a fortnight , or three weeks , takes away the use of their limbs , that they are forc'd to be led about by negro's . a man under this misery , may be said to be the scutchion of the island , the complection of the patient being the field , bearing of , charg'd with all the emblems of destruction , proper ; supported by two devils , sable ; and death the crest , argent . many other fruits there are , that are neither worth eating , naming , or describing : some that are never tasted but in a drouth , and others in a famin. of port royal. it is an island distinct from the main of iamaica , tho' before the earthquake , it joyn'd by a neck of land to the palisados , but was seperated by the violence of an inundation ( thro' god's mercy ) to prevent the wickedness of their metropolis defusing it self , by communication , over all the parts of the country , and so call that judgment upon the whole , which fell more perticularly upon the sinfulest part . from a spaceous fine built town ( according to report ) it is now reduc'd , by the encroachments of the sea , to a little above a quarter of a mile in length , and about half so much the breadth , having so few remains left of its former splendour , i could think no otherwise , but that every travellour who had given its description , made large use of his license . the houses are low , little , and irregular ; and if i compare the best of their streets in port royal , to the fag-end of kent-street , where the broom-men live , i do them more than justice . about ten a clock in the morning , their nostills are saluted with a land-breeze , which blowing o'er the island , searches the bowels of the mountains ( being always crack'd and full of vents , by reason of excessive heat ) bringing along with it such sulphorous vapours , that i have fear'd the whole island would have burst out into a flaming aetna , or have stiffled us with suffocating fumes , like that of melted minerals and brimstone . in the afternoon , about four a clock , they might have the refreshment of a sea-breeze , but suffering the negros to carry all their nastiness to windward of the town , that the nauseous efluvias which arise from their stinking dunghills , are blown in upon them thus what they might enjoy is a blessing , they ingratefully pervert by their own 〈…〉 . they have a church 't is true , but built rather like a market-house ; and when the flock are in their pens , and the pastor exalted to over-look his sheep , i took a survey round me , and saw more variety of scare-crows than ever was seen at the feast of vgly-faces . every thing is very dear , and an ingenious or an honest man may meet with this encouragement , to spend a hundred pounds before he shall get a penny. medera-wine and bottle-beer are fifteen pence the bottle ; nasty clarrat , half a crown ; rennish , five shillings ; and their best canary , ten bits , or six and three pence . they have this pleasure in drinking , that what they put into their bellies , they may soon stroak out of their fingers ends ; for instead of exonerating they fart , and sweat instead of pissing . of the people . the generality of the men look as if they had just nock'd off their fetters , and by an unexpected providence , escap'd the danger of a near misfortune , the dread of which , hath imprinted that in their looks , which they can no more alter than an etheopian can his colour . they are all colonels , majors , captains , lieutenants , and ensigns , the two last being held in such disdain , that they are look'd upon as a bungling diver amongst a gang of expert pick-pockets 〈…〉 being 〈…〉 . they regard nothing but money , 〈…〉 not how they got it , there being no other felicity to be enjoy'd but purely riches . they are very civil to strangers who bring over considerable effects ; and will try a great many ways to kill him farely , for the lucre of his cargo : and many have been made rich by such windfalls . a broken apothecary will make there a topping physician ; a barbers prentice , a good surgeon ; a bailiffs follower , a passable lawyer , and an english knave , a very honest fellow . they have so great a veneration for religion , that bibles and common prayer books are as good a commodity amongst them , as muffs and warming-pans . a little reputation among the women , goes a great way ; and if their actions be answerable to their looks , they may vie wickedness with the devil : an impudent air , being the only charms of their countenance , and a lewd carriage , the studi'd grace of their deportment . they are such wh● have been scandalous in england to the utmost degre , either transported by the state , or led by their vicious inclinations , where they may be wicked without shame , and whore on without punishment . they are stigmatiz'd with nick-names , which they bear , not with patien 〈…〉 ly , but with pride , as vnconscionable 〈◊〉 , salt-beef peg , buttock de 〈◊〉 ienny , &c. swearing , drinking , and obscene talk are the principal qualifications that render them acceptable to male conversation , and she that 〈◊〉 a perfection in these admirable acquirments , shall be as much redicul'd for her modesty , as a plain-dealing man amongst a gang of knaves , for his honesty . in short , virtue is so despis'd , and all sorts of vice encourag'd , by both sexes , that the town of port royal is the very sodom of the universe . finis . a trip to ireland being a description of the country, people and manner : as also some select observations on dublin. ward, edward, 1667-1731. 1699 approx. 55 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 10 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a63248 wing t2285 estc r22635 12364466 ocm 12364466 60362 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a63248) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 60362) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 900:26) a trip to ireland being a description of the country, people and manner : as also some select observations on dublin. ward, edward, 1667-1731. [4], 12 p. s.n., [london? : 1699] reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels. ireland -description and travel. ireland -description and travel -early works to 1800. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 john latta sampled and proofread 2003-04 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a trip to ireland , being a description of the country , people and manners : as also some select observations on dublin . printed in the year , 1699. the preface . since observations of the same nature with those which follow , have prevail'd of late for a general approbation ; and it has been more acceptable to the reader to make enquiries into the imperfections of the people which have given being to the papers under his perusal , than to search after their excellencies and survey their beauties ; i could not but think it adviseable to gratify his palate , and consult my own interest , in presenting him with the following remarks . and as two other authors ( viz. those of the trips to jamaica and holland ) have giv'n him the sight of monsters of a foreign growth , and one of 'em under no dependance on the english government ; so i have now remov'd the scene , and brought my farce to be acted in a country which dr. molineux , a late writer , would insinuate to be independent on the british nation , tho' reduc'd by force of arms to acknowledge her conquest . if teigue can but please as well as myn-heer , the bookseller has gain'd his aim , the author his , and the reader more than he could expect , since in drawing the picture of a dutch man he might have thought nature had been exhausted of all her deformities . but michael angelo's cardinal in his representation of the day of iudgment is a beauty to an irish man , who tho' he does not look with the same horror for his crimes as his diabolical eminence , yet takes pains to merit the same punishment ; and it s enough to send one in search of the parish-register to know the truth of his nativity , if one of the meaner sort of this people happens to be suspected of honesty . as for the nobility , who are generally sprung from english parentage , here are those who are renown'd for their valour , admir'd for their iustice , and esteem'd for their wisdom ; and we have seen those things perform'd by the present duke of ormond , and the earl of arran his grace's noble brother , which have been the admiration of this age , as they will command the wonder of the times which succeed . but panegyrick is not my business ; and i who am to give such a description of ireland , as should make my reader laugh at its inhabitants , should not dwell on two such instances in its commendation , unless i would be laught at my self . to go on therefore with my subject , and persuade the buyer as much as i can that he has a very good bargain , and enough in conscience for his mony ; here are the vices of all nations practis'd by those people , who have not wit enough to know but what they are solely of their own growth , and who if they should chance to be told by some one among 'em that can read , that other nations are guilty of the same sins , would bite their nails off but they would find out some less common road to damnation . in short , that i may'nt make the porch too big for the house , and that the reader may not expect more matter than i can afford him ; in order to proportion the treatise to the preface , i shall have said as much as i design , if i tell him , that the people of the kingdom i give him the description of , have the cruelty of a spanish inquisitor , the letchery of an italian , the levity of a french man , the cowardice of a savoyard , the perfidiousness of a scotch man , the ignorance of a muscovite , the rebellious temper of a dutch man , and the pride of — themselves ; and if all this bundle of vice won't content him , let him show me so many virtues in practice among 'em , and he shan't ask me twice to be satisfied . a trip to ireland . before i enter into the character of the people , it will not be improper to acquaint my reader with the motives which induc'd me to make observations upon 'em , since i who am about to give him an account of others , may perhaps b● expected to give some account of my self . let it therefore sufficee if i tell him , the same curiosity which leads him to the perusal of these remarks , prevaild upon me to make 'em ; and as i am not arrived to the years of those men , who think no country deserving of their notice , but that in which they were born , so my inclinations are wholly different from theirs . in short , i was forc'd to make a loose from old england , and since i had no green turf of my own to tread upon , in it , i was resolv'd to set sail for a place , whither few , but those in the same condition with my self , would direct their course . and as it was not impossible but i might recover the esteem of my friends , which i had unhappily lost ; so i was resolv'd against my coming again into favour , to furnish my self with some story or other to entertain their maids with , like other young travellers , in order to continue in their esteem . for it 's as common now , for an insinuating servant to alienate a mothers affection from her son , or a sisters from her brother , as it is for 'em to lie with their masters , or wear their mistresses old cloaths . pursuant to to these inclinations , i pick't up what money i could , and went aboard the owners-love , a ship in the river which was bound for ireland ; the commander had laid in vsquebaugh and wine enough , and so i held my self contented : and what added to my satisfaction , was , that i did not want for company to divert my self with , during my voyage . three of the directors of the old east-india-company had just brought in their goods before i came aboard , and several who had considerable posts in the office of land-credit were making the best of their way off with 'em ; we had also a bawd , who had been forc'd to quit her venerable station , on account of the act against prophanness and immorality ; and a poet who had lost all hopes of a good third day in england , since mr. collier's short view of the english stage had made its appearance in publick . for my part , i thought the man of metre much in the right , and since hot-beds are generally made out of dunghills , the only way to ripen and secure the growth of his muse , was to transplant her to an isle where there is nothing else . in short , whilest the three directors were railing against heathcot and shepherd , and the no-landed land-credit-men were cursing dr. chamberlain ; the poet being wholy taken up in biting his nails , and making wry faces , as taking leave ( as i suppose ) of his mistress in some dolefull sonnet , or meditating on some invective against collier who had made him step aside ; i could not but take incitement from his odd sort of gestures , to attempt something in verse too ; and since i had learn'd something by playing at crambo formerly with my mothers maids , and could write and read ( the chief excellencies of poets now a days ) i e'en went above-deck , and took my leave of that famous city , which fled from our sight , as we fled from it , by penning down the following lines . i. farewell , thou seat of empire and of fame , great in thy power , and awfull in thy name whose turrets tho' to heav'n they rise and strike with pain the searchers eyes , are now , just now , removing from my sight , my present grief , but past delight , whom i , forsaken by my friends must leave , and leaving must for ever grieve , torn from the embraces of a parents love , when i a parents kindness could improve . condemn'd to be an exile and forlorn my friends contempt , and my relations scorn , as i from all my hopes , and thee remove . ii. but tho' i am lost to fortune , and am made the sport of chance , and slighted and betray'd ; tho' i my country , and my parent shun , yet i am still a subject and a son. and still i 'll pay , and still i 'll show the duties which i owe , still shall my country and my parent share , a sons and subjects prayer , and in what place soever fate shall please to end my sufferings , and my grief ; whither on land i perish , or the seas give me the wish'd for death , and sure releif . iii. hear me oh heaven ! and record the vow which i am offering now , may i ne're tast thy blessings , or receive abatement of those ills for which i grieve if my last words ( do thou but grant me speech to ask thy mercy , and thy throne beseech ) mention not them , and for their welfare pour a flood of tears , grant heaven a grateful shower ; since she who gave me breath , should have my prayers , and she where i was born partake of all my tears . iv. and ye augusta's walls which now contain my only joy , and yet my only pain , preserve her safe whose abscence now i mourn , and from whose sight i down the stream am born , let angels guard her , tho' she now can bear a son's departure and without a tear , and if she once shall please to spend a thought on what i was , and what i only sought : v. then shall i joy for being thus distress'd , and bless those foes who would not have me bless'd : but 't is too late , the winds and waves are joyn'd to waft me from her sight and from her mind ; tho' she , and only she shall have a part in mine , whose image only fills my heart . and all i 'll ask for , or implore from fortune's bounty and her store , is , that she may continue to receive those blessings which for lost i grieve ; and i 'll no other wish , but this prefer , losing my sorrows in my ioys for her. these were the hasty thoughts i committed to paper ; and i who retir'd to my muse to divert my self , found that instead of removing from the ideas of those troubles i would have avoided , i had by making application to her , a more lively representation of ' em . wherefore i return'd again to my company , whom i found sitting in for a hearty cup , the only preservative against melancholly . you may judge i wanted not many persuasions to make one among 'em , and to endeavour the dislodgment of a guest , which had taken up free quarters , and liv'd at descretion , as the temper i was then in had . accordingly i pledg'd the bawd , who i must tell you , took something of a liking to me , and did me the honour to drink to me so heartily , and i over my left thumb , et sic deinceps ; that the east-india bankrupts had quite forgot that another company had got the royal establishment , the land-credit men were in such a temper , as if the iron chests they have laid in at their office in queen-street , were full of those millions the undertaker propos'd to have in 'em ; and the virginity broker , and the haberdasher of hexameters were as merry , as if each of 'em had acts of parliament for their respective employs : and i , for my part , with my illuminated phiz , and my eyes ready to drop out of my head , had such entertaining conceptions , that i could not but imagine my fortunes bore a proportion to my countenance , and had never been under any such thing as an eclypse . in short , not to be tedious , we did not spare the bottle during our voyage , and had such a smooth passage over st. george his channel , as if neptune had known us all to be bankrupts , and consequently not worth the drowning ; since we had nothing to feed his luxury with but our flesh , and that was meat hardly good enough for the fish. but since the reader may be in haste to know something of the country we were bound for , i shall close the journal at sea , by telling him we got safe to dublin ; where , as it was our business to conceal our selves , we took leave of one another , and went to our respective quarters . a plague on the place ; a garret in grub-street is one story high to it , and i was forc'd to rest three or four times before i could reach my bed , which was nothing but a quilt over some rushes ; and this the son of a whore my landlord would have eighteen-pence per week for . i was forced to submit for a time , till i had provided all things for travelling ; and so i visited the several counties of which the reader may take the following account . ireland ( at present the land of ire , or heavens wrath ) hath little in it , now , of god's blessing , and never had very much of the warm sun. it seems in the opinion of some , to be part of the refuse of the earth at the creation , and that when the rest of europe was compleated and polished , some of the scrapings and rubbish was cast out at this back-door , which being half dried by the squinting beams of sol , was in some measure dough-baked , into an island , of what worth and quality shall be hereafter described . if europe be compared to a piece of fine cloath , this must needs be some of the list , or fagg-end : if to a stately palace , this is the postern : if to a humane figure , where ever we place the head , this will surely hold more proportion and similitude with the tail , as will appear upon farther consideration . some formerly have thought fit to call it the watering-pot of the planets ; and the french have named it , le pot● de chambre du diable , i. e. the devil's piss-pot , seldom dry , but often running over , the rains falling down so frequently , as if the heavens were a wounded eye , perpetually weeping over it it , or the clouds dropping spunges , so fast it rains , and so profusely pours heav'ns liquid-wrath in elemental show'rs , that ev'n an irish doctor must disown the clouds distemper there to be the stone ; but rather with the common emp'ricks hold , since they so drop at nose , it is a cold. and then for the often gusts of wind , it may well be reck'ned , as nature's bellows ; but for this , they may perhaps have reason to thank the bantamites , who sowing so much pepper yearly in the east-indies in the bowels of our grandmother earth , it must needs cause her to break wind backwards in these western parts , where she eases her self of the collick : what advantage they reap by it i know not , but the old proverb says , it 's an ill wind blows no one any good. says one , it is a frippery for bankrupts , or the grand hospital for such as are troubled with a consumption in their estate and credit . but whatever it were formerly , there is small hopes now that strangers should be there cured of such desperate diseases , since the whole country may well pass for a map of general misery and poverty , the natives and inhabitants being most of them the lively portraitures of the prodigal lad in his most swinish condition ; so that it were no less difficult now to get into an estate there ( unless by the conquering sword ) then to get out of their deepest bogs , when one is sinking , and can neither help ones self out , nor persuade teague to assist , unless st. patrick does prompt him in a most special manner . yet is the soil in many parts fat , and liking , ( as dunghils are ) and were it well husbanded , would yield a plentiful encrease ; but what through laziness , and want of industry , ( i speak of the meer irish , to whom the whole character relates ) and their innate pride , and self-conceitedness , which make them disdain to be taught by foreigners , they do so little improve their lands , that unless it be themselves , nothing to an ingenious eye can be a sadder spectacle . inclosures are very rare amongst them , and those no better fenced than an old midwife's toothless gums , or those parts of northamptonshire , where the hedges were grubbed up by the rebellious rout of the commoners . much of their land is reserved for grazing and pasturage ; and there , indeed , the grass being very sweet , and holding a constant verdure , it is in many places so indented with purling brooks and streams , that their meadows look like a new green carpet border'd or fring'd with the purest silver : yet hay is a rarity amongst them , and would cost them more pains than they can well afford , towards the making of it ; therefore they seldom or never trouble their heads or hands about it . and then for their arable ground , it lies most commonly as much neglected and unmanured as the sandy desarts of arabia , or a ranting young gallant 's old bed-rid spouse . and , not to particularize every circumstance , their national custom of ploughing , by tying their wooden harness to the horse's-tail , and that other senseless improvidence of burning their oates to save the labour of thrashing , are two such very remarkable proofs of their husbandry , that it would be needless to describe it further : so that whatever the country be , they are a wild herd of brute animals inhabiting , but not improving it . this sloath and carelessness is judged to be one reason why all sorts of grain-fruits are of a less and more degenerate growth , than in other well cultivated and improved countries ( which is also noted in most of their vegetables and animals , women and grey-hounds only excepted ) the corn seldom shoots up to that aspiring height upon its spindle , as may be seen elsewhere , nor does it attain so full and weighty an ear as to make it bend down to kiss its mothers bosom ; but grows so dwarfish , thin , and full of weeds , that it resembles the field in the parable , which the evil one sowed with tares . their dwellings or cabans , i should more exactly describe if i durst have adventured oftner into them ; or could have staid long enough to have survey'd them at my being there ; which i did once essay , but found it as hazardous almost , as orpheus his descent into hell , where there might be indeed a greater fire , but not more smoak , which thick cloud in the midst of the room did so blind me , and conceal the house , that i could scarce remember any thing , but my sore eyes , when i came out again : should they be as much troubled with that other noisom disease of scolding wives , as they are with smoaky houses , they might well upon each door write , lord have mercy upon us , for certainly there cannot be a greater pla●ge . as for the outward structure , an english cow house hath more architecture far ; nay , my lord mayor's dog-kennel is a palace compared to them : and for sweetness , i have heard many affirm , that the soulest corner about the bear-garden is musk and amber to their sweetest rooms . the walls are made of meer mud , mixed with a little wet straw , the covering is thatch ; the floor earth ; which , by reason of the constant rains , is generally so damp , that they may be said to live over a bog ; and the thatch so ill thrashed , that ( by the sprouting of the left corn , which often springs up green ) it may be added , they live under a meadow ; or ( as a person of honour said of the like place , to which he most aptly compared the long , long parliament ) they have green ears over their heads , and a false ground under their feet . the beds are upon such a firm foundation , that nothing but an earthquake can move them ; instead of feathers or flocks , they use rushes or straw , which serves them without changing , till cast horse-litter is a fragrant nosegay to it , and iacob's sweet lodging on the fresh grass , compared to it , is like the pleasure of the marriage-bed . sheets they never provide , and to tell the naked truth , unless they can purchase a poor cadow , which is not often , they ligg together like adam and eve before the fall , not a rag to cover them , but themselves : which may be one reason why they so multiply ; for being necessitated to keep together for warmth , they ingender as thick as fly-blows , each little hutt being as full of children , as a conney-burrough in a well stock'd warren is of rabbits . they seldom have any partitions or several rooms , but sleep in common with their swine and poultrey : and for second or third story you may look long enough e're you find any . windows would discover their poverty and sluttery too much , and a chimney is reckoned as superfluous as a steeple at a new sangled conventicle : the door which perhaps is as irregular and multiform as a new made breach in a wall , serving both to let in the light , and let out the smoak ; so that you may guess their abodes are pleasant and airy as a dungeon , and unless they be compared to one another , each of them may very properly be called none-such . their women generally are very little beholding to nature for their beauty , and less to art : one may safely swear they use no painting , or such like auxiliary aids of fucuses , being so averse to that kind of curiosity , ( tho' they have as much need thereof as any i ever yet beheld ) that one would think they never had their faces wash'd but at their baptism . to whom the perpetual smoak within doors , and want of a bon-grace without , does add such a tincture of complexion , that a ploughman's sun-burnt hand , or a seaman's weather-beaten face , is snow and cream to it : so that one need not fear much temptation , they being , indeed , meer scare-crows , and their phisiognomies such a defence , such a spell for their plackets , such a refrigeratory ' against the flames of lust , that in the day-light they are secure from any violent attempt upon their chastity , though in the night they may pass muster , and the push of pike , when ioan is as good as my lady . their bodies are of a tolerable proportion , and to be born withal , but then are they mounted on such mishapen trussels or supporters , that whenever any man desires to try the pleasure of their embraces , he will be sure ( as a witty gentleman observed ) to lay their legs aside . their breasts are excepted against by some , for being of the same size with their buttocks : and their hands are so tann'd leather'd , that gloves were but thrown away upon them . amorous they are as doves , but not altogether so chast as turtles , desiring as much to be billing , and very frequently bringing forth twins , as the others hatch young ones by pairs . there needs no great ceremony or courtship , for if they yield not at first summons upon composition , a slight attack wins the fortress , and one may soon enter . these old texts being orthodox amongst them , touch and take , laugh and lye down , vp and ride , and so to the end of the chapter . on a design of marriage they are not scrupulous or cautious , and so far from selling a pig in a poke , that it is not unusual for the man to mount the beast , before he binds the bargain ; so that 't is no strange thing amongst them , to make a maid a whore first , and then to make that whore his wife afterwards ; like a sloven that first makes a close-stool of his own hat , and then claps it upon his own head. thus rather than want horns , they will have some of their own graffing , antidating themselves cuckolds ; and having taught their wives this lesson so early , who can wonder if they practise it afterwards ; a new cask still retains a touch of its first seasoning , and when once such young colts find the gap of liberty set open , they will frisk out of the bounds of all modesty , and never leave running till they have brought their husbands to cuckolds-point . the men are notorious thieves , and very skilful at leger de main , for which trade , both nature and fortune seem to have fitted them ; for as they are miserably poor , so they are more impudent than a court-page , or an italian curtezan , and have made it a common practice to enter into any house without the civility of craving leave , or knocking at the door ; and being once in , they have no creaking shoes to betray them , but either they wear broags , a kind of thin pumps , or else make so bold with nature as to use their bare feet : if they spy any portable prize , their hands are like lime-twigs , and the prey shall hardly escape them ; nor are they ever unprovided of a cloak or mantle ( large as a iesuite's conscience ) to spread over their knavery ; and lastly , for agility and swiftness of retreat , they may compare with mercury himself , being ever in a running posture , and always setting the best foot foremost . surely , of all people they are the least troubled with corns upon their toes , they walk so soundly ; but amongst a thousand of their hands , i do not think one finger could be pickt out that were not tainted with an itch after unlawful gain , or infected with a felony , for so much sweetness do they fancy in the relish of stolen-goods , that they have little gusto for any other . it is an usual saying , that a good face needs no band , and a bad one deserves none ; which may be a reason why these are so ill accoutred and negligent in their apparel ; tho' if the extreme poverty of the generality be consider'd ( which yet proceeds from their own sloath , their condition being much like iob's upon the dunghil ) we shall find more cause to pity , than wonder at them . once a year , perhaps , their stock may swell to the purchase of a frieze garment of a brace of two-pences the bundle ; higher it can hardly reach , whatever their ambition prompt them to : a coarse out-side , indeed , yet most think it suteable enough to the lining within , for a loam wall deserves but a mean hanging . the females have a head attire , which they call kerchers : among the better sort it is made of linnen , but seldom so white as a dutch-man's sail : whilst the common trull's cannot possibly be any thing , but an old rag turned out of other service , or the flappet of a month-worn smock reprieved from the wash-bowl ; and yet , as one said of the like sluttery , the poor remnant looks as briskly as if it were promised for the next whole quarter to escape many a scowring . flesh-bags they may , some of them , have for the day , but at night they ever uncase themselves and ligg in the woollen , if their wits can gather enough to cover them , otherwise they nustle together in litter with the sow and pigs , being all of a family : but their smocks cannot properly be called changes , for they seldom allow themselves more than one , till that be worn out , which is used till it be fit to be torn off their backs for touch to light tobacco as they sit in the fields , as i have seen them do . thus the smock is at last turned into smoak , having first struck fire in the devil's tinder-box the tobacco pipe , which one wittily compares to the passion of love , thus : so fares it with an amorous desire ; the more 't is kiss'd , the more 't is set on fire . their petticoats , if any , are of as many several colours as a tailor's fundamental cushion ; to which the wastcoat is the fittest match that can be , and cross their shoulders a linnen shroud of the same hue of a winding sheet after some years burial . shoes are above their price , neither are broags a purchase for every one ; no , they stand more upon their feet than so , and for stockings they have a very cheap and durable mode , one pair lasting their whole pilgrimage , and those no other than nature's knitting , which sit close , and so tight , it saves the labour of gart'ring ; having no great fault , but their too much calf . complements are as seldom used among them , as the common prayers among the non-cons ; you might as soon teach an elephant to cut a caper , as bring one of them to make a handsome leg : such block-heads have they , that 't is a trouble to them to pull off their hats ; which done , shall be seconded with a speech containing less sense and reason than that of balaam's ass ; and to be sure must either be usher'd in , or out , with a by chreesht and st. patrick , or an elegant-curse , or two : but for this nonsense perhaps their nurses are to be condemn'd , who ( especially in vlster ) when they suckle their young babes , if they chance to have a cold in their heads , seldom or never wipe their noses , but suck them with their mouths so hard , that , as one observed , 't is very probable that they suck out all their brains , and leave them for ever after empty skull'd . i wonder , said one , to an irishman , that being thirty years of age , and having travel'd through the best part of the world , you should be so great a fool still . that 's no wonder , replies another ; but the greater wonder is , that there should be a whole kingdom of such fools . shirts are no less out of date among the teagues than surplices among the dissenters ; so that one may guess what poor shift they make to keep their bodies sweet : and may not this be one reason why they so much dread to hear one break wind at the postern ? the intolerable fustiness that must needs lye lurking in their unlined breeches , adding a stench beyond the devil's pomander : otherwise they do not appear so over-nice and curious , nor would they contradict the proverb , that every man's tayl smells sweet in his own nose : neither would they let fly so often above-board , for they will belch as loud as pot-guns , and as often as a lover in absence breathes his amorous sighs : but add to the rest the straitness of their breeches , called trowsers , which sit as close as a jealous wife to her husband's tayl , and you need not wonder at their backward modesty . some count them naturally hospitable , but if they are so , it is after such an ill-favour'd manner , that 't is like the giving an alms in a nasty clout , which necessity may make welcome , but the greatest charity cannot account decent . bonny-clabber and mulahaan , alias sower milk , and choak-cheese , with a dish of potatoes boiled , is their general entertainment , to which add an oat cake , and it compleats their bill of fare , unless they intend to shew their excessive prodigality , and tempt your appetite with a dozen of eggs extraordinary , which many times , instead of being new-laid , prove like over-ridden wenches , either rotten , or else having a young chick in the belly of ' em . after this , comes tobacco ; which you must either take in smoak , or snuff , if you will be good company , while they sit chewing it with as much eagerness and desire , as the longing great-bellied woman did bite at the fat man's breech . and for a close to all this treat ( a la grandezza ) the mistress shall produce her moornaun of sower milk , and having stript up her sleeve to the shoulder , she thrusts up to the arm-pits , and stirring the curds at the bottom with her hands , she then presents you with the liquor , and if you like it , you may fill your belly with her kindness till you are satisfied . i have heard it affirmed also , by knowing persons in this country , that in some parts of it , they have a way of making a soupe , beyond all the french pottages in vogue ; the way is thus , a dame of the better sort , having had the good fortune to boil a piece of very fat pork , till a great part of it is run into an oil swimming on the top , she strips of her smock , dips it therein till it has soaked up all the grease ; then puts it on her body , and so wears it some days to smoothen her skin , and supple her ioints ; now if afterwards there be occasion , and no store of other provision about the cabban , off comes this anointed garment again , which being boiled in clear water , and a little oatmeal , and a small faggot of herbs ; the melted fat , and those other ingredients will be converted into a most savoury mess of irish-smock broath , and then 't is done in a dish . but let me not forget their butter , made up with so much filth and hair , it looks like the lime we prepare to plaister our walls withal , which being beaten up into as rude a shape as a spanish piece of eight , if eaten without sindging , or not melted and strained , you shall run as great hazard , as one that would swallow the burr of an over-grown artichoke without butter , or a pickled rope without sauce : hence one may easily guess the difference betwixt this and the dutch butter-box , the one cutting like spanish marmalad , the other like untried kitchin-stuff , and having as rank an odour as a carriers summer trotters . if they had the wit to put the hair in one dish , and the butter in another apart , it might be in a man's choice to take or leave as he pleased ; but they are so order'd , you must eat both at once . and that their bread may be suitable to their butter , and so stick the closer together , the women grind their corn on a stone placed betwixt their naked thighs upon the ground ( in the very same posture as they churn their cream ) . their mills having this advantage over others , that they are equally supplied both with wind and water at the same instant . drinking is not so much their vice , as some of their neighbouring nations , unless their so excessive smoaking be reckoned in , to which both the men and women are so generally addicted ; yea , the very children too , that an infant of their breeding , shall take more delight in handling a tobacco-pipe than a rattle , and will sooner learn to make use of it , than another shall of its sucking-bottle . surely , this indian weed is a very witch , and they have this resemblance , that both of them are very nasty and ugly . it is an irish observation ( and a notable one too ) that whenever two armies meet in battle , the one must run , for both cannot conquer , and since one must give way , why not at the beginning before much bloodshed , rather than after too many lives are lost ; and since one of them must , or generally does run , who fitter to run than they whom nature has provided with better legs to run , than hands or hearts to sight ; therefore they do commonly run , and run betimes , lest some wound in their legs should hinder their nimble retreat : this made an old experienc'd officer ( who knew the way of the reasoning of these brutes ) cause some regiments of dragoons to march on foot up towards their more numerous army , with boots on , whom when the irish beheld , they straight-way concluded that those english men being booted , would not , or could not run ; and since one party must go off at last , it must needs be themselves , and therefore they discreetly ran all away immediately . a stiff-necked generation they cannot be called , they lay them down so readily to every yoke , as if they were born to servitude , and so we find them inclined to have been indifferently under their own country-men , or under their old friends the spaniards in former times , and their new friends the french lately , if the english had not prevented it . therefore are they the less to be pitied , because by them there is no greater liberty expected , or much desired and struggled for by them . their language seems to be very ancient indeed , being almost worn quite out of date , scarce known in any other country , and not generally used in their own : to a foreigner it sounds so unpleasant , that it rather grates than tickles the ear , and seems fitter to conjure than converse in . withal , they use such a whining tone , and speak so precipitately , that considering their garb and posture , you would think they had been newly stript of their little all ; and were now hastily and earnestly craving your relief and charity , for a fresh supply . nor are they more grave or demure in their pace ; but frisk it about the streets so post-horse like , as if a bailiff pursued them , or some fiercer devil drove them . yet at their work they are on the other hand , so slow and deliberate ( digging , ploughing , thrashing , &c. with their cloaks upon their backs , and wasting so much of their time in smoaking and prating ) that it is usual to hire four of these lubbers to dispatch the same daily proportion of work , as is performed by one industrious english-hind ; which would be very chargeable , did they not humbly submit to accept of much lesser wages , which they take good care not to over-earn , lest they should surfeit themselves , or wear out their precious limbs too soon ; and either want more business , or the strength to go thorow with it next day . some historians do speak them to be very tender and careful of their young ones ; but wherein that tenderness consists , is not readily to be found out . for their food is not in the least degree better than they allow their pigs , bonny-rowre for the summer , and potato-roots in the winter are their choicest dainties : and then for their cloathing , it is yet courser ; of a whole child the third part is scarce cover'd with woollen ; nor so much linnen to be seen among a whole tribe , as would make a quaker's falling-band , or furnish an ordinary box with tinder , they being for the most part as naked as a young ladies neck in dog-days , or the bird in the fable , stript of its borrowed plumes ; so that unless their apish hugging them in their arms , or carrying them on their backs can make it out , i cannot . but however careless they be of the living , they are mightily concerned for the dead , having a custom , ( which sure they borrowed from the egyptians ) of howling when they carry any one to burial , and screaming over the graves , not like other christians , but like people without hope ; and sooner than this shall be omitted , they do hire a whole herd of these crocadiles to accompany the corps , who with their counterfeit tears and sighs , and confused clamour and noise , do seem heartily to bemoan the departed friend , though all this is with no more concern and reality , than an actor on the stage for the frighted death of his dearest in a tragedy . one privilege , indeed , they have to boast of above most other countries ; which is , that they are free from venomous creatures ( as england is from ravenous ) which we may believe to be a natural antipathy , like that of the islands cyprus and guernzey ; tho' they will needs attribute it to their miracle-monger st. patrick , who ( as their tradition goes ) did one day summon them all together on the tod of an high and large hill , called cruich phadrick , or st. patrick's mount ; where having by irrisistible conjuration assembled them , he , by his powerful invocation called for fire from heaven , which came down , and consumed them : to which part of the legend , some have added , that the great croud of irish witnesses whom the good saint had brought with him to see this fear , and bear testimony of it , finding he had so good interest and familiarity with god almighty to obtain what he but asked for , desired him forthwith to make a second petition , that heaven would send down a plentiful shower of gold and silver to cure them of their poverty , and make them as opulent as the richest nations : but he angerly replied , that god would work no miracles to gratifie their coveteousness ; that he had already given them a large country , which they were to cultivate and improve , and that their honest labour would bring them in a sufficient stock of wealth , &c. and therefore if they were not enough satisfied with this great blessing so freely conferred , but continued to murmur , and tempt god too far , perhaps he might for their unthankfulness and sordid desires , turn it into a curse again , to their perpetual punishment . but they still importuning him , he at last made a second essay , not petitioning for gold or silver , but that god would send down what he knew to be fittest for that generation . which word he no sooner had pronounced , but there arose a great and furious whirlwind , which blew and dispersed the ashes of those poisonous creatures over all the whole country ; and the same being forthwith converted all into lice , they have for ever since continued a most nasty and lowzy generation , and could never find a cure , or remove this epidemical , egyptian bosom-plague , so close it yet sticks to them . a most excellent country it is for a young traveller to be first seasoned in , for let him but once taste of their entertainment and usage , and i dare undertake he shall love all the rest of the world much better ever after ( except scotland . ) a certain portion of the county of galloway is very well worth observation ; for in a considerable extent thereof , nature affords 'em neither water enough to drown 'em , wood enough to hang 'em , nor earth enough to bury 'em ; yet 't is very well inhabited : now what sort of creatures , unless a race of spanish gennets , that are said to engender by the wind , or a brood of cameleons that seed upon air , can subsist where three of the most necessary elements are so scarce , i leave oedipus to judge . it is reported of the germans , and some other war-like people , that when they come within sight and hearing of the enemy , being drawn up in battalia , and almost ready to engage , they draw out their broad sword , and each with a whet-stone , they carry for that purpose , falls to work to set a keen edge on his weapon , with so much eagerness and noise , that it begets no little terrour in the listening foe , and proclaims with what undaunted resolution they prepare to assault them . whereas the teagues do only gaze about to see what wood or bog lies nearest , and can best shelter or favour them in their retreat , or , perhaps by greazing their broags , or anointing their joints , make ready for a more speedy flight ; then throwing down their arms , and trusting solely to their legs , dare not so much as once look back , but leave the devil to take the hindmost . ask many of them , what was the name of the blessed virgin mary , and 't is ten to one , but they 'll answer , it was iane , or susan , and that st. patrick was her godfather ; and to any the like questions , they will furnish you with the like answer , &c. so that if ignorance be the true mother of devotion , the city of rome it self cannot produce such devout catholicks as these teagues ; and therefore it 's pitty but they should be transplanted into the territories of the holy church , as being the most submissive members thereof . but here is enough of the midling sort of people ; i shall therefore proceed to give him the prospect of a place in which he has all the reason in the world to expect a more agreeable sight , tho' perhaps he may find the resemblance of what he has already seen in it . of dvblin . we have hitherto treated of the middle sort of people , and those who are to be found in the several country towns and villages ; but we are now come to a city , which is the cheif of the several provinces , and the capital in respect of the several courts of judicature which are held here , and where the supream court of the whole kingdom , ( viz. ) the high court of parliament is now assembled ; but which notwithstanding the great concourse of nobility who now keep their residence here , bears a proportion in its inhabitants , to the people whose manners in the foregoing papers , we have submitted to the censure of the publick . dublin is a city situated on an arm of the sea , and might be made very strong , did those who are in the supream power there think it advisable to make it so ; it gives name to an arch-bishoprick , and is the place where the deputies , or lords-justices of ireland hold their court : at present their excellencies the lord marquiss of winchester , and the earl of gallaway have that character , and if the inhabitants of this city had any disposition to industry or vertue , they might find such encouragement from these two noble lords , as might sufficiently endear it to their practice . but they are people not to be persuaded by example or precept , and if any of 'em are so lucky as to tread in the paths of goodness , you may conclude it wholy owing to themselves , for they are all too proud to follow one anothers directions . by this one might imagine they were excellent at inventions , and might be very serviceable to the publick by ingenious acquirments ; but that man is mistaken if he expects any such matter from 'em , and for several years we have had but two or three experiments from their whole royal society , and those so far from being new , that they had not been printed but as a compliment to dr. molineux ; who perhaps without some such notice taken of him , would have made no more observations than the rest of his brethren . but tho' they are not over successful in the search after knowledg for the publick good , there is no body like 'em in things which is against it , and they have twenty ways at least for the breach of one commandment , when their whole study will not furnish 'em with one to keep it . their buildings partake much of the constitution of their owners , vast foundations like their legs , at the bottom , but built so very high , that he is a rich man who can furnish one story , whilst the upper rooms bear proportion to his upper part , and are as destitute of furniture as his skull . the two principal churches are st. patricks , and christ-church , edifices tolerable enough , did not the man in the pulpit disgrace 'em ; and unless dr. king or some eminent bishop transplanted from england preaches there , you may as soon expect an ingenious discourse from dr. meriton at st. martins in the afternoon , or a piece of oratory from the mendicant divine , who holds forth upon the rails in moor-feilds , as a sentence worth observation , from any man of god among 'em all . to say the lord's-prayer , and ten commandments , is a sufficient plea for holy orders ; and that bishop's chaplain who shall offer any text in greek to be constru'd by the would be a deacon , or examin him as to the sense of the fathers about original sin , shall be look'd upon as one not capable of performing the office of a priest himself . they have but one colledge here , bat yet it bears the title of an university , like a certain peer in the same kingdom , who has the sonorous title of an earl of * ten worlds , when his lordship has scarce a foot of land. and i think it well enough deserves the name of university , if vniversal ignorance , pride and poverty , which has taken lodgings here , may deserve that name . the founder who endow'd it , knew well enough the dispositions of those who should be his tenants , and therefore provided well enough for their bellies , tho' none but the provost has any provision for their backs ; but for books he gave 'em none , well knowing the little use they would make of 'em , tho' the irish parliament is contriving ways and means for a library for 'em , which some think will be built much about the time , as the students who are design'd to make use of it , shall arrive to the knowledge requisite for such studies , and that is never . as for the inhabitants of this place in general , we will rank 'em under 2 degrees , viz. lords and commons . the first are spiritual and temporal . for the spiritual , out of the veneration i have for the holy office they bear , i shall say little further , than that they may be very knowing gentlemen , tho' i could not edifie by 'em ; and tho' i never amongst the whole set of 'em could find the learning of a city lecturer ; yet they may be men of singular parts , and their devotion may have brought 'em so near heaven , that for all that i know , their heads may be lost in the clouds . for the nobility , the greatest part of 'em may be compared to their own mountains , who are so very high that they seem to wear the stars for a coronet , but yet are indeed no better dighted , then with a dirty bog on the top , more deep and dangerous then the lowest road in the vallies . their estates for the generality are not greater than an ordinary english gentlemans , yet their pride so excessively great , that disdain is written on their brows , where you may read , i am too good for thee . for their commonality , writing is a rarity among 'em , and reading would be utterly laid aside , were it not of great and important consequence , when they are allow'd the benefit of their clergy in their neck-verse , and often-times poor culprit goes to pot , because mr. ordinary and he can't agree which reads truest . but i have forgot the right honourable his lordship , therefore i must tell you this pitiful city has its lord mayor too , who is at present much such another as that pious gentleman who preceded sir francis child in london , was ; and tho' one would think that the better sort of irish-mens poverty might entitle 'em to beg , this venerable magistrate will not permit the worser . to conclude , this is a city powerful in its privileges , but weak in its exchequer , empty in its churches , but full in its prisons ; has very few fortifications for its security , yet has cowards for its inhabitants ; the nobility which live in it have titles beyond their estates , the clergy benefices beyond their deserts , the merchants great houses beyond their trade ; and every house-keeper in it promises beyond performance . if this ben't enough to make me wish my self in england again , i am sufficient proof for any place whatsoever ; and so much for the kingdom of ireland , which i shall describe no otherwise than it deserves , if i shall say it is , a land which does no pois'nous beast afford , but in its natives , with all poisons stor'd : where vice is fruitful and sedition shoots and shews its head , from fix'd and lasting roots ; which often tempts the british sword , and dares the fate of caesar , who as often spares . false to her promise , insolent , and base , her friends dishonour , and her own disgrace ; ready for change , tho' not in changes long , forsaking what is right , embracing what is wrong . conquer'd in fight , vnconquer'd in her pride , rescu'd , tho' never of the rescuer's side . but if example may prevail , and gain repute , within a land so false and vain ; if goodness may persuade , or virtue win a people drown'd in vice , and lost in sin ; ev'n she , has those who o're her sons preside , whose lives can teach her , and whose precepts guide ; instructive in their actions , as their laws , iust to the people , and their master's cause . and winchester may yet retrieve her name , tho' lost to honour , and unknown to fame ; whilst she may practice what her lord has done , and follow england's virtues , in her son. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a63248-e300 * desmond . the western wonder, or, o brazeel, an inchanted island discovered with a relation of two ship-wracks in a dreadful sea-storm in that discovery : to which is added, a description of a place, called, montecapernia, relating the nature of the people, their qualities, humours, fashions, religions, &c. head, richard, 1637?-1686? 1674 approx. 58 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 24 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a43178 wing h1277 estc r19459 12399467 ocm 12399467 61233 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a43178) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 61233) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 941:14) the western wonder, or, o brazeel, an inchanted island discovered with a relation of two ship-wracks in a dreadful sea-storm in that discovery : to which is added, a description of a place, called, montecapernia, relating the nature of the people, their qualities, humours, fashions, religions, &c. head, richard, 1637?-1686? [4], 40 p. printed for n.c., london : 1674. reproduction of original in cambridge university library. attributed to richard head. cf. nuc pre-1956. a satire on ireland and wales. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng satire, english. voyages, imaginary. ireland -anecdotes -early works to 1800. wales -anecdotes -early works to 1800. 2008-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-10 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-12 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-12 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the western wonder : or , o brazeel , an inchanted island discovered ; with a relation of two ship-wracks in a dreadful sea-storm in that discovery . to which is added , a description of a place , called , montecapernia , relating the nature of the people , their qualities , humours , fashions , religion , &c. london , printed for n. c. m.dc.lxxiv . five scenes o brazeel : or , the inchanted island . new discoveries of late , are as much admired as miracles of old , and as difficultly believed , notwithstanding the variety of apparent proofs which demonstrate their undoubted verity ; and without question this incredulity proceeds from no other cause , than the abuse of belief , occasioned by such monstrous fictions as the isle of pines , a new world in the moon , with the like lunatick stories , by which the credulous world hath been misguided into a faith wholly preposterously erroneous and ridiculous . that our present discourse of this new discovery of o brazeel , may not be suspected of the like lying reports , it will be requisite to inquire whether there was , first , ever any such place ? and next , whether yet it hath a being ? that there was an island called o brazeel , i need not bring any other proofs or demonstrations to confirm that opinion , than your own observations out of strabo , and other ancient geographers , in whose maps you may find both the island , its name , and scituation ; yet of late years it hath not been seen , for which cause , some imagine that being but a small tract of land , it is either swallow'd up by the sea , or that the island is inchanted . we have greater reasons to believe the latter , if we consider the various reports have been spread abroad of late by such sea-men , who by their several affidavits have avouched they have seen this island , but could not reach it , by all the skill they had in navigation . and i that which most induced them to believe this must be that isle so much talked of for its inchantment , was , that it appeared in that part of the g●ean where they never saw land before , and over which they frequently have sail'd . i could instance several reports of fishermen , who at several times have seen it , but that i fear those relations will be look'd on as the chimaera's of a junior quixot , or foolish fictions , undeserving the registry of a serious and judicious memory , since they seem to give tom coriat the lye , and run away with the whetstone from our famous knightly mandevil . however i cannot let pass what i heard from several of these discoverers , who told me , they saw this island ( no blue cloud , as i would have persuaded them to believe , but a long tract of firm land ) whereupon they bore up to it ; yet notwithstanding they made all the sail they could , in ten hours sail they seem'd to be farther from it , than when first it appeared to their view . another told me that he saw it , and thereupon made up to it ( hoping to be greater than ever that great usurper trinkelo , or at least be vice-roy of this inchanted island . ) the sky was serene , the sea smooth , and hardly a breeze of wind stirring , when he made this attempt , and therefore was extremely troubled he could make no better way . whil'st he was thus perplexing himself , the island seem'd to float unto him with such celerity , that in a little time he could discover rocks , trees , and men of a prodigious stature , who as they mov'd , look'd like walking oaks , whose shaggy bushy hair outvy'd the spreading of their leav'd branchy tops ; and the waving of their hands , resembled much the turning of our wind-mills sails . on the shore , he saw infinite numbers of seeming beasts of several shapes , and all so dreadful and horrid to look on , that he could endure the sight no longer ; wherefore tacking , he stood away in such distraction , that he scarcely knew what he did : and that which contributed thereunto as much as his fear , he was immediately encompassed with a mist so thick , he could not see his hand before him ; yet could he see on the sides of the vessel , the masts and yards , innumerable small lights , which shifted their stations , and interchanged one with another , at length they all incorporated together , whence proceeded a great and unusual slash of lightning , attended with dreadful claps of thunder ; after which , the air grew clear , and serene again , but could not discover the least mark of what he had seen before . a third gave me this account of the island : that being one day abroad a fishing , he discovered land where he never saw any before ; and resolving to run the same hazard his brethren had done before , he made up to it : coming within musket-shot , as he imagin'd , he was saluted with such a broad-side of thunder , seconded with lightning , and such a tumbling sea , that had he not made all the sail he could homeward , he had undoubtedly slept in david jones his locker . in his return , he found the needle of his compass useless , whereupon he try'd another , and found that the like ; and therefore it was needless to apply himself to either . the last report i shall give you , is thus : a vessel being bound for the westward , and coming under the same latitude where this inchanted island is said to be scituate , she was suddenly surprized , and involved in a mist , yet stood under a very stiff gale ; whereupon she endeavour'd to lie by , but could not , for she would not answer to her helm . whilst the men were chasing and cursing , one instantly cryed out , land ! land ! helm-a-lee , for the love of god. the master being alarm'd at this dreadful noise , look'd out , and saw huge high rocks just upon his very bowe ; whereupon crying out suddenly to heaven for mercy , those rocks and land adjoyning immediately , seem'd to drop a curtsie under water , and the master thought the vessel sail'd clear over them . these strange and seeming incredible reports , made me very inquisitive after the truth thereof ; and in all my inquiries i found the relations of others so agreeable to the former , that they only differ'd in some few circumstances : from them all i gather'd what was most probable , and made a report thereof to some ingenious men of my acquaintance , who at first smiled at my fond credulity , and blamed my over-forward faith in believing a company of ignorant fellows , who had neither reason , nor sense enough to distinguish a blue cloud from land , which afar off looketh of the same complexion by reason of its distance ; and endeavoured to jeer me out of my opinion , by telling me it was as ridiculous as to think there are multiplicity of worlds , or that one wherein we live , had its matter and form from a confused conflux of atoms ; however , i could not be dispossest of my persuasion , but persisted therein , till i was farther confirmed by a dream , wherein i thought i had a view of the whole isle , and its inhabitants ; and thus it was : my brain not any wayes disturb'd by fumes proceeding from an over-running cup , which are causes of phantastick dreams , i fell asleep in a summers afternoon , and dream'd i saw an eagle unnaturally great , soaring in the air ; whilst i was wondring at his greatness , he immediately stoopt , and took , me up within his tallons , and flew away with me with incredible celerity over mountains and vallies , and at length brought me to the sea-side : where having rested a little while , he took me up again , and carried me to an island ; and having set me down , vanisht . i was sirangely amaz'd hereat , not knowing what to do , till at length a person of a lovely presence . with an angelical countenance , appear'd to me advising me to be of good courage , and follow him ; which i did accordingly ; but in our way we were obstructed by millions of devils , and horrid spectrums , whose shapes and forms were so afrightful , that had it not been for my guide , i should not have been able to have stirred a foot forward ; but by his encouragement i went on , and saw other very strange apparitions , such as would have startled the most undaunted he that wears a head . my guide having dissipated these , as well as the former , brought me at last unto a place which for soil and temperature of air might vye with any place in christendom ; here i gave my greedy eyes full liberty to feast on all the delicates nature is capable to produce , which are too many here to numerate . the verdant fields , and pleasant groves , were not to be parallel'd ; but no sign where any corn was sown : whatever grew , came up spontaneously , without the labour of the hands . i wondred that i saw no houses , nor people to inhabit them in such a paradise as this : whilst my eyes were busily inquiring into the excellency of such objects as presented themselves to my view , i saw men , women and children ascend out of the bowels of the earth ( as i thought ) who were all naked , very white , and well-featur'd , who all fell down , and seem'd to worship a deformed ill-shapen thing , which i judged was the devil ; hereupon i ask't my guide the meaning hereof , who with an austere countenance told me , that the isle was under the power of the prince of the air , and had been so for many years ; but the time is near at hand it shall be so no longer . the words were no sooner spoken , but there followed such loud peals of thunder , as if the foundation of the earth had been torn asunder , accompanied with such lightning seemingly to me , as if the element of fire had been placed in the lower region : these horrours were accompanied with such dismal sounds , that nothing else could better represent an infernal consort : this continued but a very little , and then the horizon grew as splendent as before , without the least disturbance . whilst i was in my greatest amazement , not knowing what to think or do , my guide vanish't , and the former eagle took me up in his tallons , and carried me the same way back again ; and having brought me to my habitation , left me , and then i awak't . then did i ponder with my self what this dream should signifie : after various considerations , i concluded this must be o brazeel , and that i was the man must be its happy discoverer . there wanted not arguments to flatter my self into this opinion ; and being over-joy'd , i instantly ran to a friend to tell him my dream , and how well it suited with the former reports concerning this inchanted island : this man did presently put great confidence in my dream , and readily consented not only to be assistant in this new discovery , but likewise to go himself in person , having at that time a vessel of his own of about thirty tuns ready fitted . no man could be fitter for this purpose than he and i : for we were both so indebted to the place wherein we were , that we only wanted a wind to sell the countrey . having concluded on the design , we made no delayes , but getting seamen aboard befitting our purpose , on october the 9th , 1672. we set sail , bearing our course due west , sometimes west and by south , and sometimes west-north-west , each traverse not exceeding fifteen leagues in longitude . we thus continued doing about seven dayes : on the eighth day in the morning , we espyed a blue cloud at west-south-west ; the sight hereof overjoy'd only the master , and my self ( for there was none of the seamen privy to our design ; ) and that we might the sooner enjoy the fruits of our longing expectations , we made all the sail we could up to it : the nearer our approach , the blacker it grew ; and having sail'd towards it about half a watch , it vanisht in an extraordinary flash of lightning . being troubled to be thus disappointed , we alter'd our course , and stood away to the northward till the next morning , lying by all the night . in the morning we tackt , and stood to the southward , and towards the evening we had sight of it again , and in the morning we seem'd to be very near it , and , as we thought , saw ships riding at anchor . now did we verily believe this must be o brazeel ; and whil'st the master and i were contending who should be the vice-roy , or have most power and authority therein , the wind rose high , and the sea began to skud against it , the sky was overcast , and the elements seemed to contend which should perform first the part of a merciless executioner . certainly neptune at this time wanted some pastime , and was resolved to play at tennis , bandying us to and fro like balls , making use of his billows for his rackets . thus were we tost up and down two dayes and nights at least ; which so discomposed my body ( being unaccustomed to such labour , and continual watching ) that i was forced to go into my cabin ; and though i was sensible of imminent danger , yet my wearied body could no longer hold out . just as i was rockt into a slumber , in came the master with more speed than ordinary , being quickned ( as any might imagine by his countenance ) with the sense and apprehension of some sudden ensuing danger ; had he gone about to conceal his fears , he could not have done it , they were written so legible in his face in the characters of horrour and amazement : which made me ask him , whether all was well ? he tremblingly , yet churlishly told me , i might sleep on , for 't was like to be my last . with that i leapt out , and coming on the deck , i saw a fellow at his prayers , who never said them , but when he thought he should as certainly dye , as be drunk when he came ashore : never did frightful ghost startle poor timerous mortals more , than the devout posture of that fellow did me , knowing it an infallible symptom or forerunner of immediate ruine and destruction . in this dismal and fatal exigency , i could hardly forbear smiling , ( though since i have condemn'd my vanity in that condition ) to see a fellow wringing of his hands , who had a nose some dayes before as red as any blood ; which blood was now so chill'd and congeal'd by fear , that it lookt like the end of a half-boil'd black-pudding . but to be serious , i made a diligent inquiry what should be the cause of their disorder'd and distracted looks ? i was answer'd by a file of deaths-heads , that our vessel had sprung a leak , and that there was no hope of safety . you may imagine what a strange metamorphosis these deadly words made in my face ; however , i presently bestir'd my self , and thought it requisite to use a helping hand , as well as a tongue , to cry god help . by my example , the rest fell to work , who were busie in doing nothing , and knew nothing what they did . i desired the master to go down into the hold , to find out the leak our ship had sprung ; who instantly return'd , and told me , that the leak was both inscrutable , and incurable ; for the water flow'd in so fast , that we must now number our dayes by one single minute . i never heard a deaths-head speak before ; and the truth of it is , he lookt much more like death himself , than his messenger : had he said not a word , we might have read our ruine in his countenance . there was now nothing more to be done , than to hoist our boat over-board ; which was as soon done , as commanded , and every one strove who should leap into it first ; i was the second , and having taken in four more , we put off from the ship-side , fearing lest the sinking ship should draw us in after it . now did we rowe we knew not whither , in a sea which seldom wears a smooth brow in autumn , which at this time contending with the wind , swell'd into prodigious mountains , which threatned every moment to be our monuments . and that which aggravated our misery , we had no sight of land in an open boat , no compass to guide , no provision to sustain us ; and the night growing on upon us , nothing could preserve us , but a miracle : and though the waves carried us up to heaven , yet there was no ground for our hope or belief , that god should put his hand out of a cloud , and take us miserable mortals to himself from the top of a surging wave ; neither could we expect to meet any ship ; for though many ships come from the same place , and bound for the same haven , yet they seldom meet in the vast ocean , and sail in the same line ; there are no beaten paths in the floods , no high-wayes and common roads in the sea. yet such was our good fortune , that we espied a sail making towards us , and we what we could towards it ; but having but two oars , we were not able to break the waves , and therefore made but little way . and now despair seized us again ; for notwithstanding all our endeavours , we could not reach this vessel , nor the vessel us : and now indeed i could not forbear shedding tears , although i had no need of more salt water . this our pregnant hopes brought forth nothing but wind and water ; and we that before , at the sight of this ship , flatter'd our selves with the assurance of safety , were now as much confounded with a certainty of perishing . for my part , i judg'd it a less affliction to have had no hopes at all of a deliverance , than presently to fall from it . questionless it did redouble the punishment of tantalus , to kiss those apples with his lips , which he must not taste with his tongue . but again we entertained fresh hopes : for in this our black and dismal night , we espied a light , which presently we row'd to with all might and main ; the ship standing towards us with more wind than her sails could well bear , came up quickly with us : we crying all out , she hung on the lee , and we came aboard of her ; we were entertained civilly by the master of the vessel , and his men , whom we understood by an english man on board , were wallisians , and were bound for montecapernia . notwithstanding we escaped so miraculously , and had such good entertainment from strangers ( when all hopes were lost ) yet our dejected countenances sufficiently declared the discontent of our minds , and desiring to be comforted as job was after our losses , with twice as much as we had before . the next morning the wind somewhat slackned , and the sea was less turbulent ; but towards night , it blew fresher than it did from the time of our shipwrack . the day being shut in , and the master knowing he was not far from land , was at his wits ends , being none of the best seaman ; and whil'st i was reading his fears in the confusion of his countenance , and thinking to advise him for the best , the ship struck against a clefted rock so violently , that there she stuck , till we had all the opportunity of leaping out ; but by reason of the darkness of the night , the master knew not where he was . with longing expectation to see the morning-star draw the curtain of the night , we roved to and fro , and found still firm footing on a spacious rock ; but as yet we had not light enough to discover us first to our selves ( being as yet in the dark ) as ignorant of our selves , as deplorable condition . never did night seem longer to any mortal , than this to me ; for besides that i was thinly clad , having cast off my coat , intending to swim , and had not leisure to put it on again , thinking it better to leave that behind , than my self ; i say , i had lost my shooes : so that though i was often up to the calf of the legs ( as i rambled up and down in the dark ) yet i could not say i was over shooes . and now the long-expected morning drew near , and we fain would have seen before we could . in that twilight , every black cloud we discern'd , we flattered our selves was some town , or village ; but when the sun arose , we found our selves on a rock , which was an island when our ship split upon it ; but the sea ebbing , left us a dry passage to the shore , which was about musket-shot distant . the tide coming in , made us hasten to the land , which was so fortified by nature with such high and almost-inaccessible rocks , that in our ascending them , we were in as great danger of breaking our necks , as before of drowning ; but at length , with much difficulty we got to the top , and then the master knew where he was , in his own countrey , viz. montecapernia ; notwithstanding his former loss , he was so over-joy'd that he knew where he was , that he leap't , and danc't : and for my part , i thought he would have skip't out of his breeches ; and that he might easily do , having a hundred ways for his passage . and now before i come to give you an account of our entertainment in this place , with a description thereof , and a character of the people ; give me leave to give you an account of our shipwrack in some few measured lines . a great sea-storm described , which hapned in the discovery of o brazeel , commonly called the inchanted island . nothing but air and water is in sight , and each ' gainst t'other did its force unite . the blustring winds let loose did raging fly , and made the water seem to scale the sky . much like to libertines let loose , will know no law to guide them , but astracy will go . the sea , to swell her teeming womb , brings forth wave after wave , and each of greater birth : waves grow to surges , surges billows turn ; the ocean is all tympany ; the urn of water is a brimmer ; neptune drinks so full a cup , it overslows the brinks : insulting waves , how durst ye proudly dash at heav'n , as though its cloudy face you 'd wash ! what is the lower water fully bent to mix with that above the firmament ? oy by invasion does it go about to put the element of fire quite out ? the sea roll'd up in mountains : o! 't is such , that penmen-maur's a wart , if 't be so much . which fall again into such hollow vales , i thought i 'd crost the sea by land o're wales . and then to add confusion to the seas , the sailers speak such babel words as these : hale in main-bowlin , mizen tack-aboard ; a language like a storm to be abhor'd . i know not which was loudest , their rude tongues , or the big winds with their whole cards of lungs . so hideous was the noise , that one might well fancy himself to be with souls in hell , but that the torments differ ; those souls are punisht with fire , but these with water here . our helm , that should our floating castle sway , we lasht it up , lest it should run away . our ship now under water seems to sail , like a toast drown'd within a tub of ale. our tatter'd sails did all hang down in pieces , like hedge that 's hung with rags , and beggars fleeces . our tackling crack't , as if it had been made to assist the fidlers , not the boat-swains trade . we pumpt our ship , but to as little end , as to repent , yet never to amend : for all the water we pumpt out with pain , the sea with scorn returns , and more again . the guns on board , design'd for our defence , heav'n thundred so , it almost sear'd them thence . and yet to heav'n for this give thanks we may , but for its lightning we had had no day . drinking salt-water now the glouds grow sick , and spew●d it down upon our heads so thick , that 'twixt the low , and upper seas that fell , the ship a vessel seem'd , and we mackrell pickl'd in brine , and in our cabins lie , souc't up therein for immortality . the fear of being drowned , made us wish our selves transpeciated into fish . indeed this fear did so possess each one , all look't like shotten-herring , or poor-john . nay , of our saving there was so much doubt , the pilots faith began to tack about ; and had he perisht in this doubtful fit , his conscience sure with the same ship had split ; for which way into heav'n his soul could steer , star-board or lar-board , that still cryes no neer ? but we were in great danger , you will say , if seamen once begin to kneel , and pray . what holy church ne're could , the seas have done , made seamen buckle to devotion ; and force from them their litany , whilst thus they whimper out , good lord , deliver us : so i pray too , good lord , deliver me henceforth from being taught to pray at sea. this wallisian skipper ( who had so much compassion as to take us into his vessel ) had so much good nature to conduct us to a house he knew , which was the parson's of a neighbouring village , by whom we were welcomed . having dryed , and refreshed ourselves , we fell into some discourse with mr. parson , and his wife ; and though they spake but little english , yet they indifferently understood the said iliads of our misfortunes , which they exprest by their tears , weeping bitterly at our relation , so that one would have thought they had suffered shipwrack , and not we . what meat they had , they did set before us ; and we fell to it so heartily , as if we would have repaired all we lost before by our long fasting , at one meal . their bread was broad oat-cakes baked on a flat stone , made of stuff much like that which the welsh call haver-meal ; but their beer is very strong , which they brew on purpose , as i imagine , to verifie the proverb , good drink , is meat , drink , and cloth : for in the coldest season they will go bare-foot , and be clad very thin ; but they will be sure to keep their understandings warm , and line their insides well with their potent liquor . the next day , the parson to express his kindness in a more liberal manner , desired us all to dine with him : we had but one dish for entertainment , and that so cram'd with such variety of gods creatures , that this dish seem'd to me to be the first chapter of genesis ; there was beef , mutton , goats , and kids-flesh , bacon , roots , &c. and all so confounded , that the best palate could not read what he did eat , nor by his taste know and distinguish the several sorts of creatures : though i was hungry enough , i did not like their thus working meat into a new chaos , and saucing the creators creatures out of the knowledge of mankind . but when i understood that this hodge-podge proceeded more from custom , than curiosity ; and that this was one point of their good husbandry , to boyle all together to save charges , my former censure was somewhat mitigated . the parson took so great a liking to me , that he would not be denied , but that i should stay with him one month ; to which , with much intreaty , i consented : the rest of the company took such courses as were most convenient for their present condition . in this time he brought me acquainted with many gentlemen of this countrey , one whereof so prevailed with me , as to live with him two years ; in which time , i took these true ensuing observations of the countrey : if they are not so large and full as expected , let my small stay in that place make my apology . the description of montecapernia , with the natures of the people , their qualities , humours , modes , fashions , and religion . montecapernia is divided into two great parts , south and north ; and it may well admit of this division , since there is so great a difference in the manners and language of both places ; the south understanding the north , for the most part , as little as the english do the cornish . the name montecapernia , seems to be derived from the latin mons and caper , as much as to say , montes caprorum , mountains of goats ; and so it may properly have that appellation , since there are few countries afford greater plenty of them ; whose nature is such , they will climb cragged and almost inaccessible high mountains , and dangerous precipices , with as much facility as a squirrel shall a tree . montecapernia to the southward , is a countrey inricht with natures chiefest treasures ; the fruitfulness of whose soil may vye with most places of the universe . their hills for height are dreadful to the eye ; and although they seem almost inaccessible , yet are very profitable to the inhabitants , not only as to the mines of coals , lead , and silver , contain'd within the bowels of these mountains , but also to the good common they afford to vast numbers of sheep , which are but small , yet very sweet mutton , whose fleece employs many hands in that countrey ; which plentifully supplies many more near adjacent , with good serviccable cloth , frize , flannel , &c. neither is the northward of this countrey so barren , but that the land produceth what is necessary for the sustenance , profit , and pleasure of the inhabitants . their beasts in general are but small , yet such ( as are for food ) much more indulge the palate , than any flesh in other parts ; what are for labour , are very serviceable , being full of mettle , exceeding hardy , and will carry burdens , the greatness whereof would startle any mans belief . the countrey is water'd by many excellent rivers and rivulets , which are furnished with great numbers of variety of fish ; one sort whereof i took special notice of , having never seen the like before ; the natives call it a mort , they are of all sizes , speckled with red spots on the side , some whereof are as big as a salmon , and eat exactly like it . their seas round about supply them with all manner of shell-fish , and other sorts , the choicest which ever came to neptunes table ; which they convey to other countries circumjacent , and thereby make a very great advantage . their marshes and rivers ( of which they have plenty ) are visited by multitudes of wild-fowl in the winter-season ; their hills are stor'd with woodcock , groust , heath-cock , &c. nor are they a little stored with red-deer , hares , and rabbits . fish and flesh of all sorts are sold cheaper than can be imagin'd ; as a quarter of mutton for eight pence , an ell-long salmon for ten pence , a pullet for a groat , and in some places ( according to the season ) twenty eggs a penny . i know not whether this cheapness may arise from the plenty of the aforesaid provision , or the scarcity of money . the people in general are great admirers of their pedigree , and have got their genealogy so exactly by heart , that though it be two hours work for them to repeat the names only from whence they are descended lineally , yet will they not omit one word in half a dozen several repetitions ; from whence i gather , they say them instead of their pater noster , or their evening and their morning prayers . the gentry ( for the most part ) are extracted from very ancient families , who are adored by the commonalty ; and to give them their due , are good natur'd gentlemen , exceeding free , and courteous to strangers , and extraordinary generous in their entertainments ; insomuch that i have seen in a gentlemans house of indifferent estate , at a moderate treat , twenty dishes , many of them trebly jointed , to recompence the smallness of the meat . their want of wine is supply'd by most incomparable beer and ale , which runs as free as water on a visit ; and if you do not drink as freely , they think they have not made you welcome ; so that a man knows not how to take leave , till he is unable to stir a foot . they are very courteous in their speech , and noble in their carriage , firm ( where they take ) and constant in their resolutions , splendid in their publick ceremonies ( of shrievalry , and the like ) couragious , stout , and great lovers of their prince and countrey ; honourable in their inclinations , and resolute in their enterprizes . in short , they are generally accomplisht in most respects , and greatly given to that they call hospitality . as i have thus characteriz'd the good , so take the bad with it , according to my observation , during my abode in this countrey : the purest wheat will have its chaff , and there is no wine but hath some lees. travelling into some places of no mean extent , i thought my self to be at the fag-end , or a — of the world ; the land being so exceeding barren , and destitute of wood , that for ten or twenty miles together ( cross the countrey ) you could not see a bush to tye your horse to , till you have untrust a point ; and therefore you must either bridle your mouth to stay your horse , or trust to the tame nature , and good conditions of the beast ; who if he be inclin'd to cool his mouth with a tuft of grass , he may sooner find it in a feather-bed ; but if the quickness of the air hath given him an appetite to eat , and a stomack to digest heath , moss , and scragged stones , he cannot want provision . the people in these barren places have so little converse with travellers , and the paths are so untrodden , that a man must aim at the way by guess , or carry a compass with him : and yet he may easily mistake the most noted road ; which if he do , he had need have recourse to his devotion for his miraculous deliverance from riding twenty-four hours , and never the nearer his journies end ; nay , it may be not six miles distant from whence he stray'd , and in all his travels see nothing but a flock of geese , some scattered sheep , half a dozen ragged colts , and now and then a few crows flying over his head , unless by chance under the side of some hill ( if near a common road ) he discovers a smoke , which if he make towards ( and happily escape a bogg ( of which the hills afford great plenty , and very dangerous too ) yet will it be difficult to discern the stately mansion whence the smoke arose , till his horses feet be very near the roof ; such is the natives care in sheltring themselves within the walls of nature : and upon this account , i have heard several of them brag of the strength and strange scituation of their towns , one whereof i had described to me , which engaged my curiosity to see it ; whence i took this observation . it is scituated in a little vale , encompassed round with walls , which are a mile thick , and more ; the entrance into the town is under water , and the steeple belonging to the town , grows every years . this place lies to the norward of montecapernia ; and though it be contemptible for its buildings ; yet is often made the place for the general assize of that county , where the justices of oyer and terminer sit : where note , that this countrey is governed by as wholesom laws as any other countrey . now to unriddle the aforesaid description , the town is built in a hole , encompassed with very great and high hills , which meet in their tops almost at the entrance into town , by which means there is a trough made over the passage from one hill to the other , for a conveyance of a watry brook , which otherwise would annoy the passage into town : under this trough the people travel , which is their going under water into town : as for the steeple , they have none , but the bell hangs in an yew-tree in the church-yard ; and there lies the quibble , that the steeple grows every year . they boast of other strange things they have in their countrey , namely , a great green bridge two or three miles in length , on which ( like that under which the river anus runs in spain ) they can feed two or three hundred head of cattle . it seems there is a river in this countrey that runs some miles under-ground , and disimbogues it self into the sea ; the inhabitants report , if a goose should be put into this river , and she swim through this earthen bridge , she will come out with never a feather on her back ; the cause to me is occult and hidden . there is another place far within the land , through which , at high-water , the sea will dash up a considerable height , with a noise both horrible and hideous ; this is occasioned by the concav'd earth , giving an inlet to the sea. they talk of a well also they have , in which there is thirty steps to descend into it ; in the stony side whereof , there is the exact impression of a man , which they say was christ ( by which you may gather the montecapernians have heard of our saviour : ) this impression was occasioned , as they say , when our saviour descending this well to drink , he lean'd against the wall , which was so tender-natur'd as to yield to his sides and limbs , lest its hardness should hurt any of them . though these things may seem incredible , yet i can assure this , that they will talk to one another above two miles distant ; that is , one shall stand on the top of one high hill , and the other upon the other : and though their tops are near , yet in the descending of one , and ascending the other hill , reckoning the interval between , and it will not amount to less than two miles : this they will brag of too ; and to shew their wit , will tell you pretty stories ; as for example , that two fathers , and two sons , kill'd three hares , and each carried home one , and no more ; that is , there was grandfather , father and son : and to amuse you , will tell you , that one of their countreymen caught a fox , a salmon , and a pheasant at one draught in a net ; that is , the net was laid for the pheasant , in a small wood near the sea-side , where was a wyer in which was a salmon , which the fox getting , ran with it into the wood , and so into the net , just as he was drawing for the pheasant , and so caught them all three . the montecapernian cots are generally built on the side of a hill , not to be discerned till you just come upon them . the cottage is usually raised three foot from the eves to the ground on the one side , and the other side hath a rock for a wall to save charges , in regard carriage is dear , and money but scarce , especially to such , who never see it but once in seven years , when out of pure devotion they go to the next market-town in the season to receive the consirmation of their faith , by sipping of wine out of a silver cup , which the parsons wife sets all the year after for a grace on the cupboard , and frequently serves for a brandy-taster . if for nothing else , but for their taking the sacrament , you may know they are no heathens . the hearth is placed in the middle of the house , and their fuel is made of earth and cow-dung dryed in the sun ; the smoke goes through no particular place , but breaks through every part between the rods or wattles of which they make their doors , sides , and roof of the house , which commonly is no bigger than an overgrown pig-stye ; to which they have two doors , one alwayes shut on that side where the wind blows ; from whence i believe it is , that they brag they have the quickest arenitects in all the world , because they can build a house in a day . the houses seem to mourn for the sterility of the countrey , being hung all in black , occasioned by the smoke ; and but look up , you may see the oyle of smoke naturally extracted , beyond the art of chymistry , hanging on the rods ; which if it chance to fall upon your cloaths , i 'll warrant you are marked for a black sheep , nor shall the art of man remove the stain . they delight not in variety of rooms , hating three stories , as a zealot does the triple-crown ; and that they may have all their family about them inclosed in one room , the good-man and his wife have their bed raised up about half as high as the roof , which is the teaster to their bed , made of straw or rushes , according to cold or warmer weather . the sheets are the womans smock , which ( if she be a good housewife ) shall contain her smaller children on the one side , and her husband on the other , when closed up ; and he peeping out at her bosom , you would take it to be an hermaphroditical monster , big with child , and ready to be delivered . they get into this bed by a stone or two set by the side : the man and wife lie at one end , and what children they have ( boyes and girles ) lie at the other , their feet meeting all together higgle-de-piggle-dee . the rest of the family they dispose of thus : a goat or an ewe they tye to the beds-feet ; over their heads roost their cocks and hens , and now and then shew the nature of their name , foul the foul faces of their master and dame ; this dung likewise serves instead of soap when they have occasion to wash , which is but seldom , having nothing besides their cloaths to wear , but a neck-cloth , and a flannel smock . their general food is a thin oat-cake , which they bake upon a broad flat stone made hot , a little sheeps-milk cheese , or goats-milk , boyl'd leeks , and some roots ; but seldom eat flesh , or drink strong beer , but at fairs , and publick solemnities : and then it is pity , for at any time small-beer will set their heads afloat , and their tongues into a perpetual motion , talk of nothing but pedigrees , grow quarrelsom , fight with their own heels , and may be lose their stockings and shooes before they get home , which else might last them an age , in regard they never wear them , but carry them on their backs , going bare-foot , till they come near a market-town , where men and women alike , with an inch-pipe filled with pigs-tail , or mundungus tobacco , and a great turf of fire to light it , sit down on the ground , and put on their stockings and shooes to go in , and at their return , at the same place , pull them off again ; being more afraid to scratch their shooes , than cut their feet and toes : whose skin is so hardned , that men , women and children , in the midst of winter , go bare-foot on sharp stones , pieces of ice , edge or side , all alike to them ; for which reason there are few shoocmakers in the countrey , because commonly their shooes last them an age. at other times , their drink is either three parts water , and a fourth milk , which they call glastor , or a handful of crabs bruised and laid asoak in a bowl-full of running water , for two or three hours . they have another sort of drink called whigg , which is a kind of a sour whey . likewise they have a drink call'd sicken-pen-fon , cold water poured on the grains . the people are naturally inclin'd to pride ; and to shew the antiquity of their family , some of them derive themselves the immediate and next of kinde to adam . it is a thousand pities the people are so sloathful , being given to no manner of industry , husbandry , or any other useful improvement ; which partly occasions the barrenness of the countrey so much to appear , that otherwise by active spirits might easily evince the contrary : for though they have many hills , mountains , and boggs , yet have they matchless rich vallies . it may be conjectured their sloathfulness may in part be occasioned by their ignorance ; some of the indifferent sort being brought up to read , and by the pretence of centility , scorning a trade , never heed the farther improvement of their fortunes , or understandings , till the father dyes , and the elder brother possess the estate . they are a people generally envious , especially of the rise of their neighbours ; naturally pragmatical , and inquisitive after others affairs , and alwayes blabbing , and telling tales ; and so litigious , that they are ready to go to law , if they see their neighbours horse put his head over their hedge , or his goose at their barns-door . the women are infected with the like quarrelsom humour . i have seen two women about some trivial matter , fall together by the ears ; the men took each others part , one neighbour seconded one , and the next another ; till they had engaged two thirds of the town in the quarrel , and none of them knew for what they fought , or how the fray began ; and to be revenged the more of one another , they sent the next opportunity for process in battery , trespass , scaadal , and i know not what : and then to law they went ( for they love it above any thing ) when they had spent their money , they were forced to put it to a reference , and then are at another charge in treating the arbitrators , and their friends ; who having feasted themselves , leave the business as they found it : and yet this great charge and trouble will not dissuade them from following these litigious courses , but are never at quiet , but when they have some suit or other depending : their lawyers taking notice of the temper of the people , promote the differences , in humouring their fancies ; by which means , they continually drain their pocket , and this is one great cause of their general poverty . the commonalty are extremely awed by their superiours ; in such sort , a tenant fears as much to speak against a lord of the mannor , or their next powerful neighbour , as wiser men would dread to speak treason against a prince , under whose allegiance be lives , and hath sworn to . and i have heard say , that some of them will swear and forswear any thing , that may tend to the benefit of that landlord from whom he hath any dependance , and think it no great crime . many notorious vices are among them , which they look upon to be things of another complexion ; and this i believe proceeds from their ignorance in religion : and that ignorance is occasioned by their superiours , who in these latter years , have ingrost to themselves all church-lands , and allowance for the clergy . in several places it is so small , that six such portions will scarcely keep a single man alive . i knew one that had to the value of but eighteen shillings english money per annum , to officiate in divine service on the sabbath day ; and therefore all the rest of the week he was forc'd to thatch , thresh , or wrought otherwayes for three pence a day . the next thing we shall treat of , is the particular parts of worship in their religion ; and first for baptism , they generally do carry the child to the church , as soon as born , if the church be near , where at the font the child is named by the godfathers and godmothers , with a short ceremony ; all whose christian names , with the parents , are conjoyned , which if wrote at length , would blot more paper than the titles of the grand seignior . the women are of a very strong constitution , the midling sort hardly keeping their beds three dayes at a lying in ; and the fourth day will give no quarter to the groaning ale , fight the fifth , and it may be go to church the sixth , with the mark of the lord of northumberland's arms under the callicoe hood , which they wear for a kerchief . their marriages are made like bargains of old , like a pig in a poke unseen ; for the parents meet over a cup of nappy ale , where making some bargain for wheat , oats , or any other necessary thing they want , at last strike up a match between their son and daughter : this serves instead of wooing , by which means the first meeting is seldom till the man comes to fetch the woman to church , attended with a rabble of all the relations , who must out of pure love not be sober that whole week , and then the next sunday attend them to church again ; and there ends the ceremony . they have no scruples in their marriages ( as i could hear of ) for the nearest of kin often intermarries with the other , one man frequently marrying two sisters , &c. their burials retain something of the relicts of popish ceremony : for next night after the decease of the person , every friend , neighbour and relation comes to his house , and brings each a candle , and a gun of ale , where this jovial crew light up their lights , making a good fire , and then drink remembrances of the dead , till some of them lose their own , and for want of feet stand in need as much of bearers home , as the corps to the grave . when the time comes to carry it out , which is within three or four dayes after the decease of the person , the priest in his surplice walks before the guests , round the corps , all confusedly , and the corps in the middle : being near the church , the men put off their hats , and then men and women fet up together such a hideous cry , that i can resemble it to nothing more proper , than to that , drowning men make when the ship is sinking : this they continue till they come to the church , where the priest in his own language reads a little service . and here observe the policy of the priest : for having no certain fee allowed for burials , but by custom receives the free-will-offering of the next of kin , and friends to the deceased ; he will be sure , for fear he lose any of the guests , to stop in the midst of the service , and leaying his book open , stands with his face directly against the corps ; by which dumb signs , the people knowing his mind , they make their offering . the first of kin goes to the communion-table , and throws down his benevolence , perhaps a six-pence , if he be a brother , or so near a relation . the rest by pence , or two-pence , do so increase the parsons stock , that it may amount to three or four shillings . after this he goes on merrily with the remaining part of the divine service ; and having finisht it , away to the ale-house , where he is sure to have his charge born for that day . another strange passage they have at their burials , which i had almost omitted ; that is , they first give wheaten loaves to the poor , and as the corps stands at the door on a bier , the next of kin to the deceased , taketh a new wooden bowl ( never used ) filled with the best liquor they have , and half a dozen wheaten loaves , with a good piece of cheese , and gives it cross the corps to any whom he fancies to be the poorest beggar ; who receives the same , and immediately drinks the liquor , with a blessing to the soul departed . desiring to be satisfied concerning the meaning of that strange ceremony , they answered , that the souls of the deceased in their rambles in the elizium , do meet with a sweet-tasting pleasant fountain , of which each soul doth drink his bowl ; and if that ceremony were not performed at the burial of the deceased , they think that soul would want those necessaries in its supposed ramble thither . their sunday is the most leisure-day they have , on which they use all manner of sports ; in every field a fiddle , and the lasses footing it till they are all of a foam , and grow infinitely proud with the blear-eye of affection her sweet-heart casts on her feet , as she dances , to a tune , and no tune , play'd on an instrument that makes a worser noise than a key upon a gridiron . their greatest zeal , is in keeping sacred some old sayings of their great grandsires , and preserving sacred some old relict of their grandmothers ; in both of which they are so strict , that for the first , if they hear one whistle in the night , they are afraid , and will avoid you ; because , say they , our ancestors told us , that such as whistle in the night , convers'd with the devil , and call those spirits in the air together , by such sound , to confer with them . the relicts of their grandmothers are as severe ; for if she leave but an old chair , a wooden spoon , or any other trifle to them , they will preserve it sacred , fearing to prejudice it in the least ; should any such thing accidentally happen , they would absolutely conclude it did presage some harm ensuing . they are great lovers of women , especially such of their own countrey ; and so unsensible of the guilt , that they glory in the crime , and brag of their spurious issue . a gentleman of good note , whom i knew , had so many , that he knew them not when he saw them : several strange women whom he knew not , taking notice of this advantage , did frequently send their children to him , who to be rid of them quickly , gave them his formal blessing , with some small piece of money . i have heard of two other gentlemen as libidinous as the former , the uncle and nephew ; the latter of which living in the metropolis of montecapernia , had a very handsom maid to his servant ; yet although he had an incomparable beauty to his wife , nothing would serve his turn but the enjoyment of his maid-servant : few persuasions were required to induce her to that which her own inclinations led her to ; so that in a little time she was wholly at her masters devotion . not long after , she prov'd with child ; and that he might not incur the displeasure of his virtuous wife ( not that he fear'd the blemishing of his reputation for having a bastard ) he sent her whil'st she was young with child to his uncle , that there she might privately lie in , and no notice be taken . the uncle receiv'd her , and became his nephews confident in his stoll'n amours , without reproving him for his wantonness . now , as one kindness deserves another ; so the uncle having gotten this same woman with child a , little time after her delivery , and sending her to his nephew to lie in , the nephew could do no less than receive her ; and did so , concealing the ignominy of his uncle as much as in him lay . such was their success in not being discovered ( the wenches mouth being stopt with money ) that the nephew sell to work again with her as soon as she had delivered her loading ; and getting her with child , sent her back to his uncle : and thus they sent her as a token one to the other , till they had got six children between them ; and had she not dy'd a little after she was quick of the seventh , there might have been a generation between them as long as the first chapter of matthew . more might be said in landem & vituperium , in the praise and dispraise of montecapernia ; but my stay being there but a very little , i wanted both information , and further observation . finis . the isle of pines, or, a late discovery of a fourth island near terra australis incognita by henry cornelius van sloetten. neville, henry, 1620-1694. 1668 approx. 59 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 17 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a52852 wing n506 estc r27644 10065316 ocm 10065316 44480 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a52852) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 44480) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1336:22) the isle of pines, or, a late discovery of a fourth island near terra australis incognita by henry cornelius van sloetten. neville, henry, 1620-1694. [1], 31 p., 1 leaf of plates : ill. printed for allen banks and charles harper, london : 1668. "wherein is contained a true relation of certain english persons who, in queen elizabeths time, making a voyage to the east indies, were cast away and wracked near to the coast of terra australis incognita and all drowned except one man and four women. and now lately anno dom. 1667, a dutch ship making a voyage to the east indies, driven by foul weather there, by chance have found their posterity (speaking good english) to amount (as they suppose) to ten or twelve thousand persons. the whole relation ... is here annexed with the longitude and latitude of the island, the scituation and felicity thereof with other matter observable." attributed by wing to henry neville. reproduction of original in the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages, imaginary. pines, isle of (new caledonia) 2003-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-07 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-01 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2004-01 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a description of y e isle of pines how they were cast away gathering there ship wracke pine numbring his people the dutch ship taking the writing the isle of pines , or , a late discovery of a fourth island near terra australis , incognita by henry cornelius van sloetten . wherein is contained . a true relation of certain english persons , who in queen elizabeths time , making a voyage to the east indies were cast away , and wracked near to the coast of terra australis , incognita , and all drowned , except one man and four women . and now lately anno dom. 1667. a dutch ship making a voyage to the east indies , driven by foul weather there , by chance have found their posterity , ( speaking good english ) to amount ( as they suppose ) to ten or twelve thousand persons . the whole relation ( written , and left by the man himself a little before his death , and delivered to the dutch by his grandchild ) is here annexed with the longitude and latitude of the island , the scituation and felicity thereof , with other matter observable . licensed iuly 27. 1668. london , printed for allen banks and charles harper next door to the three squerrills in fleet-street , over against st. dunstans church , 1668. two letters concerning the island of pines to a credible person in covent garden . amsterdam , iune the 29th 1668. it is written by the last post from rochel , to a merchant in this city , that there was a french ship arrived , the master and company of which reports , that about 2 or 300 leagues northwest from cape finis terre , they fell in with an island , where they went on shore , and found about 2000 english people without cloathes , only some small coverings about their middle , and that they related to them , that at their first coming to this island ( which was in queen elizabeths time ) they were but five in number men and women , being cast on shore by distress or otherwise , and had there remained ever since , without having any correspondence with any other people , or any ship coming to them . this story seems very fabulous , yet the letter is come to a known merchant , and from a good hand in france , so that i thought fit to mention it , it may be that there may be some mistake in the number of the leagues , as also of the exact point of the compass , from cape finis terre ; i shall enquire more particularly about it . some english here suppose it may be the island of brasile which have been so oft sought for , southwest from ireland , if true , we shall hear further about it ; your friend and brother , abraham keek . amsterdam , iuly the 6th , 1668. it is said that the ship that discovered the island , of which i hinted to you in my last , is departed from rochel , on her way to zealand , several persons here have writ thither to enquire for the said vessel , to know the truth of this business . i was promised a copy of the letter that came from france , advising the discovery of the island abovesaid , but it 's not yet come to my hand ; when it cometh , or any further news about this island , i shall acquaint you with it , your friend and brother , a. keek . the isle of pines , discovered near to the coast of terra australis incognita , by henry cornelius van sloetten , in a letter to a friend in london , declaring the truth of his voyage to the east indies . sir , i received your letter of this second instant , wherein you desire me to give you a further account concerning the land of pines , on which we were driven by distress of weather the last summer , i also perused the printed book thereof you sent me , the copy of which was surreptiously taken out of my hands , else should i have given you a more fuller account upon what accasion we came thither , how we were entertained , with some other circumstances of note wherein that relation is defective . to satisfie therefore your desires , i shall briefly yet fully give you a particular account thereof , with a true copy of the relation itself ; desiring you to bear with my blunt phrases , as being more a seaman then a scholler . april the 26 th 1667. we set sail from amsterdam , intending for the east-indies ; our ship had to name the place from whence we came , the amsterdam burthen 350. tun , and having a fair gale of wind , on the 27 of may following we had a sight of the high peak of tenriffe belonging to the canaries , we have touched at the island palma , but having endeavoured it twice , and finding the winds contrary , we steered on our couse by the isles of cape verd , or insulae capitis viridis , where at st. iames's we took in fresh water , with some few goats , and hens , where with that island doth plentifully abound . iune the 14. we had a sight of madagascar , or the island of st. laurence , an island of 4000 miles in compass , and scituate under the southern tropick ; thither we steered our course , and trafficked with the inhabitants for knives , beads , glasses and the like , having in exchange thereof cloves and silver . departing from thence , we were incountred with a violent storm , and the winds holding contrary , for the space of a fortnight , brought us back almost as far as the isle del principe ; during which time many of our men fell sick , and some dyed , but at the end of that time it pleased god the wind favoured us again , and we steered on our course merrily , for the space of ten days : when on a sudden we were encountered with such a violent storm , as if all the four winds together had conspired for our destruction , so that the stoutest spirit of us all quailed , expecting every hour to be devoured by that merciless element of water , sixteen dayes together did this storm continue , though not with such violence as at the first , the weather being so dark all the while , and the sea so rough , that we knew not in what place we were , at length all on a sudden the wind ceased , and the air cleared , the clouds were all dispersed , and a very serene sky followed , for which we gave hearty thanks to the almighty , it being beyond our expectation that we should have escaped the violence of that storm . at length one of our men mounting the main-mast espyed fire , an evident sign of some countrey near adjoyning , which presently after we apparently discovered , and steering our course 〈◊〉 nigher , we saw several persons promiscuously running about the shore , as it were wondering and admiring at what they saw : being now near to the land , we manned out our long boat with ten persons , who approaching the shore , asked them in our dutch tongue wat eylant is dit ? to which they returned this answer in english , that they knew not what we said . one of our company named ieremiah hanzen who understood english very well , hearing their words discourst to them in their own language ; so that in fine we were very kindly invited on shore , great numbers of them flocking about us , admiring at our cloaths which we did wear , as we on the other side did to find in such a strange place , so many that could speak english , and yet to go naked . four of our men returning back in the long boat to our ships company , could hardly make them believe the truth of what they had seen and heard , but when we had brought our ship into harbour , you would have blest your self to see how the naked islanders flocked unto us , so wondering at our ship , as if it had been the greatest miracle of nature in whole world. we were very courteously entertained by them , presenting us with such food as that countrey afforded , which indeed was not to be despised ; we eat of the flesh both of beasts , and fowls , which they had cleanly drest , though with no great curiosity , as wanting materials , wherewithal to do it ; and for bread we had the inside or kernel of a great nut as big as an apple , which was very wholsome , and sound for the body , and tasted to the pallat very delicious . having refreshed our selves , they invited us to the pallace of their prince or chief ruler , some two miles distant off from the place where we landed ; which we found to be about the bigness of one of our ordinary village houses , it was supported with rough unhewn pieces of timber , and covered very artificially with boughs , so that it would keep out the greatest showers of rain , the sides thereof were adorned vvith several sorts of flowers , which the fragrant fields there do yield in great variety . the prince himself ( whose name was william pine the grandchild of george pine that was first on shore in this island ) came to his pallace door and saluted us very courteously , for though he had nothing of majesty in him , yet had he a courteous noble and deboneyre spirit , where with your english nation ( especially those of the gentry ) are very much indued . scarce had he done saluting us when his lady or wife , came likewise forth of their house or pallace , attended on by two maid-servants , she was a woman of an exquisite beauty , and had on her head as it were a chaplet of flowers , which being intermixt with several variety of colours became her admirably . her privities were hid with some pieces of old garments , the relicts of those cloaths ( i suppose ) of them which first came hither , and yet being adorned with flowers those very rags seemeth beautiful ; and indeed modesty so far prevaileth over all the female sex of that island , that with grass and flowers interwoven and made strong by the peelings of young elms ( which grow the●● in great plenty ) they do plant together so many of them as serve to cover those parts which nature would have hidden . we carried him as a present some few knives , of which we thought they had great need , an ax or hatchet to ●ll wood , which was very acceptable unto him , the old one which was cast on shore at the first , and the only one that they ever had , being now so quite blunt and dulled , that it would not cut at all , some few other things we also gave him , which he very thankfully accepted , inviting us into his house or pallace , and causing us to sit down with him , where we refreshed our selves again , with some more countrey viands which were no other then such we tasted of before ; prince and peasant here faring alike , nor is there any difference betwixt their drink , being only fresh sweet water , which the rivers yield them in great abundance . after some little pause , our companion ( who could speak english ) by our request desired to know of him something concerning their original and how that people speaking the language of such a remote countrey should come to inhabit there , having not , as we could see , any ships or boats amongst them the means to bring them thither , and which was more , altogether ignorant and meer strangers to ships , or shipping , the main thing conducible to that means , to which request of ours , the courteous prince thus replyed . friends ( for so your actions declare you to be , and shall by ours find no less ) know that we are inhabitants of this island of no great standing , my grandfather being the first that ever set foot on this shore , whose native countrey was a place called england , far distant from this our land , as he let us to understand ; he came from that place upon the waters , in a thing called a ship , of which no question but you may have heard ; several other persons were in his company , not intending to have come hither ( as he said ) but to a place called india , when tempestuous weather brought him and his company upon this coast , where falling among the rocks his ship split all in pieces ; the whole company perishing in the waters , saving only him and four women , which by means of a broken piece of that ship , by divine assistance got on land. what after passed ( said he ) during my grandfathers life , i shall show you in a relation thereof written by his own hand , which he delivered to my father being his eldest son , charging him to have a special care thereof , and assuring him that time would bring some people or other thither to whom he would have him to impart it , that the truth of our first planting here might not be quite lost , which his commands my father dutifully obeyed ; but no one coming he at his death delivered the same with the like charge to me , and you being the first people , which ( besides our selves ) ever set footing in this island , i shall therefore in obedience to my grandfathers and fathers commands , willingly impart the same unto you . then stepping into a kind of inner room , which as we conceived was his lodging chamber , he brought forth two sheets of paper fairly written in english , ( being the same relation which you had printed with you at london ) and very distinctly read the same over unto us , which we hearkened unto with great delight and admiration , freely proffering us a copy of the same , which we afterward took and brought away along with us ; which copy hereafter followeth . a way to the east india's being lately discovered by sea , to the south of aff●ick by certain portugals , far more safe and profitable then had been heretofore ; certain english merchants encouraged by the great advantages arising from the eastern commodities , to settle a factory there for the advantage of trade . and having to that purpose obtained the queens royal licence anno dom. 1569. 11. or 12. eliz. furnisht out for those parts four ships , my master being sent as factor to deal and negotiate for them , and to settle there , took with him his whole family , ( that is to say ) his wife , and one son of about twelve years of age , and one daughter of about fourteen years , two maidservants , one negro female slave , and my self , who went under him as his book-keeper , with this company on monday the third of april next following , ( having all necessaries for house-keeping when we should come there , we embarqued our selves in thegood ship called the india merchant , of about four hundred and fifty tuns burthen , and having a good wind , we on the fourteenth day of may had sight of the canaries , and not long after of the isles of cape vert , or verd , where taking in such things as were necessary for our voyage , and some fresh provisions , we stearing our course south , and a point east , about the first of august came within sight of the island of st. hellen , where we took in some fresh water , we then set our faces for the cape of good hope , where by gods blessing after some sickness , whereof some of our company died , though none of our family ; and hitherto we had met with none but calm weather , yet so it pleased god , when we were almost in sight of st. laurence , an island so called , one of the greatest in the world , as marriners say , we were overtaken and dispersed by a great storm of wind , which continued with such violence many days , that losing all hope of safety , being out of our own knowledge , and whether we should fall on flats or rocks , uncertain in the nights , not having the least benefit of the light , we feared most , alwayes wishing for day , and then for land , but it came too soon for our good ; for about the first of october , our fears having made us forget how the time passed to a certainty ; we about the break of day discerned land ( but what we knew not ) the land seemed high and rockey , and the sea continued still very stormy and tempestuous , insomuch as there seemed no hope of safety , but looked suddenly to perish . as we grew near land , perceiving no safety in the ship , which we looked would suddenly be beat in pieces : the captain , my master , and some others got into the long boat , thinking by that means to save their lives , and presently after all the seamen cast themselves over-board , thinking to save their lives by swimming , onely my self , my masters daughters , the two maids , and the negro were left on board , for we could not swim , but those that left us , might as well have tarried with us , for we saw them , or most of them perish , ourselves now ready after to follow their fortune , but god was pleased to spare our lives , as it were by miracle , though to further sorrow ; for when we came against the rocks , our ship having endured two or three blows against the rocks , ( being now broken and quite foundred in the waters , we having with much ado gotten our selves on the bowspright , which being broken off , was driven by the waves into a small creek , wherein fell a little river , which being encompassed by the rocks , was sheltered from the wind , so that we had opportunity to land ourselves , ( though almost drowed ) in all four persons , besides the negro : when we were got upon the rock , we could perceive the miserable wrack to our great terrour , i had in my pocket a little tinder-hox and steel , and flint to strike fire at any time upon occasion , which served now to good purpose , for its being so close , preserved the tinder dry , with this , and the help of some old rotten wood which we got together , we kindled a fire and dryed ourselves , which done , i left my female company , and went to see , if i could find any of our ships company , that were escaped , but could hear of none , though i hooted and made all the noise i could ; neither could i perceive the footsteps of any living creature ( save a few birds , and other fowls . at length it drawing towards the evening , i went back to my company , who were very much troubled for want of me . i being now all their stay in this lost condition , we were at first affraid that the wild people of the countrey might find us out , although we saw no footsteps of any not so much as a path ; the woods round about being full of briers and brambles , we also stood in fear of wild beasts , of such also we saw none , nor sign of any : but above all , and that we had greatest reason to fear , was to be starved to death for want of food , but god had otherwise provided for us as you shall know hereafter ; this done , we spent our time in getting some broken pieces of boards , and planks , and some of the sails and rigging on shore for shelter ; i set up two or three poles , and drew two or three of the cords and lines from tree to tree , over which throwing some sailcloathes and having gotten wood by us , and three or four sea-gowns , which we had dryed , we took up our lodging for that night altogether ( the blackmoor being less sensible then the rest we made our centry ) we slept soundly that night , as having not slept in three or four nights before ( our fears of what happened preventing us ) neither could our hard lodging , fear , and danger hinder us we were so over watcht . on the morrow , being well refresht with sleep , the winde ceased , and the weather was very warm ; we went down the rocks on the sands at low water , where we found great part of our lading , either on shore or floating near it . i by the help of my company , dragged most of it on shore ; what was too heavy for us broke , and we unbound the casks and chests , and , taking out the goods , secured all ; so that we wanted no clothes , nor any other provision necessary for housekeeping , to furnish a better house than any we were like to have ; but no victuals ( the last water having spoiled all ) only one cask of bisket , being lighter than the rest was dry ; this served for bread a while , and we found on land a sort of fowl about the bigness of a swan , very heavie and fat , that by reason of their weight could not fly , of these we found little difficulty to kill , so that was our present food ; we carried out of england certain hens and cocks to eat by the way , some of these when the ship was broken , by some means got to land , & bred exceedingly , so that in the future they were a great help unto us ; we found also , by a little river , in the flags , store of eggs , of a sort of foul much like our ducks , which were very good meat , so that we wanted nothing to keep us alive . on the morrow , which was the third day , as soon as it was morning , seeing nothing to disturb us , i lookt out a convenient place to dwell in , that we might build us a hut to shelter us from the weather , and from any other danger of annoyance , from wild beasts ( if any should finde us out : so closse by a large spring which rose out of a high hill over-looking the sea , on the side of a wood , having a prospect towards the sea ) by the help of an ax and some other implements ( for we had all necessaries , the working of the sea , having cast up most of our goods ) i cut down all the straightest poles i could find , and which were enough for my purpose , by the help of my company ( necessity being our master ) i digged holes in the earth setting my poles at an equl distance , and nailing the broken boards of the caskes , chests , and cabins , and such like to them , making my door to the seaward , and having covered the top , with sailclothes strain'd , and nail'd , i in the space of a week had made a large cabbin big enough to hold all our goods and our selves in it , i also placed our hamocks for lodging , purposing ( if it pleased god to send any ship that way ) we migh● be transported home , but it never came to pass , the place● wherein we were ( as i conceived ) being much out of the way . we having now lived in this manner full four months , and not so much as seeing or hearing of any wild people , or of any of our own company , more then ourselves ( they being found now by experience to be all drowned ) and the place as we after found ; being a large island , and disjoyned , and out of sight of any other land , was wholly uninhabited by any people , neither was there any hurtful beast to annoy us : but on the contrary the countrey so very pleasant , being always clothed with green , and full of pleasant fruits , and variety of birds , ever warm , and never colder then in england in september : so that this place ( had it the culture , that skilful people might bestow on it ) would prove a paradise . the woods afforded us a sort of nuts , as big as a large apple , whose kernel being pleasant and dry , we made use of instead of bread , that fowl before mentioned , and a sort of water-fowl like ducks , and their eggs , and a beast about the size of a goat , and almost such a like creature , which brought two young ones at a time , and that twice a year , of which the low lands and woods , were very full , being a very harmless creature and tame , so that we could easily take and kill them : fish , also , especially shell-fish ( which we could best come by ) we had great store of , so that in effect as to food we wanted nothing ; and thus , and by such like helps , we continued six moneths , without any disturbance or want . idleness and fulness of every thing begot in me a desire of enjoying the women , beginning now to grow more familiar , i had perswaded the two maids to let me lie with ●hem , which i did at first in private , but after , custome taking away shame ( there being none but us ) we did it more openly , as our lusts gave us liberty ; afterwards my masters daughter was content also to do as we did ; the truth is , they were all handsome women when they had cloathes , and well shaped , feeding well . for we wanted no food , and living idlely , and seeing us at liberty to do our wills , without hope of ever returning home made us thus bold : one of the first of my consorts with whom i first accompanied ( the tallest and handsomest ) proved presently with child , the second was my masters daughter , and the other also not long after fell into the same condition : none now remaining but my negro , who seeing what we did , longed also for her share ; one night , i being asleep , my negro , ( with the consent of the others ) got closse to me , thinking it being dark , to beguile me , but i awaking and feeling her , and perceiving who it was , yet willing to try the difference , satisfied my self with her , as well as with one of the rest : that night , although the first time , she proved also with child , so that in the year of our being here , all my women were with child by me , and they all coming at different seasons , were a great help to one another . the first brought me a brave boy , my masters daughter was the youngest , she brought me a girl , so did the other maid , who being something fat sped worse at her labour : the negro had no pain at all , brought me a fine white girl , so i had one boy and three girls , the women were soon well again , and the two first with child again before the two last were brought to bed , my custome being not to lie with any of them after they were with child , till others were so likewise , and not with the black at all after she was with child , which commonly was at the first time i lay with her , which was in the night and not else , my stomach would not serve me , although she was one of the handsomest blacks i had seen , and her children as comly as any of the rest ; we had no clothes for them , and therefore when they had suckt , we laid them in mosse to sleep , and took no further care of them , for we knew , when they were gone more would come , the women never failng once a year at least , and none of the children ( for all the hardship we put them to ) were ever sick ; so that wanting now nothing but cloathes , nor them much neither , other then for decency , the warmth of the countrey and custome supplying that defect , we were now well satisfied with our condition , our family beginning to grow large , there being nothing to hurt us , we many times lay abroad on mossey banks , under the shelter of some trees , or such like ( for having nothing else to do ) i had made me several arbors to sleep in with my women in the heat of the day , in these i and my women passed the time away , they being never willing to be out of my company . and having now no thought of ever returning home , as having resolved and sworn each to other , never to part or leave one another , or the place ; having by my several wives , forty seven children , boys and girls , but most girls , and growing up apace , we were all of us very fleshly , the country so well agreeing with us , that we never ailed any thing ; my negro having had twelve , was the first that left bearing , so i never medled with her more : my masters daughter ( by whom i had most children , being the youngest and handsomest ) was most fond of me , and i of her . thus we lived for sixteen years , till perceiving my eldest boy to mind the ordinary work of nature by seeing what we did , i gave him a mate , and so i did to all the rest , as fast as they grew up , and were capable : my wives having left bearing , my children began to breed apace , so we were like to be a multitude ; my first wife brought me thirteen children , my second seven , my masters daughter fifteen , and the negro twelve , in all forty seven . after we had lived there twenty two years , my negro died suddenly , but i could not perceive any thing that ailed her ; most of my children being grown , as fast as we married them , i sent them and placed them over the river by themselves severally , because we would not pester one another ; and now they being all grown up , and gone , and married after our manner ( except some two or three of the youngest ) for ( growing my self into years ) i liked not the wanton annoyance of young company . thus having lived to the sixtieth year of my age , and the fortieth of my coming thither , at which time i sent for all of them to bring their children , and there were in number descended from me by these four women , of my chrildren , grand-children , and great grand-children , five hundred sixty five of both sorts , i took off the males of one family , and married them to the females of another , not letting any to marry their sisters , as we did formerly out of necessity , so blessing god for his providence and goodness , i dismist them , i having taught some of my children to read formerly , for i had left still the bible , i charged it should be read once a moneth at a general meeting : at last one of my wives died being sixty eight years of age , which i buried in a place , set out on purpose , and within a year after another , so i had none now left but my masters daughter , and we lived together twelve years longer , at length she died also , so i buried her also next the place where i purposed to be buried my self , and the tall maid my first wife next me on the other side , the negro next without her , and the other maid next my masters daughter . i had now nothing to mind , but the place whether i was to go , being very old , almost eighty years , i gave my cabin and furniture that was left to my eldest son after my decease , who had married my eldest daughter by my beloved wife , whom i made king and governour of all the rest : i informed them of the manners of europe , and charged them to remember the christian religion , after the manner of them that spake the same language , and to admit no other , if hereafter any should come and find them out . and now once for all , i summoned them to come to me , that i might number them , which i did , and found the estimate to contain in or about the eightieth year of my age , and the fifty ninth of my coming there ; in all , of all sorts , one thousand seven hundred eighty and nine . thus praying god to multiply them , and send them the true light of the gospel , i last of all dismist them : for , being now very old , and my sight decayed , i could not expect to live long . i gave this narration ( written with my own hand ) to my eldest son , who now lived with me , commanding him to keep it , and if any strangers should come hither by chance ; to let them see it , and take a copy of it if they would , that our name be not lost from off the earth . i gave this people ( descended from me the name of the english pines , george pine being my name , and my masters daughters name sarah english , my two other wives were mary sparkes , and elizabeth trevor , so their severall descendants are called the english , the sparks , and the trevors , and the phills , from the christian name of the negro , which was philippa , she having no surname : and the general name of the whole the english pines ; whom god bless vvith the dew of heaven , and the fat of the earth , amen . ater the reading and delivering unto us a coppy of this relation , then proceeded he on in his discourse . my grandfather when he wrote this , was as you hear eighty yeares of age , there proceeding from his loyns one thousand seven hundred eighty nine children , which he had by them four women aforesaid : my father was his eldest son , and was named henry , begotten of his wife mary sparkes , whom he apointed chief governour and ruler over the rest ; and having given him a charge not to exercise tyranny over them , seeing they were his fellow brethren by fathers side ( of which there could be no doubt made of double dealing therein ) exhorting him to use justice and sincerity amongst them and not to let religion die with him , but to observe and keep those precepts which he had taught them he quietly surrendred up his soul , and was buried with great lamentation of all his children . my father coming to rule , and the people growing more populous , made them to range further in the discovery of the countrey , which they found answerable to their desires , full both of fowls and beasts , and those too not hurtful to mankinde , as if this country ( on which we were by providence cast without arms or other weapons to defend ourselves , or offend others , ) should by the same providence be so inhabited as not to have any need of such like weapons of destruction wherewith to preserve our lives . but as it is impossible , but that in multitudes disorders will grow , the stronger seeking to oppress the weaker ; no tye of religion being strong enough to chain up the depraved nature of mankinde , even so amongst them mischiefs began to rise , and they soon fell from those good orders prescribed them by my grandfather . the source from whence those mischiefs spring , was at first , i conceive , the neglect of hearing the bible read , which according to my grandfathers proscription ) was once a moneth at a general meeting , but now many of them wandring far up into the country , they quite neglected the coming to it , with all other means of christian instruction , whereby the sence of sin being quite lost in them , they fell to whoredoms , incests , and adulteries ; so that what my grand-father was forced to do for necessity , they did for wantonness ; nay not confining themselves within the bound of any modesty , but brother and sister lay openly together ; those who would not yeild to their lewd embraces , were by force ravished , yea many times endangered of their lives . to redress those enormities , my father assembled all the company near unto him , to whom he declared the wickedness of those their brethren ; who all with one consent agreed that they should be severely punished ; and so arming themselves with boughs , stones , and such like weapons , they marched against them , who having notice of their coming , and fearing their deserved punishment , some of them fled into woods , others passed over a great river , which runneth through the heart of our countrey , hazarding drowning to escape punishment ; but the grandest offender of them all was taken , whose name was iohn phill , the second son of the negro-woman that came with my grandfather into this island . he being proved guilty of divers ravishings & tyrannies committed by him , was adjudged guilty of death , and accordingly was thrown down from a high rock into the sea , where he perished in the waters . execution being done upon him , the rest were pardoned for what was past , which being notified abroad , they returned from those desart and obscure places , wherein they were hidden . now as seed being cast into stinking dung produceth good and wholesome corn for the sustentation of mans life , so bad manners podueeth good and wholesome laws for the preservation of humane society . soon after my father with the advice of some few others of his counsel , ordained and set forth these laws to be observed by them . 1. that whosoever should blaspheme or talk irreverently of the name of god should be put to death . 2. that who should be absent from the monethly assembly to hear the bible read , without sufficient cause shown to the contrary , should for the first default be kept without any victuals or drink , for the space of four days , and if he offend therein again , then to suffer death . 3. that who should force or ravish any maid or woman should be burnt to death , the party so ravished putting fire to the wood that should burn him . 4. whosoever shall commit adultery , for the first crime the male shall lose his privities , and the woman have her right eye bored out , if after that she was again taken in the act , she should die without mercy . 5. that who so injured his neighbour , by laming of his limbs , or taking any thing away which he possesseth , shall suffer in the same kind himself by loss of limb ; and for defrauding his neighbour , to become servant to him , whil'st he had made him double satisfaction . 6. that who should defame or speak evil of the governour , or refuse to come before him upon summons , should receive a punishment by whipping with rods , and afterwards be exploded from the society of all the rest of the inhabitants . having set forth these laws , he chose four several persons under him to see them put in execution , whereof one was of the englishes , the osf-spring of sarah english ; another of his own tribe , the sparks ; a third of the trevors , and the fourth of the phills ; appointing them every year at a certain time to appear before him , and give an account of what they had done in the prosecution of those laws . the countrey being thus settled , my father lived quiet and peaceable till he attained to the age of ninety and four years , when dying , i succeeded in his place , in which i have continued peaceably and quietly till this very present time . he having ended his speech , we gave him very heartily thanks for our information , assuring him we should not be wanting to him in any thing which lay in our powers , wherewith we could pleasure him in what he should desire ; and thereupon proferred to depart , but before our going away , he would needs engage us to see him , the next day , when was to be their great assembly or monethly meeting for the celebration of their religious exercises . accordingly the next day we came thither again , and were courteously entertained as before , in a short space there was gathered such a multitude of people together as made us to admire ; and first there was several weddings celebrated , the manner whereof was thus . the bridegroom and brideappeared before him who was their priest or reader of the bible , together with the parents of each party , or if any of their parents were dead , then the next relation unto them , without whose consent as well as the parties to be married , the priest will not joyn them together : but being satisfied in those particulars , after some short oraizons , and joyning of hands together , he pronounces them to be man and wife : and with exhortations to them to live lovingly towards each other , and quietly towards their neighbors , he concludes with some prayers , and so dismisses them . the weddings being finished , all the people took their places to hear the word read , the new married persons having the honour to be next unto the priest that day , after he had read three or four chapters he fell to expounding the most difficult places therein , the people being very attentive all that while , this exercise continued for two or three hours , which being done , with some few prayers he concluded , but all the rest of that day was by the people kept very strictly , abstaining from all manner of playing or pastimes , with which on other dayes they use to pass their time away , as having need of nothing but victuals , and that they have in such plenty as almost provided to their hands . their exercises of religion being over , we returned again to our ship , and the next day , taking with us two or three fowling-pieces , leaving half our company to guard the ship , the rest of us resolved to go up higher into the country for a further discovery : all the way as we passed the first morning , we saw abundance of little cabbins or huts of these inhabitants , made under trees , and fashioned up with boughs , grass , and such like stuffe to defend them from the sun and rain ; and as we went along , they came out of them much wondering at our attire , and standing aloof off from us as if they were afraid , but our companion that spake english , calling to them in their own tongue , and giving them good words , they drew nigher , some of them freely proffering to go along with us , which we willingly accepted ; but having passed some few miles , one of our company espying a beast like unto a goat come gazing on him , he discharged his peece , sending a brace of bullets into his belly , which brought him dead upon the ground ; these poor naked unarmed people hearing the noise of the peece , and seeing the beast lie tumbling in his gore , without speaking any words betook them to their heels , running back again as fast as they could drive , nor could the perswasions of our company , assuring them they should have no hurt , prevail any thing at all with them , so that we were forced to pass along without their company : all the way that we went we heard the delightful harmony of singing birds , the ground very fertile in trees , grass , and such flowers , as grow by the production of nature , without the help of art ; many and several sorts of beasts we saw , who were not so much wild as in other countries ; whether it were as having enough to satiate themselves without ravening upon others , or that they never before saw the sight of man , nor heard the report of murdering guns , i leave it to others to determine . some trees bearing wild fruits we also saw , and of those some whereof we tasted , which were neither unwholsome nor distastful to the pallate , and no question had but nature here the benefit of art added unto it , it would equal , if not exceed many of our europian countries ; the vallyes were every where intermixt with running streams , and no question but the earth hath in it rich veins of minerals , enough to satisfie the desires of the most covetous . it was very strange to us , to see that in such a fertile countrey which was as yet never inhabited , there should be notwithstanding such a free and clear passage to us , without the hinderance of bushes , thorns , and such like stuff , wherewith most islands of the like nature are pestered : the length of the grass ( which yet was very much intermixt with flowers ) being the only impediment that we found . six dayes together did we thus travel , setting several marks in our way as we went for our better return , not knowing whether we should have the benefit of the stars for our guidance in our going back , which we made use of in our passage : at last we came to the vast ocean on the other side of the island , and by our coasting it , conceive it to be of an oval form , only here and there shooting forth with some promontories . i conceive it hath but few good harbours belonging to it , the rocks in most places making it inaccessible . the length of it may be about two hundred , and breadth one hundred miles , the whole in circumference about five hundred miles . it lyeth about seventy six degrees of longitude , and twenty of latitude , being scituate under the third climate , the longest day being about thirteen hours and fourty five minutes . the weather as in all southern countries , is far more hot than with us in europe ; but what is by the sun parched in the day , the night again refreshes with cool pearly dews . the air is found to be very healthful by the long lives of the present inhabitants , few dying there till such time as they come to good years of maturity , many of them arriving to the extremity of old age . and now speaking concerning the length of their lives , i think it will not be amisse in this place to speak something of their burials , which they used to do thus . when the party was dead , they stuck his carkass all over with flowers , and after carried him to the place appointed for burial , where setting him down , ( the priest having given some godly exhortations concerning the frailty of life ) then do they take stones ( a heap being provided there for that purpose ) and the nearest of the kin begins to lay the first stone upon him , afterwards the rest follows , they never leaving till they have covered the body deep in stones , so that no beast can possibly come to him , and this shift were they forced to make , having no spades or shovels wherewith to dig them graves ; which want of theirs we espying , bestowed a pick-ax and two shovels upon them . here might i add their way of christening children , but that being little different from yours in england , and taught them by geoge pines at first which they have since continued , i shall therefore forbear to speak thereof . after our return back from the discovery of the countrey , the wind not being fit for our purpose , and our men also willing thereto , we got all our cutting instruments on land , and fell to hewing down of trees , with which , in a little time , ( many hands making light work ) we built up a pallace for this william pines the lord of that countrey ; which , though much inferiour to the houses of your gentry in england . yet to them which never had seen better , it appeared a very lordly place . this deed of ours was beyond expression acceptable unto him , loading us with thanks for so great a benefit , of which he said he should never be able to make a requital . and now acquainting him , that upon the first opportunity we were resolved to leave the island , as also how that we were near neighbours to the countrey of england , from whence his ancestors came ; he seemed upon the news to be much discontented that we would leave him , desiring , if it might stand with our commodity to continue still with him , but seeing he could not prevail , he invited us to dine with him the next day , which we promised to do , against which time he provided , very sumptuously ( according to his estate ) for us , and now was he attended after a more royal manner then ever we saw him before , both for number of servants , and multiplicity of meat , on which we fed very heartily ; but he having no other beverage for us to drink , then water , we fetched from our ship a case of brandy , presenting some of it to him to drink , but when he had tasted of it , he would by no means be perswaded to touch thereof again , preferring ( as he said ) his own countrey water before all such liquors whatsoever . after we had dined , we were invited out into the fields to behold their country dauncing , which they did with great agility of body ; and though they had no other then only vocal musick ( several of them singing all that while ) yet did they trip it very neatly , giving sufficient satisfaction to all that beheld them . the next day we invited the prince william pines aboard our ship , where was nothing wanting in what we could to entertain him , he had about a dozen of servants to attend on him he much admired at the tacklings of our ship , but when we came to discharge a piece or two of ordnance , it struck him into a wonder and amazement to behold the strange effects of powder ; he was very sparing in his diet , neither could he , or any of his followers be induced to drink any thing but water : we there presented him with several things , as much as we could spare , which we thought would any wayes conduce to their benefit , all which he very gratefully received , assuring us of his real love and good will , whensoever we should come thither again . and now we intended the next day to take our leaves , the wind standing fair , blowing with a gentle gale south and by east , but as we were hoising of our sails , and weighing anchor , we were suddenly allarm'd with a noise from the shore , the prince , w. pines imploring our assistance in an insurrection which had happened amongst them , of which this was the cause . henry phil , the chief ruler of the tribe or family of the phils , being the off-spring of george pines which he had by the negro-woman ; this man had ravished the wife of one of the principal of the family of the trevors , which act being made known , the trevors assembled themselvesa lltogether to bring the offender unto justice : but he knowing his crime to be so great , as extended to the loss of life : sought to defend that by force , which he had as unlawfully committed , whereupon the whole island was in a great hurly burly , they being too great potent factions , the bandying of which against each other , threatned a general ruin to the whole state. the governour william pines had interposed in the matter , but found his authority too weak to repress such disorders ; for where the hedge of government is once broken down , the most vile bear the greatest rule , whereupon he desir'd our assistance , to which we readily condescended , and arming out twelve of us went on shore , rather as to a surprize then fight , for what could nakednss do to encounter with arms. being conducted by him to the force of our enemy , we first entered into parley , seeking to gain them rather by fair means then fo●ce , but that not prevailing , we were necessitated to use violence , for this henry phill being of an undaunted resolution , and having armed his fellows with clubs and stones , they sent such a peal amongst us , as made us at the first to give back , which encouraged them to follow us on with great violence , but we discharging off three or four guns , when they saw some of themselves wounded , and heard the terrible reports which they gave , they ran away with greater speed then they came . the band of the trevors who were joyned with us , hotly pursued them , and having taken their captain , returned with great triumph to their governour , who sitting in judgment upon him , he was adjudged to death , and thrown off a steep rock into the sea , the only way they have of punishing any by death , except burning . and now at last we took our solemn leaves of the governour , and departed from thence , having been there in all , the space of three weeks and two dayes , we took with us good store of the flesh of a beast which they call there reval , being in tast different either from beef or swines-flesh , yet very delightful to the pallate , and exceeding nutrimental . we took also with us alive , divers fowls which they call marde , about the bigness of a pullet , and not different in taste , they are very swift of flight , and yet so fearless of danger , that they will stand still till such time as you catch them : we had also sent us in by the governour about two bushels of eggs , which as i conjecture were the mards eggs , very lussious in taste , and strenthening to the body . iune 8. we had a sight of cambaia , a part of the east indies , but under the government of the great cham of tartary ; here our vessel sprin●ing a leak , we vvere forced to put to shore , receiving 〈…〉 in some of our commodities ; vve vvere forced to ●●y the pump for eighteen hours together , vvhich , had that miscarried , vve had inevitably have perished ; here vve stai' . d five dayes mending our ship , and drying some of our goods , and then hoising sail , in four days time more vve came to calecute . this calecute is the chief mart tovvn and staple of all the indian traffique , it is very populous , and frequerted by merchants of all nations . here vve unladed a great part of our goods , and taking in others , vvhich caused us to stay there a full moneth , during vvhich space , at leisure times i vvent abroad to take a survey of the city , vvhich i found to be large and populous , lying for three miles together upon the sea-shore . here is a great many of those persons vvhom thy call brachmans , being their priests or teachers vvhom they much reverence . it is a custome here for the king to give to some of those brachmain , the hanselling of his nuptial bed ; for which cause , not the kings , but the kings sisters sons succeed in the kingdom , as being more certainly known to be of the true royal blood : and these sisters of his choose what gentleman they please , on whom to bestow their virginities ; and if they prove not in a certain time to be with child , they betake themselves to these brachman stalions , who never fail of doing their work . the people are indifferently civil and ingenious , both men and women imitate a majesty in their train and apparel , which they sweeten with oyles and perfumes : adorning themselves with jewels and other ornaments befitting each rank and quality of them . they have many odd customs amongst them which they observe very strictly ; as first , not knowing their wives after they have born them two children : secondly , not accompanying them , if after five years cohabition they can raise no issue by them , but taking others in thei● 〈◊〉 : thirdly , never being rewarded for any military 〈◊〉 unless they bring with them an enemies head in their hand , but that which is strangest , and indeed most barbarous , is that when any of their friends falls sick , they will rather chuse to kill him , then that he should be withered by sickness . thus you see there is little employment there for doctors , when to be sick , is the next wa n for to be slain , or perhaps the people may be of the mind rather to kill themselves , then to let the doctors do it . having dispatched our business , and fraighted again our ship , we left calecute , and put forth to sea , and coasted along several of the islands belonging to india , at camboia i met with our old friend mr. david prire , who was overjoyed to see me , to whom i related our discovery of the island of pines , in the same manner as i have related it to you ; he was then but newly recovered of a feaver , the air of that place not being agreeable to him ; here we took in good store of aloes , and some other commodities , and victualled our ship for our return home . after four dayes sailing , we met with two portugal ships which came from lisbon , one whereof had in a storm lost its top-mast , and was forced in part to be towed by the other . we had no bad weather in eleven dayes space , but then a sudden storm of wind did us much harm in our tacklings , and swept away one of our sailors off from the fore castle . november the sixth had like to have been a fatal day unto us , our ship striking twice upon a rock , and at night was in danger of being fired by the negligence of a boy , leaving a candle carelesly in the gun-room ; the next day we were chased by a pyrate of argiere , but by the swiftness of our sails we out ran him . december the first we came again to madagascar , where we put in for a fresh recruit of victuals and water . during our abode here , there hapned a very great earthquake , which tumbled down many houses ; the people of themselves are very unhospitable and treacherous , hardly to to be drawn to traffique with any people ; and now , this calamitie happening upon them , so enraged them against the christians , imputing all such calamities to the cause of them , that they fell upon some portugals and wounded them , and we seeing their mischievous actions , with all the speed we could put forth to sea again , and sailed to the island of st. hellens . here we stayed all the christmas holy-dayes , which was vere much celebrated by the governour there under the king of spain : here we furnished our selves with all necessaries which we wanted ; but upon our departure , our old acquaintance mr. petrus ramazina , coming in a skiff out of the isle del principe , or the princes island , retarded our going for the space of two dayes , for both my self and our purser had emergent business with him , he being concerned in those affairs of which i wrote to you in april last : indeed we cannot but acknowledge his courtesies unto us , of which you know he is never sparing . ianuary the first , we again hoised sail , having a fair and prosperous gail of wind , we touched at the canaries , but made no tarriance , desirous now to see our native countrey ; but the winds was very cross unto us for the space of a week , at last we were favoured with a gentle gale , which brought us on merrily ; though we were on a sudden stricken again into a dump ; a sailor from the main mast discovering five ships , which put us all in a great fear , we being richly laden , and not very well provided for defence ; but they bearing up to us , we found them to be zealanders and our friends ; after many other passages concerning us ! not so much worthy of note , we at last safele arrived at home , may 26. 1668. thus sir , have i given you a brief , but true relation of our voyage , which i was the more willing to do , to prevent false copies which might be spread of this nature : as for the island of pines it self , which caused me to write this relation , i suppose it is a thing so strange as will hardly be credited by some , although perhaps knowing persons , especially considering our last age being so full of discoveries , that this place should lie dormant for so long a space of time ; others i know , such nullifidians as will believe nothing but what they see , applying that proverb unto us , that travelors may lye by authority . but sir , in writing to you , i question not but to give credence , you knowing my disposition so hateful to divulge falsities ; i shall request you to impart this my relation to mr. w.w. and mr. p.l. remembring me very kindly unto them , not forgetting my old acquaintance mr. i. p. and mr. i. b. no more at present , but only my best respects to you and your second self , i rest yours in the best of friendship , henry cornelius van sloetten . iuly 22. 1668. post-script . one thing concerning the isle of pines , i had almost quite forgot , we had with us an irish man named dermot conelly who had formerly been in england , and had learned there to play on the bag-pipes , which he carried to sea with him ; yet so un-englished he was , that he had quite forgotten your language , but still retained his art of bagpipe-playing , in which he took extraordinary delight ; being one day on land in the isle of pines , he played on them , but to see the admiration of those naked people concerning them , would have striken you into admiration ; long time it was before we could perswade them that it was not a living creature , although they were permitted to touch and feel it , and yet are the people very intelligible , retaining a great part of the ingenuity and gallantry of the english nation , though they have not that happy means to express themselves ; in this respect we may account them fortunate , in that possessing little , they enjoy all things , as being contented with what they have , wanting those alurements to mischief , which our european countries are enriched with . i shall not dilate any further , no question but time will make this island known better to the world ; all that i shall ever say of it is , that it is a place enriched with natures abundance , deficient in nothing conducible to the sustentation of mans life , which were it manured by agri-culture and gardening , as other of our european countries are , no question but it would equal , if not exceed many which now pass for praise worthy . finis . a true relation of the travailes and most miserable captiuitie of william dauies, barber-surgion of london, vnder the duke of florence vvherein is truly set downe the manner of his taking, the long time of his slauierie, and meanes of his deliuerie, after eight yeeres, and ten moneths captiuitie in the gallies. discouering many manye landes, ilandes, riuers, cities, and townes, of the christians and infidels, the condition of the people, and the manner of their countrey: with many more strange things, as in the booke is briefely and plainely expressed. by william dauies, barber-surgion of london, and borne in the citie of hereford. davies, william, barber-surgion of london. 1614 approx. 82 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 21 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a19936 stc 6365 estc s109386 99845034 99845034 9909 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a19936) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 9909) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 830:14) a true relation of the travailes and most miserable captiuitie of william dauies, barber-surgion of london, vnder the duke of florence vvherein is truly set downe the manner of his taking, the long time of his slauierie, and meanes of his deliuerie, after eight yeeres, and ten moneths captiuitie in the gallies. discouering many manye landes, ilandes, riuers, cities, and townes, of the christians and infidels, the condition of the people, and the manner of their countrey: with many more strange things, as in the booke is briefely and plainely expressed. by william dauies, barber-surgion of london, and borne in the citie of hereford. davies, william, barber-surgion of london. [40] p. printed [by thomas snodham] for nicholas bourne, and are to be sold at the south-entrance of the royall exchange, london : 1614. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-e⁴. running title reads: the miserable captiuitie of william dauies, barber-surgion of london. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp 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100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels -early works to 1800. 2005-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-06 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-07 haley pierson sampled and proofread 2005-07 haley pierson text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion trve relation of the travailes and most miserable captiuitie of william dauies , barber-surgion of london , vnder the duke of florench . vvherein is truly set downe the manner of his taking , the long time of his slauerie , and meanes of his deliuerie , after eight yeeres , and ten moneths captiuitie in the gallies . discouering many mayne landes , ilandes , riuers , cities , and townes , of the christians and infidels , the condition of the people , and the manner of their countrey : with many more strange things , as in the booke is briefely and plainely expressed . by william dauies , barber-surgion of london , and borne in the citie of hereford . london : printed for nicholas bourne , and are to be sold at the south-entrance of the royall exchange ▪ 1614. a table of all those places that he hath beene at , and in , since his departure , alphabetically composed . viz. a alexandria , a citie in turkie . argier , a citie in barbary . alegant , a citie in spayn● . a●●a●●● a riuer in the west indies . ar●no●h● , a riuer in the west indies . b braats , in the mayne , a mayne land of the turkes . bizert , a towne in barbary . bona , a towne in barbary . baye , a towne in brazile . budgie , a towne in barbary . c cici●●ia , a famous iland of the spaniards . can●se , a famous iland of the venetians ▪ cipris , a famous iland of the turkes . cirrigo , an iland of the venetians . christiana , an iland of the greekes . corrune , a towne of the turkes . corphou , a citie of the venetians . corsigo , an iland of the genowes . callary , a citie vpon sardina . carthageine , a towne in spayne . cales , a citie of the spaniards . corues , an iland of the spaniards . d denei , a towne in castillia . f florence , a famous citie of the great dukes . famagosta , a citie vpon cyprus . fernandobuck , a towne in brazyle . fi●lk , an iland of the spaniards . floures , an iland of the spaniards . g goodz● , an iland inhabited by greekes . genowey , a famous citie in italy . grand maligo . a citie in spayne . g●●ne , a riuer in the west indies . gratiose , an iland of the spaniards . i io●a , an iland of the turkes . iuersey , an iland of the spaniards . iublatore , a towne of the spaniards . l lilbo , an iland gouerned by spaniards and italians . lisbor●e , a famous citie in portugall . luca , a citie in tuskanie . ligorne , a famous citie of the duke of florence . m malta , a famous iland . m●ntua , a famous citie in italy . m●aona , a towne in turkie . maluedra , a towne in castile . mayorke , an iland of the spaniards . m●●●ork , an iland of the spaniards ▪ massegant , a towne in barbary . muggadore , an iland in barbary . muria , an iland in the west indies . n naples , a famous citie in calabria . naueyrne , a towne of the turkes . p palerma , a famous citie in sicillia . petras , a citie in turkie . portercula , a strong towne of the spaniards . pume-bien , a towne of the spaniards . peza , a citie in tuskany . porta richo , an iland in the west indies . portaferare , a strange towne of the duke of florence . porta longe , a towne of the spaniards . r rome , the chiefe citie of the pope . regi , a towne in calabria . s strumbula , a burning iland . sapientia , an iland of the turkes . salerna , a towne in calabria . syppa de vecchia , an ancient citie . sardina , a famous iland of the spaniards . st. maries , an iland of the spaniards . st. lucas , a citie of the spaniards . sapphi● , a towne in barbary . sancta cruce , a towne in barbary . santa lucia , an iland of the spaniards . santa martyne , an iland of the spaniards . st. michaels , an iland of the spaniards . scanderune , in the bottome of the straits , gouerned by turkes . st. georgis , an iland of the spaniards . scena , a citie in tuskany . t the rhodes , held by the turkes . the strauales , and iland inhabited by greekes . tarrant , a towne in calabria . the geta a towne of the popes . tunis , a great citie in barbary . tit●an , a towne in barbarie . tangere , a towne in barbary . the riuer of amazons in the west indies . trnidado , an iland of the west indies . teneriefe , an iland of the spaniards . the grand canaries , inhabited by spaniards . v valentia , a famous citie in castile . uize maligo , a towne in spayne . ualdeny , a towne in brachademayne . w vviapocho , a riuer in the west indies . z zant , an iland of the venetians . zumbula , an iland of the turkes . heere in this table haue i not spoken of france , nor of any part of the low-countries , neither of ireland , in all which places i haue beene , nor yet of england , the garden of the world , because i count it a folly to tell the master of the house the condition of the seruants , for euery man by naturall reason can discouer his owne home . now haue i thought it fit out of the former table to select twelue principall places , in discouery whereof i shall not omit as occasion is offered to speake of the rest , and how i came to euery place , with the names of ships and gallies , with the owners , and masters , and how many leagues each of these twelue places are from england . for proofe of what i haue herein written , concerning my slauery and thraldome , i haue procured , though not without some cost and more trauell , sixe of the chiefest masters of ships of london , who see me , and relieued me often during my thraldome , to subscribe their hands hereunto , as also the hands of diuers masters and surgions of other places in england , whose names follow , viz. robert thorneton . master of the good ship called the royall marchant of london . thomas gardiner . master of the good ship called the triumph of london . robert bradshaw . master of the good ship called the william and thomas of london . thomas rickman . master of the good ship called the mary anne of london . iames dauies . master of the good ship called the isaak of london . george millard . master of the good ship called the may-flowre of london . denis dauies . barber surgion of london . thomas rousley . barber surgion of london . charles hearne . barber surgion of bristow . richard w●ight . barber surgion of plymouth . walter mathew . owner of the good ship called the mathewes farme of plymouth . richard rowe . owner of the good ship called the portion of milbrook , in the countie of cornwell . many others moe as well noble men , knights , gentlemen , as owners , masters , and surgions did see , and can witnesse my slauery , whose hands lik●wise i might easily haue procured , but that con●●●ering the businesse to be of no great importance , i held it needlesse to trouble either them or my selfe any further , and these present witnesses are sufficient . the twelue principall places are thus distinguished . viz. three cities , and three ilands of the christians , and three cities , and three ilands of the infidels . the christians be , the pope , the spaniards , and the italian , the infidels be , the turke , the moore , and the indian . the names of the twelue places ▪ 1 ciuita de vecchia , a citie of the popes . 2 argeir , a citie of the turkes . 3 tunys , a great citie of the moores . 4 ligorne , a citie of the italians . 5 naples , a famous citie of the spaniards . 6 the riuer of the amazons in the west indies . 7 malta , an iland of the popes , very famous . 8 cyprus , a famous iland of the turkes . 9 s●●●l●ia , a famous iland of the spaniards . 10 muggadore , an iland of the moores . 11 candy , a famous iland of the italians . 12 morria , an iland of the indians . the trauailes and miserable captiuitie of william dauies , barber-surgion of london . i departed out of england the 28. of ianuarie 1597. in the good ship named the francis of saltash , in the countie of of cornwell , master tyball geare , owner , and william lewellyn , master of her , being laden with fish , and herings , and such like commodities , then bound for the strayts and to arriue at ciuita de vecchia to the will and pleasure of god : where we arriued the sixt day of march insuing , whose description followeth by me william dauies barber-surgion of london , and borne in the citie of heriford . i. the description of ciuita de vecchia . ciuita de vecchia is an ancient citie of the popes , lying in low ground , a dayes iourney from rome by land , this city lieth close vpon the sea , very strongly fortified , and planted with ordinance , to the east side a strong castle , or fort : and also the like vpon the west side , in this place the popes gallies lie , and shipping . for there is a harbour , and fayre mould for their safetie . for the pope hath no other place for ships or gallies but rome , and there none will come vp but small barkes , and boates , and such like , by reason of the shallownesse of the riuer . in this ciuita de vecchia are altogether romanes , wholly professing the romish religion , saying directly that the pope is god an earth , and that he can forgiue any sinne whatsoeuer being committed , which makes the most part of them , or all , runne desperately into most deadly sinnes . for very murther they hold it no great sinne , being committed , receiuing of the popes pardon , or else getting into some monasterie where they may be confessed , and absolued , whereby no law can take hold of them at their comming forth , being apt and readie within a wéeke , or fortnight after to commit the like murther , then receiuing the like pardon , or absolution , as before they had done : and thus many bloodie minded men continue their life-time , for it is an easie matter for a man to haue his aduersarie kild , or poysoned for money , although his executioner neuer sée him till such time as he committeth this bloudie déed , being hired by another . also in this countrey their women are very lewde and wicked , for euen in that ancient citie of rome , there are many thousands of lewd liuing women that pay monethly vnto the pope for the sinnefull vse of their wicked bodies : some pay sixe crownes a moneth , and so from sixe crownes to one , for they are rated according to their outward shew , and for the no●-payment of this monethly pay , they shall haue their goods strained and carried out of their houses , or chambers , by the popes officers , and kept from them till such time as satisfaction is made to the pope . so it is lawfull for any man to vse any of these women as his owne wife , neither shall he be molested or troubled , or otherwise indangered , so he escape secret occasions of danger , for this woman will be as dutifull vnto him as his seruant , alwaies attending his pleasure for his diet or any thing else belonging vnto him : he giuing her content with his purse ; but she not receiuing content may as lawfully arrest him , and cast him into prison till such time as she doth receiue satisfaction , being recouered by law : for they hold their liuings by the pope . now as i haue spoken of two deadly sinnes wherein they excéed , so will i speake of one thing wherein some of them are to be commended , that is this . if there be any christian , of what nation soeuer , poore and in distresse , making his case knowne , and asking for christs sake , he shall be relieued , with all those necessaries whereof he is destitute , as apparrell , meat , and drinke , and some money , though it be but little : if he be sicke , then shall he be put into an hospitall , where he shall be cho●sely attended vpon , hauing good lodging , dai●tie diet , and comfortable phisicke for the r●storing of his health , whether he be papist or protestant : but if he be a papist , he shall be the better vsed , and if he be a protestant they will vse all meanes they can to conuert him , but force him to nothing at all . in these countries it is dangerous for an englishman being a protestant to speake any thing against the pope , or his religion , especially vnto another englishman that is a papist , yet this english papist will séeke all the meanes possible to intrappe the protestant , and will speake ill words of himselfe , to draw him to the like , but when he hath made him vtter the secrets of his heart , then will he make it knowne , and more then the protestant spake , to some chiefe man of a church , by whom he shall be forced to alter his religion , or to be burned , or put in some secret prison where he shall be starued to death , and this is the manner and fashion in all countries of christendome within the popes jurisdiction , not onely of the treacherie of the english papists , but also of the other deadly sinnes which i touched before , as their murther and adultry : and in like manner of their generall compassion , to a distressed christian . what i haue héere written , i speake not of heare-say , nor by imaignation , but directly haue séene , and of mine owne knowledge you may speake it , being too long a time amongst them , against my will. ii. the description and discouery of argeir . argeir , is a maruellous strong citie , and gouerned by the turk , lying vpon the side of an vpright hill , close vpon the sea , this citie is very strongly fortified with castels , forts , and platformes , with great store of ordinance planted about it , also there are many gallies belonging to this place , which doe much offend the christians , in taking of their ships , tartanes and satties , and other small vessels , making all the christians that they take slaues , & selling of them in their markets like horses : for according to age and strength they are prised . this citie is gouerned by a king , being vassall to the great turke . also there are great store of janizaries in it , to the number of 20. or 30000. at one time : these ianizaries are chiefe souldiers , and gouerned by a dane , which is a generall vnder the great turke . these turks are goodly people of parson , and of a very faire complexion , but very villains in minde , for they are altogether sodomites , and doe all things contrarie to a christian . for they doe neuer lye in a bed , nor féede vpon a table ; yet their féeding and diet is very plentifull , their bedding and apparrell is very neat and costly , the manner of their lodging is thus : there is a very faire table in a roome , about thrée yards in breadth , and as many in length standing in height one yard from the ground , and thereon they vse to spread a double quilt very costly with many curious cushions , in stead of pillowes , whereon he lieth downe in his shirt , and linnen britches onely , without any other couering , by reason of the heat of the countrey . also in the same roome he hath another table laid after the same fashion very richly , whereon his wiues doe lie , but she that likes him best , he will take to accompany him for the night . a turke may haue as many wiues as he pleaseth , so he be able to buy them , and by the number of his wiues , most commonly his substance is knowne , for the richer he is , the more wiues he hath , the poorer the fewer : yet neuer married to none of them , but onely the first , but maintaining of them all . it is very dangerous for a christian to be found in the company of any turkes woman , for being found together , he shall be forced to turne turke , or else be put to death , and the said woman also shall be put into a sacke , which being made fast , she shall be flung into the sea , whether they commit the sinne or not . these turkes are very zealous in their religion , acknowledging god ; and mahomet a soliciter for their sinnes . a turke will kéepe his word if he sweares by his head , putting his hand vpon his forehead . in this countrey there is great store of gold and rich marchants ; the manner of their churches and comming to prayer is thus . the church is very faire within , with many hundreds of lampes burning therein , all matted vnder foote , without any kinde of picture , or seats , also most of them doe pray vpon beads . in the morning on the top of the church they hang out a white flag , and in the after noone a blew one for a signe of their comming to church , then goeth eight or tenne of them on the very top of the church , and crie with a loud voice . volla , volla hamdrulla and shalla , that is to say god , god , helpe vs at thy pleasure , and this is their ordinary warning to come to church , as we vse bels in christendome , for they abhorre the ringing of bels , being contrary to their prophets command . a turke chooseth his first wife after this maner . he neuer séeth his wife till she come to the church to be maried , for the match is made by their friends , neither is a turkish womans face to be séene , because their faces are continually couered going through the stréets , both young and old : neither shall a man-childe after he is tenne yeeres old euer sée his mother . a turke is circumcised after this manner . the better gentleman he is , the longer he stayes afore he be circumcised , but the time being come , then is he put vpon a very faire white horse , being very costly attired , and before him goeth two , or three hundreth by two and two in purple coates , bearing waxe candles in their hands , and after them followeth a great many playing on diffused instruments making of a great noise , then followeth a bull couered with very faire arras , and his hornes gilded , and next rideth he that shall be circumcised , with all his friends following , and thus he rideth to the place of circumcision , where they cut off the foresa●ne of his yard , naming of him morat , shebane , or hosan , or some such like name : then will they take the bull , and turne his head to to the east-ward , then cut his throat , saying , this day wee haue done a good déed , then they cut the bull in yeeces , and distribute it among his friends , and kindred , and so they returne home where they doe feast with great ioy . the manner of a christian turning turke , is thus . he is put vpon a horse with his face towards the tayle , and a bow and an arrow in his hand , then the picture of christ is carried before him with his feete vpwards , at the which he drawes his bow with the arrow therein , and thus he rideth to the place of circumcision , cursing his father that begate him , and and his mother that bore him , his country , and all his kindred : then comming to the place of circumcision , he is circumcised , receiuing a name , & denying his christian name , so that euer after he is called a runagado , that is , a christian denying christ and turned turke : of which sort there are more in turkie and barbary then of naturall turkes . the manner of their iudgement for offending of the law touching death , eyther for theft or murther , is thus : within foure houres after he is taken , he is condemned by certaine chiefe souldiers , and presently put to death after this manner , viz. ganshed , s●aked or beat to death . their ganshing is after this manner : he sitteth vpon a wall , being fiue fadomes high , within two fadomes of the top of the wall , right vnder the place where he sits , is a strong iron hooke fastned , being very sharpe , then is he thrust off the wall vpon this hooke with some part of his bodie , and there he hangeth sometimes two or thrée daies before he dieth . staking to death is thus : around péece of wood thrée yards long , and as big as a mans leg , being sharpe at one end , is taken and driuen in at the fundament of the offender , and out at his shoulder , and so they let him lie till he be dead , which sometimes will not be in a day or two . the manner of beating to death is thus : they take the offender , and lay him down vpon his backe , being naked , and with two double ropes , two seuerall men , one on the one side , and the other on the other side of him , beate on his belly till he is dead . but these deaths are very seldome vsed , because they are so fearefull to the offenders , yet i haue séene them all executed . iii. the description and discouery of tunys . tvnys is a great citie in barbary , inhabited by moores , and some turkes and jewes . this city is spacious , and lieth in low ground , eight miles from the sea : there belongs to this citie a verie fayre castle , named the galletta : this castle is very strong of ord●ance , and gouerned by turkes : betwixt the citie and this castle lyeth the ancient citie of carthage , sunke , by the report of all the inhabitants thereabouts : but this did i sée my selfe going vp to tunys in a boate , the foundation of many houses for the space of foure or fiue miles , the water being very cleare , and in depth a fadome and a halfe . the moores of this countrey are altogether in religion like to the turkes , and also in habite : they are verie light of foote , and gallant horsemen : they cannot indure hogs flesh , nor the drinking of wine , for they drinke water altogether , except it be sometimes aqua-vitae . the manner of their liuing in the countrey is thus : they will goe fiue or sixe hundred together , men , women , and children , with their cammels , asses , and shéepe , together with all their poultrie , vnder the side of a mountaine , where euery man pitcheth his tent , liuing euery man to himselfe , hauing his wife and children about him , with his seruants and cattell , thus many tents are pitched together , to the bignesse of a little towne , continuing there till such time as their cattell haue eaten vp the grasse , and then being able to stay there no longer , they remooue to another place , where they liue as before they had done : and thus they doe spend their liues . by reason the countrey is continually hotte , their féeding is plentifull , but their apparrell poore and bare , neyther haue they any , but what they buy with the increase of their cattell , carrying them often to the townes , cities , and market places néere , where they haue sale for them . these moores are very ingenious people , cunning and treacherous . now leaue we tunys in the same ship that i came out of england in , named the francis of sal●ash , being bound to syo within the arches of archipelago , and fraighted with turkish goods by turkes , and some turks aboord with vs , for wée traded as well with the turke as the christian : but we had not sailed aboue foure leagues out of our port in the night season , but that we were most fiercely set vpon by sixe of the duke of florence his gallies , ( who being in continuall warre with the turke , tooke vs as a turkish prize ) which spit fire like diue●s , to our great discomfort , but at length couraging of our selues in gods mercies , we continued fight with them , to the losse of many a mans life of each fide , but all in vaine for vs , for they were fortie for one of vs , and our sip torne downe to the water with their ordinance , our mayne mast , and missen mast , shot by the boord , the ●●e end of the mast with all the sayles lying in the sea , the other end aboord : thus were we taken , and stript euery man starke naked , and then were we distributed , some into one gallie , and some into another ▪ where we had as many irons knocked vpon vs , and more , than then we were able to beare . our ship presently sent to ligorne , being mended as well as they could , but we in the gallies , continued a moneth before we came thither , to the losse of many of our liues : but at length comming thither ▪ as many of vs as were left aliue were thus intertained . we w●re all shauen both head and beard , and euery man had giuen him a red coate , and a red cap , telling of vs that the duke had made vs all slaues , to our great woe and griefe : where i continued eight yéeres and ten moneths in this slauerie , as in the next discouerie shall be truly spoken of . iiii. the description and discouery of ligorne . ligorne is a citie of the duke of florence , and lyeth in low ground , hauing many towers without it , standing in the sea , also to this towne doth belong a wilde road , and two very faire moulds for the safetie of the dukes gallies . in the entrance of these moulds is a very strong castle with great store of ordnance planted : also the towne is very strongly fortified , for it is the chiefe garrison of the great dukes , where is continually great store of souldiers in pay . which souldiers are alwaies imployed in his shipping or gallies , wherewith he doth more offend the turke then all christendome , for they doe take gallies and carmizals and brigantéens , and townes of the turkes and moores : possessing of men , women , and children , and selling them in markets , like to horses , cowes , or shéepe , reseruing the strongest for his owne flauery : in this place i liued eight yéeres , and ten moneths : thrée yéeres of this time i liued in this manner , from sunne rising to sunne set , chained in a cart like a horse , receiuing more blowes then any cart-horse in england , our diet being bread and water , and not so much bread in thrée daies as we might haue eaten at once , thus we were vsed to goe fortie or fiftie carts together , being all slaues : our lading would be sand , or lyme , or bricke , or some such like , and to draw it whither the officers appointed vs , for their buildings . these italians are very deceitfull people , for when they laugh in a mans face , they will séeke to kill him , yet they are very cowards being naturall italians : their women are altogether wicked and lewde . thrée yéeres being spent in this manner : all we english ▪ men were called as many as were left aliue , making choise of the ablest of vs to goe into the gallies , of which i was one chosen , then did my miserie increase many-fold , for then i was made a gally ▪ slaue to row at an oare , where our former diet lessened ▪ but blowes increased , to the losse of many of our liues . we were shauen head and beard euery eight or tenth day , being alwaies naked , but onely a payre of linnen bréeches and chaines continually . in this time i was at the taking of many a towne and gally of the turkes , though sore against my will , séeing of many cities , ilands , and mayne lands in the time of my slauerie , where i continued sixe yéeres a gally-slaue , finding in all this time much comfort and reliefe from english marchants that were protestants , and also from many english masters and owners of ships . but from english men being papists none at all . the miserie of the gallies doth surpasse any mans iudgement or imagination , neyther would any man thinke that such torture , or torment were vsed in the world , but onely they that féele it , the extreamitie of miserie causeth many a slaue to kill themselues , or else séeke to kill their officers ; but we were not suffered to haue so much as a knife about vs , yea if we had gotten one by any extraordinarie meanes , and offered any violence to any officer , we should presently haue lost our nose and eares , and receiued a hundred blowes en our bare backe , and a hundred on our belly with a double rope , or a buls pis●e , continuing a slaue still : but i intreated the almightie god to grant me grace that i might indure it patiently , that féeling that extreamitie in bodie in this world , how farre would the torments of hell haue surpassed and excéeded it , if i had in this my earthly torture béene accessary to mine owne death , as many were . but at length god of his great goodnesse and mercy , deliuered me ( according to my hope ) in this manner . the great duke fitted a ship ▪ a tartane and a frigot , being very well appointed and victualled , dispesing of them into the west indies , and chiefely for the kiuer of the amazons , appointing captaine robert thornton , an englishman to be chiefe commaunder of the ship , the tartane and the frigot : so likewise was euery other officer appointed by the duke himselfe ; insomuch as speaking of the placing of a phisition , a surgion , and a surgions mate , captaine thornton standing by , said , your highnesse may doe well to deliuer a poore englishman that hath continued a great while in your gallies : hée is well experimanted in p●●sicka , and surgery , by reason of his long practise both by sea an land : he is hardned to the sea , and able to discharge the place better then the thrée before mentioned : for in the gallies he doth your highnes but the labour of one slaue : whereupon the duke demaunded my name . captaine thornton answered , and said , william dauies : whereto the duke replied , i haue often béene spoken to for that fellow , whose liberty now i giue vpon thy good report , thornton , but yet i doubt his vsage hath béene so hard in my countrey , that as soone as hée is out of chaynes , he will giue me the slip and not goe the voyage into the in●ies with thée . but if he can giue fiue hundred crownes securitie to goe the voyage , hée shall be released presently out of chaynes : neyther shall hée want any thing that is needfull for the voyage , ●or the good of all the company , or for his owne bodie , and this let him vnderstand as soone as may be : which newes came within two dayes vnto me , to my great reioycing & comfort , but as soone as i heard it , i sodainly sate down , being at my ol● profession , carrying of durt , and stone , and such like in a basket , and would worke no longer , neyther suffer the slaue to worke that was chayned vnto mée , but as soone as i was espied , one of the masters of the worke came to mée , and said thou lutheran dogge : why workest thou not ? and with that strake me with a cudgell , whereto the slaue that was chayned with me , replied . the duke hath giuen him his libertie : then said hée that had stroken mée , master , i beseech you forgiue mée , and excuse my rashnesse , doubting that i should haue remembred his former courtesies being at libertie . and within a short time after captaine thorneton came from florence to ligorne , where i was , who then tolde mee the dukes disposition to the full , and vpon what securitie i should be deliuered : which securitie i did sodainely procure by an english marchant , whose name was maister william mellyn , of bristow , who passed his band for fiue hundred crownes to the duke , for the performance of the voyage by mée : whereupon i was sodainely released out of chaynes , to my great reioycing , giuing god thankes for his blessings . then was i presently well apparrelled by captaine thorneton , and this marchant , wanting nothing whereof i was destitute : but within two or three dayes after i was sent for , by the great duke , to come vnto him to archemeyne , where then hée continued , whither sodaynely i repayred , and comming to the dukes presence , doing my dutie , he said vnto me , be of good comfort i haue giuen thée grace , with thy liberty , neyther shalt thou want any thing for the fitting of thy voyage , or néedful for thy owne bodie , therefore speake boldly , and demaund any thing that shall be necessary , and i will haue thée well fitted : for the great duke of florence wants no money . then he demaunded of me further what i was in mine owne countrey , whither i was a gentleman or no. i answered his highnesse i was : then he asked me how ? i told him my father was a gentleman , and for my part i had serued my quéene by lano and by sea , against the aduersaries of my quéene and countrey , and had lost mine owne bloud , and spilt my enemies bloud : and next that i was a gentleman by art. then the duke answered and said : thou art a worthy fellow , for thou hast indured much miserie in this world . but tell me , quoth hée , with what substance of wealth camest thou out of thy countrey : i answered with two purses full : full said hée , of what ? i said of siluer and gold , which i lost when i was taken by his highnes gallies , and the other full of patience , which doth continue full still : then said the duke to one that stoode by , giue him a hundred crownes to spend to strengthen himselfe , and bring himselfe to courage ; thus did the duke take delight in discoursing with me , in respect i spake the italian tongue very perfectly , for i bought it déere , with many a droppe of my bloud , in the time of my slauerie . then receiuing this hundred crownes , which the duke had giuen me , i left his court , comming presently to ligorne , where the ship lay , indeauoring of my selfe , by my labour , and industrie , for the fitting of all things necessary for the good of the uoyage , vpon the dukes charge , besides this hundred crownes : for they were giuen mée to spend at my owne pleasure , which i did , to the comfort of many english-men that lay in chaines , that were taken with mée : they wanted neyther meate nor drinke as long as my money lasted , as many of them as were left aliue , for of seuen and thirtie of vs that were taken at the first , there remayned then but thirtéene , whereof tenne continued in chaines , and two were deliuered with me . by this time all things were prepared and made readie for the performance of our pretended uoyage , now being bound to serue in the good ship called the santa lucia , with a frigot , and a tartane , well victualled , and well manned , and chiefely bound to the riuer of amazones , with other seuerall riuers , the which the duke would haue inhabited , hoping for great store of gaine of gold , but the countries did affoord no such thing , as hereafter shall be spoken of . upon this uoyage we were fouretéene moneths , making little gaine , or benefit for the duke , for there was nothing to be gained . now are we homewards bound , and recouering the straits againe , & being within three or foure dayes sayle of our owne port , ligorne : in the night season we met with an english pirate , who would haue taken vs , but was not able , yet held vs fight all the whole night , and kild vs a man , and hurt other two : whereof one was an englishman , who died within two dayes after we recouered ligorne , and being dead i went to the captaine and demaunded of him where he should be buried , but he ●ad him goe aske of one father sherwood an englishman , so he told mée that if he were a romane catholike they would burie him in the church , but if he were not , i should bury him out in the fields : but yet for my better assurance i went and asked of the friers of the misericordia , who also gaue their aduise , and counsell that he should be buried in the fields , because he was no romane catholike , whereupon i buried him in this manner . i intreated the company of many englishmen that were protestants to helpe me to shroud him , and also to accompany me to the burying of him , which they did in this manner . we put him vpon a beare , being shrowded with a couering ouer him , and carried by foure men , many englishmen that were protestants followed him , bearing euery man a branch of rosemary in his hand to the place where we buried him , reading prayers ouer him after the english manner . his name that was buried was erasmus lucas , and borne in southwarke néere vnto london . two daies being spent after his buriall , & was sought for by an italian fryer , who finding of me , demaunded of me my name , which presently i told him , then he replied , thou art he that i looke for , for thou hast buried a good christian , and a romane catholike out in the fields , like to a dog and a lutheran as thou art thy selfe : therefore i charge thée in the dukes name to goe along with mée , which command i durst not denie , but went with him , where he brought me before thrée or foure aged friers of the inquisition , & they asked of me whether i were that lutheran that buried a good christian in the fields , for he was a romane catholike , and confest , and receiued the sacrament like to a good christian , and therefore thou shalt be burned , for thou hast done contrary to the law of rome . i answered that i had buried a good christian , but not a romane catholike , neither was he confest , nor receiued the sacrament : they replied , if this be not true which thou hast said thou shalt surely die for it . therefore take him , and put him into the secret , whither vnto i was brought , which is a prison in this manner : many double doores being opened , i passed through two or thrée outward prisons then comming to the doore of the secret , whereinto i was thrust , it was so darke that i could sée no part of my body , then féeling round about me with my hands , i found it to be very short in length , & lesse in breadth , but of height i know not how high , because i could neither sée nor féele the top . in this place i was almost ouer shoes in the filth of other men that had died there before , who neuer liued aboue eight or ten daies there at the most : then wrapping one arme within another , and leaning against the wall , calling to minde iobs miseries and daniels afflictions amidst the lions , and incouraging my selfe in gods mercy , sung a psalme very chéerefully to the praise and glory of god , wherein i was greatly comforted . then did i draw off my shoes and stockings , & with my bare féete swept all the trash and filth into one corner . in this manner i liued fortie houres before any sléepe possest me , and then being desirous of sléepe , i sate downe and leaned my head against the wall , and slept very soundly , being altogether comforted with a liuely hope in the almighty god , that he would deliuer me ( according to my trust ) as he had done before . and when most extreames would oppresse me , then would i be most ioyfull , finding alwaies an inward motion , saying , be of good comfort , the lord will deliuer thée : in this manner i liued sixtéene daies , my food being bread & water , and my lodging vpon the cold stones , and being yet aliue , they held it a miracle that i should liue there so long , saying , this lutherane hath a lions heart , for we neuer knew any to liue aboue ten daies , wherfore let vs haue him forth to be examined . then was i brought before the high inquisitioner , who demanded of me , whether he that i buried had receiued the sacrament & confest , according to the romane order or no , i answered no ; he was a good christian , but receiued not the sacrament , nor was not confest , after the order of rome : then he said that he was , by a frier of the mesericordia , & therefore thou shalt be burned . then i intreated that i might but speake , and he said speake on : then i asked them this , whether the frier that confest him could speak any english or no , he answered that he could speake none : then tell me quoth i , how an italian frier ( can confesse an englishman speaking no english , nor the englishman speaking no italian , nor other language but his mother tongue ? for you know wel there must be no interpreter in confession , & if the sacrament were ministred vnto him , the house where he died can iustifie it . then the inquisitioner hearing this , scratched his head , saying , this fellow hath spoken the truth , wherfore take him and put him out into a large prison , whether i was brought , where i liued ten wéeks being well , and often relieued by english protestants , who reioyced much to see me aliue . these malicious friers , there reason wherefore they sought my life was , because they would haue the dead mans pay to themsel●es , which if he had béene a roman catholik had bin their due , & in respect he was not , they mist of the pay , & of their wicked pretence against me , ( god i giue him thanks ) by reason i could speak the italian tongue , for if i had had an interpreter in this , though my cause was iust , yet i had surely died . ten wéeks being spent in this prison , it was the fortune of one m. richard row of milbrooke , in the countie of cornwel , to ariue at ligorne , in the good ship called the portion he being owner & marchant of the said ship , & one day comming to the prison grate demaunded of me what countrey-man i was , i told him i was borne in the citie of hereford . he asked my name : i answered william dauies . said he , know you one master dauies in plymmouth . i said i was an vnfortunate brother of his . with that he was very sorely grieued , in respect he knew my brother very well , and loued him directly , and told me if all the meanes that he could vse could deliuer me , he would : therefore said hée , thinke with your selfe , how i may deliuer you , and i will be backe againe with you within these two or thrée houres : whereupon he deliuered me sixe crownes , and bid me spare for no money , for he knew my brother would repay it againe : then leauing me , i sate downe and leaned my head vpon my hand , setting my elbow vpon my knée , intreating my almightie god , to shew me some direct course whereby i should be deliuered . then presently came into my head , to send for a frenchman , in whose house i had alwaies layne before , who presently came vnto me , vnto whom i imparted my minde , telling of him that if he would faine a matter of debt against me , i would giue him ten crownes for his labour , though i ought him nothing : but he answered and said it was dangerous , for it was a gally-matter , but i vewed it should neuer be made knowne by me : whereupon he gaue consent , and went to the gouernour and told him , that in the prison where debters are , there is an englishman who oweth me money , and we were agréed , then said the commissarie if thou art content , let him pay the charge of the house , and be gone : which charge i paid presently , and was fréed , departing away with the frenchman , and brought him to master hunts house , the english counsell , where i gaue him his tenne crownes . so leauing one another , i went presently aboord of master rowes ship , being then bound for naples , vnto which place wée came , whose description followeth . v. the description and discouery of naples . naples is a famous and most worthy citie very spatious , standing close vpon the sea , meruailous strongly fortified and planted with ordnance , in many seuerall castles , bulwarks , forts , and such like : also to this citie doth belong many gallies , and very good shipping , and continually great store of shipping rides before it , this citie lies in the land of calabria , and is gouerned by a vice-roy , vnder the king of spayne : also there are many souldiers in garrison , being all spaniards . the king of spayne maintaynes many p●nti●ners there . in this citie they speake seuerall christian languages , because there are of all nations in christendome but principally italians , and spanyards . the neopolitans are very proud , and of a leftie spirit , being for the most part very rich , and costly attired , and most commonly well furnished inwardly with their countrey disease . they are altogether papists , and their women very audacious , especially in the sinfull vse of their bodies , by reason they haue as well their pardon as priuiledge from rome . in this citie it is verie dangerous to walke by night , for a man may sodainly be kild for the cloathes on his backe , whither hée be poore or rich . in this place are alwaies great store of marchants and lidgers of seuerall countries , as specially english , dutch , greekes , italians , uenetians , french , spaniard , jew , with many other christian nations . the chiefe commoditie that these merchants deale in , is ●aw ▪ silke , or silke wrought , eyther into sattens , taffities , grograms , and diuers other silke stuffes , silke stockings , laces of all sorts , & garters of seuerall sorts . in this place i haue béene diuers times , and neuer found any thing note-worthy , but onely one , which was this . a mine vnderneath a great mountaine about a mile or thereabouts in length . this vault was digged by the industrie of men for a passage from the citie to an iland called n●●●ta , where all shipping doth stop before they come to the citie ; the reason wherefore this passage was inuented , is because the mountaine ouer it is so sléepe that there was no passage ouer it , except they would goe twentie miles about , but now coaches , wagons carts , horse or foote may passe as smoothly through as in a plaine way , continually hanging within it great store of lampes : this vault is in height about fiue fadame , and foure in breadth , it is named the grout , & by common report one virgil a learned man was the author of it , whose tombe is aloft in each end of it , hauing a lampe hanging continually before it : through this place i haue oft and many times passed : and therefore vpon my owne knowledge i can assure what i haue written . v. the description and discouery of the riuer of amazons . the riuer of the amazons lieth in the highest part of the west indies , beyond the equinoctiall line ; to fall with this riuer fortie leagues from land you shall haue eight , sixe , and seauen fadome water , and you shall sée the sea change to a ruddie colour , the water shall grow fresh , by these signes you may run in boldly your course , and comming néere the riuers mouth , the depth of your water shall increase , then you shall make discouery of the trées before the land , by reason the land is very low , and not higher in one place then another thrée ●oote , being at a spring tide almost all ouer flowne , god knowes how many hundred leagues . it flowes much water there with a very forcible tide . in this riuer i continued ten wéekes , seeing the fashion of the people and countrey there : this countrey is a together full of woods , with all sorts of wilde beasts , as lions , beares , wolues , leopards , baboones , ●range bores , apes , monkies , martyns , sanguins , marmosets with diuers other strange beasts : also these woods are ●ull of wilde-fowle of all sorts , and parats more plentifull then pigeons in england , and as good meat , for i haue often eaten of them . also this countrey is very full of riuers , hauing a king ouer euery riuer . in this place is continuall tempests as lightning , thunder , and rayne , and so extreame , that it continues most commonly sixtéene or eightéene houres i● foure and twentie . there are many standing ●●ters in this countrey , which be full of aligators , g●●●es , with many other seuerall water serpents , and great store of fresh fish , of strange fashions . this countrey is full of muskitas , which is a small fl●e , which much offends a stranger comming newly into the countrey . the manner , fashion , and nature of the people is this : they are altogether naked , both men and women , hauing not so much as one three● about them to couer any part of their nakednesse , the man taketh a round cane as big as a penny candle , and two inches in length , through the which he puls the fore-skin of his yard , tying the skin with a péece of the rinde of a tree about the bignesse of a small packethréed , then making of it fast about his middle , he continueth thus till he haue occasion to vse him . in each eare he weareth a réed or cane , which he bores through it , about the bignesse of a swans quill , and in length halfe an inch , and the like through the midst of the lower lip : also at the bridge of the nose he hangs in a reed a small glasse bead or button , which hanging directly afore his mouth , flies too and fro still as he speaks , wherein he takes great pride and pleasure . he weares his hayre long , being rounded below to the nether part of his eare , and cut short , or rather as i iudged pluckt bald on the crowne like a frier . but their women vse no fashion at all to set forth themselues , but starke naked as they were borne , with haire long of their heads , also their breasts hang very low , by reason they are neuer laced or braced vy : they do vse to annoynt their bodies , both men and women , with a kinde of red earth , because the muskitas or flies shal not offend them . these people are very ingenious , craftie ▪ and treacherous , very light of foote , and good bowemen , whose like i haue neuer seene , for they doe ordinarily kill their owne foode , as beasts , fowle , and fish , the manner of their bow and arrowes is this . the bow is about two yards in length , the arrow seauen foot . his bowe is made of brazill wood very curious , his string of the rinde of a trée , lying close to the bow , without any bent , his arrow made of a réed , and the head of it is a fish bone , hée kils a beast in this manner : standing behinde a trée , hée takes his marke at the beast , and wounding him , he followes him like a bloud-hound till he fall , oftentimes seconding his shoote : then for any fowle be he neuer so little , he neuer misses him : as for the first , he walkes by the water side , and when he hath spied a fish in the water , he presently strikes him with his arrow , and sodainly throwing downe his bow , he leaps into the water , swimming to his arrow which he drawes a-land with the fish fastned to it , then hauing each kild his owne sood , as well flesh , and fowle , as fish , they méet together , to the number of fiftie or si●tie in a company , then make a fire after this fashion : they take two stickes of wood , rubbing one hard against another , till such time as they be fired , then making of a great fire euery man is his owne cooke to broyle that which he hath gotten , and thus they féede without bread or salt , or any kinde of drinke but water and tobacco , neither doe they know what it meanes : in these countries we could finde neither gold nor siluer dare , but great store of hennes . for i haue bought a couple for a jewes harpe , when they would refuse ten shillings in mo●ey . this countrey is full of delicious fruit , as ●ynes , plantins , euaues , and potato rootes , of which fruits and rootes i would haue bought a mans burthen for a glasse button or bead. the manner of their lodging is this : they haue a kinde of net made of the rinde of a tree which they ●●ll haem●c , being thrée fadome in length , and two in breadth ▪ and gathered at both ends at length , then fastning eyther end to a trée , to the full length about a yard and halfe from the ground , when he hath desire to sléepe , hée créepes vnto it the king of euery riuer is knowne by this manner . he wear●s vpon his head a crowne of parats feathers , of seue●al●●●o●●s , hauing eyther about his middle , or about his necke ● chaine of lyons teeth or clawes , or of some other strange ●●a●● , hauing a woo●●en sword in his hand , and hereby is he knowne to be the king : oftentimes one king warres against another in their canowes , which are boats cut out of a whole trée , and sometimes taking one another the conquerers eates the captines . by this time ten wéeks were spent , and being homewards bound , but not the same way that we came , for we sayled vnto the riuer before the winde , because it blowes there continually one way , which forces all ships that come thither to returns by a contrary way . vii . the description and discouery of malta . malta is a small iland , very famous , hauing two cities vpon it called terra-noua , and terra-vecha being s●ituate very néere one another . this iland is gouerned by a great master , who acknowledgeth no superiour vpon earth , but the pope to be supreame head of the church . the great master liues in terra-noua , which is a great citie , lying close vpon the sea , marueilous strongly fortified and planted with ordnance the like is not in christendom , for the turke hath oftentimes sought to take it , with two or thrée hundred sayle of gallies at a time , but yet was neuer able to take any part of it . to this iland doth there belong gallies , though they be but few , to the number of sixe or eight sayle , and also shipping , wherewith they doe much offend the turke , taking of them very often , and making them slaues : in this iland they hold the romish religion , both men and women , their women are altogether lasciuious and lewdly giuen , but there men are valiant , gentlemen , and worthy men at armes : they are of all nations of christendome , speaking generally all languages , also they haue an ancient order of knighthood , sworne by the crosse of saint iohn , which is a forked white crosse which they weare vpon their breasts to be knowne to be c●u●liers and knights of malta . the manner of their ▪ oath of knighthood is this : that they shall neuer marry , by reason they shall neuer haue children legitimate : for there are many lords and noble men sent thither by their uncles to be knighted , because they shall neuer marry , whereby after his death his lands shall come to his uncles issue , yet they are suffered to haue as many whores as they will. another part of their oath is this . a knight of malta is sworne not to stand in place where two , thrée , or foure are vpon one in fight , but to take the weaker part , & to fight to the last . they are all of bold courage , being to the number of fiue thousand or there abouts , in malta and other christian places : another part of their oaths is this , by land or sea , whether it be in ship or gally , they are sworne to incounter their aduersaries , though they be thrée to one , and neuer to yéeld or slip away , for they are sworne to fight it to the last mans death : the which oath they performe very couragiously , for they are gentlemen of very great respect , neyther will they euer fall out amongst themselues , being forbidden by another part of their oath . as for their maintenance , the poorer sort haue a pention from the great master , which maintains him very gallant , and the richer sort liue vpon their owne charge . one thing there is strange in that iland , those that are borne without the cities speak altogether the morisco tongue , being altogether like moores . this iland is very plentifull and fruitful of all things , especially , wine , corne , fish , flesh , and fruits . these knights are very mercifull , hauing their aduersaries prostrate , greatly regarding their oath . viii . the description and discouery of cyprus . cyprus is a famous iland of the turks , hauing two cities and many townes vpon it ; the chiefest citie vpon it is famagosta : this citie lies close vpon the sea , in low ground , being very strongly fortified & walled about , and gouerned by turkes , holding their owne religion , belieuing and confessing god the father , and their prophet mahomet , doing all things contrary to a christian , yet though they doe not acknowledge christ to be the son of god , and a god , yet they say he is the breath of god , and by the jewes put to death , but they doe not beléeue that he is risen again . they hate a jew aboue any nation euen as they do the diuel , neither do they care to kill him , no more then they doe a dog , oftentimes killing them in the very stréets vpon the least occasion , if it be but for touching his garment as he passeth by him : yet their liues many jewes in all parts of the turkes dominions , but in this manner . they will suffer neither man , woman , nor childe to plucke vp their shoes on their héele , if they be jewes , but goe alwaies slipsh●d and barelegd , wearing a blacke cap vpon his head , and carrying of a buckram sack vpon his shoulders empty , to shew that he is a jew , & a slaue to the world . in this iland of cyprus , without the cities and towns , the countrey is inhabited by greeks , liuing vassals to the turks , paying to the turke the tenth of all that they possesse , euen to the tenth of their children , if they amount to that number , and that tenth childe is circumciled and made a turke , receiuing an osper a day from the great turke for the first yéers , and for the second two , and for the third thrée , per diem , and so his pay increaseth an osper yéerely as he groweth in yéeres , for he is chosen from his infancy to be a souldier of the great turkes , and so shall all his male children receiue the like pay , and be souldiers to the turke : their garments being welt●d about the necke with a welt of purple silk , wherby they are known from others . this osper is the eleueuth of a shilling english . so that at twentie yéeres of age he serues in the field , his pay being worth ninteen pence a day , and so increasing with his yeeres . this iland of cyprus is very fruitfull , hauing great store of silke wo●mes , which yéeldeth them abundance of silke . also this iland yéelds great store of fruits of all sorts , and store of cattell of all sorts : thrée sorts of beasts this iland yeeldes , which differ farre from ours in england , that is to say , a bu●fella differs from an ore , their cammels from our horses , and their sheepe from ours . the bu●fella is a beast after the manner of an ore , but that hée is bigger , and not so high , nor so long as the tallest of our oxen , yet one of them is as strong as thrée of our oxen , for two of them doe the labour of sixe oxen : their hornes are flat , and at mid-day when they vse to rest them , they take them , and turne them into a water , where they will stand for the space of two houres couered quite ouer the backes in water , then will they yoke them and worke them as fresh till night , as they did in the morning , without any bayting at all . their cammels is a meruailous tall beast , hauing a necke twise as long as a horse , and a great bunch growing about the middle of his backe , as bigge as a pecke , hée is clouen footed , and his tayle little , and for his strength he will carry as much on his backe as foure horses , and continue with his carriage on his backe thréescore houres without meat or rest . i haue séene foure thousand of them laden at one time with merchandise going a very slow pace , and nothing so fast as a carriers horse , yet will they continue that pace two dayes and two nights together , without any eating or drinking : and when they doe rest and féede , it is but slender and verie little , in this manner : when they come to their resting place they lye downe with their lading vpon their backes . then the moores or turkes , put a ball made of date stones beaten , into euery one of their mouthes , the pouder of the stones being compounded with linséede oyle , and the white of egges , which makes the balls as hard as stones , and thus they will liue and continue their trauaile sixtéene dayes and nights together , receiuing the said rest and reliefe at euery two dayes end . their shéepe are twise as bigge as ours in england , but in all fashions like our shéepe , except the tayle , for their tayles are meruailous great , broad , and thicke , being very fat , for i haue weighed many of their tayles flayed from the butchers , and they haue waighed ten , eleuen , and twelue pound waight , and throughout all barbarie and turkie , they haue plenty of these beasts , and also all kind of beasts that we haue in england . there liue many gréekes in all parts throughout the turkes dominions , but in great bondage and pouertie : they are good christians , abhorring the idolatry of rome , and obseruing the same computation for christmasse and other festiuals , that we doe in england . also there are jewes in all parts of turkie and barbary , and all parts of christendome , england excepted : yet though they be thus dispersed throughout most parts of the world , liuing in extreame slauery , yet shall you not see one jew begge his bread . one thing i haue greatly maruelled at , that a jew is respected more in christendome , then with the turks : for the turks ( as you haue heard ) detests him aboue any nation , tying him to a notable and knowne marke , or manner of apparrell , and yeelding him no law or right , eyther against turke or christian : whereas , contrarywise , in christendome , he is tyed to no manner of weare , but may goe in what shape he lists : and for law , by reason of his wealth , hee shall sooner haue right done to him then a christian : wherefore in my minde , the turke greatly in this condemnes the popish christian : for it is an ordinary saying with them , tha● if a jew had put mahomet to death , nay , but touched the hem of his garment violently , they would not haue left one of the race of them aliue , nor yet any thing , or building vnraced , that might procure their memory . but in christendome they are suffered to build sinagogues , and to vse their religion publikely . but i beseech the almightie god that this our land of england may neuer be defiled , eyther by pope , turke , or jew . ix . the description and discouery of sicillia . sicillia is a famous iland of the spaniards , hauing many worthie cities vpon it . this iland is in bignesse seauen hundred miles about , very fruitfull , and plentifull of all things , as silke , flesh , and fish , corne , wine , and oyle , with great store of fruit. this iland is gouerned by a vizeroy , vnder the king of spaine : his chiefs abiding is at palerm● , or mercina , two famous cittes , but his chiefest residence is at palerma . this city lyeth in low ground , hauing a mountaine néere it , called monta pellagrune . this citie is very populous , being rich of marchandize and wealthy marchants . at this citie i haue beene very often in the time of my sla●●●te in the dukes gallies . also , néere this citie there is a towne called trappany , in which towne there is a monastarie , wherein they affirme that the pillar of salt that lots wise was turned vnto , comming out of sodome is . they professe the romish religion through out this iland both men and women , speaking the italian tongue generally , as many as be borne in the iland , and are called sicillianes . mercina being another famous citie , lyeth close vpon the sea , and is scituated vpon high ground , vnder the foote of a great mountayne . this city is strongly fortified and planted with o●●●●nce : also there is great store of gallies and shipping belonging to this place , which doth much offend the turke , ●●t chiefely they are employed in marchandiye . this high mountayne that hangs ouer the citie is called mungebella , and standeth in the east-part of this iland , the top of it burning continually both night and day , and by reason of the fiercenesse of the fire , hath consumed many uillages . the reason of this fire is a brimstone , or a sulphure mine , which being high , is ( as all men imagine ) set a fire by the heate of the sunne , as the iland strambula is , which continually burneth : and many other high places more that i haue séene , as mount aetna , the pike of teneriffe a southward iland , and many others , &c. unto this citie mercina belongs a straight entrance by sea , commonly called the ●ale of mercina it lyeth betwixt the land of sicillia and calabria , very dangerous to passe through for any ship , except they are very well experimented . for my part i know this place well , being often there in the ●●me of my slauerie . x. the description and discouery of ●●ggadore . mvggadore is an iland of the moores , and lyeth néere the lan● o● ●arbary , without the straights , not farre from the lands of the kings of fesse and morrocco . th●s il●nd is not inhabited , but very barren , being all rocks by the 〈…〉 side , and very smoothe on the to● , and full of bushes , 〈…〉 pidgions doe b●eede in great store : we held it nothing 〈…〉 〈…〉 sixe or eight in company together into the iland , and 〈…〉 〈…〉 the space of thrée houres , twentie dozens of pidgions 〈…〉 with vs. betwixt the maine and this iland there is very good riding for a shippe . also , the moores will bring out ●● the maine land such uictuals as they haue to re●●●●e o●r wants , as mutton , beefe , ●c . the moores of this countr●● are very deceitfull and trecherous : their cloathing is but very naked and thinne , for they weare but one slat of thin●● f●an●●● wherewith they couer their brests , backs and p●●u●e parts and as for their armes , legs , and thighes , they ●●e na●ed of them : the sayd garment , or piece of flane●l , they call ● barnoose . in this countrey of barbary there is great store of sugar-canes , and sugar made , as they in braz●e . sometimes in this countrey there is amber-grease found , but the cunning of the moores makes a great deale counterfaite . i came to this iland in a carnell of plymouth , master edward decon of the saide towne being master of her : moores comming oftentimes aboord of vs , where they were kindly entertayned ; but they returned our kindnesse in this manner ▪ setting of the chiefest , with many more of them ashorem our boate , wherein sixe english men rowed them ashore ▪ they being all a land , our boat was aground , then one of our men stept out of the boat , vp to the knées in water , and by strength would haue set the boate off from the land , which as ●oone as they espyed him out of the boate , they tooke h●●d of him ▪ and drew him a land , where they cut all his cloathes off his backe , and deuided them in péeces amongst them , carrying the man starke naked vp into the countrey , saying tha●●e should neuer haue him againe except they had twentie french crownes for his ransome , which newes the boace brought presently aboord , ( which being in vaine to st●●●e with them ●ée gaue them , and receiued the man naked , hauing no further dealing with them . xi . the description and discouery of candy . candy is a famous iland of the venetians , very fruitfull , yeelding great store of wine and oyle , and all other things plentifull . this iland is very high and long , poynting east and west : the north-side of it very pleasant , with great store of gardens and uineyards , and such like : but very barren to the southward-side , with great rocks , cliffs , and mountaynes , which part is inhabited by poore gréekes : and also there are many small ilands vnder these cliffs , inhabited likewise by gréekes , as christiana and godza , with others more . these gréekes liue all together in bondage to the uenetians . the north-side of this iland is inhabited by italians , and some jewes . there are two very fayre cities : ( viz. ) candia , and acony , these cities are inhabited most with uenetians , strongly fortified and planted with ordnance . these cities lye right against the entring of the arches of appellican , which goeth to constantinople , where the great turke continues , receiuing tribute of the duke of venice for this iland , and other parts , for the uenetian is tributary to the great turke . also the great turke kéepes him in subiection by land and sea , neither dare the uenetian ioyne their forces with any christian , at any time whensoeuer a fléete of gallies and shipps is set forth against the turke , yet the duke of uenice hath twise as many gallies as any christian prince whatsoeuer , which he doth employ , some of them in marchandize , hauing continuall trading both with christian and turke , and some of his gallies continually lieth about the entring of the gulph of venice , about the iland of zant and saphlany , and the small iland of the strauales , and néere about madona : these parts doe they defend from any christian men of warre , or christian gallies , or eyther gallies or briggantéens of the turkes that shall approach néere vnto these parts , in the manner and fashion of men of warre : and oftentimes the sayd gallies doe take both christian and turke , making slaues of the men , or else chopping off of their heads ; for it is lawfull for him so to doe , by the conclusion betwixt him , the christian , and turke , taking them within twentie leagues compasse of the entrance of his gulph , but not in any other part of the sea , without the said compasse . xii . the description of morria . morria is a small low iland , lying in the riuer of amazones , the highest part of the west indies . this iland is altogether inhabited by women , hauing no mankinde amongst them : they goe altogether naked , vsing bow and arrowes for the killing of their owne foode : the hayre of their heads is long , and their brests hang low : and whereas many here in england doe imagine that they haue the right brest seared , or cut off , it is no such matter as now ▪ what hath béene in times past i know not : for this of mine owne knowledge , i haue seene fortie , fiftie , or threescore of them together , each of them bearing bow and arrowes in their hands , going along by the sea-side ; and when they espyed a fish , they shoote at it , and strike it , and so throwing downe their bowes , they leap into the water after their arrowes , and bring the fish aland , fastned to the arrow : and ●o in all other things as well the dressing of their meate , as their lodging and customes , they resemble and imitate the indians of the riuer of amazons , as you heard before in that discourse . but some ●● these women doe vse to beare their children vpon their backs , in this manner : they take a yeere of the unde of ● trée , and with the one end thereof they fasten the childes hunmes , and about the arme-pits and shoulders with the other , and so hang him on their backs like a tinkers budger , and cast vp the brest to him ouer the shoulder . the reason wherefore this iland is inhabited by women onely , ●s this one moneth in the yéere , the men from each side of the maine land comes in their canowes , ouer to the iland , euery man matching himselfe with a woman , liuing there a moneth : and what men children they finde there , they carry away with them ; and the woman children they leaue behinde with the mothers . and this is their vse once a yéere , whereby this iland is altogether inhabited by women . there is one thing more to be wondred at , that i haue also séene , that is to say , very good oysters and muskles growing vpon trées , for i haue eaten my part of many an hundred of them . and for your better vnderstanding how they grow , you shall know that the trées stand néere the sea side , and at euery full tyde the bowes hang into the sea a fadome , or a fadome and a halfe , so that when the tyde goeth out , they are found hanging in great clusters vpon the branches , like barnacles to the side of a ship , and at the comming in of the tyde , they receiue their moysture . finis . the conclusion of the booke : to the reader . thus farre ( gentle reader ) i thought good , out of my slender capacitie , to acquaint thée with a briefe and plaine discourse of my trauell , which though it be rude , as comming from a barren brayne , which professeth nothing lesse then learning : yet assure thy selfe it containes vndoubted truth , being no more then i haue séene , knowne , and to my griefe and perill felt . and if any , as well or better acquainted with these parts , or any of them , whereof i make mention , disliking the rudenesse of my stile , will vndertake to refine it , hée giues me no discontent , so he derogate not from the truth thereof . and whereas i made promise in the beginning of this treatise , in these twelue discourses , to touch or speake something of the rest of the places , specified in the table , i haue partly performed it : but to haue written of them at large , would haue béene but friuolous and superfluous , partly because they are places of no extraordinary note , but specially because they doe in most , or all things , agrée with the countries to which they are annexed , and tributaries , or vassalls : as the ilands tributary to the spaniards , follow their manner of gouernment , customes , and orders . the turkish tributaries imitate them in most things : and so you may iudge of the rest , according as they are seuerally distinguished . and so much may suffice to cléere that doubt . now the reasons that vrged me to publish this booke are manifold , but chiefly three : the first was , to keepe in record , and make knowne my owne misery , lest with the forgetfull butler in pharaos prison , who being deliuered forgat his promise made to ioseph . that foretold his deliuery : so i ( such is infirmitie and frailtie of humane nature ) might ( cheaked with worldly prosperitie forget my mercifull and mightie deliuerer . the second was , that others ( warned by my misery ) might shun the like . the last and chiefest reason was , to glorifie god , especially heere in england , which aboue all earthly countries and nations is most bound to extend and set forth his glory . for what christian , reading but the extreame thraldome and punishment he hath inflicted vpon the jewes , euen to this houre , being a nation he had once selected to himselfe from amongst all the nations of the earth . or the present misery of the gréekes , who once were monarches of the earth , and one of the chiefest churches of christendome , being the first fruits of the gentiles , whose extreame bondage is now lamentable , yet not with the israelites , sacrificing their children to idols , but forced to giue as well the tenth of their children , as of their substance to that monstrous mahumetan idoll the turke . or who , duly pondering the blindnesse and obstinacie of the spaniards , pope , and italians , with the horrible and absurd sinnes that god hath giuen them ouer to : or who , séeing the infidelitie of the simple indian ( well may i call him simple , because his errour grows more of want of true knowledge then obstinacie ) who worships the creature , being ignorant of the almightie creator ? what english heart ( i say ) duly pondering these things in generall , or any one of these things in particular , can otherwise choose but falling downe on his bended knées , yéeld god immortall and innumerable thanks and prayse-giuing , not onely for electing him aboue all other nations of the earth , to the true and perfect knowledge of his blessed gospell , but also for preseruing him so long from so many miseries and wretched thraldomes , whereunto most nations of the earth are subiect ? finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a19936-e3210 distant from england leagues 700. distant from england leagues 480. distant from en●land leagues ▪ 600. distant from england leagues 630. distant from england 700. leagues . distant from england 1600 〈…〉 distant from england ●●●●eagu●● . distant from england 1000. leagues . distant ●ro● england 〈…〉 ●eague● . ● 〈…〉 〈…〉 england 〈…〉 〈…〉 distant from england ●●● leagues 〈…〉 the man in the moone, or, a discourse of a voyage thither by f.g., b. of h. ; to which is added nuncius inanimatus, written in latin by the same author, and now englished by a person of worth. godwin, francis, 1562-1633. 1657 approx. 142 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 89 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a42948 wing g970 estc r35701 15539718 ocm 15539718 103664 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42948) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 103664) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1149:27) the man in the moone, or, a discourse of a voyage thither by f.g., b. of h. ; to which is added nuncius inanimatus, written in latin by the same author, and now englished by a person of worth. godwin, francis, 1562-1633. the second edition. [7], 126, 13, 21, [1] p., [1] leaf of plates : ill. printed for joshua kirton ..., london : 1657. two versions of nuncius inanimatus, latin and english, included, each with special t.p. and separate pagination. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages, imaginary. 2000-00 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2001-07 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2001-08 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2001-10 tcp staff (michigan) text and markup reviewed and edited 2001-11 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the man in the moone : or , a discourse of a voyage thither : by f.g. b. of h. to which is added nuncius inanimatus , written in latin by the same author , and now englished by a person of worth. the second edition . london , printed for joshua kirton , at the signe of the kings arms in st. pauls . church-yard . 1657 to the ingenious reader . thou hast here an essay of fancy , where invention is shewed with judgment . is was not the authors intention ( i presume ) to discourse thee into a belief of each particular circumstance . t is fit thou allow him a liberty of conceit ; where thou takest to thy self a liberty of judgment . in substance , thou hast here a new discovery of a new world , which perchance may finde little better entertainment in thy opinion , than that of columbus at first , in the esteem of all men . yet his than but poor espyall of america , betray'd unto knowledge so much as hath since encreast into a vaste plantation . and the then unknown , to be now of as large extent as all other the known world. that there shoud be antipodes was once thought as great a paradox as now that the moon should be habitable . but the knowledge of this may seem more properly reserved for this our discovering age : in which our lilaeusses , can by advantage of their spectacles gaze the sun into spots , & descry mountaines in the moon . but this and more in the ensuing discourse i leave to thy candid censure , and the faithfull relation of the little eye-witnesse , our great discoverer . e. m. the man in the moone . it is well enough and sufficiently known to all the countries of andaluzia , that i domingo gonsales was born of noble parentage , and that in the renowned city of sivill , to wit in the year 1552. my fathers name being therrando gonsales ( that was near kinsman by the mothers side unto don pedro sanchez that worthy count of almenara , ) and as for my mother , she was the daughter of the reverend and famous lawyer , otho perez de sallaveda , governour of barcellona , and corrigidor of biscaia : being the youngest of 17 children they had , i was put to school , and intended by them unto the church . but our lord purposing to use my service in matters of far other nature and quality , inspired me with spending some time in the wars . it was at the time that don fernando , the noble and thrice renowned duke d alva , was sent into the low countries , viz. the year of grace 1568. i then following the current of my foresaid desire , leaving the universitie of salamanca , ( whither my parents had sent me ) without giving knowledge unto any of my dearest friends , got me through france unto antwerp , where in the moneth of june 1569. i arrived in something poore estate . for having s●ld my books and bedding , with such other stuff as i had , which happily yielded me some 30. duckats , and borrowed of my fathers f●●ends some 20. more , i bought me a little nagg , with which i travelled more thriftily than young gentlemen are wont ordinarily to doo : untill at last arriving within a league of antwerp , certain of the cursed ge●ses set upon me , and bereaved me of horse , mony , and all : whereupon i was fain ( through want and necessity , ) to enter into the service of marshall cossey a french noble man , whom i se●v●d truely in honourable place , although mine enemies gave it out to my disgrace that i was his horse-keepers boy . but for that matter i shall referr my self unto the report of the count mansfield , mounsieur tavier , and other men of known worth and estimation ; who have often testified unto many of good credit , yet living , the very truth in that behalf , which indeed is this , that mounsieur cossey , who about that time had been sent embassador unto the duke d' alva ; governour of the low countries , he i say understanding the nobility of my birth , and my late misfortune ; thinking it would be no small honour to him , to have a spanyard of that quality about him , furnished me with horse , armour and whatsoever i wanted , using my service in nothing so much ( after once i had learned the french tongue ) as writing his letters , because my hand indeed was then very fair . in the time of war , if upon necessity , i now and then dressed mine own horse , it ought not to be cast in my teeth , seeing i hold it the part of a gentleman , for setting forward the service of his prince , to submit himself unto the vilest office . the first expedition i was in , was against the prince of orange , at what time the marshall my friend aforesaid , met him making a road into france , and putting him to flight , chased him even unto the walls of cambray . it was my good hap at that time to defeat a horseman of the enemy , by killing his horse with my pistoll , which falling upon his leg , so as he could not stir , he yielded himself to my mercie ; but i knowing mine own weakness of body , and seeing him a lusty tall fellow , thought it my surest way to dispatch him , which having done , i rifled him of a chain , mony , and other things to the value of 200. ducats : no sooner was that money in my purse , but i began to resume the remembrance of my nobility , and giving unto mounsieur cossey the besa los manos , i got my self immediately unto the dukes court , where were divers of my kindred , that ( now they saw my purse full of good crowns ) were ready enough to take knowledge of me ; by their means i was received into pay , and in process of time obtained a good degree of favour with the duke , who sometimes would jeast a little more broadly at my personage than i could well brook . for although i must acknowledge my stature to be so little , as no man there is living , i think less , yet in as much as it was the work of god , and not mine , he ought not to have made that a means to dishonour a gentleman withall . and those things which have happened unto me , may be an example , that great and wonderfull things may be performed by most unlikely bodyes , if the mind be good , and the blessing of our lord do second and follow the endeavours of the same . well , howsoever the dukes merriments went against my stomack , i framed my self the best i could to dissemble my discontent , and by such my patience accommodating my self al●o unto some other his humors , so won his favour , as at his departure home into spain , ( whither i attended him ) the year 1573. by his favour an●● some other accidents , ( i will say nothing of my own industry , wherein i was not wanting to my self ) i was able to carry home in my purse the value of 30●0 . crowns . at my return home my parents , that were marvellously displeased with my departure , received me with great joy ; and the rather , for that they saw i brought with me means to maintain my self without their charge , having a portion sufficient of mine own , so that they needed not to defalke any thing from my bretheren or sisters for my setting up . but fearing i would spend it as lightly as i got it , they did never leave importuning me till i must needs marry the daughter of a portugais , a merchant of lisbon , a man of great wealth and dealings , called john figueres . therein i satisfied their desire , and putting ●ot onely my marriage money , but also a good part of mine own stock into the hands of my father in law , or such as he wished me unto , i lived in good sort , even like a gentleman , with great content for divers years . at last it fell out , that some disagreement happened between me and one pedro delgades a gentleman of my kin , the causes whereof are needless to be related , but so farr this dissention grew between us , as when no mediation of friends could appease the s●me , into the field we went together alone with our rapiers , where my chance was to kill him , being a man of great strength , and tall stature . but what i wan●ed of him in strength , i supplyed with courage , and my nimbleness more than countervailed his stature . this fact being committed in carmona , i fled with all the speed i could to lisbone , thinking to lurk with some friend of my father in laws , till the matter might be compounded and a course taken for a sentence of acquittall by consent of the prosecutors . this matter fell out in the year 1596. even at that time that a certain great count of ours came home from the west indies , in triumphant manner , boasting and sending out his declarations in print , of a great victory he had obtained against the english , near the isle of pines . whereas the truth is , he got of the english nothing at all in that voyage , but blowes and a great loss . would to god that lying and vanit●e had been all the faults he had ; his convetousness was like to by my utter undoing , although since it hath proved a means of eternizing my name for ever with all posterity , ( i verily hope ) and to the unspeakable good of all mortall men , that in succeeding ages the world shall have , if at the leastwise it may please god that i do return safe home a●●●● into my countrie , to give perfect instructions how those admirable devices , and past all credit of possibility , which i have light upon , may be imparted unto publique use . you shall then see men to flie from place to place in the ayre ; you shall be able , ( without moving or travelling of any creature , ) to send messages in an instant many miles off , and receive answer again imediately ; you shall be able to declare your minde presently unto your friend , being in some private and remote place of a populous citie , with a number of such like things : but that which far surpasseth all the rest , you shall have notice of a new world , of many most rare and incredible secrets of nature , that all the philosophers of former ages could never so much as dream off : but i must be adv●sed , how i be over liberall , in publishing these wonderfull mysteryes , till the sages of our state have considered how farr the use of these things may stand with the policy and good government of our countrey , as also with the fathers of the church , how the publication of them may not prove prejudiciall to the affairs of the catholique faith and religion , which i am taught ( by those wonders i have seen above any mortall man that hath lived in many ages past ) with all my best endeavours to advance , without all respect of temporall good , and so i hope i shall . but to go forward with my narration , so it was that the bragging captain above named , made shew of great discontentment for the death of the said delgades , who was indeed some kin unto him . howbeit he would have been intreated , so that i would have given him no less than 1000. ducats ( for his share ) to have put up his pipes , and surceased all suit in his kinsmans behalfe ; i had by this time ( besides a wife ) two sonns whom i liked not to beggar by satisfying the desire of this covetous br●ggart and the rest , and therefore constrained of necessity to take another course , i put my self in a good carick that went for the east indies , taking with me the worth of 2000. ducats to traffique withall , being yet able to leave so much more for the estate of my wife and children , whatsoever might become of me , and the goods i carried with me . in the indies i prospered exceeding well , bestowing my stock in jewells , namely , for the most part in diamonds , emeraulds , and great pearl ; of which i had such peniworths , as my stock being safely returned into spain , ( so i heard it was ) must needs yield ten for one . but my self upon my way homeward soone after we had doubled the east of buena speranza , fell grievously sick for many dayes , making account by the same sickness to end my life , as undoubtedly i had done , had we no ( even then as we did ) recovered th● same blessed isle of s. hellen , the only paradice , i think , that the earth yieldeth , of the healthfullness of the aire there , the fruitfullness of the soile , and the abundance of all manner of things necessary for sustaining the life of man , what should i speak , seeing there is scant a boy in all spain , that hath not heard of the same ? i cannot but wonder , that our king in his wisdome hath not thought fit to plant a colony , and to fortifie in it , being a place so necessary for refreshing of all ●●● vellers out of the indies , so as it ●●● hardly possible to make a voyage thence , without touching there . it is situate in the altitude of 16. degrees to the south , and is about 3. leagues in compass , having no firm land or continent within 300. leagues , nay not so much as an island within 100. leagues of the same , so that it may seeme a miracle of nature , that out of so huge and tempestuous an ocean , such a little piece of ground should arise and discover it self● upon ●he south side there is a very good harbo●ough , and near unto the same divers edifices built by the portingals to entertain passengers , amongst the which there is a pretty chappell handsomly beautifyed with a tower , having a fair bell in the same . near unto this housing there is a pretty brook of excellent fresh water , divers faire walkes made b● hand , and set along upon both sides , with fruit-trees , especially oranges limmons , pomgranats , almonds , and the like , which bear fruit all the year long , as do also the fig-trees , vines , pear-trees , ( whereof there are divers sorts , ) palmitos , cocos , olives , plumms ; also i have seen there such as we call damaxaelas , but few ; as for apples i dare say there are none at all ; of garden hearbs there is good store , as of parsly , cole-worts , rosemary , mellons , gourds , lettice , and the like ; corn likewise growing of it self , incredible plenty , as wheate , pease barley , and almost all kind of pulse ; but chiefly it aboundeth with cattle , and fowle , as goates , swine , sheepe , and horses , partridges . wild hens , phesants , pigeons , and wild fowle beyond all credit : especially there are to be seen about the moneths of february , and march , huge flocks of a certain kinde of wilde swans ( of which i shall have cause hereafter to speak more ) that like unto our cuckoes , and nightingales , at a certain season of the yeare , do vanish away , and are no more to be seen . on this blessed island did they set me a shore with a negro to attend me , where , praised be god , i recovered my health , and continued there for the space of one whole yeare , solacing my self ( for lacke of human societie ) with birds , and brute beasts , as for diego ( so was the blackmoore called , ) he was constrained to live at the west end of the island in a cave . because being alwayes together , victuals would not have fallen out so plenty : if the hunting or fowling of the one had succeeded well , the other would finde means to invite him , but if it were scant with both , we were faine both to bestirre our selves ; marry that fell out very seldome , for that no creatures there doe any whit more fear a man , then they do a goate or a cow ; by reason thereof i found means easily to make tame divers sorts both of birds & beasts , which i did in short time , onely by muzzeling them , so as till they came either unto me , or else diego , they could not feed . at first i took great pleasure in a kinde of partridges , of which i made great use , as also of a tame fox i had . for whensoever i had any occasion to conferre with diego , i would take me one of them , being hungry , and tying a note about his neck , beat him from me , whereupon strait they would away to the cave of diego , and if they found him not there , still would they beat up and down all the west end of the island , till they had hunted him out ; yet this kinde of conveyance , not being without some inconvenience , needlesse here to be recited ; after a certaine space i perswaded diego ( who though he were a fellow of good parts , was ever content to be ruled by me , ) to remove his habitation unto a promontory or cape upon the north-west part of the island , being , though a league off , yet within sight of my house and chappell ; and then , so long as the weather was fair , we could at all times by signalls , declare our minds each to other in an instant , either by night , or by day ; which was a thing i took great pleasure in . if in the night season i would signifie any thing to him , i used to set up a light in the tower or place where our bell hung : it is a pretty large roome , having a faire window well glased , and the walls within being plaistered , were exceeding white ; by reason thereof , though the light were but small , it gave a great shew , as also it would have done much further off , if need had been . this light after i had let stand some half houre , i used to cover : and then if i saw any signall of light againe from my companion at the cape , i knew that he waited for my notice , which perceiving , by hiding and shewing my light , according to a certain rule and agreement between us , i certified him at pleasure what i list : the like course i took in the day to advertise him of my pleasure , sometimes by smoake , sometimes by dust , sometimes by a more refined & more effectual way . but this art containeth more mysteries than are to be set down in few words : hereafter i will perhaps afford a discourse for it of purpose , assuring my selfe that it may prove exceedingly profitable unto mankind , being rightly used and well imployed : for that which a messenger cannot perform in many dayes , this may dispatch in a peece of an houre . well , i notwithstanding after a while grew weary of it , as being too painfull for me , and betooke me again to my winged messengers . upon the sea-shore , especially about the mouth of our river , i found great store of a certain kinde of wild swan ( before mentioned ) feeding almost altogether upon the prey , and ( that which is somewhat strange , ) partly of fish , partly of birds , having ( which is also no lesse strange ) one foot with clawes , talons , and pounces , like an eagle , and the other whole like a swan or water-fowl . these birds using to breed there in infinite numbers , i tooke some 30. or 40. young ones of them , and bred them up by hand , partly for my recreation , partly also as having in my head some rudiments of that device , which afterward i put in practise . these being strong and able to continue a great flight , i taught them first to come at call affar off , not using any noise but only the shew of a white cloth. and surely in them i found it true that is delivered by plutarch , how that animalia carnivora , they are dociliora quam alterius cujusvis generis . it were a wonder to tell what tricks i had taught them , by that time they were a quarter old ; amongst other things i used them by little and little to fly with burthens , wherein i found them able above all credit , and brought them to that passe , as that a white sheet being displayed unto them by diego upon the side of a hill , they would carry from me unto him , bread , flesh , or any other thing i list to send , and upon the like call return unto me again . having prevailed thus farre , i began to cast in my head how i might doe to joyne a number of them together in bearing of some great burthen : which if i could bring to passe , i might enable a man to fly , and be carried in the aire to some certain place safe and without hurt . in this cogitation having much laboured my wits , and made some triall , i found by experience , that if many were put to the bearing of one great burthen , by reason it was not possible all of them should rise together just in one instant , the first that raised himself upon his wings finding himself stayed by a weight heavier than he could move or stir , would by and by give over , as also would the second , third , and all the rest . i devised ( therefore ) at last a means how each of them might rise carrying but his own proportion of weight only , and it was thus . i fastned about every one of my gans ' as a little pulley of corke , and putting a string through it of meetly length , i fastened the one end thereof unto a blocke almost of eight pound weight , unto the other end of the string i tied a poyse weighing some two pound , which being done , and causing the signall to be erected , they presently rose all ( being 4 in number , ) and carried away my blocke unto the place appointed . this falling out according to my hope and desire . i made proof afterwards , but using the help of two or three birds more , in a lamb , whose happiness i much envied , that he should be the first living creature to take possession of such a device . at last after divers tryalls i was surprized with a great longing , to cause my self to be carried in the like sort , diego my moore was likewise possessed with the same desire , and but that otherwise i loved him well , and had need of his help , i should have taken that his ambitious affection in very evill part : for i hold it farre more honour to have been the first flying man , then to be another neptune that first adventured to sayle upon the sea. howbeit not seeming to take notice of the mark he aimed at , i only told him ( which also i take to be true ) that all my gansa's were not of sufficient strength to carry him , being a man , though of no great stature , yet twice my weight at least . so upon a time having provided all things necessary , i placed my selfe with all my trinckets , upon the top of a rocke at the rivers mouth , and putting my self at full sea upon an engine ( the description whereof ensueth ) i caused diego to advance his signall : whereupon my birds presently arose , 25. in number , and carried me over lustily to the other rocke on the other side , being about a quarter of a league . the reason why i chose that time and place , was that i thought somewhat might perchance fall out in this enterprize contrary to my expectation , in which case i assured my self the worst that could be , was but to fall into the water , where being able to swim well , i hoped to receive little or no hurt in my fal . but when i was once over in safety , o how did my heart even swell with joy and admiration of mine owne invention ! how often did i wish my self in the midst of spaine , that speedily i might fill the world with the fame of my glory and renown ? every houre wished i with great longing for the indian fleet to take me home with them , but they stayed ( by what mischance i do not know ) 3 moneths beyond the accustomed time . at last they came being in number 3 carickes sore weather-beaten , their people being for the most part sick and exceeding weak , so as they were constrained to refresh themselves in our island one whole moneth . the captaine of our admirall was called alphonso de xima , a valiant man , wise , and desirous of renown , and worthy better fortune then afterward befell him . unto him i opened the device of my gansa's , well knowing how impossible it were otherwise to perswade him to take in so many birds into the ship , that would be more troublesome ( for the nicenesse of provision to be made for them , ) then so many men ; yet i adjured him by all manner of oaths , and perswasions , to afford me both true dealing , and secrecy . of the last i doubted not much , as assuring my selfe , he would not dare to impart the device to any other , before our king were acquainted with it . of the first i feared much more , namely , lest ambition , and the desire of drawing unto himself the honour of such an invention , should cause him to make me away ; yet i was forced to run the hazard , except i would adventure the losse of my birds , the like whereof for my purpose were not to be had in all christendome , nor any that i could be sure , would ever serve the turne . well , that doubt in proofe fell out to be causeless : the man i thinke was honest of himself : but had he dealt treacherously with me , i had laid a plot for the discovery of him , as he might easily judge i would , which peradventure somewhat moved him , yet god knowes how he might have used me , before my arrivall in spain , if in the meane course we had not been intercepted , as you shall heare . upon thursday the 21. of june , to wit in the yeare , 1599. we set saile towards spaine , i having allowed me a very convenient cabin for my birds , and stowage also for mine engine , which the captaine would have had me leave behinde me , and it is a mervaile i had not , but my good fortune therein saved my life , and gave me that which i esteeme more than an hundred lives , if i had them : for thus it fell out , after two moneths saile , we encountred with a fleet of the english , some ten leagues from the island of tenerik , one of the canaries , which is famous through the world , for a hill upon the same called el pico , that is to be discerned and kenned upon the sea , no less than 100. leagues off . we had aboard us 5. times the number of people that they had ; we were well provided of munition , and our men in good health : yet seeing them disposed to fight , and knowing what infinite riches we carried with us , we thought it a wiser way to fly , if we might , than by encountring a company of dangerous fellows , to hazard not onely our own lives , ( which a man of valour in such a case esteemeth not ) but the estates of many poor merchants , who i am afraid were utterly undone by miscarriage of that business . our fleet then consisted of 5. sail , to wit , 3. carracks , a bark , and a caravel , that coming from the isle of saint thomas , had ( in an evil hour for him ) overtaken us some few dayes before . the english had 3. ships very well appointed , and no sooner spied , but they began to play for us , and changing their course , as we might well perceive , endeavoured straightway to bring us under their lee , which they might well do ( as the wind stood ) especially being light nimble vessels , and yare of sail , as for the most part all the english shipping is , whereas ours was heavy , deep laden , foul with the sea : our captain therefore resolved peradventure wisely enough ( but i am sure neither valiantly , not fortunately ) to fly , commanding us to disperse our selves : the caravel by reason of too much hast fell foul upon one of the carracks , and bruised her so , as one of the english that had undertaken her , easily fetcht her up , and entred her : as for the caravel , she sank immediately in the sight of us all . the bark ( for ought i could perceive ) no man making after her , escaped unpursued ; and another of our carracks after some chase , was given over by the english , that making account to finde a booty good enough of us , and having us between them and their third companion , made upon us with might and main . wherefore our captain that was aboord us , gave direction to runne aland upon the isle , the port whereof we could not recover , saying , that he hoped to save some of the goods , and some of our lives , and the rest he had rather should be lost , than commit all to the mercy of the enemy . when i heard of that resolution , seeing the sea to work high , and knowing all the coast to be full of blind rocks , and shoals , so as our ves●ell might not possibly come near land , before it must needs be rent in a thousand pieces , i went unto the captain , shewing him the desperateness of the course he intended , wishing him rather to try the mercy of the enemy , than so to cast away himself , and so many brave men : but he would not hear me by any means ; whereupon discerning it to be high time to shift for my self , first , i sought out my box or little casket of stones , and having put it into my sleeve , i then betook me to my gansa's , put them upon my engine , and my self upon it , trusting ( as indeed it happily fell out ) that when the ship should split , my birds , although they wanted their signal , of themselves , and for safeguard of their own lives ( which nature hath taught every living creature to preserve to their power ) would make towards the land ; which fell out well ( i thank god , ) according to mine expectation . the people of our ship marvelled about what i went , none of them being acquainted with the use of my birds , but the captain , for diego was in the rosaria , the ship that fled away unpursued , ( as before i told you : ) some half a league we were from the land , when our carrack struck upon a rock , and split immediately : whereupon i let loose unto my birds the reins , having first placed my self upon the highest of the deck : and with the shock they all arose , carrying me fortunately unto the land , whereof , whether i were well apaid , you need not doubt : but a pitifull sight it was unto me , to behold my friends and acquaintance in that miserable distress , of whom ( notwithstanding ) many escaped better than they had any reason to hope for . for the english launching out their cock-boats , like men of more noble , and generous disposition than we are pleased to esteem them , taking compassion upon them , used all the diligence they could to help such as had any means to save themselves from the fury of the waves , and that even with their own danger : amongst many , they took up our captain , who ( as father pacio could since tell me ) having put himself into his cock , with 12. others , was induced to yield himself unto one captain rymundo , who carried him together with our pilot along in their voyage with them , being bound for the east indies ; but their hard hap was by a breach of the sea near the cape of buona esperanca , to be swallowed of the merciless waves , whose fury a little before they had so hardly escaped . the rest of them ( as i likewise heard ) and they were in all some 26. persons that they took into their ship , they set them aland soon after at cape verde . as for my self , being now ashore in a country inhabited for the most part by spaniards , i reckoned my self in safety . howbeit i quickly found the reckoning , i so made , mine host had not been acquainted withall ; for it was my chance to pitch upon that part of the isle , where the hill before mentioned beginneth to rise . and it is inhabited by a savage kinde of people , that live upon the sides of that hill , the top whereof is alwayes covered with snow , and held for the monstrous height and steepness not to be accessible either for man or beast . howbeit these savages fearing the spaniards , between whom and them there is a kinde of continual war ) hold themselves as near the top of that hill as they can , where they have divers places of good strength , never coming down into the fruitfull valleys , but to prey upon what they can find there . it was the chance of a company of them to espy me within some hours space after my landing : they thinking they had light upon a booty , made towards me with all the speed they could , but not so privily as that i could not perceive their purpose before they came near to me by half a quarter of a league ; seeing them come down the side of a hill with great speed directly towards me , divers of them carrying long staves , besides other weapons , which , because of their distance from me , i might not discern . i thought it high time to bestir me , and shift for my self , and by all means to keep my self out of the fingers of such slaves , who had they caught me , for the hatred they bear to us spaniards , had surely hewed me all to pieces . the country in that place was bare , without the coverture of any wood : but the mountain before spoken of , beginning even there to lift up it self , i espied in the side of the same a white cliff , which i trusted my gansa's would take for a signal , and being put off ; would make all that way , whereby i might quickly be carried so far , as those barbarous cullions should not be able to overtake me , before i had recovered the dwelling of some spaniard , or at least-wise might have time to hide my self from them , till that in the night , by help of the stars , i might guide my self toward las loeguna , the city of that island , which was about one league off , as i think . wherefore with all the celerity that might be , i put my self upon mine engine , and let loose the reins unto my gansa's ; it was my good fortune that they took all one way , although not just that way i aimed at . but what then ? o reader , arrige aures , prepare thy self unto the hearing of the strangest chance that ever happened to any mortal man , and that i know thou wilt not have the grace to believe , till thou feest it seconded with iteration of experiments in the like , as many a one , i trust , thou mayst in short time ; my gansa's , like so many horses that had gotten the bit between their teeth , made ( i say ) not towards the cliff i aimed at , although i used my wonted means to direct the leader of the flock that way , but with might and main took up towards the top of el pico , and did never stay till they came there , a place where they say never man came before , being in all estimation at least 15 leagues in height perpendicularly upward , above the ordinary level of the land and sea. what manner of place i found there , i should gladly relate unto you , but that i make haste to matters of far greater importance . there when i was set down , i saw my poor gansa's fall to panting and blowing gaping forbreath , as if they would all presently have died : where fore i thought it not good to trouble them a while , forbearing to draw them in , ( which they never wont to endure without strugling ) and little expecting that which followed . it was now the season that these birds were wont to take their flight away , as our cuckoes and swallows do in spain , towards the autumn . they ( as after i perceived ) mindfull of their usual voyage , even as i began to settle my self for the taking of them in , as it were with one consent , rose up , and having no other place higher to make toward , to my unspeakable fear and amazement strook bolt upright , and never did lin towring upward , and still upward , for the space , as i might guess , of one whole hour ; toward the end of which time , methought i might perceive them to labour less and less ; till at length , o incredible thing ! they forbare moving anything at all and yet remained unmoveable as stedfastly , as if they had been upon so many perches , the lines s●●cked ; neither i , nor the engine moved at all , but abode still , as having no manner of weight . i found then by this experience that which no philosopher ever dreamed of , to wit , that those things which we call heavy , do not sink towards the center of the earth , as their natural place , but as drawn by a secret property of the globe of the earth , or rather some thing within the same , in like sort as the load-stone draweth iron , being within the compass of the beams attractive . for though it be true that there they could abide unmoved without the prop or sustentation of any corporal thing , other than the air , as easily and quietly as a fish in the middle of the water , yet forcing themselves never so little , it is not possible to imagine with what swiftness and celerity they were carried , and whether it were upward , downward , or sidelong , all was one . truly i must confess , the horrour and amazement of that place was such , as if i had not been armed with a true spanish courage and resolution , i must needs have dyed there with very fear . but the next thing that did most trouble me , was the swiftness of motion , such as did even almost stop my breath ; if i should liken it to an arrow out of a bow , or to a stone cast down from the top of some high tower , it would come far short , and short . another thing there was exceeding , and more than exceeding , troublesome unto me , and that was the illusions of devils and wicked spirits , who , the first day of my arrival , came about me in great numbers , carrying the shapes and likeness of men and women , wondring at me like so many birds about an owl , and speaking divers kindes of languages which i understood not , till at last i did light upon them that spake very good spanish , some dutch , and other some italian , for all these languages i understood . and here i saw onely a touch of the suns absence for a little while once , ever after having him in my sight . now to yeeld you satisfaction in the other , you shall understand that my gansa's , although entangled in my line , might easily find means to seize upon divers kinds of fly●s and birds , as especially swallows , and cuckoes , whereof there were multitudes , as motes in the sunne ; although , to say the truth , i never saw them to feed any thing at all . as for my self , in truth i was much beholding unto those same , whether men or devils i know not , that amongst divers speeches , which i will forbeare awhile to relate , told me , that if i would follow their directions , i should not onely be brought safely to my home , but also be assured to have the command of all pleasures of that place , at all times . to the which motions not daring to make a flat deniall , i prayed a time to think of it , and withall intreated them ( though i felt no hunger at all , which may seeme strange ) to help me with some victualls , least in the meane while i should starve . they did so readily enough , and brought mee very good flesh , and fish of divers sorts well dressed , but that it was exceeding fresh , and without any manner of relish of salt . wine also i tasted there of divers sorts , as good as any in spain , and beere , no better in all antwerp . they wished me then , while i had meanes to make my provision , telling me , that till the next thursday they could not help me to any more , if happily then ; at what time also they would find means to carry me back , and set me safe in spain , where i would wish to be , so that i would become one of their fraternity , and enter into such covenants and profession as they had made to their master and captain , whom they would not name . i answered them gently for the time , telling them , i saw little reason to be very glad of such an offer , praying them to be mindfull of me as occasion served . so for that time i was rid of them , having first furnished my pockets with as much victuall as i could thrust in , amongst the which i fail not to afford place for a little botijo of good canary wine . now shall i declare unto you the quality of the place , in which i then was . the clouds i perceived to be all under me , between me and the earth . the starrs , by reason it was always day , i saw at all times alike , not shining bright , as upon the earth we are wont to see them in the night time ; but of a whitish colour , like that of the moon in the day time with us : and such of them as were to be seen ( which were not many ) shewed farre greater than with us , yea ( as i should ghess ) no lesse than ten times so great . as for the moon being then within two dayes of the change , she appeared of a huge and fearfull quantitie . this also is not to be forgotten , that no starrs appeared but on that part of the hemispheare that was next the moon , and the neerer to her the bigger in quantity they shewed . again i must tell you , that whether i lay quiet and rested , or else were carried in the aire , i perceived my self still to be alwayes directly between the moon and the earth . whereby it appeareth , not only that my gansa's took none other way than directly toward the moon , but also , that when we rested ( as at first we did for many houres , ) either we were insensibly carried , ( for i perceived no such motion ) round about the globe of the earth , or else that ( according to the late opinion of copernicus , ) the earth is carryed about , and turneth round perpetually , from west to the east , leaving unto the planets onely that motion which astronomers call naturall , and is not upon the poles of the equinoctiall , commonly termed the poles of the world , but upon those of the zodiake ; concerning which question , i will speake more hereafter , when i shall have leysure to call to my remēbrance the astronomy that i learned being a young man at salamanca , but have now almost forgotten . the aire in that place i found quiet without any motion of wind , and exceeding temperate , neither hot nor cold , as where neither the sun-beames had any subject to reflect upon , neither was yet either the earth or water so neer as to affect the aire with their naturall quality of coldnesse . as for that imagination of the philosophers , attributing heat together with moistnesse unto the ayre , i never esteemed it otherwise than a fancy . lastly now it is to be remembred that after my departure from the earth , i never felt any appetite of hunger or thirst . whether the purity of the aire , our proper element not being infected with any vapors of the earth and water , might yeeld nature sufficient nutriment ; or what else might be the cause of it , i cannot tell , but so i found it , although i perceived my self in perfect health of body , having the use of all my limbs and senses ; and strength both of body and minde , rather beyond and above , than any thing short of the pitch , or wonted vigor . now let us go on : and on we shall go more than apace . not many houres after the departure of that develish companie from me , my gansa's began to bestir themselves , still directing their course toward the globe or body of the moon , and they made their way with that incredible swiftness , as i think they gained not so little as fifty leagues in every hour . in that passage i noted three things very remarkeable , one , that the farther we went , the lesser the globe of the earth appeared to us ; whereas still on the contrary side the moon shewed her self more & more monstrously huge . again , the earth ( which ever i held in mine eye ) did as it were mask it self with a kind of brightness like another moon ; and even as in the moon we discerned certain spots or clouds , as it were , so did i then in the earth . but whereas the forme of those spots in the moon continue constantly one & the same ; these by little & little did change every hour . the reason thereof i conceive to be this , that whereas the earth , according to her naturall motion , ( for that such a motion she hath , i am now constrained to joyne in opinion with copernicus , ) turneth round upon her own axe every 24. houres from the west unto the east : i should at the first see in the middle of the body of this new starre a spot like unto a peare that had a morsell bitten out upon the one side of him ; after certaine houres , i should see that spot slide away to the east side . this no doubt was the maine of affricke . then should i perceive a great shining brightnesse to occupy that roome , during the like time ( which ( was undoubtedly none other than the great atlantick ocean ) . after that succeeded a spot almost of an ovall form , even just such as we see america to have in our mapps . thē another vast cleerness representing the west ocean ; and lastly a medly of spots , like the countries of east indies . so that it seemed unto me no other than a huge mathematicall globe , leasurely turned before me , wherein successively , all the countries of our earthly world within the compasse of 24. hours were represented to my sight . and this was all the meanes i had now to number the dayes , and take reckoning of time . philosophers and mathematicians i would should now confesse the wilfulnesse of their own blindnesse . they have made the world believe hitherto , that the earth hath no motion . and to make that good , they are fain to attribute unto all and every of the celestiall bodies two motions , quite contrary each to other ; whereof one is from the east to the west , to be performed in 2● . hours ; ( that they imagine to be forced , per raptum primi mobilis ) the other from the west to the east in severall proportions . o incredible thing , that those same huge bodies of the fixed stars in the highest orbe , whereof divers are by themselves confessed to be more than one hundreth times as bigge as the whole earth , should as so many nailes in a cart-wheele , be whirled about in that short space , whereas it is many thousands of years ( no lesse , i trow , they say , than 30 thousand ) before that orbe do finish his course from west to east , which they call the naturall motion . now whereas to every of these they yeeld their natural course from west to east ; therein they doe well . the moone performeth it in 27. dayes ; the sun , venus , and mercury in a years or thereabouts , mars in three yeare , jupiter in twelve years , and saturne in 30 but to attribute unto these celestiall bodies contrary motions at once , was a very absurd conceit & much more , to imagine that same orbe , wherein the fixed stars are , ( whose natural course taketh so many thousand of years ) should every 24. houres be turned about . i will not go so far as copernicus , that maketh the sunne the center of the earth , and unmoveable , neither will i define any thing one way or other . only this i say , allow the earth his motion ( which these eyes of mine can testifie to be his due ) and these absurdities are quite taken away , every one having his single and proper motion onely . but where am i ? at the first i promised an history , and i fall into disputes before i am aware . there is yet one accident more befell me worthy of especiall remembrance : that during the time of my stay , i saw as it were a kind of cloud of a reddish colour growing toward me , which continually growing neerer and neerer , at last i perceived to be nothing else but a huge swarme of locusts . he that readeth the discourses of learned men , concerning them , and namely that of john leo , in his description of affrike , how that they are seen in the aire many days before they fall upon a countrey , adding unto that which they deliver , this experience of mine , will easily conclude , that they cannot come from any other place than the globe of the moon . but give me leave now at last to passe on my journey quietly , without interruption for eleven or twelve dayes , during all which time , i was carried directly toward the globe or body of the moon with such a violent whirling as cannot be expressed . for i cannot imagine that a bullet out of the mouth of a canon could make way through the vaporous & muddy aire near the earth with that celerity , which is most strange , cōsidering that my gansa's moved their wings but even now and then , and sometimes not at all in a quarter of an houre together ; onely they held them stretched out , so passing on , as we see that eagles , and kites sometimes will do for a little space , when ( as one speaks , i remember ) cunctabundo volatu pene eodem loco pendula circumtuentur ; and during the time of those pauses i believe they tooke their napps and times of sleeping ; for other ( as i might easily note ) they had none . now for my self , i was so fast knit unto my engin , as i durst commit my selfe to slumbring enough to serve my turne , which i took with as great ease ( although i am loath to speake it , because it may seeme incredible ) as if i had been in the best bed of down in all antwerp . after eleven dayes passage in this violent flight , i perceived that we began to approach neere unto another earth , if i may so call it , being the globe or very body of that starre which we call the moon . the first difference that i found between it and our earth , was , that it shewed it self in his naturall colours : ever after i was free from the attraction of the earth , whereas with us , a thing removed from our eye but a league or two , begins to put on that lurid aud deadly colour of blue . then , i perceived also , that it was covered for the most part with a huge and mighty sea , those parts only being drie land , which shew unto us here somewhat darker than the rest of her body ( that i mean ) which the country people call el hombre della luna , the man of the moon . as for that part which shineth so cleerly in our eyes ; it is even another ocean , yet besprinckled here and there with islands , which for the littleness , so far off we cannot discern . so that same splendor appearing unto us , and giving light unto our night , appeareth to be nothing else but the reflection of the sun-beams returned unto us out of the water , as out of a glasse : how ill this agreeth with that which our philosophers teach in the schooles i am not ignorant . but alas how many of their errors hath time and experience refuted in this our age , with the recitall whereof i will not stand to trouble the reader . amongst many other of their vain surmises , the time and order of my narration putteth me in mind of one , which now my experience found most untrue . who is there that hath not hitherto believed the uppermost region of the ayre to be extreme hot , as being next forsooth unto the naturall place of the element of fire . o vanities , fansies , dreames ! after the time i was once quite free from the attractive beames of that tyrannous loadstone , the earth , i found the ayre of one and the self same temper , without winds , without raine , without mists , without clouds , neither hot not cold , but continually after one and the same tenor , most pleasant , milde , and comfortable , till my arrivall in that new world of the moon . as for that region of fire our philosophers talke of , i heard no news of it ; mine eyes have sufficiently informed me there can be no such thing . the earth by turning about had now shewed me all her parts twelve times when i finished my course : for when by my reckoning it seemed to be ( as indeed it was ) tuesday the eleventh day of september , ( at what time the moon being two dayes old was in the twentieth degree of libra , ) my gansa's stayed their course as it were with one consent , and tooke their rest , for certain houres ; after which they took their flight , and within lesse than one houre , set me upon the top of a very high hill in that other world , where immediatly were presented unto mine eyes many most strange and unwonted fights . for first , i observed , that although the globe of the earth shewed much bigger there than the moon doth unto us , even to the full trebling of her diameter , yet all manner of things there were of largeness and quantity , 10. 20. i thinke i may say 30. times more than ours . their trees at least three times so high as ours , and more than five times the breadth and thicknesse . so their herbs , beasts , and birds ; although to compare them with ours , i know not well how , because i found not any thing there , any species either of beast or bird that resembled ours any thing at all , except swallows , nightingales , cuckoes , woodcocks , batts , & some kinds of wild fowl , as also of such birds as my gansa's , all which , ( as now i well perceived , ) spend the time of their absence from us , even there in that world ; neither do they vary any thing at all either in quantity or quality from those of ours here , as being none other than the very same , and that not onely specie , but numero . but of these novelties , more hereafter in their due places . no sooner was i set down upon the ground , but i was surprised with a most ravenous hunger , and earnest desire of eating . wherefore stepping unto the next tree , i fastened thereunto my engine , with my gansa's , and in great haste fell to searching of my pockets for the victuals i had reserved as aforesaid : but to my great amazement and discomfort , i found in stead of partridge , and capon , which i thought to have put there , a mingle mangle of dry leaves , of goats haire , sheepe , or goats-dung , mosse , and such like trash . as for my canary wine , it was turned to a stinking and filthie kind of liquor , like the urine of some beast . o the illusions of wicked spirits , whose helpe if i had been faine only to rely upon , you see how i had been served . now while i stood musing and wondring at this strange metamorphosis , i heard my gansa's upon the sudden to make a great fluttering behind me . and looking back , i espied them to fall greedily upon a certain shrub within the compasse of their lines , whose leaves they fed upon most earnestly ; where heretofore , i had never seene them to eat any manner of green meate whatsoever . whereupon stepping to the shrubb , i put a lease of it between my teeth : i cannot express the pleasure i found in the tast thereof ; such it was i am sure , as if i had not with great discretion moderated my appetite , i had surely surfetted upon the same . in the mean time it fell out to be a baite that well contented both my birds and me at that time , when we had need of some good refreshing . scarcely had i ended this banquett , when upon the sudden i saw my self environed with a kind of people most strange , both for their feature , demeanure , and apparell . their stature was most divers , but for the most part , twice the height of ours ; their colour and countenance most pleasing , and their habit such , as i know not how to express . for neither did i see any kind of cloth , silke , or other stuffe to resemble the matter of that whereof their clothes were made ; neither ( which is most strange of all other ) can i devise how to describe the colour of them , being in a manner all clothed alike . it was neither blacke , nor white , yellow nor redd , greene nor blue , nor any colour composed of these . but if you aske me what it was , then i must tell you , it was a colour never seen in our earthly world , and therefore neither to be described unto us by any , nor to be conceived of one that never saw it . for as it were a hard matter to describe unto a man borne blind the difference betweene blue and greene , so can i not bethinke my selfe of any meanes how to decipher unto you this lunar colour , having no affinitie with any other that ever i beheld with mine eyes . onely this i can say of it , that it was the most glorious and delightfull , that can possibly be imagined ; neither in truth was there any one thing , that more delighted me , during my abode in that new world , than the beholding of that most pleasing and resplendent colour . it remaineth now that i speake of the demeanure of this people , who presenting themselves unto me upon the sudden , and that in such extraordinary fashion as i have declared , being strucken with a great amasement , i crossed my self , and cried out , jesus maria . no sooner was the word jesus out of my mouth , but young & old , fell all down upon their knees , ( at which i not a little rejoyced ) holding up both their hands on high , and repeating all certain words which i understood not . then presently they all arising , one that was far the tallest of them came unto me , and embraced me , with great kindnesse , and giving order ( as i partly perceived ) unto some of the rest to stay by my birds , he took me by the hand , and leading me down toward the foote of the hill , brought me to his dwelling , being more than half a league from the place where i first alighted . it was such a building for beauty and hugeness , as all our world cannot shew any neere comparable to it . yet such i saw afterwards elsewhere , as this might seem but a cottage in respect of them . there was not a doore about the house , that was not 30. foot high , and twelve in breadth . the roomes were between 40. and 50. foote in height , and so all other proportions answerable . neither could they well be much lesse , the master inhabiting them , being full 28. high . as for his corporature , i suppose verily that if we had him here in this world to be weighed in the ballance , the poyse of his body would shew it self more ponderous than five and twenty , peradventure thirty of ours . after i had rested my self with him the value of one of our dayes ; he ledd me some five leagues off , unto the palace of the prince of the countrey . the stateliness of the building wherof i wil leave unto the second part of this work , as also many other particulars , which will minister more pleasure to the reader , than yet i may afford him , being desirous in this first part to set down no more than what the processe of my story concerning my journey doth necessarily draw from me . this prince whose stature was much higher than the former , is called ( as neere as i can by letters declare it , for their sounds are not perfectly to be expressed by our characters ) pylonas , which signifieth in their language , first●● perhaps it be not rather a denotation of his dignity and authority , as being the prime man in all those parts . in all those parts , i say . for there is one supreme monarch amongst them , of stature yet much more huge than he , commanding over all that whole orbe of that world , having under him 29 other princes of exceeding great power , and every of them 24 others , whereof this pylonas was one . the first ancestor of this great monarch came out of the earth ( as they deliver ) and by marriage with the inheretrix of that huge monarchy , obtaining the government , left it unto his posteritie , who ever since have held the same , even for the space of 40 thousand dayes or moons , which amounteth unto 3077 years . and his name being irdonozur , his heirs , unto this day , do all assume unto themselves that name , he , they say , having continued there well neer 400 moons , and having begotten divers children , returned ( by what means they declare not ) unto the earth againe : i doubt not but they may have their fables , as well as we . and because our histories afford no mention of any earthly man to have ever been in that world before my self , and much lesse to have returned thence again , i cannot but condemne that tradition for false and fabulous ; yet this i must tell you , that learning seemeth to be in great estimation among them : and that they make semblance of detesting all lying and falshood , which is wont there to be severely punished . again , which may yeeld some countenance unto their historicall narrations , many of them live wonderfull long , even beyond all credit , to wit even unto the age as they professed to me of 30000. moons , which amounteth unto 1000. years and upwards , ( so that the ages of 3. or 4. men might well reach unto the time of the first irdonozur , ) and this is noted generally , that the taller people are of stature , the more excellent they are for all indowments of mind , and the longer time they do live . for whereas ( that which before i partly intimated unto you ) their stature is most divers , great numbers of them little exceeding ou●s ; such seldom live above the age of a 1000. moons , which is answerable to 80. of our years , and they account them most base creaturs , even but a degree before bruite beasts , imploying them accordingly in all the basest and most servile offices , tearming them by a word that signifieth bastard-men , counterfeits , or changelings ; so those whom they account genuine , naturall , and true lunars , both in quantitie of bodie , and length of life , they have for the most part 30. times as much as we , which proportion agreeth well with the quantity of the day in both worlds , theirs containing almost 30 of ours . now when i shall declare unto you the manner of our travell unto the palace of pylonas , you will say you scarce ever heard any thing more strange and incredible . unto every one of us there was delivered at our first setting forth , two fans of feathers , not much unlike to those that our ladies do carrie in spaine , to make a coole aire unto themselves in the heat of summer . the use of which fans before i declare unto you , i must let you understand that the globe of the moon is not altogether destitute of an attractive power : but it is so farre weaker than that of the earth , as if a man do but spring upward , with all his force , ( as dancers do when they shew their activity by capering ) he shall be able to mount 50. or 60. foot high , and then he is quite beyond all attraction of the moons earth , falling down no more , so as by the help of these fans , as with wings , they convey themselves in the aire in a short space ( although not with that swiftnesse that birds do ) even whither they lift . in two houres space ( as i could guesse ) by the helpe of these fans , we were carried through the aire those five leagues , being about 60 persons . being arrived at the palace of pylonas , after our conducto● had gotten audience , ( which was not presently ) and had declared what manner of present he had brought ; i was immediately called in unto him by his attendants : by the statelinesse of his palace , and the reverence done unto him , i soone discerned his greatnesse , and therefore framed my selfe to win his favour the best i might . you may remember i told you of a certain little box or casket of jewels , the remainder of those which being brought out of the east indies , i sent from the i le of st. hellen into spaine . these , before i was carried in unto him , i took out of my pocket in a corner , and making choice of some of every sort , made them ready to be presented as i should think fit . i found him sitting in a most magnificent chaire of estate , having his wife or queen upon one hand , and his eldest son on the other , which were both attended , the one by a troope of ladies , and the other of young men , and all along the side of the roome stood a great number of goodly personages , whereof scarce any one was lower of stature than pylonas , whose age they say is now 21000. moons . at my first entrance , falling downe upon my knees , i thought good to use unto him these words in the latine tongue , propitius sit tibi princeps illustrissime dominus noster jesus christus , &c. as the people i first met withall , so they , hearing the holy name of our saviour , they all , i say , king , queen , and all the rest fell downe upon their knees , pronouncing a word or two i understood not . they being risen again , i proceeded thus , & maria salvator is genitrix , petrus & paulus &c. and so reckoning up a number of saints , to see if there were any one of them that they honoured as their patron , at last reckoning among others st. martinus , they all bowed their bodies , and held up hands in sign of great reverence : the reason whereof i learned to be , that martin in their language signifieth god : then taking out my jewells , prepared for that purpose , i presented unto the king or prince ( call him how you please ) 7. stones of so many severall sorts , a diamond , a rubie , an emerauld , a saphire , a topaz , a turquez , and an opall , which he accepted with great joy & admiration , as having not often seen any such before . then i offered unto the queen and prince some other , and was about to have bestowed a number of more , upon other there present , but pylonas forbade them to accept , thinking ( as afterwards i learned ) that they were all i had , and being willing they should be reserved for irdonozur his soveraign . this done , he imbraced me with great kindnesse , and began to inquire of me divers things by signs , which i likewise answered by signs as well as i could . but not being able to give him content , he delivered me to a guard of a 100. of his giants ( so i may well call them ) commanding straightly , first , that i should want nothing that might be fit for me ; secondly , that they should not suffer any of the dwarfe lunars ( if i may so tearme them ) to come neer me ; thirdly , that i should with all diligence be instructed in their language . and lastly , that by no means they should impart unto me the knowledge of certain things , particularly by him specified ; marry what those particulars were , i might never by any means get knowledge . it may be now you will desire to understand what were the things pylonas inquired of me . why what but these ? whence i came ? how i arrived there ? and by what means ? what was my name ? what my errand ? and such like . to all which i answered the very truth as neer as i could . being dismissed , i was afforded all manner of necessaries that my heart could wish , so as it seemed unto me i was in a very paradise , the pleasures whereof notwithstanding could not so overcome me , as that the remembrance of my wife and children , did not trouble me much . and therefore being willing to foster any small sparke of hope of my return , with great diligence i took order for the attendance of my birds , ( i mean my gansa's ) whom my self in person tended every day with great carefulnesse ; all which notwithstanding had fallen out to little purpose , had not other mens care performed that which no indeavour of mine own could . for the time now approached , when of necessity all the people of our stature , ( and so my self among the rest ) must needs sleepe for some 13. or 14. whole dayes together . so it commeth to passe there by a secret power , and unresistable decree of nature , that when the day beginneth to appear , and the moon to be enlightned by the sun-beams , ( which is at the first quarter of the moon ) all such people as exceed not very much our stature inhabiting those parts , they fall into a dead sleep , and are not possibly to be wakened till the sun be set , and withdrawn out of their sight , even as owles , and batts , with us cannot indure the light , so we there at the first approach of the day , begin to be amazed with it , and fall immediatly into a slumber , which groweth by little and little , into a dead sleepe , till this light depart from thence againe , which is not in 14. or 15. dayes , to wit , untill the last quarter . methinkes now i heare some man to demand what manner of light there is in that world during the absence of the sun. to resolve you for that point , you shall understand that there is a light of two sorts . one of the sun ( which i might not endure to behold , ) and another of the earth : that of the earth was now at the highest ; for that when the moon is at the change , then is the earth ( unto them in the moon ) like a full moon with us ; and as the moon increaseth with us , so the light of the earth decreaseth with them : i then found the light there ( though the sun were absent ) equall unto that with us , in the day time , when the sun is covered with clouds , but toward the quarter it little and little diminisheth , yet leaving still a competent light , which is somewhat strange . but much stranger is that which was reported unto me there , how that in the other hemisphere of the moon ( i mean contrary to that i happened upon , ) where during half the moon , they see not the sun , and the earth never appeareth unto them , they have notwithstanding a kinde of light ( not unlike by their description to our moon-light ) which it seemeth the propinquintie of the starrs and other planetts ( so much neerer unto them than us ) affordeth . now you shall understand that of the true lunars there be three degrees . some beyond the pitch of our stature a good deale , as perhaps 10 or 12 foot high , that can indure the day of the moon , when the earth shineth but little , but not endure the beams of both ; at such time they must be content to be laid asleep . others there are of 20 foot high , or somewhat more , that in ordinary places indure all light both of earth and sun. marrie there is a certain iland , the mysteries whereof none may know , whose stature is not at least 27 foot high ( i mean of the measure of the stādard of castile ) if any other come a land there in the moons day time , they fal asleep immediatly : this iland they call gods iland , or insula martini in their language : they say it hath a particular governour , who is ( as they report ) of age 65000 moons , which amounteth to 5000 of our years , his name is said to be hiruch , and he commandeth after a sort over irdonozur himself , especially in that iland out of which he never cometh . there is another , repairing much thither , they said is half his age and upwards , to wit , about 33. thousand moons , or 26. hundred of our years , and he commandeth in all things ( throughout the whole globe of the moon ) concerning matters of religion , and the service of god , as absolutely as our holy father the pope doth in any part of italy . i would faine have seen this man , but i might not be suffered to come neer him : his name is imozes . now give me leave to settle my self to a long nights sleep : my attendants take charge of my birds , prepare my lodging , and signifie to me by signes , how it must be with me . it was about the middle of september , where i perceived the aire to grow more cleare than ordinary , and with the increasing of the light , i began to feele my selfe first dull , then heavy and willing to sleep , although i had not lately been hindred from taking mine ease that way . i delivered my self at last into the custody of this sister of death , whose prisoner i was for almost a fortnight after ; awaking then , it is not to be believed how fresh , how nimble , how vigorous , i found all the faculties both of my body and minde . in good time , therefore , i setled my self immediatly to the learning of the language which ( a marvellous thing to consider ) is one & the same throughout all the regions of the moon , ) yet so much the lesse to be wondred at , because i cannot thinke all the earth of moon to amount to the fortieth part of our inhabited earth ; partly because the globe of the moone is much lesse than that of the earth , and partly because their sea or ocean covereth in estimation three parts of foure , ( if not more ) whereas the superficies of our land may be judged equivalent and comparable in measure to that of our seas . the difficulty of that language is not to be conceived , and the reasons thereof are especially two : first , because it hath no affinitie with any other that ever i heard . secondly , because it consisteth not so much of words and letters , as of tunes and uncouth sounds , that no letters can express . for you have few words but they signifie divers and severall things , and they are distinguished onely by their tunes that are as it were sung in the utterance of them , yea many words there are consisting of tunes onely , so as if they list they will utter their minds by tunes without words : for example , they have an ordinary salutation amongst them , signifying ( verbatim ) glorie be to god alone , which they express ( as i take it , for i am no perfect musician ) by this tune without any words at all . yea the very names of men they will expresse in the same sort . when they were disposed to talke of me before my face , so as i should not perceive it ; this was gonsales . by occasion hereof , i discerne means of framing a language ( and that easie soon to be learned ) as copious as any other in the world , consisting of tunes onely , whereof my friends may know more at leasure if it please them . this is a great mystery , and worthier the searching after than at first sight you would imagine . now notwithstanding the difficulty of this language , within two moneths space i had attained unto such knowledge of the same , as i understood most questions to be demanded of me , and what with signs , what with words , made reasonable shift to utter my mind ; which thing being certified unto pylonas , he sent for me oftentimes , and would be pleased to give me knowledge of many things that my guardians durst not declare unto me . yet this i will say of them , that they never abused me with any untruth that i could perceive ; but if i asked a question that they liked not to resolve me in , they would shake their heads , and with a spanish shrugge passe over to other talke . after 7 months space it happened that the great irdonozur making his progresse to a place some 200. leagues distant from the palace of pylonas , sent for me . the history of that journey , and the conference that passed between us , shall be related at large in my second booke . onely thus much thereof at this time , that he would not admit me into his presence , but talked with me through a window , where i might hear him , and he both hear and see me at pleasure . i offered him the remainder of my jewells , which he accepted very thankfully ; telling me , that he would requite them with gifts of another manner of value . it was not above a quarter of a moon that i stayed there , before i was sent backe unto pylonas again ; and so much the sooner , because if we had stayed but a day or two longer , the sun would have overtaken us , before we could have recovered our home . the gifts he bestowed on me were such as a man would forsake mountains of gold for , and they were all stones , to wit nine in number● and those of three sorts , whereof one they call poleastis , another machrus , and third ebelus , of each sort three . the first are of the bignesse of an hazell nut , very like unto jet , which among many other incredible vertues hath this property , that being once heat in the fire , they ever after retaine their heat ( though without any appearance ) untill they be quenched with some kinde of liquor , whereby they receive no detriment at all , though they be heat and quenched ten thousand times . and their heat is so vehement , as they will make red hot any mettall that shall come within a foot of them , and being put in a chimney , will make a roome as warme , as if a great fire were kindled in the same . the machrus ( yet farre more precious than the other ) is of the colour of topaz , so shining and resplendent , as ( though not past the bignesse of a beane yet , ) being placed in the midst of a large church in the night time , it maketh it all as light , as if a 100. lamps were hanged up round about it . can you wish for properties in a stone of greater use than these . yes my ebelus will af●oord you that which i dare say will make you preferre him before these , yea and all the diamonds , saphyres , rubies , and emeralds that our world can yeeld , were they laid in a heap before you ; to say nothing of the colour , ( the lunar whereof i made mention before , which notwithstanding is so incredibly beautifull , as a man should travell 1000 leagues to behold it ) the shape is somewhat flat of the breadth of a pistolett , and twice the thickness . the one side of this , which is somewhat more orient of colour than the other , being clapt to the bare skin of a man , in any part of his body , it taketh away from it al weight or ponderousness ; whereas turning the other side it addeth force unto the attractive beam● of the earth , either in this world or that , and maketh the body to weigh half so much againe as it did before ; do you marvell now why i should so overprize this stone ? before you see me on earth againe , you shall understand more of the value of this kinde and unvaluable jem . i inquired then amongst them , whether they had not any kind of jewell o● other meanes to make a man invisible , which me thought had been a thing of great and extraordinary use . and i could tell that divers of our learned men had written many things to that purpose . they answered , that if it were a thing feasable , yet they assured thē selves that god would not suffer it to be revealed to us creatures , subject to so many imperfections being a thing so apt to be ab●sed to ill purposes ; and that was all i could get of them . now after it was known that irdonozur , the great monarch , had done me this honour , it is strange how much al● men respected me more than before : my guardians , which hitherto were very nice in relating any thing to me , concerning the government of that world , now became somewhat more open , so as i could learne ( partly of them , and partly of pylonas , ) what i shall deliver unto you concerning that matter , whereof i will onely give you a taste at this time , referring you unto a more ample discourse in my second part , which at my returne into spaine you shall have at large ; but not till then , for causes heretofore related . in a thousand years it is not found that there is either whoremonger amongst them , whereof these reasons are to be yielded : there is no want of any thing necessary for the use of man. food groweth every where without labour , and that of all sorts to be desired . for rayment , howsing , or any thing els that you may imagine possible for a man to want , or desire , it is provide by the command of superiors , though not without labour , yet so little , as they do nothing but as it were playing , & with pleasure . againe their females are all of an absolute beauty : and i know not how it commeth to passe by a secret disposition of nature there that a man having once known a woman , never desireth any other . as for murther , it was never heard of amongst them ; neither is it a thing almost possible to be committed : for there is no wound to be given which may not be cured : they assured me , ( and i for my part doe believe it , ) that although a mans head be cut off , yet if any time within the space of three moons it be put together , and joyned to the carkasse againe , with the appointment of the juice of a certaine hearbe , there growng , it will be joyned together againe , so as the partie wounded shall become perfectly whole in a few houres . but the chief cause , is , that through an excellent disposition of that stature of people there , all , young and old , do hate all manner of vice , and do live in such love , peace , and amitie , as it seemeth to be another paradise . true it is , that some are better disposed than other : but that they discerne immediately at the time of their birth . and because it is an inviolable decree amongst them , never to put any one to death , perceiving by the stature , and some other notes they have , who are likely to be of a wicked or imperfect disposition , they send them away ( i know not by what means ) into the earth , and change them for other children , before they shall have either abilitie or opportunitie to do amisse among them : but first ( they say ) they are faine to keepe them there for a certain space , till that the aire of the earth may alter their colour to be like unto ours . and their ordinary vent for them is a certain high hill in the north of america , whose people i can easily believe to be wholly descended of them , partly in regard of their colour , partly also in regard of the continuall use of tob●cco which the lunars use exceeding much , as living in a place abounding wonderfully with moysture , as also for the pleasure they take in it , and partly in some other respects , too long now to be rehearsed . sometimes they mistake their aime , and fall upon christendome , asia or affricke , marry that is but seldome : i remember some years since , that i read certain stories tending to the confirmation of these things delivered by these lunars , as especially one chapter of guil. neubrigensis , de reb . angl. it is towards the end of his first book , but the chapter i cannot particularly resign . then see inigo mondejar in his description of nueva granata , the second book ; as also joseph desia de carana , in his history of mexico : if my memory faile me not , you will find that in these , which will make my report much the more credible : but for testimonies i care not . may i once have the happinesse to return home in safety , i will yield such demonstrations , of all i deliver , as shall quickly make void all doubt of the truth hereof . if you will aske me further of the manner of government amongst the lunars , and how justice is executed ? alas what need is there of exemplary punishment , where there are no offences committed : they need there no lawyers , for there is never any contention , the seeds thereof , if any begin to sprout , being presently by the wisedom of the next superior puld up by the roots . and as little need is there of physicians ; they never misdiet themselves , their aire is alwayes temperate and pure , neither is there any occasion at all of sicknes , as to me it seemed at least , for i could not hear that ever any of them were sicke . but the time that nature hath assigned unto them being spent , without any paine at all they die , or rather ( i should say ) cease to live , as a candle to give light , when that which nourisheth it is consumed . i was once at the departure of one of them , which i wondred much to behold ; for notwithstanding the happy life ●e led , and multitude of friends and children he should forsake , as soone as certainly he understood and perceived his end to approach , he prepared a great feast , and c●●●ing about him all those he especially esteemed of , he bids them be merry and rejoyce with him ; for that the time was come he should now leave the counterfeit pleasures of that world , and be made partaker of all true joyes and perfect happinesse . i wondred not so much at his constancy , as the behaviour of those his friends : with us in the like case , all seeme to mourne , when often some of them do but laugh in their sleeves , or as one sayes , under a visard . they all on the other side , young and old , both seemingly , and in my conscience , sincerely ●●id rejoyce thereat , so as if any dissembled , it was but their own griefe conceived for their own particular losse . their bodies being dead , putrifie not , and therefore are not buried , but kept in certaine roomes ordained for that purpose ; so as most of them can shew their ancestors bodies uncorrupt for many generations . there is never any raine , wind , or change of the aire , never either summer , or winter , but as it were a perpetuall spring , yeelding all pleasure , all content , and that free from any annoyance at all . o my wife and children , what wrong have you done me to bereave me of the happinesse of that place ! but it maketh no matter , for by this voyage am i sufficiently assured , that ere long the race of my mortall life being run , i shall attain a greater happiness elsewhere , and that everlasting . it was the ninth day of september that i began to ascend from el pico ; twelve dayes i was upon my voyage , and arrived in that region of the moon , that they call simiri , september the 21. following . the 12. day of may being friday we came unto the court of the great irdonozur , and returned backe the seventeenth unto the palace of pylonas , there i continued till the month of march , in the yeare 1601. at what time i earnestly besought pylonas ( as i had often done before ) to give me leave to depart , ( though with never so great hazard of my life ) backe into the earth againe . he much disswaded me , laying before me the danger of the voyage , the misery of that place from whence i came , and the abundant happinesse of that i now was in ; but the remembrance of my wife and children overweighed all these reasons , and to tell you the truth i was so far forth moved with a desire of that deserved glory , that i might purchase at my return , as me thought : i deserved not the name of a spanyard , if i would not hazard 20 lives , rather than loose but a little possibility of the same . wherfore i answered him , that my desire of seing my children was such , as i knew i could not live any longer , if i were once out of hope of the same . when then he desired one years stay longer , i told him it was manifest i must depart now or never : my birds began to droop , for want of their wonted migration , three of them were now dead , and if a few more failed , i was for ever destitute of all possibility of returning . with much adoe at last he condescended unto my request● having first acquainted the great irdonozur with my desire , then perceiving by the often b●iting of my birds , a great longing in them to take their flight , i cr●mmed up mine engine , and took my leave of pylonas , who ( for all the courtesie he had done me ) required of me but one thing , which was , faithfully to promise him , that if ever i had means thereunto , i should salute from him elizabeth , whom he tearmed the great queen of england , calling her the most glorious of all women living ; and indeed he would often question with me of her , and therein delighted so much , as it seemed he was never satisfied in talkking of her ; he also delivered unto me a token or present for her of no small value : though i account her an enemy of spaine , i may not faile of performing this promise as soon as i shall be able so to do : upon the 29. day of march being thursday , 3. dayes after my awaking from the last moons light , i fastened my self to mine engine , not forgetting to take with me , besides the jewels irdonozur had given me ( with whose use and vertues pylonas had acquainted me at large ) a small quantitie of victuall , wherefore afterward i had great use , as shall be declared . an infinite multitude of people , ( and amongst the rest pylonas himself being present , ) after i had given him the last bezalos manos , i let loose the raines unto my birds , who with great greediness taking wing quickly carried me out of their sight , it fel out with me as in my first passage , i never felt either hunger or thirst , till i arrived in china upon a high mountain , some 5 leagues from the high and mighty city of pachin . this voyage was performed in lesse than 9 dayes ; i heard no news by the way of these airie men , which i had seen in my ascending . nothing stayed my journey any whit at all : whether it was the earnest desire of my birds , to return to the earth , where they had missed one season , or that the attraction of the earth so much stronger than that of the moon , furthered their labour ; so it came to passe ; although now i had 3 birds wanting of those i carried forth with me . for the first 8 days my birds flew before , and i with the engine was as it were drawn by them . the ninth day when i began to approach unto the clouds , i perceived my self and mine engine to sink towards the earth , and go before them . i was then horribly afraid , lest my birds , not being able to bear our weight , they being so few , should be constrained to precipitate both me and themselves head long to the earth : wherefore i thought it no less than needfull to make use of the ebelus , ( one of the stones bestowed upon me by irdono ●ur , ) which i clapped to my bare flesh within my hose : and it appeared manifestly thereupon unto me that my birds made their way with much greater ease than before , as being lightned of a great burthen ; neither do i think it possible for them to have let me down safely unto the earth without that help . china is a countrey so populous , as i thinke there is hardly a piece of ground to be found ( in the most barren parts of the same ) though but thrice a mans length , which is not most carefully manured . i being yet in the aire , some of the country people had espied me , & came running unto me by troops , they seised upon me , and would needs● by and by , carrie me unto an officer . i seeing no other remedy , yielded my selfe unto them . but when i assayed to go , i found my selfe so light , that i had much adoe , one foote being upon the ground , to set downe the other , that was by reason of my ebelus , so applyed , as it tooke quite away all weight and ponderousnesse from my body : wherefore bethinking my selfe what was to be● done , i fained a desire of performing the necessitie of nature , which by signes being made known unto them ( for they understood not a word of any language i could speak ) they permitted me to go aside among a few bushes , assuring themselves that for me to escape from them it was impossible ; being there i remembred the directiōs pylonas had given me , concerning the use of my stones , and first i took them all together , with a few jewells yet remaining of those i had brought out of india , and knit them up in my handkerchief , all , except one the least and worst ebelus . him i found means to apply in such sort unto my body , as but the halfe of his side touched my skin , whereby it came to passe that my body then had but half the weight , that being done i drew towards these my guardians , till seeing them come somewhat neer together they could not crosse my way , i shewed them a fair paire of heeles . this i did to the end i might recover an opportunity of finding my stones , and jewells , which i knew they would rob me off , if i prevented them not . being thus lightned , i bid them such a base , as had they been all upon the backs of so many zebra's , they could never have overtaken me : i directed my course unto a certain thick wood , into which i entred some quarter of a league , and then finding a pretty spring , ( which i took for my marke ) hard by it , i thrust my jewells into a little hole made by a want , or some such like creature . then i took out of my pocket my victualls , ( to which in all my voyage i had not till then any desire ) and refreshed my self therewith , til such time as the people pursuing me , had overtaken me , into whose hands i quietly delivered my self . they led me unto a mean officer , who ( understanding that once i had escaped from them that first apprehended me , ) caused a certain seat to be made of boords , into which they closed me in such sort , as onely my head was at liberty , and then carried me upon the shoulders of 4 slaves , ( like some notorious malefactor ) before a man of great authority , whom in their language ( as after i learned ) they called a mandarine , abiding two days journey off , to wit one league distant from the great and famous city of pachin , or paquin , by the chinesse called suntien . their language i could no way understand ; onely this i could discerne , that i was for something or other accused with a great deale of vehemence . the substance of this accusation it seemes was , that i was a magician , as witnessed my strange carriage in the aire ; that being a stranger , as appeared by my both language and habit , i contrary to the lawes of china , entred into the kingdome without warrant , and that probably with no good intent . the mandarine heard them out , with a great deale of composed gravitie ; and being a man of quicke apprehension , and withall studious of novelties , he answered them , that he would take such order with me , as the case required , and that my bold attempt should not want its deserved punishment . but having dismissed them , he gave order to his servants , that i should be kept in some remote parts of his vast palace , and be strictly watched , but courteously used : this doe i conjecture , by what at the present i found , and what after followed . for my accommodation was every way better , than i could expect ; i lodged well , fared well , was attended well , and could not fault any thing , but my restraint . in this manner did i continue many moneths , afflicted with nothing so much as with the thought of my gansa's ; which i knew must be irrecoverably lost , as indeed they were . but in this time , by my own industry , and the forwardness of those that accompanied me , i was grown indifferent ready in the ordinary language of that province , ( for almost every province in china , hath its proper language ) whereat i discerned they tooke no small content . i was at length to take the aire , and brought into the spacious garden of that palace , a place of excellent pleasure , and delight , as being planted with herbes and flowers of admirable both sweetnes & beauty , and almost infinite variety of fruits both european & others , & all those composed with that rare curiosity , that i was ravished with the cōtemplation of such delightfull objects . but i had not here long recreated my self , yet the mandarine entred the garden , on that side where i was walking , and being advertised thereof by his servants , & wished to kneel down to him ( as i after found it to be the usuall publique reverence to those great officers ) i did so , and humbly craved his favour towards a poor stranger , that arrived in those parts not by his own destination , but by the secret disposal of the heavens : he in a different language ( which al the mandarines , as i have since learned , do use ) and that like that of the lunars did cōsist much of tunes , but was by one of his servants interpreted to me . he , i say , wished me to be of good comfort , for that he intended no harm unto me , and so passed on . the next day was i commanded to come before him , and so conducted into a sumptuous dining roome exquisitely painted and adorned . the mandarine having commanded all to avoid the room , vouchsafed conference with me in the vulgar language ; inquiring first the estate of my countrey , the power of my prince , the religion & manners of the people ; wherein being satisfied by me , he at last descended to the particulars of my education and studies , and what brought me into this remote country : then did i at large declare unto him the adventure of my life , onely omitting here & there , what particulars i thought good , forbearing especially any mētion of the stones given me by irdonozur . the strangenes of my story did much amaze him . and finding in all my discourse nothing any way tending to magick ; ( wherein he had hoped by my means to have gaind some knowledge ) he began to admire the excellencie of my wit , applauding me for the happiest man , that this world had ever produced : and wishing me to repose my self after my long narration , he for that time dismissed me . after this , the mandarine took such delight in me , that no day passed , wherein he sent not for me . at length he advised me to apparell my self in the habit of the country ( which i willingly did ) and gave me not only the liberty of his house , but took me also abroad with him , when he went to paquin , whereby i had the opportunitie by degrees to learn the disposition of the people , and the policy of the country , which i shall reserve for my second part . neither did i by this my attendance on him gain only the knowledge of these things , but the possibility also of being restored to my native soyl , and to those dear pledges which i value above the world , my wife and children . for by often frequenting paquin , i at length heard of some fathers of the society that were become famous for the extraordinary favour by the king vouchsafed them , to whom they had presented some european trifles , as clocks , watches , dials , and the like , which with him passed for exquisite rarities . to them by the mandarines leave , i repaired , was welcomed by them , they much wondring to see a lay spaniard there , whither they had with so much difficulty obtained leave to arrive . there did i relate to father pantoja , and those others of the society these fore-related adventures , by whose directions i put them in writing , and sent this story of my fortunes to macao , from thence to be coveighed for spaine , as a forerunner of my return . and the mandarine being very indulgent unto me , i came often unto the fathers , with whom i consulted about many secrets with them ; also did i lay a foundation for my returne , the blessed houre whereof i do with patience expect ; that by inriching my country with the knowledge of hidden mysteries , i may once reape the glory of my fortunate misfortunes . finis . nuncius inanimatus . by f.g. b. of h. london , printed for joshua kirton , at the signe of the kings arms in st. pauls church-yard . 1657. nuncius inanimatus . neminem latere potest , qui philosophiam vel primis ( quod aiunt ) labris degustarit , ad intellectum humanum nihil nisi exteriorum sensuum adminiculo pervenire ; ut , qui alium sive absentem , sive praesentem , suae voluntatis certiorem facere velit , hunc aditu ingredi omnino habeat necesse . 2. et apud praesentes quidem alio vix utimur medio , quam sermonis ; qui auditus ministerio mentem menti solet apte convenire , & quasi conjungere ; nisi for●● palias al●quis reperiatur quand●que , qui ( ut de claudiano illo liberto tacitus ) servis nihil nisi scripto , aut nutu mandare solitus est . 3. absenti qui volunt aliquid indicare , & nunciorum fidei non omnia credere , per oculos ingerunt , quae per aures non possunt , aut non tutum existimant : quem quidem in finem literas solemus exarare , animi indices quae jussa plerunque satis fideliter peragunt nisi ubi , ve● nuncio●ū persidia , aut negligentia vel itinerum impedimenta in causa sunt , ut ad destina●ū locū indicia nostra non perveniant . 4. his incommodis remedia nonnulla sunt ab antiquis excogitata , quae praeterea quod viam expedire videbantur , & nuncios adhibere , qui facile non possunt corrumpi , celeritatem etiam pollicebantur , qualem nullus hominum praestare posset , nisi qui tanquam perseus alter , pegasum nescio quem alarum ( ut literas , seque perferat , ) nactus fuisset . 5. illorum inventa hujusmodi apud historicos commemorata non pigebit paucis recensere , ut postquam nuncium porro hunc meum descripserim , & quid polliceatur retulerim , quantum nostra commenta antiquorum illa transcendant , tunc demum lectori innotescat . 6. cecinna volaterrarius ( ut habet plinius ) comprehensas hirundines in urbem secum auferens , victoriae nuncias amicis mittebat , illito victoriae colore , tradit & fabius pictor in annalibus suis , cum obsideretur praesidium rom : ● ligustinis , hirundinem a pullis ad se alla●am lino ad pedem eius alligato , ut nodis significaret , quo die adveniente auxilio eruptio sieri deberet . et d. brutus in obsidione mutinensi , epistolas annexas columbarum pedibus , misit in castra consilium . 7. sed horum omnium inventa multis gradibus superavit illud mamaluchorum aegiptiorum alexandriam incolentium , de quibus sic scribit bern : quidem de breidenbach decanus moguntinus . quanquam forte fit difficile creditu , ( inquit ille ) tamen omnino sic se habet , quod narrabo : amiraldus semper apud se quasdam disciplinatas habet columbas , sic edoctas , ut quocunque perrexerint , in amiraldi curiam revertantur : earum duas aut tres naucleri , ( emissi in occursum alexandrinum portum petentium ) secum recipientes , educunt per mare usque ad locum in quo advenientes possunt explorare , ubi mox conscriptam schedulam continentem quae scitu necessaria sunt , ad collum vnius columbae suspendunt , eamque sinunt avolare , quae continuo volatu ad mensam usque amiraldi schedulam afferens , quales sint venientes indicat : quod si post primam emissam columbam , aliud quidpiam amiraldo fuerit● significandum , mox secundam emittunt columbam , vel etiam tertiam si necesse fuerit : & ita longe antequam naves portum intrent , amiraldus de eis est edoctus . dicitur etiam quod alias habet columbas , quas usque in cayrum emittit ad soldanum , tempore quo aliquod repentinum & ardu●● inciderit negotium , sibi necessario significandum porro si naucleri ab ipso amiraldo emissi navium conditiones investiga●e nequiverint , hoc ipsum per columbas sibi renunciant . 8. hisce , similibusque rationibus al● quid significatum quandoque comper●mus sed avbus semper baj●lis ; cum nos internuncium dare polliceamur , qui non solum non ales , aut alatus , sed ne animal quidem sit ; & tamen celeritate animal●um quodvis , vel pervelocissimū , multis quod aiunt parasangis ●nteeat . 9. ad institutum igitur nostrum propius accedit illud illorum , qui noctu accensis ignibus , interdiu , pumo , amicis procul dissitis , brevissimo temporis spatio quod visu fuerit , significarunt . sic graecie chio confoederatis suis , qui ad artemisium castra habebant ; & mardonius persa ab athenis in asiam u●que : sicuti ab herodoto traditum est . 10. ●sti enimvero ( quantum perspicio ) non omnia quae expedire viderentur , hujusmodi signis enunciabant , sed unum duntaxat aliquod● de quo , inter ipsos antea conventum suerat ; utpote , athenas ●o temporis ●rticulo captas , aut exsce●sionem factam in terram hostilem , tum , cum in illis locis aut fl●mma , aut fumus excitatus fuisser . 11. plus multo mihi videntur praestitisse tibe●iani illi apud suetonium ; qui quo tempore p●udentium ille n●qu●ssimus in caprearum insula helluaretur , actum p●aecipue quando sejanum opprimere satagebat , signa , ( ne nuncii moratentur ) tolli procul , ut qiudque foret factu , mandavit , quae verba videntur innuere ita rationes suas instituisse tiberium , ut omnia cogintu necessaria pe● hujusmodi signa in continenti procul elata ipse in insula degens , intell exerit . 12. qua in re si non hallucinor , facile subeat admirari , qui evenia● , ut ars hujusmodi , omnia animi nostri sensa sic sine nunciis ad absentes procul annunciandi in hac nostrae europa interi●rit , aut saltem ab eo tempore nusquam fuerit usurpata quantum historiarum classicarum lectione possum reperire . 13. in hac inquam nostra europa : nam apud ca●ajanos in summa perfectione hodi●quev gere , clarissime patet , clarissimi scriptoris testimonio aug : busbequii de cujus fide dubitare esset nefas , nisi is aliena fide niteretur , se ipsum audiamus sic loquentem . 14. postquam multorum mensuum labore ad angustias ac veluti claustia regni catayani perventum est , asperis montibus praerup●●que saxis circumdata ; nec potest intrari n●si perfauces , quae regis illius praesidiis tenentur : ibi mercatores interrogantur quid ferant , undeveniant , & quo sint numero ; qua cognita , regii praesidiarii interdiu fumo , noctu per ignes proximae speculae tradunt , illa deinceps sequenti , ac sic deinceps , donec aliquothorarum quod plurium dierum spatio non potest nuncius , cathaiam ad regem de mercatorum adventu transferatur , qui quidem pari celeritate eademque ratione quid sibi placeat , respondet ; admitti omnes , an partim excludi aut differri . 15. ab hujusmodi speculis , ( quas nos anglice becons appellamus ; ) aliquid enunciari posse , majores nostros non latere patet , a quibus nempe morem accepimus hostium adventum earum ope declarandi . verum illa duntaxat ratione , tot hominum & jumentorum numerum , gentium mercimonia , & alia scitu necessaria sigillatim referre , opus videtur magis arduum , & difficile , quam ut solertia gentis barbarae & philosophiae tam humanae quam divinae penitus ignaraepraestare posse existimem . atque de visu , quem non sine causa cicero sensuum acerrimum pronunciavit . ) haec hactenus . 16 ut iam ab oculis ad aures transeamus ; legendo huc usque vix comperi aliquam rationem excogitatam ab antiquis aut a modernis usurpatam , qua hujusce sensus beneficio notitia quisque perciperit a loco paulo longinquiori intervallo dissito , insuper nuncii inter mentis sermonem . 17. huc tamen aliquid spectat , quod prodidit nobis solominis antiquitatis ( a● nostrae praesertim britannicae ) camdenus in his verbis : muri pictici , ( quem aut borealem angliae partem construxit severus ; ) accolae tubulum aereumeo artificio muro insertum inter singula castella & turres intercurrisse ferunt , ( cujus fragmenta subinde reperserunt , ) ut si quis vocem meam quacunque turri immisisset , statim sonus in proximam inde ad tertiam & omnes deinceps non interruptus perserretur ad significandum ubi loci , hostium insultus timeretur , eujusmodi miraculum de turribus b●zantii . in severi historia refert xiphilinus . sed cum murus nunciaceat , ( inquit ille , ) & tubulus sit nullus , multi hic circumquaque praedia in cor● nage ut juridici loquuntur , a regibus nostris tenent : videlicet , ut cornu irruptiones hostium vicinis significent ; quod a veteri romano●um instituto deductum nonnulli existimant . hactenus camdenus , qui omnia antiquorum inventa ad hunc scopum tendentia his in verbis complexus est . 18. haud abs re fuerit fortassis , ut poste● quam de visu & auditu disseruimus , nonnihil etiam dicamus de tactu : cujus sensus ministerio procul absentibus aliquid posse significari sine nuncio praesertim neque ; traditum est huc usque ab aliquo ut ex●stimo , nec ut fieri possit , credibile videatur . ego autem & fieri posse , & factum esse facile contendo , ad millarii unius aut forte etiam alterius distantiam , quanquam experimento ut hoc ipsum haberem exploratum mihi nondum contigit , & utrum operantium denique futu●um sit , non promintio . 19. ad caeteros vero illos sensus quod attinet ( visus inquam & auditus : ) hic dico , & fidenter dico : primum , nunciari posse ab artis hujusce gnaro ad alium similiter gnarum procul absentem ( modo intra tam partem milliaris ) sive obsessum , sive latentem aut , fortasse detentum in al quo loco , qui nuncianti plane notus non sit , & etiamsi notus , tamen non accessib lis ; omnia fig●llatim quaecunque voluerit & conducere exist mari● . a●c antur procul omnes horaimnes ; corpus in ergastu'um compinge ; vincantur manus ; caput obnubito ; caetero qui non sis modestus , verba cuncta auribus percipiet absentis amici , illi modo amico libertas non sit imminuto adeo quin ea valeat facere quae fieri solent quand●que a liberis ho●inious , aut ●altem quae se facere posse existimet quisque sine periculo . 20. dico deinde quod cognito loco ubi am●cus resideat ad quem notitia perferri debe● & si ute●que plena fruatur libertate , rationes etiam ●●●●● fuerint unitae quae ad medii dipositionem sunt conducibiles : ad centissimum usque milliare ( forte etiam vel milessimum ) omnia posse nunciari tali amico , sine nuncio , hominum , ( imone animalum ) quoquam intercurrente idque infra brevissimum temporis spatium , horam puta aut multo fortasse contractius . 21. miranda inquis , sed non credenda hoccine , vero tam mirandum aut incredibile videatur ? habes adhuc generalia tantum ●● specific acum individuum de quo minus credas : mandetur nuncio huic meo londini ( modo raucis ) qu●cquid annuntiari curis bristoliae , welliae , au●●i mavis exoniae degenti , neque enim longir quitatem viae multum moror si detur facultas sternendi & permiabilem faciend● : mandetur ( inquam ) londini idque in ipso articulo meridiei unus aliquis integer sac●ae b●bl●ae versiculus annunciandus ; curabo ut mandata is exhibeat loco designato , ( attende quid dieo ) ante meridiem ejusdem diei . 22. ne temere pronunties : serius aliquot minutis ad bristoliensem ; quam ad londinensem meridianum sol pervenit . hoc tantum est quod mirere , nuncium qualemcunque , motum caelestem pernicitate posse antevertere . iste vero facier , faciet inquam , si opus fuerit ; aut ego omnium qui fari aut s●ribere sciverunt , vanissimus . 23. de arcibus aut civitatibus obsessia quid loquar ? nuncius noster inanimatus animae nil metuens , innumero●um hostium phalanges pertransibit : non morabitur cum fossa ad infernum usque depressa , aut murus vel babyloniis illis moenibus excelsior , quin verba fideliter perferat mittentis , modo ( quod femper moneo ) pauca ; sive obsessus is fuerit , sive ad obseslum aliquid velit significare , idque velocitate incredibile si intra aliquot m●llaria 5. puta vel 7. detur consistere quanq●am non diffido a vigessimo usque hoc ipsum satis commode praestari posse . 24. habes iam tria hujusce nuncii mei promissa , quae quomodo inter se differant , perspicuitatis gratia operae-pretium fortasse fuerit demonstrare . 25. in primo , laudo fallendi astutiam , in secundo transeundi celeritatem : in tertio , cuncta penetrandi potentiam & vim invictam . 26. quod primo in loco pollicitus sum facillime praestabit sine sumptu , sine opera cujusquam praeterquam immittentis : hoc vero habet incommodi , quod illius usus paulo crebrior suspitione non vacabit . 27. quod secundo ; fit etiam saepenumero absque ope aliena , & nonnullis in locis operam exhibebit temporariam fere sine sumptu ; plerunque vero pa●um aut nihil efficiet sine praeparatione , eaque tali , ut pro singuli● milliaribus quinis plus minus libris nostratibus constare possit , si ad perpetuum usum destinetur : omnino vero nihil sine nutu atque authoritate magistratus , cui quidem perqua●● facile est , nuncio huic nostro hanc viam pr●cludere . 28. ad tertium quod attinet ; haud magnum profecto sumptum requirit : oportet vero ut is qui agit in loco aliquo tuto sit constitut● eoque non nimium distance , ubi vim hostilem possit propulsare , donec operationem perfecerit . negandum proinde non est immittentis quam emittentis deteriorem esse conditionem . 29. videris mihi iam lector p●rcontari , quonam sensuum percipiente , haec omnia sic annuncianda amicus intelligat ; nam sunt sensus , intellectus , satellites ( cicero ) interpretes & nuncii , utpote per quos solos ad illum pervenitur . respondeo auditu nonnunquam , etiam visu . rationem quaeris quomodo ? habebis paucis , & proinde fortassis non tam clare , quin paradigmata requiras . 30. si oculis amici absentis aliquid cupis re presentare , absentis inquam & procul absentis ; idque citius , quam corpus aliquodsublunare ad locum tam longo intervallo disjunctum possit perferri● ( ●am & id in me recipio : ) oporte● , ut ideae , sive formae visibiles augeantur quantitate , multiplicentur numero ; & pro rerum significandarum varietate varientur , vel qualitate , vel quantitate , vel situ , vel ordine . 31. auribus nihil perc●pi nisi per sonum neminem fugit : erit igitur necesse ut is● cui aliquid auditu mediante nuntiatum fuerit , sonos audiat , ●osque distinguibiles pro numero audiendorum : quae cum sint infinita , infinita sit etiam oportet , sonorum edendorum varietas . satis tame● erit ut distinguantur , vel genere , vel tempore modo etiam & numere : 32. haec qui probe intellexer●t ( & exemplis omnia luce fient clariora ) quomodo perferantur hujusmodi som ad locum procul distantem , ●unquam pe●contabitur . 33. ne vero malis et damnatis artibus haec effici quisquam suspicetur : deo opt : max : teste profiteor atque denuncio , illiciti nihil concnere hanc disciplinam : nihil aut divinis aut humanis legibus repugans arithme●icae geometriae music aeque aux●●io plaeraque● coetera si non usitatis● at legitimis rationibus p●efici , idque sumptu sane medi●cri , pene dixeram nu●lo ; multa siquidem p●aesta●i possunt in hoc genere sine a iquo vel ter●untii unius dispendio . 34. ac ista quidem cum sic se habeant sapientibus d●jud●candum reliquo an quantum● et quousque laec nostra inventa rcip : utilia sint futura , si in primo deficient , moriantur , et sicut partus abortivus , aut lucem non videant , aut visa no tantilium fruantur , sed protinus intereant . 35. egoe nimvero cum hujusce artis usum fore permagnum existimem ; tam pacis quam bel itempore , ●fficio meo consentaneum duxi , operam meam in ea tradenda deferre . quod tamen non faciam libenter ita , ut cum passim pluribus innotuerit , ea suo tempore uti nequeamus . lectori de authore . pr●stat pol scilo , artifex peritus , demon , artifici : artifex sed hicce et motu prior , atque major arte , praestat credite , demoni vel ips● , praestat damoni & antevertit ips● . ed. m. ch. aliud ejusdem . dic quaeso , si non duce d●mone tant● quis ergo . angelus hic bonus est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est bonus ●ic . nuncius inanimatus . or the mysterious messenger , unlocking the secrets of mens hearts , by f.g. b. of h. london , printed for joshua kirton , at the signe of the kings arms in st. pauls church-yard . 1657. nuncius inanimatus . or the mysterious messenger &c. 1 it cannot be imagined , that any one who hath but the lest knowledge in philosophy , should be ignorant , that , nothing can be perceived by human understanding without the help of the exteriour senses , so that he that intends to communicate the secrets of his minde to one either absent or present , it is altogether necessary that he have an accesse by this way . 2 and certainly to those that are present , we use no other means than that of speech , which by the subserviency of the sense of hearing , doth disclose one mans minde unto another , and as it were joyn them both together , unless peradventure sometimes another pallas be found , who ( as tacitus relates of that freeman of claudius ) was wont to comm●nd his servants by no other way than by writing , or nodding with his head . 3 they who would declare any thing to their freind that is absent , and yet will not trust to the fidelity of the messenger , do present that unto their eyes , which they cannot , or at least think not safe to do unto the ears ; to which end and purpose the indicting of letters , being the interpreters of our minde , began to be in common use ; which for the most part do faithfully perform that arrant whereon they are sent , unless when the trechery or negligence of those that carry them , or the impediments of the journey cause that these demonstrations of our minde , come not to the place to which they are destinated . 4 there are m●ny several remedies of these inconveniencies invented by the antients , which not only seem to facilitate the way , and to point out fit messengers not easily to be corrupted , but also they promise a kind of swiftness as is beyond the power of man , unless he like another perseus can purchase i know not what winged pegasus for the conveyance of himselfe and letters . 5 it will not repent me of my labour in reckoning up their inventions of this sort , as i finde them recorded by the penns of historians , that at the last when i have given , in some measure , a description of this my nuncio , and have related what he promiseth , then it may be made known to the intelligent reader how far our inventions exceed and go beyond those of the ancients . 6 cecinna of volatera , a noble man of rome ( according to the testimonie of pliny ) bringing with him into the city , swallows that had been taken , sent them with tidings of victory unto his freinds , painting them with the colour which betokens victory : and fabius pictor also relates in his annales , that when a roman garison was besieged by the ligurians , that there was a swallow , brought from her young ones to him , with a peice of thred tied unto one of her leggs , that he should signify by the knots what day he would come with more , aid that they might make a sally : and decimus brutus , at the siege of modena , sent letters that were tied at the feet of pigeons into the tents of the consulls hirtius and pansa , who came to his releife against anthony . 7 but that invention of the aegiptian mamalucks dwelling at alexandria doth far exceced all these , of whom bernard de bridenbach dean of mentz , thus writeth ; although , saith he , perchance it may seem incredible , yet nevertheless what i shall declare , really came to pass : amiraldus had allwaies with him some tutored pigeons , which were so taught , that wheresoever they flew , they would at length return to the court of amiraldus ; now those pilots that are sent out to meet with ships sayling to the port of alexandria to be their conduct , carry two or three pigeons along with them to sea , till they come even to the place where they make full search , where presently they draw up an inventory containing those things that are necessary to be known , which they hang at the neck of one of the pigeons , and so let it fly away , who by its continuall and restless motion , soon arrives with the schedule at the table of amiraldus , and shews who they are that are a comming : but if after the sending forth of the first pigeon , any thing more is to be made known to amiraldus , presently they send forth a second , and so a third , if there be any need : so that amiraldus perfectly knowes who and what they are , a long time before ever the ships enter into the harbour . it is also affirmed , that he hath other doves , which he sends to the sultan at● cairo , by which he signifies that some suddain and difficult busines hath hapned ; moreover if the pilots sent out from amiraldus , cannot finde out the conditions of the ship , they declare this very thing to him by the doves . 8 by these and the like means we finde sometimes a thing may be made known in a short space , but it is allwaies done by birds who are the carriers , whereas we promise to exhibit an inter-nuncio , who is not a bird , neither is he winged , no not so much as a living creature , and yet notwithstanding by many degrees goes beyond any creature whatsoever , though never so swift in celerity of motion . 9 that invention of theirs cometh somewhat nigh to our purpose , who by fires that were kindled in the night , and by smoke in the day , which may be perceived in a short space of time , did declare their intents to their friends that were far distant . thus did the grecians when they were at chios , to their confederates who pitched their tents at artemisium , and mardonius the persian , from athens even to asia , as it is asserted by herodotus . 10 yet they ( as much as i perceive ) could not shew by these signes every thing which was expedient , but onely that one thing , about which they had agreed before among themselves , that athens was taken in that moment of time , or that there was a marching down into the enemies quarters just then , when in those places they had either kindled a fire or raised a smoke . 11 for my part i think that to be a more ingenuous exploit of the tybereans , related by suetonius , who at the same time when this wicked monster rioted in the island of caprea , and then chiefely when he endeavoured to curbe the haughty spirit of sejanus , commanded signalls to be erected afar off ( lest the messengers should slack their speed ) to be lifted up higher , that he might understand before-hand what was done ; whose words seem to intimate thus much , that tyberius devised this way , that he himself dwelling in the island , might understand all things nedful to be known ( by these signes that were then lifted up ) in the continent or main land . 12 in which particular , if i am not much mistaken , it is easily to be admired how it comes to pass , that this kind of art , thus declaring the very secrets of our minde without the help of any messenger , to those that are absent a great way from us , should alltogether decay in this our europe ; or at least should from that time to this never be used , as i finde in reading classick histories . 13 i say in this our europe , for it is most certain , that even to this day it is in great perfection among the cathayans , as appears by the testimony of augerius busbequius ; to doubt of whose fidellity , would be allmost piacular , unless he leaned on another mans credit ; hear himself thus speaking . 14 after the travell of many a month we came at last to the very straights and skirts of the kingdom of cathay , for a good part of the dominions of the king of cathay is mediterranean , encompassed with sleep and untractable mountains , and dangerous rocks , neither can any one enter into it but by the narrow passages thereof , which are kept by the kings garrison ; there the merchants are questioned what they bring , from whence they come , and how many there are of them ; which being known , the watchmen appointed by the king , shew it in the day time by smoke , in the night by fire to the next high hill , that in like manner to the next , and so one after another ; so that in the space of a few houres , which a messenger could not do in many daies , newes is brought to the king of cathay of the arivall of those merchants , who answers with the like swiftness and in the same manner , whether it stands with his good pleasure that all should be admitted , or that they should partly be excluded or deferred . 15 our ancestors were not ignorant that from high hills of this kind ( which we in england call beacons ) a thing might be made manifest , from whom also we have derived this custome , that by their help we give notice of the invasion of a forein enemy ; but by by this means onely , particularly to relate the exact number of men and beasts , nation , merchandize and things needfull to be known , seems to be a more abstruse and difficult work than ( as i think ) to be performed by the subtilty of a barbarous nation alltogether ignorant of philosophy , aswell humane as divine . and let this suffice to be spoken about sight , which , not without just cause , the prince of orators stiles the sharpest of all the senses . 16 that now we may pass from the eys the ears , by reading hitherto . i have not yet found any way either invented by the ancients , or put in practise by any of our time , whereby a man that is a far distant may receive notice of any business by the benefit of this sense , unless by the speech of the messenger that goes to each . 17 yet to this belongeth that which mr. cambden the son of all antiquity ( especially of our british ) hath exposed to publick view in these words ; the inhabitants of the picts wall ( which severus built at the northerne part of england ) do report that there was a brazen pipe put into the wall , with that rare artifice that it run through each tower and castell , ( pieces , whereof they now and then find ) that if any one did but sound his voyce into it , let him be in what tower soever , presently the sound went into the next , and so to the third , so that the sound passed through each of them , without any interruption , to signify where about they feared the assault of the enemy ; xiphiline in the life of severus relates a wonder of the same kind in the towers of constantinople : but whereas saith he the wall is now demolished , and the pipe is not to be found , many here on every side hold their lands of our kings successively in cornage as the lawyers phrase is , that by the sound of a horne they should signifie to their neighbours the irruptions of an enemic , which some think to be borrowed from the old roman custome : thus far cambden who in these words hath comprised all the inventions of the ancients tending to this end . 18 perchance it will not be altogether impertinent , that after we have spoken somewhat about seeing and hearing , we should say a little about touching , by the help of which sense that any thing should be signified to them that are afar off , especially without a messenger is not yet asserted of any one as i think , neither doth it seem credible , but for my part i dare say that it may be done , and that with ease , at the distance of a mile or perchance two , although i have not tryed the verity thereof by any experiment , and i list not to say whether it wil be worth our labour for the future . 19 but that which concernes those senses ( to wit , of seeing and hearing ) i dare say and do confidently assert , that a man skilfull in this art may tell whatsoever he pleases or thinks , may conduce to his good , to another that is afar off if a like skilfull ( if he be within a quarter of a mile ) though besieged , or lying hid , or perchance detained in any place which is not directly knowne to him that sends the tydings , and if knowne , yet not to be gone to ; let nobody come near him , secure the body in a prison , let the hands be bound , hoodwink the face , but be not trouble some any other way , and he shall understand the words of his absent friends , if this liberty be not taken away from him , that he may be able to do those things which are wont sometimes to be done by freemen , or may do them without fear or danger . 20 i say moreover , that if the place be known where a friend resides , to whom our message should be brought , and if both enjoy a full liberty , the causes being before agreed upon , which conduce to the disposition of the meanes , any thing may be told to such a friend without any messenger going between each , or any living creature , though he be a hundred , nay perchance a thousand miles off , and that in a short space of time , perchance an hour , or it may be somewhat less . 21 these things some whisperingly say are strange and wonderfull , but they are not so soone to be believed : but doth this seeme so wonderfull and uncredible . you have yet but this only in the genus and species , behold an individuall is presented to thy eyes , which thou wilt less believe . tell unto this my nuncio at london in as few words as may be , what you desire may be told to me dwelling at bristol , wells , or if you will rather at exeter , for i do not much regard the length of the way , so it is but passable ; i say tell him at london , and that just about noone any one whole verse of the sacred scripture , i will see that he shall perform our commands in the designed place ( marke what i say ) before the high noone of the same day . 22 do not rashly pronounce this proposall impossible , for the course of the sun makes the noone later by some minutes at bristol than at london : this it is you may wonder at , that this messenger should exceed the heavenly motion thereof in swiftness . this he will do , will do it i say , if there be need , or else i am the vainest person of all that know how either to speake or write . 23 what speak i of towers , or cities that are besieged ? our inanimate nuncio , not fearing any thing , will pass through whole troops of enemies ; a trench digg'd almost as low as hell , or a wall though higher than those of babylon , shall not hinder his journey , but he will faithfully performe the message ( so it be in as concise termes as may be ) of him that sent him , though besieged , or whether he would have it told to him that is besieged , and that with such an incredible swiftnes , if he be to be found within 5. or 7. miles , though i doubt not but it may be done effectually within 20. miles . 24 you have here 3. promises of this my nuncio , presented to your consideration , perchance it will be worth our while to shew how they differ among themselv's for perspicuities sake . 25 in the first i set forth the subtlety of deceiving : in the 2 d. the swiftness of its passage : in the 3 d. it s unconquered power and strength in penetrating all things . 26 that in the first place will easily be performed without any cost or labour of any one , save him that sends , but it hath this inconvenience , that its frequent use will not be free from suspition . 27 that in the second place is very often effected , without any help from others , and in some places almost without any charge , but for the most part it will do little or nothing without preparation , and that such that for each mile it will cost five pounds more or less , if it be designed for perpetual use , and nothing can be done without the countenance and authority of the magistrate , who can easily , if he please , hinder our nuncios journey . 28 as concerning the third , truely it requireth no great charge , but it must be observed , that he that doth act , be setled in a place without danger , and that not too far distant , where he may resist his enemies force , untill he hath perfected his work , and here we must not deny , that the condition of him that sends in , than of him that sends out is the worst . 29 you seem to me , o reader , to ask by what sense , a friend may perceive those things that are to be told , for the senses are the guard , interpreters and messengers of the understanding ( so cicero ) by which alone we come to understand : i answer somtimes by hearing , and sometimes by sight ; you ask a reason how ? you shall have it in few terms , and perchance not so clearly , but that you require examples . 30 if you desire to represent any thing to the eyes of your absent friend , i say absent , and at a great distance sooner than any sublunary body can come to the place that is separated by so long an intervall , for i undertake that ) we must see that the idaeas or visible forms be increased in quantity , multiplyed in number , and be varied according to the variety of the things , to be signified in quality , quantity , position or order . 31 there is none but knowes that nothing can be perceived by the eares without a sound , it is therefore necessary that he to whom any thing is to be declared by the mediation of hearing , should heare those sounds , and those must be distinguished according to the number of the things to be heard , which because they are infinite , the variety of sounds that are to be echoed forth must be infinite also : nevertheless it will be sufficient , that they be distinguished either in the kind , or time , manner and number . 32 he that shall rightly understand ( and by examples they are more clear than the sun in its meridian splendor ) how sounds of this nature are reported to a place far distant will never question the verity hereof . 33 and here lest any one should timerously suspect these things to be effected by unlawfull and condemned arts , in the presence of that god who is both the greatest and the best : i protest , and openly denounce , that this discipline contains in it nothing that is unlawfull , or that is contrary to the laws either of god or man , and that many things are done by the help of arithmetick , geometry and musick , the rest if not by usuall , yet by lawfull means , and that at a very small cost , i had almost said none at all , for certainly many things may be performed in this kind without the least expence or loss that can be imagined . 34 and seeing that it is so , i leave it to the judgment of those that are judicious to consider how much and how far these our inventions may be profitable to the common-wealth for the future : if they are defective , let them dye , and as untimely birth let them not see the light , or if they chance to see the light , let them not enjoy a little , but forthwith let them vanish into nothing . 35 yet i my self think the use of this art to be very great , as well in times of peace as war , and i thought it my duty to bestow some pains in the delivery thereof , which i will not do so willingly , lest that when it shall be made known to many , we cannot use or practise these things in their due time . finis . these books are lately printed , and are sold at the kings arms in pauls church-yard . the administration of cardinall richelieu , containing the history of the most important affairs of christendom , more particularly of england , from a●no . 1624. to 1634. a collection out of the best approved authors , containing near six hundred severall histories of visions , apparitions , prophecies , sp●its , divinations , and other wonderfull illusions of the devill , also of dive●s astrological predictions . the man in the moon , or a discourse of a voyage into the moon by domingo gonsales . also nuncius inanimatus englished . a restitution of decayed intelligence in antiquities , concerning the english nation , by the study and travell of richard verstegan . the history and character of the bishops , in the reigns of q. elizabeth and k. james , written by sir john harrington . the magistrates authority in matters of religion , o● the right of the state in the church , ● discourse written by the learned hugo grotius . of government and obedience as they stand directed and determined by scripture and reason , four books , by john hall of richmond . two play 's of mr. james sbirley , the ' constant maid , a comedy , and st. patrick for ireland . that excellent tragedy of bussie d● ambois written by m● . george chapman . the philosophy commonly called the morals , written by the learned philosopher plutarch . the indian history of anaxander and orazia ' written in french by monsicur de bois robert , and translated by w. g. esq notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a42948-e5980 nat. hist. lib. 10. cap. 24. pl. lbid . pl. lib. ●● cap. 37. itin. ter . s. moct . 28. 1483 the tryall of trauell, or, [brace] 1. the wonders in trauell, 2. the worthes of trauell, 3. the way to trauell in three bookes epitemizd / by baptist goodall, merchant. goodall, baptist. 1630 approx. 165 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 41 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a01867 stc 12007 estc s4320 24145872 ocm 24145872 27249 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a01867) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 27249) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1817:13) the tryall of trauell, or, [brace] 1. the wonders in trauell, 2. the worthes of trauell, 3. the way to trauell in three bookes epitemizd / by baptist goodall, merchant. goodall, baptist. [80] p. printed by iohn norton, and are to bee sould by iames vpton, at his shop in paules church yeard at the signe of the fox, london : 1630. in verse. signatures: a² b-k⁴ l². title in ornamental border. includes marginal notes. formerly stc 12008. imperfect: pages cropped and print show-through. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. includes bibliographical references. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database 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illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng travel. voyages and travels -poetry. 2006-01 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-02 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-07 elspeth healey sampled and proofread 2006-07 elspeth healey text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the tryall of travell or , 1. the wonders in trauell , 2. the worthes of trauell , 3. the way to trauell . in three bookes epitemizd . by baptist goodall merchant . they that trauaile downe to the sea in shipps , and passe opon the great waters , such see the workes of the lord , and his wonders in the deepe . psalme . 107. 24. ignoti nulla , cupido . london , printed by iohn norton , and are to bee sould by iames vpton , at his shop in paules church yeard at the signe of the fox , 1630. to the thrice noble and illustrious lady : prime seate of all princely worth , great honor of trauell , patterne of piety and patience elizabeth . queene of boheme , countesse palatz of the rhine , duehesse of bauary marchionesse of morauy . these tripart tryalls of trauell are consecreated by baptist goodall : in hope of her honourable acceptance , with wishes of ioyes externall , eternall . to all the sonnes of noble trauaile whether merchant , martiall , or maryne negotiators . to you the liuely characters of my muses epitome ( as more due ) i present her : not for shelter , but suruay , her sonets are in short the trophes of your trauails : antidots against obliuion , and the aconite of skillesse censure . therein may ye reuise the wonders once viewed , the worths preconceiued , with the wayes of trauaile traced already : so doing scan how short you are of what may be ; as well as reuiue time of that hath bin . action is proper to you speculation to scollers : what they aenigmatically peruse , you personally visit , now although she can neyther much augment your notions , nor yet fortifie your iudgements by these her primortiues , so sub alternate to your sufficiencies : yet hapily in the garden of her diuersitie ▪ some flowers may selected no lesse delectable then profitable , if not serue they as s●uchions pendant in memory of more iuditious obseruations : or euer dure they as pledges of an vnlimited loue to all the noble sonnes of trauaile , such primly whose wishes drilled her out from pen to presse i am not ignorant how our crittick can cauill , therefore haue i fortified her with diuine , and morall auncient and moderne marginals , as little how our satirist in his laciuyous textures confront the like carpere vel noli nostra , vell edetua , nor how the tertullian wil puffe at her plainesse , a 〈…〉 faut point d'enseigne , alas deformityes in nature , are only ●dulterate defects obscured deceptio visus fits homespune punies , not blades who pump for their wits midd salt surges and haue ●ur●●yed more countryes thou the carier countrytownes , my 〈◊〉 ( my present wife ) is as plaine as yong nor lesse true then vncommon please shee you with her songs i am satisfied our speech by pa● death proues silence what suruiues in abscence is writing eyther after vs , or farr of , quo lic● at libris non licet ire mihi . she may speake when i cannot , where i may not . i comit her to your custody , wishing your happy progresse in trauaile , with peace foreuer . your fellow trauailer , baptist goodall . the prologue to the generall that our vnwise domesticke many discerne with the agrestick trauailes worths to learne and that both may behold as in a glasse pleasures of such who foraine parts do passe vnuailing so the vices of a crue who guesse all things by them vnseene vntrue i haue in short set downe my thoughts therin some credit to that choyce estate to winn , first from my owne li●es who a small haue seene yet better may the worths of trauaile deeme then from the house bird , and the dormouse dull so from our critick , and th' vnletterd g●ll now if as 't may be ) th' sonnes of didimus in stoicke humor daine not to beleeue vs lo th' sacred writ will vrge a credit to it no antidote but seeing else will do it diuine , and morall , modern , and the ould all in her worths v●asked with vs hould the patriarcks , princes , ptophets stories churches and worlds of more of all sorts sort with these the iewes , greeks , turks , moors , indians : and wee all ages times , and states , there to agree to christian some , to mortall trauaile all trovaile to euery mortall must befall . ci●ill alone is now our muses taske which ●he ( by zoilas leaue ) shall now vnmaske its wonder , worth , and way and plant from hence . canons dismount all homebred impudence ●…pell their false auouch , whose trembling pen like canaan spies disconsolateth men read all or none at all , do but as due thou't say though yong and short , ●hee's plaine and true . quem recitas meus est fidentine libellus at male dum recitas , incipit esse tuus , martialis . the wonders in trauaile . what time iehove had all things ready made . the sea , land , riuers , winds the sunne and shade the day and night , both foule and firmament heauen and earth form'd all to mans content , him made he then the microcosme of all , seated in costly eden , whilst his fall , makes him accursed of a lord compleats insweat of browes adindg'd his bread to eate and pilgrimewise henceforth on earth to wander , pacing about it as a crookt meander , thenearth for sin sustaines a whole delusion and nimrods plott produces tongues confusion sin , still and sorrow relatiues in vs we are to spend our dayes in trauaile thus . diuinest for sight arm'd the world with store of adhuments to trauaile long before to this end we are the windes volutions fram'd which east , west , north , and south , by man are nam'd . to this end were both seas and flouds prepar'd as is in the creations rule declar'd . and so become the tongues confusion good one aydes the other to be vnderstood . yea heerevnto was shipping preinuented , least entercourse twixt nations be preuented since man to sweate and trauailes destind heere so to consume in life day , month , and yeare . t is nothing else to trauaile but to breath trauailes ordained posterities bequeath . t is nothing more to trauaile then to liue earth cannot least reposd contentment giue nor may the wise , or great , or faire , goe free but equaly the trace of trauaile see . trauaile tripartite prime to all the rest is mortall trauaile , all thus interest . the christian and ciuill stand dependants both being on our mortall course attendants ciuill we treat of t is wee vnderstand mans state of entercourse by sea and land as they are destind heere to vndergoe , great ioue in his degree commands it soe . to tell such wonders they at sea haue seene , his greater fames forgotten to redeeme . of things vnknowne a credit to procure , and men to see his greatnesse to allure of natures rares indifferent of climes . to tell the worths , strange qualities and times . acquaint the earth with miracles vnknowne , which oney are by ciuill trauailes showne . and friendly chang of each lands fruites thus made , yea many thousands each way fed by trade . thus trauailes wonders first their maker praise , then add they store and sollace to our dayes the forme of ciuill trauailes thus prepard now shall its wonders briefly be declard not able to conceiue the cause of much her miracles in her surueyes are such each mans a wonder of himselfe alone much wonder may a man suruay at home much more in many millions disagreeing informe wits mannors , nations habitts being th' invisiue deiety hearin disclosd omnipotence in natures frame proposd to leaue sayth scripture man without excuse when faithlesly men cause his powers abuse wise dauid first at heauen , then earth admires from whence with wondering downe to sea retires such as descend to deepe ( quoth he ) such see the powers of iehova what they bee his fame is raised by euery dayes successe the rudest region will explaine no lesse when men saith he are tossed in the maine so that their soules consume in sence of paine sometime are tossed to the cloudy skies , hence in a hast hell low , her shipping flyes billowes carreyring tosse too and fro and wash her as a wherry high and low now pray they and their sorrow seekes an end past hope or helpe or harbour to defend the stormy winds are stild , the men haue hope when in a calme the ship findes larger scope the men reioyce , blesse god , and well ariue and in the midd of many perilles thriue t was sure a wonder iouas vnder went when he in trauaile crossed ioues intent the monstrous whale should harbour be to him who in his soule had harbourd so much sinne three dayes aliue transported in his chest yet all this time with life and safety blest then layd ashore , out of his mighty power whose quality is solie to deuoure aegypts red sea to admiration parts and from an ocean to drie land conuert billowes , are walles , they passe on dry foot ground when lo ! their foes the aegiptians are drownd no lesse admired was the arke of noe prepard to trauaile in earths ouerthrowe the monstrous generation , mockt his skill how ere t was formd by god almighties will all earths indeluge he and his are fownd careyring safe in shipp , all others drown'd , and by this rare inuentions h●rbinger the world doth alwayes with it selfe conferre shipping ar embasies , he get relation through farr remote twixt nation , and nation posts packing each way with intelligences garners to store mortals assure defences the wandrous arke anchours ararats mount her docke , and now the nations recounte hauing a patterne how her like to build then from a future deluge still to sheyld and i , make the waters passable they try phenicanus bowe the first in history aegypt proceedes the greeke and many omre solomon trads to opior for his ore . thus did deuine prescience ships inuent mans cheifest friend , the temples ornament our lord and his desciples once at sea great gulfts arise and tempest ouersway the shipp suckes billowes as her onely diett makes the desciples fearefull and vnquiet he wakes , they cry helpe master or wee perish . oft times thus feare by vnbeleefe is cherisht christ giues the word and bids them all be still and gladly they as soone obey his will so that the faithlesse iewes are forst to say oh what is he whom windes and seas obey . examples moue oft more then reasons good where sence and sight ar wholy vnderstood lo ! last in paull his voyage is a wonder . when sea and windes teare all their ships in sunder each boardes conuey , and safe the people land rul'd in the loue of paul by highest hand see now at sea the wonders trauail knowes where god himselfe in omnipotence showes proclames a power exceeding other places and sea aboue the land with wonder grace next acts his matchlesse mercy greater part and seeming death to long life doth conuert daily experience fortisies our faith should we surmise vnsure what scripture saith ? our eighty eight gibralter and the rest would with amazement scale our flinty brest as thus on sea ioue in high wonder passes so him in sea his creatures wonder graces witnesse the worlds of fish of various birth when waters broad doth simpathise the earth liuiathan iohes wonder as a rocke but at a ship maiestickly doth knocke his huge and massy beard whole billowes brusshes he through the ocean as a whirle winde rushes or as an earthquake makes the seas to shake deuouring shoules , and supping drie the lake his sinnes plowe way in midest of proudest waues thus neptune like he all the sea out braues puffes out a challenge , what can quele my might or who like me can on an ocean light forgetting how the sea man in meere play winnes him in sport , to throw his bulcke away and drunkard like allyes the barrell ore till he appeareth naked one the shore now gald with darts that cloudes of blood ensue and die the neerer streames another hue the slimy sea horse ; and the cowe contend better then the terre● themselues to send yet on the ice will wallouw in a rowte and both brought captiue by the seaman ●lente men monsters and the syrens rares to see yet on the waues such wonders dayly be scene in the north and southerne hottest climes chifely the former in our latter times the boulting sea hogg spouts against the storme and will attend though wild sweete musickes charme whose consorrs saluson , codd , and sturgeon bee such in our natiue soile hath primacie t is said of sages not so ould as true that althings silent shew gods powers due and that some workes of his mirit admire rather then reason how and why inquire his prouidence in heauens high influences to the other regions els are sole defences sunn , moone , and starres , aire , earth , and sea direct order , dispose , rule , alter , get , protect their dispositions haue effects in all in sea , in skie , or earth , men creatures call their constant motion diuine influx causes the sea store hath at large a share in these a second earths store , as the shapes of vs so brutes , horse , doggs ; and all sorts wonderouse yea vegetiue and minerall appeare the sword , fist , pike , cuts , tortise farr and neare all sorts by sholes in order know their like their formes so strang , men in amazement strike for note as euery clime doth various stand the obiect zones ruling the nether land so euery sea as is the climes degree differs in creatures shape and rarity all which howere to home bred men vnknowne yet are in midd of trauaile wondrous showne the rule of reason is my argument it brings in men ( things neere so strange ) consent for a relation in one body rownd twixt sea and land was in creation fownd in creatures kind though different in forme yet cannot natures liknesse be out worne this of the wonders on , and in the ocean the frutes there off are only trauailes notion see now the sea it selfe miraculouse his height exceeds earths , and is fluctuos yet giueth god sayth dauid to him bownd nor can earth by its ouerheight be drownd a miracle exceeding common since and wherin reasons proofe is impotence as is the cause of tides slux and retreate howere by luner motions made compleate this watry orbe is various euery where now red , then blacke , then yellow , greenish cleare now hot and seethes , there ice mountes her couer wonders best knowne by such as trauaile ouer fiue zones earths guards , the equinoctiall girt which vnder climes still as they are conuert two frigid , one fire hot two temporate gouernd by the high celaestiall fate the differing seas , and seasons vnder each how ere knowne part by speculationes reach yet sights the sure , and teitruth of a notion not subiect , to the pennes vnsure deuotion trauailes adiacents more miraculous inable man to presse seas reaches thus the compasse by his loadstone wonders chiefe yeilds in vnknownest pathes a knowne reliefe teaching the steareman how to runn his way and midest of rockey billowes take survay now sunn and starres are hid not to digresse in nauall calculations more or lesse in course to cape , i le , harbour , stranger nation but find the true rowmb , in winds variation in midd of misty fogges secure to runn although in darknesse and defect of sunn knowing and surely too , each cape and cliffes where slatts , sands , shoules , safe harbours rockes or riffes that ephimerian callender a wonder there astrolab , crosstaff viewd asunder whose issues and effects p●sse home conceits wherewith our seamen act admired seates the compas card , scale limbes of euery shipp that plannifp heere , and tranfames so be fit in rarest art , sunnes horall height to know and the altitude of euery starre to show northeasting , aud northweasting by a line what way is made , which way the length , the time the north starre where aboue tho pole or not skilles wherein euery home bredd proues a sott my relation hebrue , he athen greeke , yet know t is now my talke sea miracles to showe sunnes surgere gresse in euery latitude harden then heera at home ar to conclude each lands dimension length , and square and site the solar progresse , euery where his height tides in all countries by the moone to find their flux and reflux , and the depth they wind timly meridian , solles true declinations the north starres power , globes rule in nauigations the pillotts art his chanall sownds , quicke viewe lo ! from these fruits our voyages accrue amazing earth in great discoueties made inriching europ with a potent trade thus euery way at sea are wonders showne i will not name discoueries well vnknowne those new found gulphes : exacter reuolutions collumbus , drakes , or candishes conclusions vesputius norts or dauis nouigatianes for earths pacts latly rowue by many nations the thorow lights by trauell made are cleare through which our new world doth to the ould appeare amerricca her sisters three scarce knew while trauell brought them to an enter view and now acquainted both in admiration honour , and vse as briges nauigation thence to the skies high wonders travaile sees cosmographies the plott discouers theese the leuen heauens , circular effects trauail in all her wondros dessects that zodiacke , his twelue parts operation discrepant to the subdependent nation the equinoctiall change , earths axaltree embraces differently her orb ye see heere starres both fixt and motiue alter case wonderous in act according to the place the foure winds rhouts , and thirty two partitions eclipses solar , lunar ; such positions as these are plainely writ , i neede not say the worths in sight its sure , beyond denay for so much as the thing is fancies better view passesse reading , its contents are greater the heauens declare gods glory , heauens power is picturd in earths woundrous parts each houre earths miracles in trauelling are more since the almighty formd heere greater store that so the sonnes of men in admiration might passe to view from nation to nation varieties still added to desire filling the greedy stranger with admire the men , townes , frutes , riuers and brutes all change turne any way in trauaile things are strange geography treats most of arts hearin but trauaile only sweet of sence doth winn earths sipherall orbe both ile and continent according to their sits are different complexions to the climes do beare relation so is in men a diuers propagation how full of miracles is nature now which euery way such difference can allow ? mens statutes , colloures , haire much different in humours , and in manners diuers bent our northern cleare , the southern swarty browne that 's merry plaine , this cunning bent to frowne on s frolicke other sad and dull of spirit thus diuers climes their diuerse breed inheritt europe the queene though least of sisters foure greatest in fame , in arts in wits in power in wines and mines high garmany exceedes as mosco beauers , and the rich furr breeds the belgick fish , and linen , a iarring nation yet much suprasseth most in nauigation the french her wines , and silkes of itally spaines fruits , rich ores , and irons raise her high the danish tackle skinnes , and whales suplie the norway plankes , firres furies , and fishery the polish flaxes , sweadish brasse , and mast the turkey stuffes hungarian coppers cast the florence silke , beames buffe , moluccoes spice the brittish wooltrin , lead , corn , cole of price sicillian coralls sugaries candie wines zauts corrants , and the venice muskadines the chinaes gould , pearle , muske , and iuory the indian silke , and mines of ores supply behould the diuerse store each land affordes the wonders in creations due the lordes each land in worths to wonder disagreing in nature , colour , quantity and being hence may wee wondering in a higher straine on trauells stage admiring mount againe scorning the least of lying wonders tould by sicophants to obiect basenesse sould telling of foothigh pigmeyes , doggeard men blue blacke and yellow collored , cald by them out scoggin , skinke , and like to these in credit fables , ales hate , trauailes eiection merit what need fond men , the vulgar bee deluded or yet the lord of nature be abused ? his names almighty in true wondrous things and truth alone sound satisfaction bringes hee s truly great in all , abhorres all glozing dishonourd much by each false tales composing . yet wants no fame ; the little ants a wonder much more those many thousands all out number . see but some rares in fabrickes admiration duly attends on some in euery nation . that chinan wall twelue hundred miles in length their mighty citties and , vnuoted strength , those piramids of aegypt twelue miles rownd and fiftie cubitts mounted from the grownd the tower and walles of mighty babilon the capitall and ruind worths of roome the venice fabricks , cayroes circle stronge the spannish bridge admired three leagues long , as these the creatures vegetiue excell and sensitiue their alterations tell , that indian figtrees an admired thing whose touch to earth causeth a world of spring breeding a long atracke of mighty store ones brood oft carreyeth a furlong ore , those siluer sands , and peatlie vaines distilling the spanish with their matchlesse treasures filling the oliue nutmegg , and the cloues are rare and may with mirch , and lemond well compare , land creatures wonders in the ellephant he most for massy fortitude doth vaunt able to tuggship laden in a calme and fel the dragon with his massie palme carrie a fort of cannon , vnderstand yet willingly obay his guiders hand , writters admire at fieirce rhinoce rosse his horne , sayd the mightiest can tosse with glassy scales encounters greater things and to the new beholders terrour bringes poore muskcats ciuer as a rare receiued the bezar , ambir , rubies rares conceaued but the camell leopard hatches an admire in all that to the southern poles retyre . a composite , two natures mixt we see bearing to both an equall simpathy the cruell dragons ' fell deuouring iawe the serpent makes his venamous sting his lawe both lurking close in rockes of desert springs and an affrighting of the neighbour things , the crocodile whose teeth in sumder sharke making decision limit to his marke hatcht of an egge oh wonder of admire to all in trauailes in the torrids are shee men and beasts often by land deuoures more fish in sea and riuers ●ue his powers yet oft the musket meete his high attempt and with his ruine doth a hurt preuent strange armadillo armed round about scales hath as iron with , a swinish snout teeth cruell bent , yet helpe his bones to cure whose rarenesse trauailes view doth oft allure , but should i pen the tenth of all the store the things some see ; good writers record more nor paper , pen , nor skill could sure suffice let vs hearin with modesty be wise instancing truths , truth beares the only sway when worlds of extant fictions decay . our dayes are short suppose no one hath had a viewe of halfe in progresse of his trade each what it is add truely to the store of wondrouse brutes now say my muse no more , omit the lyon , beare , wolfe , vnicorne the elck , and estrich , and the hart , forlorne in wildernesses with the leopard pacing and with the tiger trauailes wonders gracing passe by the eagle , faulcon , para , kite and fly the tortoise , and the rockfish sight . and add to these as different conditions the spanish pride , and insolent ambitions french , and itallien lust , and light conceits the vnbeleeuing iewe in close deceits dane , german , pool , norwegian russe , and duch , tainted with cupping clownishnesse as much brittish how bould , how various , belly bent turkes cruell , chinenses maleuolent , rude indians , and tartarians idolizers the morish blacke barbarians bloody mizers , the west , and southerne soyles to lust runn madd the east , and north , in drunkennesse us bad . as natures ilnesse diuersly doth vent hauing in climes peculier extent , see how the habits men , and women weare , varie to admiration euery wheare . the russe his furd long coat slopt , collers beares the dane his pointed buffes , wiues wreathed haires the german iumphre huicke , crague hull , and copp the swedish mustzell , and long flemish slopp the french all puffes , naked itallian vailes the spanish bagg fleues , long sauoyan tailes the irish rugg , welch freez ; and highland trouses the brittish proteus , course norwegians couses where ere in trauell thou arriue thus see one named for worlds what various habits bee fabricke of realmes , as fashions alter much one vsed heare of wood ; bricke , with the duch. the geanovoijs guilt , leaded marble frame . venice for fite and glazing beares the name . mad rid his fiery wall , st. lawrence grace the ancient roman edifice , high race cayro and paris greatnesse , londons plenty the famous neatherlands structures no place empty antwerp , and culloyne , , temples goodly site this handfull for the heape in trauailes sighte . one passing still another in some rare wherein alone he triumphs past compare , but that the wisest god may seeme more high hee l mixe his honours with diuersitie , and time the epoch passe their fittest birth and when and where disperst to be one earth one land this graces , and another that yet the supremist worths not to relate if one way spaine passes for grapes our ile in food , and cloth we more then countervaile if india passe for ores and pearles the duch their nauies passe the indian as much , if china , sends with turkey silken store our sheep clad , and our benes feed thousands more if norway whale , ruffe furr , and swedish brasse by steetes in trafick to the westerne passe they turne gould , wine , and fruits of contentation so might i instance much in euery nation one succours other , traficke breeds affection the whole is gouernd by the high protection . for windes , seas skie , and trauell all agree to frame one earth a iust conformity that nature hots , and coulds may be suffied and euery parts commodities be prizd and all men muse to view earths aged forme triumphs in trauaile more ; as lesse out worne thousands vnseen assisting one another and the barbarian rude the christians brother this harmony in nature , and each nation hatched by trauailes howrely propagation nor warr , nor iarr , can totally mollest but some way finde they mutuall interest , ordaind to fit in all parts man entire begetting trauailes wonder , our admire , whereof howres much more might instancd bee yet i conceaue enough in what wee see the wise may by the modell iudge the masse so speed my muse to trauailes worths a pace in sea , skie , earth , fish flesh ; reason and sence lo ! wonders of diuine omnipotence some scatterd each way ; trauaile must discry and industry , and wisdome moue to try occasionall wonders these attend on time and we for them since none can pre diuine in christian trauailes , an almighty hand protects his church , and children in each land in mortall trauailes steard by force of fate men may presume but no way can rebate what strange effects they are allotted too what wonders they are destind heere to doo life t is a trauile through earths sea of woes and miracles doth christian state disclose neyther the matter of my muses songe they to diuines and moralists belong and my discourse of ciuill trauails worth after her wonders let her vtter forth prostrating so his selfe to trauailes friend so much in short of wonder makes an end . aut face , aut tace . the worthes of trauels . causes fortunne effects logitians say as subiects euer leade their adiuncts way , though trauells worths are in wonders showne yet by her rare effects shee s better knowne , iustice say sages is to giue each righte oppon its worth apparent to the sight , worth must be knowne , ere 't can be iustly prizd in ignorance it can but be surmisd . the fruits then seen pluct off the fertill tre● , can best expresse it's worthinesse to thee , commit it to the tast of any man thens no more need it's excellency to scann , pleasures , and profitts commonly are crosse and the , gaine of one is still the others losse , but if they in one subiect mett agree that neuer faild to prooue a raritie , behould heer 's both , and larglie too extended , whereby earths seede from ruine is defended . profits abayte t' allure the thrifty mind though he small pleasure in the obiect find , how trauail sutes in both is admiration mans witt , and wealth of these a first relation the wise terms witt , a siluer gliding streame the witts of nobler natures t is i meane for ther 's the cause the earthly minded lake nor will nor can of trauailes worth pertake , such wits i say still flowing from the fountaine and inbred vigour of the holy mountaine natures remaines more cleare by graces shine , both by assistance influence diuine , still throuh the nations current are more pure by sunnc●re●●ne , made actiue to endute , mans wit and fence by trauailes daily tried remaine by issue still vnputrified , o th harmony in diuerse witts accord neuer could clime all sorts comactt afford , lands must bee louing borow much of each the nearer witts perfections to reach , the god of nature calls for mutuall trade diuersicie this enter course hath made , the stoic iewe loues of the christians learne and wee in them frugallity discerne the could dull northerne practize westerne witt and they a true plaine hartednesse in it . the rudest indian manners of our planter his heathen skill became our trades aduancer , the orphean musicke with itallian dwelles the spannish linn●ing euery way excelles , the deepe giunosophist , the captiue grecian the paracelian phisicks with venetian , the expert pool , and pertian horst in warre the prying crees his iudgement of the starre in some all passe that none may be deiected but none in all that all may be respected . as arts inuentors heere and there abide that they might be to all allwayes discried when the decree aginst , lewd earth was past and god by waters ment the earth to wast he then instnicted noah first ship to build both him and his from waters force to shield the eye of man could not forsee the worth this rare art doth posterities bring forth by it earths spacious kindred comes acquainted and christian faith midd infidels is planted , but not enthusiall , but by practize skill men nauigations miracles fulfill a rarat mounts taught the phenicians how a second arke by industry to bowe , hence egipp , next it to the greeks extends who add the deckes , ones art the rest befriendes the creet , then carthage hence the roman next but prouidence assigens it to them next . and winds transport a shippe of tyre to them so are the romans made sea fairing men , become sea masters , whence our brittaine learnes belgickes french , spsnish all the art discernes behold the fabricke out of diuerse nations as this so other arts haue propagations ciprus the large , illyrians the barke rhodes formes our frigats ; nay the tackles marke beotia ores , dedalus mast and saile which bred first poets fond i carian tale . the tuscans ruder , heime and sterne invent and stearing from skild typhis first descent . lo ! now the lott is euery way disposd wee see some heere some there of artes disclosd the wise may by his matter iudge the masse and see gods goodnesse cleare as in a glasse . the issues they shall force thee to beleeue it worthy to tell , and trie true trauailes credit as noah and his suruiue by this innention and solomon at ophirs long desceusion . whence he the temple ornaments did bring gold , pearles , and iewels , worthy such a king so since the new world and the ould shake hands and freinds are found in many , forraine landes wilt man be witty , then thy daies deuote or some of those some traueld worths to note . for trauailes fruit is reapt by obsuruation and ther 's a seuerall cropp in euery nation . for all mens genius some way chiefly bends it to accomplish some way he intendes . it may he thine cannot at home be sitted some artists proue elsewhere , farr sharper witted . the handmaid trauaile brings you both as friends so now ye purchace your desired ends . thou shalt suruay behauioures of a world all in exact diuersities in rowld cull out the choice of flowers in the feilds so decke thy witts with that each climate yeilds sweet plesant sauours of their vertues loue and noysome sent of vices disaproue . so bring home haruest with the ant with thee which in thy gray haires may a sollace bee . come to the proffits next each state enioyes by iust comerce , and trauailes counterpoise how as in man each member aideth other so ouer earth each climes suports the tother earth neuer knew it selfe while trauell rose which did it selfe vnto it selfe , disclose mans mcrocosme can scarsely be accquainted but brutall be from rationall disionted . loose in himselfe himselfe his hart vnknowne though in his midest but to his god alone much more the globe , howere the globe is round thousands of angls meere vnknowne a bound . one cannot ayd another while vnseene trauaile the prospect medium betweene a tripart lamelesse long possest its forme whilst by the force of enter view outworue , in reasons order t was adiudged rownd but which wayt only t was by trauaile found , long time past assia vaunting all alone she onely she in scriptures trauaile knowne while affrica ascends on churches stage and doth it selfe for e●ropes search engage . downe to the romans yea to spaine it comes and so to brittaine hither to her homes , thus in a glory trauailes the most high o●e earth with that his arke triumphantly brittaine and thule vngill accounted last when we abroad the earth as scumm were cast while latlie lo ! as light●ing trauils flyes and then a fourth america descri●s with worldes of wealth and mines of ore repleate and all but man , wild man there vncompleate , sweet trees , raie gummes , rich ores and liluer sands in length and breadth surmounting other landes . collumbus and magellian prowdly venetrd then drake , vespuritis and our forbish enterd , peruana and the mexican are cleard but the south regiones what they are vnheard the worlds of wealth thence to our lands acc●ue and the many fertile coloines insue . in many large discoueries is declared an therefore shall in my discourse be spared . i onely aime the wealth trade bringes to tell all as one household ruld by fate to dwell . europ the chiefest right by trauell tries fixe one those indies your indicious eyes . virginia , and bermudaes , brittaine plantes and spaine in her west indian highnesse vauntes . the northerne riches ; whales and fures brings home things to our fathers , and to theirs vnknowne and we the flemish french and all crept in a part in spaines rich indian soyle to winn as lands so citties yea and men are made potent by trauile , and recourse of trade whence comes it princes scorne not merchants stile by it their cosers they with substance pile for as of warr are siluer strings the tyes so it by trade and trauaile must arise . that prowdest monarck who the whole earth claimes and would haue earth cald gods stild onely spaines may make a saint of trauaile for his ore ere those aduentures , neuer prince more poore . t was tyre , and memphis priueledge so great that holy writts their merchandize repeate the hauen low become now highlands better the i le though but a blott a whole lands greater the merchants warchouse as a princes store some states in rule are rich in venture more . some vse them as supports in a relation on to the other mutuall propagation . defensiue potence makes trade better thriue as trade preserues a potency aliue , no in stance but the netherlands , and hantz a mutuall knot , their welfares to aduance . trafickes true nerues armistically mixt and twixt marine , and land ende avoures fixt no way mechannieke for a boore to know nor mind i merchants misteries to showe yet who denies those mistery of exchange ( if able to be sounded ) shew how strange the proper subiects are themselues should know nor any else how goes it high or low . how rich to states ye nether nobles say , who her with can spaines magnitude or sway ; and countercharme his indies by your tra●le and the victorious fleets by flemings ma●●e nor dare i banke our eighty eights defence though primely due to high omnipotence , the noblemeane weare ships of victory mixt with aduentures ost tryed v●liancie . what agents he who trauaile neuer knew wanting such parts as tradings worths a true ? but by a broker in a forraine soile become meere slaue to forrainers beguile . see citties clad with shipping as a robe whose natiues send to search about the globe how fraught with riches , both of soule and minde he that perceius not this is wilfull blind sugars and wines we from caunaries haue from florence silkes , from naples satens braue . from candy currants oyle and muskadine , from indies east store of all spices fine arabian odoures , swete , and ●ubaes ore from the could russe fine furres and fishes store . from newfoundland , the norway firr and flax the swedish coppers , cordage ambers wax , the flemish hope his linen flanders say . our brittish stores wee know no more suruay the sea winde weather shippings stores and saile all iump the worthes of trauaile to availe . so that in short it serues the sones of men no more of trauails profits needfull then now forits pleasures , pleasure t is to tell . those multitude that do in trauaile dwell . both soule , and senses mutually fild a secret solace in them both distild christs crosse a modellis of what we say t is a meere trauaile passing all denay , wherein ( as paule ) the christian is assaild with many woes , to vertues lot intayld yet lo ! as he in all becomes victorious and ioyes in sorrow , by abasment glorious tramples on sin and sorrow by an ayd which makes the fell infernall curres affrayd of this to come , as man all for content poore man his curses bitter would preuent by various obiects relishing his toyle whereof he findes out some in euery soyle his sences seruants to his will desire nothing so much as noueltie require , wise solomon saw this when once he sayd my eyes with seeing is not satisfied nor tongue by taste , nor eares with hearing fild nor nose by sents , nor hands by touching stild yet is mens solace heere below quoth hee to proue what pleasure may procured bee , and as a creature consolate the mind while he in heauen comforts period find to this end weare those rares of nature framd where by creation god great power proclamd , diuersities each clime , and country spreading diuersities , of creatures diuerse breeding . that as the temple made by solomon was framd of forraine rares as well as stone from sheba some , from ophr others sent the fabricke fmisht bredd a st●ueshment . so we the temples , reasonable soule the temple it earths wonders to enrowle and view the totall , or iudge by a part each creatures rarenesse , the creators art . our passiue humors proue not halfe so well the actiue chiefly to delight excell the sight , the taste , and touch , and actions like . those at the ground of noble solace strike when hearing reading and dull absence go void of delight , or certainely to know . on others pennes or lipps t is to relie onth only organs of vncertainty when thou dost see and seeing vnderstand the various obiects in a foraine land the men in habit , and condition strange their citties sites and forme , of stru & ures change , religion differre men of sauage breed the rarity in cloth and what they feed , there speech and paradox themselues and all nothing but what thou different maist call much inward cheere the sences will surprise tast , touching smelling seeing eares and eyes t is not for vnexperience to expresse such as haue tasted will auouch nolesse . thout blesse thy god for thy religion pure and all will in thee thankfulnesse procure and much contentment in thie course of trade how ere it with a forrainer be made , when thou shalt tast from tree the forraine rare vine iuyce the mirch and such spics are viewing the cloue and cinamonds delight and worldes of such a stonishing the sight supose the pleasure , and the contentation attend the florehouses of euery nation . when thou shalt saile the course in surges high noting thy ship mount proudly to the skie then delue the deepe then tosse thee vp againe and curtey sporting with thee through the maine . by ayd of card and compasse strangly guided and by her way those labyrinths diuided . the dolphin and huge whale swim tumbling by the mariners their trickes to gore them trie these wonders shall surpasse thy admiration yet cleare thee with a world of contentation we speake as men ( conceiue vs as we say ) the soule we know suffied another way in midd of these shee s actiue by a hope surmounts wide oceans in their largest scope and by a ioy in praise of god creatour extolling thanfully his wondrs power lo landed now thou canst not turne thy head but cause is giuen to bee astonished to view in east the beare and lyon strong the vnicorne or elaphant , high and long , the heards of wilds ele , beeuer ernim fox such stores of treasures deluued out the rockes , those many models of ancient ruind things the rare erections of our moderne kings , thy eye will fixe thy heart one pleasures midd nor wouldest thou for a world haue any hid . but be spectatour : t was thewisests wish who spent much time although a prince in this and from the cedar to the shrub did goe the rares in stature amplier to know yet thousands haue more pleasures vnderstood who haue in larger trauailes bin improud t was that thy spirit shebaes queene thee blest when thou by hearing hadst bin now possest , and seeing of his worthy gouernement raised her strangely to astonishment , to cry thy witt o king exceeds report blessed was i to iury to resort a like the sonnes of forraine trauailes cry when they the wonders where they passe suruay t was of a truth o king of kings we said thy wonders , each way sure weare vndenayd , but now behold aboue conceit we finde fair more then could while now possesse our minde o! all thy workes great god thee each way praise both sea and thy fame to heauen raise . our factour who in youth full dayes is sene the merchants goods by enter cource to vent when seated in the clime , and mannor both now to returne to natiue soile is loth , the change of cuntries and of pleasures moue this man then there as natiue to approue full oft is seene in fortunes great preferd and die he there is famously enterrd thence if returne parts language and behauour mount him to worth respectednesse and honour he longs and 's thirsty through the midd of danger to trauaile out , remaine at home a stranger such pleasures , and comodities accrue . to men who trauaile honestly pursue . we seeastatist scarse fixe statsman bee vnlesse he forraine parts , and passage see and get more language then his mothers say . whereby he coop well for his country may , by writ , embassage , treaty or protest as by his state he then is interest . he sportes in all their rates so entertaind his princes welcome is in him proclamd , their wines , rare presents , pleasures all are his and he though great holds his most worth in this . returnd prince , people and religion loue him . and the forraine prince ( if worthy ) all approue him , thus soule and sences , both haue pleasures cropp and 's brought by trauaile to his wishes topp the valiant souldier , captaine , colonell , will not be confind to his mothers cell : but trie the fortunes forraine quarells yeild and learne what proiects there besit a feild . tryall the guards french spannish , and itallien , the foot from flanders , horse from poole and persian , triumph in sportes of leaguers fortified and haue seige , afterseige his valloures tried the persons here in famous ile nor name since shortly we shall come to persons fame , their pleasures now ingenerall i note who do them thus to traueling deuote . but know the aime of noblest youthfull men is still in forraines to accomplish them sea captaines in the ioyes of nauigation , land captiues where warr is extant in a nation . nobles at courses of greatest sport , and fame , merchants to port townes of the richest name , discouers to the farr remotest regiones the vnsetled crac-kbrane 't ansterdams religiones , the nouelest , to 'th shadow of a sieidge rome , compostella , or castillian bridge , laurettoes relicks , or ould iuryes celles , the wild and sauage wonders lapland telles , so each his humour couets to attend for trauaile euery humour can befreind , some to the east , some west , or northerue runne , others discoueries to the south vnknowne all sorts of solace trauelers attending and them with their desired ioyes befending , good propertyes in trauailes learnd are many qualities not inferiour to any , of other subiects men on earrh enioy or this our tedious pilgrimage imploy , that betters man within , without and both , expelling sickenesse , lazinesse , and sloth , subiects man both to health and happinesse , must needs be iudgd an earthly worthinesse true trauailes this it excercises men that these home oppilations choake not them clearing the stomacke by the seas purgation the mind of dumps by motiue recreation , the braine of melancholly blockishnesse the bo●y of laciuious filthinesse , if well pursued , thus worthy i conclude chearing the soule and checking sonces rude , that breeds eternall quietnesse to men , begetting vertuous faculties in them must needs be worthy in their natiue kind worth the embraces of each noble minde , lo ! trauailes this humility it causes conducting man thence to deserud applauses , ciuility breeds by experience made dilligence by true practise in each trade , pollicy by suruay of thousands acted patience by endure of griefes effected , pitty by religious obseruations curtesie from the vse of best seene nations , complement from the order of the court manners and trade where factories resort , agillity and actiuenesse by motion wisedome collecting euery way good notion , sea arts from view of practizd nauiga ion partes from the trauaile of each dayes delatian , language by trade and forayners comerce and what in briefe of worth man may rehearse , and though most misse this , t is not it but them wisdome is hid from greatest part of men . and man must practize long with patience and thanke his god for what he gathers thence . therefore i say neerlesse , these qualities will vrge the wise her worthynesse to prize , o could we but consider at the sea how in a storme the trauailer doth plea with god for mercy , ayd and preseruation expecting still a fatall invndation , his faith now conflicts with his feare therein vowing to god preserud neere more to sin but liue renewd and thankfull euermore the lord ore come with penitence deplore , soone sends a calme as wisht to cure his heart and windes and weather to desire conuert , he passes now with praises to his maker and vowes himselfe to vice and sin forsaker next course he meetes with pirates opposition and must indure a souldiers condition , the smoake and bullets smoake it many die a time to importune the god on high . if ionas house th' whales belly made him pray or the desciples when the storme oresway , or paules associates at approching night then needs the christian in his nauall fight . his faith and valour grow by vse more strong praises to god in conquest are his song so that the foe surpressed with the sight by prostrate yeildance forced is to flight the medicinall rares on earth dispersed with exceilencies not to be rehearsed besides those waters bath and spaw excelling both many noysome foule defects expelling the poets fictions of acadian welles wherein the per●urd onely dy hee telles azaniam causing hate of wines and drinke , matters for puny shallow pates to thinke such and a crue of frothy fictions vaine as sotts surmise , meere simples entertaine i hate to name , the mentions a disgrace plaine truth that claimes iustly trauailes place her worths are in true properties relation not needing any fained innouation note but the rusticke hatcht with pap at home in mothers mannors ; plow-trickes only knowne eyther in citty or with gentry plast at first how motley raw , dispisd disgract . while by the nurtures of a better breed hee s with behauiours better farr agreed iust thus t is with a new hatcht trauailer in forraine way on each file bent to erre though iudgd , at home sufficient any way come heere hee s wanting what to do or say t is with him thus i say and nothing lesse vntill he parts , and language too possesse his home bredd posture cannot act his part that 's folly heere , theers estimate an art experience it wiil worke an vniform and obseruations strangers hedge from scorne t is somes ambition they were gentile bred too little mannors taught and too much fed when such ( as oft it fales ) are disapointed and from their former golden hopes disioynted strange t is to see the shiftes they vndergoe who neere in youth desire of worth to know the trauailer ( the wise it is i meane ) though of all fortunes disposessed cleane wisely with sage , ould bias still can say yet all my wealth i beare with me away in spite of pirate soe of iosse or crosse which would a foole to desperation tosse my witts my arts and learnings and good life are to me riches , houses , children , wife , a trauailers experience as phisition is such as none , s' at home of like condition , each for raine soile still stored with some rare hauing it may be else where no compare nepenthes clearing of the broken hart euphones purging of the envenomd part , the corrall , cipres , rhewbarb , mandrakes vse the melt take it for all yeilds sugred iuyce makes weapons , phisicks needles , thridd , and line , balme , suckets parchments , sweet pursumes , and wine , cures serpents sting , both french , and stone disease , one indian tree to wonder doth all these . as places proue in nature all deliciouse so are they still in some case all propicious we see somes health at sea got by purgation some in the easterne , some the westerne nation , some in the freezing north can thriue a pace some though in scorching southerne come to grace . sorting with noble dauid in opinion that gods sole soueraine king in each dominion promotion comming not from east nor west nor man alone in north , or south are blest , but euery where cares cround with good effects as euery where the lord the iust respectes and euery soile the wisest hath a thing which will him custome , trade , and traficke bring , good propertios are alwaies worth respect , as bad deserue reiection , and neclect . in mentall matters faculties of minde some better one way , some elsewhere we find . the workes of sages : and of churches too transported euery way as still they doe so harmonize each documents perfection that trauails this way worthy al 's protection . their sayings , ours , ours theirs , both so suruiue by mutuall fauour cherished aliues next huma●●… , arts we see haue propagation by reference twixt nation and nation . how acurate some wa● mechanicks are whom christians count but brutish in compare that now the gray haires of the world appeare and age her to confused vice doth weare trauails tricks vp and keepe her still aliue noy more , shee seemes in wrincles to suruiue since lately that america so vast hath her whoel selfe to the three sisters cast and an acquaintance made by traficking makes our new planters much admire the thing each for his ends : some passe to blessed ends whose aime to heathens true conuersion tends others to liue , to labour , and remaine , transplants , from brittaine , holland , france , & spaine , the properties of traualle so imense taken in christian ; or in ciuill sence profit esteemed worthy al 's embrace pleasures and properties excell in grace the one assuring chiefly youth to trie the other midage , the iudicious eye the third to gaine euen aged do proceed vntill they run their glasse of time decreed , lo ! as the obiects thus in briefe appeare next now their subiects in their place come neare examples oft aboue all precepts sway men mind more how we doe , then how we say . t was the holy order god vsed in creation and 's worthy euery artists immitation the sky , sea land , fish , flesh , and all else framd then formd he man , and man he adam namd so we the instance framd , obiects of worth next shall in briefe traine trauailes subiects forth to name those clouds of subiects ( men i meane ) who haue had part in acting trauailes sceane is with no art , nor labour to be acted as much as need shall briefly be compacted . and by the goulden rule mete what wee say in mortall , christian or in ciuill way . so by commixion of this rule of three summe trauailes worthies so their worths to see . nor neede distinction , we of totall treate in trauaile men saith god his bread must eate iew gentle , all some way must haue a share and all haue interest in what we declare . when adam and his house had spent their dayes , in cares and trauaile wandring many wayes , now by the naked sword from edon guarded and iustice thus their treasons had rewarded , we all attainted , all his ofspring cast : yet after him in arebellion hast so that our maker missing his intent fales now of mans creation to repent , for lo ! the sonnes of god mens daughters wedd whereby a monstrous generations bred the highest angry , powrs his furie downe and ( but a remnant left ) all earth doth drowne . noah and his house now trauaile in this flood and by his arke the waters are withstood a hundred dayes and fifty straying so now all the earth beside lay drownd below . from vr to canan , abram , trauails next with heathen ills his righteous soule now vext forsakes by iouahs call his fathers land by saith obeing this diuine command , through haran , bethell , egypt terah dies at first : from hay he then for famine hies to egypt : yet at egypt cannot stay his wife abusd heere makes him furrher stray , from bethell now by his brothers quarell chast then captiued by the foure kings , and displast thence rescued by his brothers valient hand thus wanders abram out his fathers land . while aged in yeares , and iorneyes he departes to machpelah his graue : sole end of smartes . nor differs isaack from his fathers dayes but as a pilgrime downe to gerar strayes as his sonne isaack , iacob isaacks child wanders by esaw ( brothers ire ) exild . goes pilgrime wise to padan with a staffe trauailing from his natiue brothers wrath , to shechem next , whence , he to beathell goes where in a caue he takes his last repose a hundred and eighty yeares the one and fiue yeares lesse ould abram ? iacobs mone god heard in famine and a iosepth sends who father land and brethren all befriends ould iacob trauailes ) few and ills my dayes ( quoth he to pharaoh ) troblesome many wayes . he buried now ! note iosephs traualle blest who in his dayes exceeded all the rest . though in a pit him first his brothers cast there iudgd to die ; yet saud , then brought at last carried to egypt set to sale yea sould to potiphar ' o wonders to be tould by lot made ruler of his lords estate but as best meritts meet on earth most hate , his ladyes lawlesse lust procures him ire since his chast humour crost her lewd desire . hee s cast in prison yets , exalted there when by his diuination dreames were cleare . hee , next made egypts lord , weares pharaohs ring and by his trauailes blest of bondman , king his witts the seauen yeares of famine feeds supplying fathers lands and brothers needs , heere ruling fourscore yeares , much blest ; then dyed when thus in trauaile strangely dignified . as thus the father so the church did stray and 's meerly militant , as scriptures say . not chaird in roome or any where in rest . but 's millitary and in trauailes blest more then in ease , still pooles they gather mudd , and drousie sweets souest corrupt good blood . both church , and soule , and vertues mount more high as they in trauailes through temptations flie . yea man is modell of the whole we say best are the best men , most when motiones sway . earths in fancy in trauailes nursed euer the churches in the partriarks thus peseuer , come now to any growth is egyps hate ioseph now gone the blood hound of her fate the bondage noted and theit cryes come vp moises is raised to beget a hope lo ! hee at first saued among the reedes and mid wiues knife ) him there his mother feeds by pharaohs daughter fownd ) pitty preserud nurst him and so 's in pharaohs court preserd , where he in state did forty yeares abide whence in greate feare he downe to midan hied kept sheepe a while there married alterd thus the lord accommpanies him in a bush . sends him to court thence to redeme his land where hee with wonders doth before pharaoh stand turnes waters blood , brings frogs , and flies and lice murren sores thunders grashopers and nightes instead of dayes next are there males destroyd in trauails thus is moises now imployd . is pharoahs god : the socerers admiration : egyps scourge , but deliuerer of his nation bring israel safe through the sea , when foes are drownd six hundred thousand strong the church is found and is to canaan promisd traueling hauing bene foure hundred yeares flaues to that king forty yeares trauaile hath now ere they rest being in their trauailes wonderfully blest apparell weares not nor dare foe withstand pillar of fire their day stare , cloud on land forty and two great iorneyes in the wild the rocks yeild waters , are with manna fild and with all dainties still their iorneys flowe their foes the heathen haue the ouerthrowe , in view of canaan come , now moises dies and with the rule god iosua dignfies , who ierico , then ay quite ouerthrowes and flayes both prince , and people of their foes thirty and one lands they in trauaile got so now the church parts canaan by lot , triumphs in rule of iudges would ye know the case more cleare ? behold the scriptures show nor can we christians sure be ignorant of what the iewes of trauaile vse to vaunt this onely this , may serue to shadow foorth the patriarckes , churches both their trauails worth . about this time was holy iob in east in mortall trauaile oh so much opprest bereft of children goods and freinds turne foes be guirt by sathan round and round in woes yet lo ! when patience had her perfect aime hee s easd of trauaile and releast of paine . come on to ruth a woman trauailer you l finde it will that weaker sex prefer from israelles famine shee to moab goes where for a wife her wealthy boaz chose renowned hester of a captine queene though poore rema●ning as a iemm vnseene empresse of thirty two great prouinces prouing the churches fauster dame in these hamans confusion , mordecayes sole raise one woman all the churches foes ore swaies . all telling plaine gods blessings where meanes want whose loues in trauailes are the iust to plant i need not name great dauids trauelling before nor after he was anointed king , though as a flea by saule in trauaile chast sauls flaine and dauid lord of israell graet but to that antitipe of our redemption ionah from plague for sin had no exemption , cast into sea the waues deny receite the whale may swallow but he may not eate , but from his vaste chest cast him one the sand . and after three dayes postage comes to land . so now le ts hence to the churches head away behold how he in trauailes heere doth stray while he on earth our shape did vnder goe for of his life himselfe confesseth so , the foules they haue their hooles , a nest each bird but i poore i no hole to hide my head his mates to trauaile chose he trauellers ship men and fishers these our lord preferes at beathlem born hies to ierusalem , taking a iorney downe to egypt then , in feare of herods cruell bloody aime , but herod dead , retireth backe againe , to gallile : and nazaret , to teach and thence to capernauum there to preach . much cares and crosses euery way enduring yet euer teaching , doing good , and curing . and lo ! at last our lord is first betrayd next by another of his owne denayd , araind , whipt , scorned , spitted , and despisd and at golgotha after crucified . our lord and king thus trauailed below waies of earths trauailes to vs all to shew now out of sea in middest of many stormes and then on land in middest of many harmes in hunger thirst , wants , woes and trauails tryed and now with heauens high honoures dignified . to tell vs all and giue vs this to know our rest is vp aboue and not below . which apprehension moues by faith our minde to spend our trauailes heere , that rest to find . that graue forrunner of our sauiour , iohn in wandring through the wildernesses knowne hard bred with locusts , and wild hony there rough skinn , and camels haire his softest weare after all trauailes by a virgins hand is sent to heauen , the forexpected land , now paul and peter trauaile christ to preach and middst the gentils christ ascended teach in selench , cipres , lystra pergamus antioch , paphos derb , and ephesus , troas , cilicia , creet , neapolis . athens , cesarea , spain , amphipolis , macedon , tyre , samos , and milletum , phenicia , ptolomais , trogillium , these for a mapp of cuntries paul did see and lastly suffered roman tyranny . wee l close with iohn to pathmos banished so rownd about it by the spirit ledd . much wonders to him in his trauailes tould prophesies ages since each day vn fould , and hauing much foretould of church and nations with heauens description ends his relations i my relation too of persons worth who haue the way of christians life chalkt forth closing as paul these clouds of witnesses our passag cleard by worthies worlds of these let 's arme our feble ioynts with faith passe one in trauaile to that high imperiall throne , now that the matter each way plaine appeare let ciuill cases see themselues as cleare . tell of a●●illes valloures victories aeneas great sea trauails noble prize the worthy curios winning worlds of grownd and by partition sighing each his bownd , those three rare decij vowd to countries good in trauaile and feirce battaile venturd blood hectoreroy hope , renowned sce●uola high pompey braue victorious sway ) these may with fablos and marcellios ( roomes support ) and lofty scipios valours well report , much to haue done in trauaile to regaine , their countries freedome ; friends , and houses name . now should i downe to moderne times retire ? to tell the tith would illiads require , that cordeliew his trauailes in the east and edwards too thence saladine supprest wann much of that ould holy land againe wherein both trauaild vndergoing paine our blacke prince battailes in the spanish warr and conquests poicters tell his fathers share , henry of monmouth rare victorious actes our glousters , warwicks huntingtons high facts in trauaile e●ch for countrie to proceed eliza was victorious indeed . much of her father , henries fame france sayes both sure a spurr to our declining daies forhish , braue drake , and candish , hand in hand with willowbeys high ventures grast our land . but now by trippletye our peace combind elizaes second acts her part behind through paltz , then beame ( oh ! fate ) she makes retire in spire of foe with patience past admire long liue the friends of this thrise noble queene and for her branches dure they euer greene while pacient trauaile period hath , and then both shall be scene victorious to men , gracing his greatnesse whose almighty power keeps time that romish dragon to deuoure . behold next peace , and prince arrelatiues yet trauaile in her acme still suruiues , our soueraigne sent his sonne its worth to learne what he before by tryall did discerne lo ? how so high a prince passes vnknowne that trauailes fame might freelier be showne his happy crop , great cause of comfort giues in peace , and true religion brittaine liues al 's ioy , our hope true christians defence rests primely in his sacred excellence and long may hee great god our i le defend with whom ( as period trauailes worthys end . praise we the highest , cause of each good thing vniting loue , and duty to our king. hy hence in hast halfe mazd caliopea refresh thy selfe with consorts of the sea both trauailes wonders , and her worths appeare returne and make thou trauailes way as cleare thy choore's not comon ) momus if thou lowre know them the issues of a vacant howre , the sacred sonets since compild in verses no shame to him lesse worths a like rehearses . good matter graced by so sweet a forme , shall not by , time , nor enuie be outworne , the way to trauaile . lyeurgus lacedemons lord of ould when he youths rudenesse did at home behold , their wits through ease as standing pooles corupt their vertues growth , by sloth of vice ore topt , adds to his volumes of good lawes this one that heel , admitt of none to stay at home , all youth must out ) some traynd in forrayne parts others in tents in th' feilds must practize arttes , for there sayth he they 'r clearest of temptation and may in trauaile learne from euery nation . what we haue said of wonders and of worths , and of aduantage brought by trauaile forth , is modeld in this wise mans obseruation a rule well merits each mans imitation for the effects braue lacedemon grast and him among the wise of princes plact . but as a wiser solomon once sayd that 's truely worth to get it vse all ayd the foole sees , and neglects a thing of prize where as it s seene and sought of such are wise . that wisest merchant saw a pearle quoth iesus and bought with whole estate what 's prised thus t is not the bare hearing of its worths suffice but th' way to winn them layd before our eyes . of the mannor now or forme wee are to treate the goods good issue , and the bads deceyte formes of performance , bad as good we know the taske is then the better part to knew . way as an adiunct locall may be held so how attendant fitting to be teld way as the mannor , how to trauaile taken what 's worthy choice , what 's fit to be forsaken the latter part the former comprehends and first my muse the formall part intendes . t is asked how a man may best attaine when , where , and fittest way , to crosse the maine ? in course of traficke ciuill now we treate the cleargy oft the other way repeate and christian life is plentifully spread but oft where most is known worst waies are led . yet all accord by right of reason too he that neere knowes the way can neuer doo , in ciuill course then know againfull way is from the paths prescribed not to stray for note we this the bests are worst abused . trauailes the bad of all bads , badly vsed twill in a moment ruing man and state and proue of all pathes most vnfortunate . turne in a trice the ablest youth to death and as a viper sucke away his breath what mischiefes are but it illframd procures and man confounded then constraind endures , wherefore some iust proportions to be had at first twixt man and therein hee s to trade t is as the ruler stearing trauailes shipp els must the passenger suffer wracke in it some corespondence , possible relation the mouing cause of tradings propagation . t is not each boor can trauaile to auaile nor call we each slugg-ship , can hoise a sayle , nor euery place can euery man befit , nor euery one each way imploy his wit reciprocall affection must be had and mutuall betwixt'th , person and his trade . the subiects birth must sute his way he aimes birth greater aptnesse then ye thinke containes and mi-imployd beyond its reach destroyes the man imployed , and what he imployes if one vnskilld rawbred , high matters passe hee spoiles both matter : and is proud an asse for ignorance gets scorne to him of all besides the thing must wanting mannage ●ale the reasons plaine for natures inbred hue vnpotene made aboue her reach to serue struggles gainst fate ; and streames of higher straine so needs is forced maymed , backe againe , as isops frogg effuse her entrailes out coueting proudly lion like to strout . ambition cause of this aspiring sence euer in finall fales to impotence . we see our bould mechanicke vncontent in discret way , his manualles to vent will now be merchant yea pry hither too whenskill else pride procureth his vndoe our moderne merchant tosse a statists weild nor will in fashion scarce to courtier yeild . deemes hee s imployment ●it o' silly iest by the supply of forriners supprest much like that asse clad in the lions hide vncast was scornd and woried for his pride . as such vnmeete ascents proue ruinous so the most base descents befoole it thus when high borne minds debase their breed for gaine any slauish trauaile entertaine or vse in trauale an vnequall hand matters to low for such to vnderstand . distinction in maters vulgar vse , twixt personall , and casuall abuse , say sages truly merits to be made when as a vertue out extreames is had . the frowne of fate may force a iust debase in men of worth and once in mighty place our stories tell , proportion is our meate necessities are banished our treate . complect ons corespondence to our way what natiue vigoures more , or lesser sway . must be obserud ) according to the time and place imployd , and qualitie of clime . this in these paths is needfully requird else if not death , disgrace quells all desird natures and nations lump in true relation though scatterd ore the earth , haue propagation . imploy thy trauailes where these likes accord and as they inbred powers to do afford hott noble spirits actiuest are found as could with flemy sottishnesse a bound , accord thy place and person , first vnyted to tread a nation like , both be incited the russe , and norway , or could groynland trade best by the could hard phlegmaticke is made . the coulds extreames such safely entertaine and may a brother hood in dull coulds attaine is potent made to labour , tugg and toyle the best ●rchiements in a frozen soyle . for heere his coulder humours meete their like when coulds to death the cholericke shall strike or nose , toes cheeke , and hands , we see they loose see then proportion heerein is too be chose , let nobler natures places nobler trace for thers accord twixt natures place and place hott natures actiue bent and passiue too able t' inuent , and iudgements scann to doo . the could are meerly patients practizing alike it is in place in time in thing the rarest fruites i know take putrifaction the ablest parts , worst chiefely in ill action and as t was iudgd themistocles would proue worst if ill nurtured best by good improue , so may we censure of complexions power in trauaile bent to much gaine or deuoure climes their complexions haue in each degree to which in trauaile men haue simpathy the tozzid zones one sort of rule command a differents cald for in the frigidd land the obseruation trauailers daily vse makes mee no further now hearein peruse as persons thus must be the places meete so some proportion due in parts discreete twixt him now trauailes , and his way of trade for triall heereof must at home be made wherein respectiuely difference is requird according to the state of that desird some generall parts , as strength and languages according to the clime , all must haue these . particular notions as now interest if as in publike or his owne invest , i cannot stand to point at each mans way the wi●e may see the whole by what i say . and application proper to the thing can on ly sollid satisiaction bring . he must haue tongues each way bownd out to treate else shall he be a pray to mens deceit . each aiming at his properends availe and ioyes to see the sortish stranger faile . when ignorant to make his sales or buy or if abused vnderstands not why . if souldiour , merchant , greater strangers raise for what they point to he constrained paies if a mechanicke hoodwinkt walkes all mumm a meete allusion for all cheates to come . if on his way , ambitious to see rares in high way errours ignorantly shares . and what hee sees , or where , not say where now ? but what 's a guide to strangers , strangers know . chancing on sales , turnes now , knaue brokers ape for as the dauus wills 't must rise , or bate yea if more noble in a treaty sent , if ere state sent out such an imnecent . the tearmes appeare in writing , as if there a scipher sent , and no embassage weare in short send any meere vnletterd out and hee s a nose of wax made out of doubt . t is true times short and many cannot haue paris for each place , where tranaile passage craue but let vs note language collatrall mixt vnder both poles by prouidence is fixt and generall tongues for generalls lead way which generals each way specials ouer sway . ould roman latin in the westerne lands italian , spanish , french , and vs commands , ould greeke the spacious adriaticke climes hebrue the east , honourd in first of times . high dutch the danish pole , and northerne tracke so hauing one we cannot wholly lacke and by the generall language that way vsd perticulars will more easily be infusd since a propensitions causd in tongues confusion many as members haue to one head allusion then fit thy selfe such specialles to collect and lazinesse worths canker worme reiect . the many parts each state of way requires , causing succesfull progresse in desires are in such speciall mannor suting it so as no parts but such in that place fit . in all a search is easily made : let those who passe themselues it to themselues disclose . the fourth and last attending the persons grace i hould propertion ●n estate to place , assighning period to the three before the rudder steareth steadily to shore mon●es great traian tearmes trades nerues to be this we in daily course of traficke see . when language , natures worth , mens bredings faile now meanes in trauaile seeme to strike their saile . yea in the merchanicke how beit their hands seeme to supply this want in trackt of landes a small t is true accomodates his place when higher steps ascend a higher race which as it must of force in vse be had so like wise corespond the place to trade . i say no more let specials be applyed the merchants this way chiefly dignified where many lands , and rarityes are eyed . as a meere oreplus ; to the gaine of trade ; which to aduantage is in forraines made . plessures attending profits euery way , others conditions costlier are to stray . for trades encrease , and minds contents concure accomodating each by trading fuir . the fashionists expences buy his humour , the nouellists paies dearely for a rumour . the noble gallant spends , no substance gaines the aiery camelion only feeds his braines , meanes is the matter , formd by all the rest , but their effects it wanting all supprest . yet as the little puffe makes small barkes fly when greater caricks , wind bound grouling lye : so smailer meanes a m●aner way well serues , when wanting sustenance a greater sterues or comes confounded in his crossed wits , this of the foure the persons selfe befits . subiects that haue good adiuncts their attendants , well grace their owne worths , mutuall defendants . two sorts of wayes one method hath proposd what way man goes in as his cause disclosd whereto or which way and the clime , that 's next the time , and these kept trauaile's vnperplext . the way or state man passes in is tryed , and by this touchstone needfully discried . if consonant , not crosse to pious life , nor cause of countries , or religions strife . and honest iust , and voyd of fraud and guile , causing thy owne weale too , this good way stile . which foure , though foure , are linkt in vnity . and handmaids to our christan trauailes bee . for christian trauaile it all trauailes blesses , if not besure thy harboures in distresses . for us not for vs christianst ' vnderstand , as heathens do al 's good to take in hand , after we once from natiue climate goe , as if the great god did not all lands know hee sees in secret as wise dauid sayes as seend i to the heauens , heauen he suruayes decend i downe to hell he noteth me , and in the midd of darknesse he can see . yea should i say i le hence to sea al 's one . or to the outmost i le , he there 's well knowne t is therefore mee●e we christians stand in awe forming our trauailes to iehouahs law well may we then expect great happinesse and in most aduers times desire successe alas what 's earth as sea vs mortall tofses sometimes in sunny calmes and then in crosses our destinies our ships transports vs ore times trimmer of the sailes and hies to shore what men ? all men are passengers therin some trauaile in gods siruice , some in sinne gods hand it steares , yet none the hand can see , nor yet fates fleets , wherein we sayling bee some sport , some sleepe , some worke , the voyage hies youth midage , dotage , posting through he flies . our harbour earth , graues houses , welcome death , by sortowes , sicknesses , when losse of breath . thus ore earths ocean glides our fatall shipp iehouah steares , time rowes , man ends by it ; this mortall trauaile ; christian consumates and though in both we are guided by the fates yet may we guesse successe by our attempts , and by the forme of trauaile iudge euents . nor need we part , but in the whole we say . come by both christian and ciuill way . with piety our trauailes must agree , nor must our gaine religions ruin be . that proteus like , we as a feather change nor through religions as through realmes we range . loue caluin heere , there luther : bellermine and to aduantage make a stall of sinne see masse , hugg relicks , trade in images , bulles , paxes , pardons , or like trash as these . nor as the preist , and giddy braine steale ore , to serue before their state , that romish whore . and when returnd plot mischiefe day and night . to make some simple puny profelite entise alasse in shape of boy disguizd . ore to a cloyster to bee idolizd where oft her guts giue way to ore deuotion , and in rebellions rumour make comotion , our cracksculd brownist steale to amsterdam , ore to tribe of gad , their chambered cham . there cucko like our church their dam bewray professing al 's prophetical they say runn strange diuision on their iarring muse . when still the close is natiue soyles abuse . in ciuill case the mono politan aiming as atlas , trades , whole orb to spann feeding open the generall defect these wayes and more past namm meritt reiect the comon good we crossing cannot thriue , but our disgraces in our deedes suruiue nor can in iustice fraud , or false deceites proue ought but grauell in our tasted meates conueiances exceeding law neere thriue when men their common weale of weale depriue turne machiuillians by coueyance ore , of what 's in proper of their natiue store . for forreynors t is base ; a worser thing . in such as owe alleagence to their king , l'o next our trauaile must our owne good breed you l say this caueat sure is more then need t is true the other three the fourth create none benefits himselfe vndoes his state nor can it be thy gaine thy god offendes , nor when thy trauailes in vniustice endes , yet bodily some faculties weare meete mentiond before ( doubt ye looke backe and se et ) and howsoeuer matters passe relation , which out the womb of time haue propagation , yet each may view many vndone alas by rash attempts of trauaile brought to passe . somes progresse to vtopia for a toy making their mendicant pilgrimage a ioy currey from saints to relicks , vp and downe . others by plotting mischiefe seeke renowne as herostrats , or dionise seeke grace , their owne lands welfare , by their force to face riot and reuell in a lawlesse wise , as if their trickes were soly worthy prise . neclect their natiue family , and roue after some forraine whotish lawlesse loue at least wise wander in a thriftlesse kinde deprauing both the body and the minde such holy writ stiles worse then infidels , whoe 's carelesse of his houshould where he dwels and solomon tearmes a destroyers matc , the man ( more soole ) that lauishes his state but since our treaty yet some pilot wants come we to trauailes true concomitants vertues adorne the progresse of the action keeping , its body cleare from putrefaction of vices poysons fogg , obscuring earth , and none as these our late dayes equall birth . in danger desperate , and disconsolate , many such symtomes could i now relate . but see at sea their frothinesse is scourgd , and by a timely pyll there braines are purgd , turne taile to trauaile now retird to shore , loue england now so well they l out no more . others in rashnesse ( placed ) dominere , as if they lords , or denizons weare there esteeme their pride extold in al 's abuse , forgetting fooles they 'r heere with out excuse , are bandied well , informd their not at home . and th' other sweet tooth glad to picke a bone . oh sy ! that trauaile ere allowd such brats , fitter to hedge the fier with doggs , and catts . for there they still may play with mothers dugg , and pamperd , counsell with an irish rugg . prouident trauaile neuer hatch these braines , t is true she still of their abuse complaines , fond chimy cricket know that trauailes way , is danger , and aduenture : and no play . the bests are hardest euer to be gaind and with endurance must be entertaind in dye● , rest , speech , welcome , people all , make no exceptions take what lots besale . expect no sleepy sollace as at home , nature it differs in each clime is showne , expect no other but a share in crosles , as thou through trauailes desert each way passes with good lo ! bad must equaly be shard , prouide then , be thou for them both prepard , see as a second dilligence attends , the man that trauaile honestly intends . sagacity by sages termd of ould , when wits are actiue and heereby more bould timely aduantage in our way attempt and what a foe may plot that to preuent on raging seas yeald hast a storme to still , and valiently oppose a pyrates skill . if crost by strangers curtesies timely vse , whereby a foes engaged not to abuse . if trafickes commodities to cull , yeilding in sale a haruest plentifull . hower employd , for t is not to repeate , our ends to purchase and preuent deceipt neclects assaylants , do molest this care , and sottish dulnesse , in a slow prepare time crownes with lawrell gaines a quicke embrace , and dilligence will many lets displace . by temperances rule and bodyes kept , from routes of illes , in latter ages crept . comands the sences , rules by moderation , in drinke , and meate , according to the nation , and pleasures , too , for know no vice more raighnes then this intemperance in youthfull veines . incontinency issues as effect , and due reward of temperance neclect . much like the passages of drunkennesse , worthily said our brittons to possesse . as heare at home : in forraine soile men tell some place their packhouse in a frothey cell puft vpse dutch , nor failes lasciuious end , immoderate drinkings duly to attend . whereon the epicurean vaine serues constantly , let trauailes worthies worthlesse vices fly . so shun such sinnes so many still destroy . vnhappy he intemperance shall imploy . some haue i noted who haue dyet kept in eating , drinking : and pleasures sweetly slept , when others on a surgions box append , or on a doctours bill as bad attend some haue i heard of wisely note the clime , great dangers to preuent by keeping time . in rising after foggs by sunn are cleare , a death to othets who neclect it there the freezing could in russe , know how to quaile , and in the torrid cuntreyes heets assaile swellings and suddaine pa●sies ginny boyles . for diuerse illes encounter diuers soyles . men must , as masinissa keepe good dyet , else must the body languish out of quiet . luxurious sardinapals imitation , and bachus trophyes are in euery nation . couers thou now to shun these lyon clawen be temperate , and timely shun the cause . for venery is occasiond oft by drinke . then men once in , turnd prodigals , soone sinke . wherfore an opposition must be framed , whereby the lets of trauaile may be tamed , prudence of morall virtues for her grace merits her ranke in trauailes primest place , the straites of vertue so by vice beset , as we may well perceiue a world of let . where for an opposition must be framed , whereby the letts of trauaile may be tamed , prudence of morall virtues for her grace merrits her ranke in trauailes primest place by prouidence the armies sentinell . discry the things that let to trauaile well . forsee the westerne lust with chast intents , and th' drunknesse in the east alike preuents . the vices that attend in court and citty , becomming by the better view more witty . it being no lesse wit ills to escue , then that is good by science to pursue , a quality , next seruing to her worth . wherby a forme of mannage issues forth : gracing the subiect with admird affection , an industry well merits all 's amplexion pericles science praised is heerein , as did v●lisses in his homer winn . pirgoteles heare by the picture drew . to allexanders wish when none else knew good iosephs foresight in his trauailes feed , pharaohs , al , egypts , fathers , brothers need and moises science , and great weekenesse raisd , him though a man of great loue to be praisd . the churches trauaile , wants , and wichednesse , by his contriuing , purchased release . yea so hath arts by search bin brought to light , when sciences peruse proues mans delight . tiresias , and archilochus for lines , and aristotle phisickes best of those times . as bazaleel , and aholiabs skill . god those thus with his spirit did fulfill . all curious arts of sciences to know , and one the temples fabricke all to show thus prouidence is sent forth to proiect , how to supplant in trauaile each defect . this seconded by science to an action , both to the subiects trauailes satisfaction . the contraryes encountring in this season , are rashnes , and a shallow vse of reason . raigning in many a giddy straying pate , who all thinges done doth to the fancy shape , lantloping crocheits , any way is best . when once the giddy humoures preposest . little for seeing scyllaes straights ar nigh , as they in trauailes from charibdis flie for know howere our whole discourse is forth , of trauails wonder , praised way , and worth : t is not to be assumd as due to all , but only such whom god to it doth call , in honest wise , t is the appostles case , wherere mans cald , abide he in that place , conditions praisd are propper to the men , who are and rightly too instald in them . and euery man his limits due assighnd , we must dehort , not raise a stragling mind , least by refusall they with icarus , or phaeton descend to ruine thus . such haue i scene in giddinesse depart , from a good settled course t' some forraine part , squander their meanes in fruitlesse lawlesse life , vncald forsaking families and wife , yet shrouded euer in some poore pretence . of need , friends , bettering faith or conscience . some small time spending vainely , guld retire , with pouerty the fruite of rash desire . what mans to build saith iesus will not first able , or not to end bee prepossest . or who is to encounter any foe , but first his owne sufficiency will know ? and if too weake in time from both surcease , of thoughts to builde , and sue to haue a peace . for know this rashnesse founded one the send of impotencie withers out of hand such haue i seene in diet disapointed , in raging humour on the waues distoynted . cursing the climate next , the hochpoch there longing for english powder beefe , and beare one cryes his bones crach on the cabin ropes a second as forlorne now nightcome gropes a third nice youth his clothes are spoyled cryed would to god when i came downe i had dyed . of iustice worth i somewhat sayd before and only speake a distribution more comutatiues in dealing iust proportion distributiue in charities deuotion giue each his owne in way of honouring feare god aboue fitst honour then the king preserue thy credit , and thy fellowes state whose chance in trauaile is to bee thy mate do as thou woulst be done by , christ commands and deale with iustice , almes in other lands a generous and noble minde is meete that men may praise thy country when they set'● for such as thou thy land stands estimate and by the subiects men adiudge the state contraryes are that miser ●●arous who count a stranger as a dogg to v● where as the church of israells c●ld to cherish the strangers heart , and none by need to perish the prodigall one lusts will rather spend then striue the poore and needy to befriend , let none here neyther enter a mistake frugality next trauails worth i make . a sauing habit of both time ; and state , making a man thrifty and considerate . a worth if ere in any course required in this its ten times more to bee desired . preuents a famine oft of store at sea , yers mercifull when others wantings plea. attends at pinch , and in extreames befriends . when lauish prodigallity still spendes . so haue post seene souldiers vainesse payd when with the pot and pipe purse is decayd trugg towid the lumber ( foole ) for more supply , and now beginnes on lauishnesse to crye where had he i●ueld meanes and score at first good licour might serued , stead of thirst so much in short , one instance stands for all , and hence i downe to next of vertues fall : being a mind magnauimously bent , with courage eresses bitter to preuent : armd in a faith and hope in a tempration anchord firme in gods mercy past narration , to this the scriptures plentifully moue , and dayly tryals wonder or sly improue . a barr against whole billowes of temptations calling man to dispaire , in crosse of nations crosses are the godlyes lot , true churches sate the earthes sur●ayours ; euery mortals state whence comes it trauailes termd the godlies lott no perfect sollace can below be got the ciuill trauailer first ( if christion ) suffers then as a mortall , many , crosses shares . next in his place ( for no place so defended but sometimes is and shall thus bee attended ) sometime by ship wracke , then by pirates theft and then by trust of any estate bereft , now in profession , then in body beates , then in his trauailes multitudes of cares . but lo ! his courage , christian faith begets ? when any danger sea or land besets : as paul hee s bould , and fortifies the rest , being with a heart magnanimous possest . for all things worke he knowes to him for good nor can he be by hell or hagg withstood . crosse to this worth is fearefull pale distrust , not rating god as mercifull as iust . t was the disciples weakenesse ; thomas sault , and too to common still when stormes assault . or hight of a presumption in our selues that th' apprehension faith begetteth quelles . thus peeter stood , vpon his resolution , which made him fall to fearefull in conclusion . though all for sake thee lord yet will not i yet lead he first the other to denye now to a habite effable we come not to be churlish bent , or cinicksom , vneffable behauioures purchace hate and scorne of strangers in a foraine state , yet see wee some , too many too aspird into some state of trauaile as desird : stand puff , and huff , to natiues coming ore the priest forgets he was a clearke before lookes squint at strangers turnes imperious a small imployment , hoists a haman thus and higher to ! t is one of those great illes solomon sayth earth with impatience filles a seruant when he raignes , a foole in hanst : wise men on foot , and sotts on horse aduanst denyes to know , condition , or kinn , or as a iockey , euer to haue binn armes fixt agambo , and his beauer cocke is learnd in better manners by a knocks sequestred pride , attends a speedy fall , whereas the meeke are effable to all . procures of forraynes by the fact a loue , yea with the very infidels approue . those churlish nabals , doeg minded men neuer succesfull scarcely one of tenn . come thus farr through the paths of traualling , le ts in our course obserue another thing . verity to be vsed in word and deede through all the paths of trauaile we proceed . adding a credit mid the strangers towne . and purchasing a truth of much renowne . for witnesse , hand , and oth , thus bare word passes and much a christian cariage each way graces . when lying stops a strangers loue intended , and trechery when matters passe pretended . t was abners bane , yea ioabs , iudas kisse , recorded for a trechery in this . great allexanders fame allurd to trechery . by base parmeno , that i should gain say . was i parmeno , but i am my selfe , and prize sayre victory aboue all wealth . worthy fabritlus tould pirrhus though a foe , how he was moued to his ouerthrow . not ianus bifrons with a harpey smile , bent both wayes equall falsely to beguile : but ionathan like patterne true affection , merits true trauailes grace : a false reiection . seest thou a smooth salute , proffer too great beyond relation ? consure a deceipt the whistle sweetly playes the fond birds hye thus are surprizd by th'fowers fallacie . comes one to ayde thee slauishly officious . such hasty helps haue births are to pernitious the wolfe will worke the sleepe from out the bryer poore sheepe thy ruine is his next desire . thy language , and thy owen endeauours trust ; vnused armours subiect are to rust : and mens deceipt is silly ones to cheare they know experience will not brooke dec●ite findst thou a country man of base report , with him of all men neuer once resort , no iew or turke can proue more rauinous : then will a christian once appostulate thus . auoyd as death a reconsciled foe , nor euer with him confidently goe . the sore smothd vp not cured out will f●ie , and soonst infect a carelesse stander by . man of a crosse religion do not trust , he hath causion● be with thee vniust . power allowes the lawesse to offend . so doth the lyon on his pray descend . deale not in points beyond thee with a foe , better then wit abusd , is not to know . and in their i and thus falst thou in a snare , of entermedling in beliefes beware . a temporizer shunn though allied , may a viper 's in the bosome breed , and feare thy mates accompanying thee , the fox clad in the sheepeskin warning be whose vnspectednesse likenesse did deceaue and th' silly lamb downe to his den bequeath , these caueats so in short the wise may ●end , the world is now too basely ould to amend . last louely posture sages noble deeme , vrbanityes defind its an esteeme . of euery passage as its worth requires , and ioy in person as his loue desires not stoickes , surley melencholy all . much merry parts in traueling befall . wherein mens action present is at gage , and ablenesse of discourses set one stage . now stands the case and touch stone of a man. when strangers shall his worth of breeding scan behauior crownes the outer mans desire , and makes him great mens presence to aspire . when lo. the sottish ci●icke selfe deuoted . sits in his tubb , how wise so ere●noted . opon the way a scipher to the view , and passes liuing , as one dead in shewe . nones sollace , not his owne , sad humours seate , be ware thou neuer with a stoicke treate , in melancholy fancies onely ioyed , whereby loues true vrbanity is destroyd . and trauailes paths disconsolaterate made . man a meere deadman mid a liuing trade . good mirth and gladnesse grace true curtesie as do good properties good men discry . a merry consorts chariot in the way , and makes a long way short as sages say . artes acting parts , then history attending , then the merry muses with their hores descending . the wood and water nimphe bring in there shares , and time of ould it selfe a new declares , a scholer's halfe a trauailer at home . attended in his studdy though alone . yet better fitted trauailes rites to vse , then mid bookes dull acquaintance sit and muse . learnings most proper to the fortaine breed , whereby both they and these at home are fed . his protects , plots , and parts of trauelling assist the state , himselfe , his church , his king. come to the climes of sweete discourse hee 's rare , heere say and ignorance still attendants are . yets heare a moderation much expected , iests become scurrill once the meane neclected , scu●llity exposing man to hate , chiefly much vsed in a forraine state , the clownish rusticke short another way chuff as idoll wanting what to say blurts forth in a presumption homebred shame two sorts vnworthy vse of trauailes name when lo ! in true vrbanit yes no wast , offence , ill mirth , presumption or distast . apelles like i leaue vnfinisht quite the shape of trauailes sits for should i write ? the decades decour more : all worth narration so might men iudge it too prolix relation . with socrates le ts giue a iudgement now , aske if he would heracli●s writs avow ? what i haue viewd and vnderstand is good : so sure ( quoth he ) that is not vnderstood these comly habits for the rest may stand as generals may the specials command . as for the christian progresse , it s dayly taught , and blesse we him his plenty heere hath brought . a like much care for mortall trauailes taken , what 's best to be embraced ? what forsaken ? trauaile to forraine parts , i only tend , wherein the rest i briefly comprehend . circumstance sayth our lawyer alters case , our circvmstances shall be time , and place , part for the whole , though more might be proposd the whole may in his parts be full disclosd : first for the time to trauaile in most free , is as the persons interessed be : person with place and time colatertali made respectiue to the calling , cause , of trade . the sunny beames of peace most cheare the most how ere the souldier may of quarrels boast . for warrs a viper that deuoureth euer it canker like consumes , but comforts neuer , yet thens the time , the warriour trauailes forth . and now 's the season best to shew his worth . times they are as mens purposes require , and hearein euery one must backe retire , and note his owne occasion when best how should i be with each mans way possest ? yet there 's a time for all things to be donn , the wisest saith ) enuirond with the sunn a seed time , spring , a haruest , and a frost : a time to linger trauailes time to hast , a time to laugh , to morne , to sport to stay . a time to fight , to rest , to warr , to pray , a time to fish , and furr , and fir in east a time for oyle , and vintage in west , a time to care , to watch to plodd , yet then a time without time , that 's vnknowne to men , wherfore while time is present passe thy trade by this pursuite are many wise men made when as the foolish late are wanting oyle : others in fruitlesse desperation toyle . time is when stormes at sea much multiplie and hymall clowdes enuelop sunn , and skie , when art , and skill , and tryall , turne to doubt , ignorant which way now to vse the route . when deckes are clad with cloudy oceann , and dreary gusts incarcerate each man. now skill of compasse card and crostaffe , failest poore man as in a second deluge sayles , no harbour , hope , or helpe seemes to assist yet then the ship to wonder doth resist she trauiles vp towards heauen as if there , conuoy elyas fiery chariots weare : and nests in mounts billowes of neboos hight quauering as drunke thereon ; a scarring sight not now content she shifts from hill to hill . and in her progresse sore against her will. they post her downward as an arrow shot , when lo ! her next pursuer sees her not , as if to those deiected angels fled , chaced from thence , by the almightyes dread , when see no sooner ●●ovvsd in valleys deepe but at a start she monnts a gaine as steepe , no more , wife dauid limmes it more at life , ionas and worlds of try all end the strife , note only this in all these trafickes scenes time , ioynes with place , both act as primest meanes the issues serue the cause , cares are arrendants , since prouidence and wit ●eare , no defendants . for see the sea men strangely terrified , nor land , sunne , starres , or light can be discryed ▪ yet pry , and hale , and pump , and all to saue . and now the merchants bilt the saylours slaue . his life more precious makes him , pump , and pull , stormes make each filly shipper master●ull , each dye themselues their couch and goods in waues , and in this dreadfull postutes play the slaues . their prayers , and paines and teares , are multiplied , winter stormes terrours not to be descried . the vernall view fell bore as homeward chases and calmes for stormes and light for foggs replaces , thus oft at last an vnexpected rest possesseth marriners and merchants brest : crosse time growes ●ilder , mists are vanished , billowes made plaine , and rockes discouered : men are at ease , the ship now quieted , and th'hilly ocean as a sheete is spread but see ! the time , times will be wayted on , t is better therefore , ta●ry ● now at home : i meane now sol to caprecorne hath hyed , and eolns suruayes the seas in pride . when churlish neptune counter maunds our ends , herein it is my muse true time commends : the time againe is as the climate stands , since diuerse times attend on diuerse lands : for east , and north , by icy hyemes closd , trauaile these wayes is crosly now oposd : no green-land , nor a mosco voyage then presumptions eate the liues of many men : the times of passage vnder zoones obserue , be sure thy bodyes rule to it reserue such timely moderation health commands when much diseases neclects attendant stands a time most suting euery limb of trade , for true auaile by ayd of time is made one time another crossing in her state and what 's a gemm now : thens quite out of date . a time when by iuuasion and warr , that country where our course is , is at iarr : and garisons , and rutters domineere , t is no good season now to trauaile heere . for lyon like fell warr deuowres all right , and lawes , are prostrate to a vulgar might , a time for specialles , such i le not discouer , for propertyes in time surpasse each other . iarres sute ye see to somes best benefit , when , 'ts good for others peacefully to sit . peace fits republick trafick to auaile , and actuall smiles the marriner assaile , lo ! now a limb of trauailes way is this , not of true times of trauailing to misse occasions figure epitomes these things since time still flyes , and hies with swiftest whings the deed is crownd thus executed well , and now i come of places rites to tell . times howre glasse runnes , and sword deuoures on [ earth , yet each dayes dissolution is his birth : seruing attendant to the god aboue , fitnesse of time one such his grace doth loue : next to the place our trauailes must be fitted , else must the sequell shew vs shallow witted . man must each climes condition preconceaue . and different humoures there in vse perceaue . for natures wondrous fabricke sorted standes , in all the parts and paralells of landes . earths circled kernell with the heunes according : relatiue course to obiect climes affording a locall method causing to admire , whose fruits scene ; feed , the trauailers desire since discrepant subiect to the clime , in creature , feature , fruit , delight and time . expect none but colaterall relation , petwixt a diuerse people , clime , and nation : view well their wiles , the sutherne nations vse , b●nt to alure , betray , cheat , and abuse , the northerne course condition , stupid sence , for arme thy selfe to these by prouidence . the turke moore iewe , and christian haue their illes , man iudging all place one : t is that killes : men to their climes still good or worse are fitted , had not each then in sight be sharper witted ? with tom , his plow , or cow no cheats at home , but millions are intrauailes traces showne , t is requisite thou corespond the place , in all things fit , to decour trauailes grace . for first , once shipt : now 'ts good to meditate ▪ where thou art now reposd , thy dangerouse state this place requires much prayers and preparation sorted with some suruay of nauigation see to thy body seaficke keepe it warme , vitall powers opend , th' bodies most in harme . vse excercise aboue , and little sleepe , this galene houlds will thee in temper keepe . know thou a captaine heere is as a king , and please the mariners in any thing . t is they defend thee from fell waues deuoure . and hee hath now thy liberty in power . see th , master haue in seafkilles able share , and in the stearage looke one haue a care . t was palinure aeneas shipp did saue , neuer make choice then of a skillesse slaue . chanct in a storme hale tackle , and assist , two better may then one , assaultes resist : if in a fight scorne cowardise to vse , better by farr life , or a limb to loose , then be a slaue to tyranny of soe , many by try all haue anoucht it soe , but guesse the worst , t is odds that valience slaues , and thus the place well , vsd your foes are slaues . landed now 's place of thankes for gods defence , so each hast to his owne place free from hence , t were friuolous for me to scale the orbe , of locall rites each country doth afford : take compasses and mete , each man his owne , and in that place keepe compasse as is showne . earths various formes , in trauailes wonders see , then paralel and with thy owne agree . and to thy state , occasion and clime , fit vpon tryall course of place and time . and thus the mapp of trauailes way is spread the compasse in the midd ; each line is lead by point : the rhomb , thou seekest shall direct , thee by the causes to censure they effect . fates loadstone right to will of highest set , cannot we say by art of man be let . yet by our runrace ; iudge we the arriue . since cases common to their causes thriue . so had i done and set my muse at rest had she not smelt some sauours of disrest , ascending from the fogg of misty zoyle , and with a puffe or two thus endes the broyle the infidell , or home hatcht misty eye , seeing vs trauailes wonders thus descry . puffes out his froth : i neuer saw the things , and sight alone from me a credit brings . dull didimus the force of thy saluation depends not on thy view but application : blessed are they saith iesus trust vnseene whose faiths their goulden medium betweene . thus then thy soule the better parts affected why'es charity thy sences quite reiected ? a locall distance causing thy distrust , yea all eyes blinde and men but thee vniust . lo ! euery day a confirmation comes , of wonders wayting at our very homes . strange births and mereoures , deluges . and fires issues for sin of the all potents ires ; yea creatures common in our clime no rares , but wondrous to a stranger heere repaires . as is the clime : lands are miraculous , blind ignorance thee metamorphisd thus . creations worth , though gods first worke vnknowne thy sight , not reason credits what at home . elie know how ere in tales are much abuse the eye of wit will passe twixtlyes and truthes . reason , and learning prospects will discerne and the' truth amidd a world of fallace learne . well it s enough then ; now i le read and credit , so can i sit by th' fire and purchace it , the wise mans sluggard vsd indeed to say yet some more sleepe , as lyons in the way such shallow puffes are fruits of necligence , still t is enough ; is euery sotts pretence this makes thee man so vnbeleeuing bent , because come short of trauailes true intent : orlando , bevis , palmeryn and such , are by the fire side credited as much as truer trauailes ; if oppofd thou l't say a man may credit , or he may denay reeuiew the worth of trauaile and be hold ! shee triumphs midd of wonders manifould . then recollect the loosing difference , twixe passiue , and betwixt the actiue sence . had our heroickes trusted passiue sences , and made their ease and safety home pretences the wayes of trauaile neuer had bin knowne nor earth it selfe ere to it selfe bin showne : nor mutually each others rares imparted , or the rude heathen to the truth conuerted : or yet the wonders of almighty spredd but each bin blind fould by relation ledd . be ruld by me still keepe thy chimney warme , a sluggish spirit breeds but trauails harme . i le not repeate her many worths to thee , tary at home , let others goe and see , well i agree a third cryes t' trauaile due in wonders : and her worths wotthy pursue but oh ! the dangers in the way affright better then trye : i le trust what others write . t was the fond crochey t israels spies possest , sent by the church to view that land of rest the an●kims great giants guard that land and how can we these enemyes withstand ? this cowardise these saithlesse disinherits caleb and iosua prosper by faiths merits , thou readest of christ his trauailing at sea , when helpe vs lord , was the disciples plea. he checkt soone stormes as lord of sea and land nor can the proudest waue his word withstand art , thou a christian ? know gods prouidence , at sea , or land is equall strong defence , thy lot that 's to thee man predestinate nor canst ouer run or ouer stay thy fate perishes on mans lineage traueling ? another dies in bed ? why heere 's the thing . i le neuer come swearst thou where these weare lost no nor to be by sea or pirates crost and why forswearest not foole thy bed alike ? where death each day doth greater numbers , strike ? and aches , paines , yea crosses too : are more , then at the sea or of our natiue shore i had for got in trauailes wayes to tell how thou art skild in this distruct so well t is penury of faith to fortysye . and breed in thee a noble constancy thou liuest at home an vnbeleeuing course nor dost with god in priuacy conuerse prayers a stranger to thy study cases , this makes thee so prophaine in forraine places . a conscience pure is alwayes lion bould , impures to ill and desperation sould . a good man beares the record in his brest that all to him shall issue for the best . the man holy at home hee s fortified and 's , both for stormes and opposition tryed : comes and is bould gods workes at sea to see longing to know his wonders what they bee armd well by prayer , and patience for a storme , and fortified by faith can cach no harme knowes prouidence his portion hies a way . and safely can in middest of pirrils stray , counts crosses , deaths and all , like aduantagious ? and how can this man chuse but passe couragious ? thy ignorance how blesst it is , opposes . time euery day true trauailes worth discloses . se moises , ioseph , hester and the rest , in forraine trauaile wondrously blest for where meanes seemeth vacant god supplies , and in defect gods greatest honour lies , let men saith dauid tell his wonders then deliuering best : when worst to eyes of men , life is at home an ocean of crosses , amapp of cares , a labyrinth of losses , t is ●ut a change at sea , a locall shift , god cannot be preuented of his drift , thy lot is in thy forehead writ by fate it canst thou not alter , amend , abate , another mimick and a worser sayes tush trauailers can liue no other waies looke backe blinde doeg to the troupes before rings , princes , prophets , who haue trauailed more ? the wisest , richest , greatest leade the way , and well may then the meaner after stay , thinkest thou because poore in her way are blest no men but base are in her interrest ? gods no accepter of the persons grace his blessing waytes on euery lawfull place . how able meanes is to the place declard , looke backe : for now that labour shall be spard . yet know if thou hast small at home to spend , much lesse can costly traualle thee defend . thou meanst perhaps the lawlesse leagauer crue whose profits by all nationes bate accure or the land straying spendthrifts indian course , or th' bankrupt cheater bandid of the buise : or th' giddy pated criticke stird with errour , or the offendour chast with conscience terrour . the beast and noblest roades some villianes vse nor can we trauailes noble path excuse . let lawlesse strayers see in ionas mapp , and turne a straighter course for what may happ , and thy reuile experience checkes vniust and shewes thou hast to trauaile lesser trust . it may be thou and such for mentiond gulles , haue sluggishly consumd your meanes as fooles a broad at home and each way base neclect , makes mans weldoing equall in defect . sir t is confest a fift sayes many gaine , but many more by losse of it complaine . t is part amends with thomas thou beleeue . trauaile hath in it potence to releiue , yet he that credits clowds shall neuer mowe , nor the obiecting flowbacke seldome sow t is true great losses many times befall but donot greater gaines the losse recall ? let ts paralell the trafickers condition and iudge him , ( as thou vs ) without commission who more aduentures ? passes too , and fro ? to spaine ? to zant , to east and west we know mixing the gaines and losses in account ? yet do the gaines by much the losse surmount ? how comes it earth ore no degree in state proueth so wealthy , able , fortunate ? if ( as it sales by land too ) comes a crosse by stormes or pirats vnexpected losse , his comforts this t was not his owne neclect nor as a spend-thrift , lost it by defect , men subiect are their losses to repeate but not of blessings thankfully to treate hurts are in marble graud : but guifts in sande and thus misprise men the almightyes hand yea some as changlings trauaile will bely faulting it for their owne ill husbandry lo ! losses wayt one men as much at home , and crosses charge vs thicker's dayly knowne . vnkindnesses in strangers grieuie vs lesse then such who though of land , and blood oppresse : and man can trauaile harder , and content : then when his home friends eye his poore intent . a thousand honest shifts men there effect , which end in worth , successe , and good respect , which they abasht at home could neuer try or in a worse sort suffer misery . to you let me appeale who haue it proud and passe farre vnder what your births behoud in losephs bondage to endure compeld and in a willing patience mildly yeild by cruell egypt , or a turke affected , and daniell like ouer all respected . be ye in midd of bloody lyons cast , your cause ( is good ) his issue good at last . the more the perill , the more prouidence and greater glory god in mans defence . then 's only time for him to spread his power , when dangers seeme most suddaine to deuoure so haue i seene , but often heard it tould , men by the very sea stormes made more bould . and in the midd of likely losses gaine , and ( more abroad then neare home ) grace attaine . and lesser cares in forraine cases serue then where their birth more mercy did deserue , yea more abroad rich then in father land , see! trauailers help , in the almighties hand . infine a sixe sayes , what need this a doe vs now in peace to traueiling to woe ? sir we are well seated vnder mothers whinge ill neuer trauaile further then my king ! fond how sworme keepe thy chimny corner still , to win vnwilling sots t is not our will , let euery man in his condition stay . to gad is not to trauaile but to stray . the church , and euery christians militant , yea euery soyle supplies anothers want ther 's most need man of trauaile in a peace the cause of plenty ; author of increase . natiue comodius good to vtter forth causing a citty , or a countryes worth , such men whose causes sute to sit at home and the vnwilling may reside alone , traficke and peace reciprocall suruiuers still where the one , to wonder both are thriuers in warts no time for free recourse to bee this wee by tryall , and experience see , embrace thy mothers dugg in promisd peace embrace thy slothfulnesse thy shames increase till times of tryall or confusions come then runnst thou ( as a madd man ) bout thy home if not thy pride is clownish ignorance , the plow or cart thy vttermost aduance . see now my muse no more of momus crue appeare as yet thy progresse to pursue the wise can tell sots soone can cauill more ther 's worth respondence , or a rea ding ore : and man may sooner change the moorish hue then force a fooles beleefe , be 't neere so true . to the ingenious traueller i bend , thus by a short suruay the totall end his wonders great in skie , on sea , on earth hauing each day , and way , a newer birth his worth in pleasure , and true profits gaine how they both soule , and sences entertaine , his worths the persons highly dignifie , how rares declard in royall property , his way worth note , in persons fitnesse stands nature , birth , parts , and ablenesse commands the place wherein he passes , pious good , for god our state , and selfe is vnderstood . next note we vertues common worth embrace and vices ready trauaile to disgrace the circumstantiall place and time attend so did my muse against the criticke bend who with the dart of truth expelled thence . gaue cause ( least tedioue now ) wee hy vs hence . trauailes a rose , man the industrious bee wise trauailers sucke , and hiue vp swauity badd spider like suck poisons to deuoure tiauai e is as the rose : a curious flowre , none can come neere its colloures curious sents delicious rosall rites , and ornaments : the base neere lesse to uenome vertues change , and if growe worse by trauaile t is not strange , one as the bee sucks hony from this flower , the spider gale , and venome to deuoure , not that the venome in this rose doth grow for t is of natures sweets most rare we show but that the others humour poysonous conuerts these sweetes to aconita thus : in all the parts of mannage more pernitious , as is the subiect in affection vitious . well mannagd trauailes only ornament , in christian , ciuill ; and a true intent . al 's vse : the heuens , planets , and spherall pace , the soule , and sences progresse , trauailes grace . mans ages childhood , youth , and midd age hye to summ at death account of destiny which destiny in secret set by god , from all beginnings sealed by his word , proceds in progresse with vnknowne envent man cannot stop his makers iust intent : he cannot hast his fate , it keepeth pace nor stayes while periods added to the race , its trauaile mazeth all the earth to see the strange effects in destiny there be from birth to nonage , midle gray and graue which some at sea , some land all some way haue . some poore of rich , some high of low arise , thus wanders man , in him his destinyes . a sparrow cannot faile but by his fate who could ere ? once prolong ; amend abate ? true christian trauaile makes the mortall blest and him that in the two is interest , the course of ciuill trauaile was our taske , daily , diuines the other two vnmaske , the issues seene ( if worthy uiew ) t is well , many more learned the forme may happ excell , the matter founded on the rocke of truth , both recreations of my muse in youth courage then trauailes noble sonnes aduance arme and expect a mapp of crosse mischance : rockes pirates gulphs straights sirens storms & store of remoraes and monsters of the shore . behould as vertues vices are attendants ye must be both assailants and defendants : hange not on aiery hope of fate alone , prouidence only industry will owne . suppose the worst in trauaile that may come scorning those flashy preconceyts of some , who guesse all done , to doo strange things effected the goulden meane of modesty neclected when if a losse , or crosseth wart there intent the gaines dispaire the end astonishment leuell thy doubts and hopes so though all lost thy patient soule of gaine in losse may host : thus trauailes wonders worths and wayes declard and trauailes walfares as a fourth prepard , caliope by cinthius cald : flyes forth denying trauaile wellfare to his worth : since oh the times , fell mars his wellfare crosses by pirats rapins ruins murders losses mourne o my muse in secre●t and retire , till europe liue in peace , his long desire . when on his welfares thou more ●ee mayst sing , and brittaine blesse iehoue who wrought the thing . then for a fourth her wellfar●● shall ascend and untill then my tryall hath an end . si bene quid feci deo gratare datori si male quid feci noueris esse meum . olimpiad : in seriptit finis notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a01867-e680 geneseos . 1. adam primus homo damnauit seenla prima , 3 qui facit magna & inscrutabillia absque numero eliph . oshominisubline dedit omne metam 1. caput . nihil in terra sine cansa sit iob. 5 deus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 totus quodenim togitat hoc loguitur & qvod loqnitur togitat iren lib. 2. c , 48. qunti instit liber , ● : vti beneficia omnibus horis — sunt consideransa chrisostom : in mare : microcosme romans . 1. psalme . 8. qui desendunt mare in nauibus facientes operationem in aquis multis ipsi viderunt opera domini & mirab●llia sua in profundis : patientia dei 12● annes dura vit cumarca si●bat . solares est quae ●omines obsentes presentes facit turp : de fit viciss quibus pusumnusetiam abcetibus alloqui august , naue primus as egypto damnus , aduenit pliny reg : 1 , vide : mark. 4. 38. monumenta aetotum lest : l : act. 27 20 : vbitung fuerit dei prouidentia ●rustrautar vniuersa contraria● august : creatura miranda . iob 41 6. corpus eius quscuta susillia compactum se squamis se prementibus 〈…〉 . cumfreta discuditrapidisque tumes●rre ventis & am circumdare litora terroe metam lib. 1. vtque duae dexcaelum to tidem qu si a●sira , parte secant zon● , quinta● stard en●●orillis &c. guid metam : 1 : instrumenta naevallia mir●nda , bernar in cantic : 76 vesputiones ano 1499 : collumbus : anno 1492. darcus anno 1579. in learning aduancement . magell anus 1520 : candish 1587 i am quod videtur sciri potus quam credi dicitur . gregor in euangeli . 32. terraemira . terra vires vrbesque gerit frugesque faerasque fluminaque hec superest caelisulgentis . imago mett : lib : 1. ad me undum foc●etatem home naturà ferter sua aug. de ciuitat lib. 19. cap. 12. inhil●minus i am obsequium amicos veritas obuim parit . terentius . edifficia miranda . id circo credere debemus que non vidimus vt videre me reamur quae credimus . hug : victor cap : 1. de fid invi● : creatura mirada . numquid ●volet r●moceros , tibi s●ruire ? aut morab●ur is ad prae sepe tuum . iob. 39. tot species tani tosque ortus varosqueuouatus ipsa clies apperit conficit ipsa dies . ouid : amorum . germani multos possunt suffèrre labores ó vtinam possiut tam bene ferre sitim . vt nos dulce me rum sic vos venus impia turbat ; lix ventri imposta est iulia nalla mere . vestitus varys . ciuitatum varic tas . societatùsub lata omuis cuitaest suqlata ciiucunditas . cero : de amicitia . solemaenum do videntur demerequi amiciam . siue qui auitam incundam nullo modo habere passvmu●s cicer : de amicitia . est enim iustitia vnicuique suum tribuere : cic : de officijs . ignorantiae duae filiae falsitas & dubietas , illa misereor , ista miserabillior illa peruitiotior ista molestior austin officiisvitae humana constat mutuis omnisque ratio & insti cutiovitae qumanae adiumenta desiderat cicero off . lib : 2. cret●nsis n●scrit peligus . 〈…〉 nibus grande leuatur onus . icarcus icarijs , nomina dedit equis . eorum filij nos dicimur quorux actiones imitamur grigeni● ezeck homi . 4. hec ediseas & vigilare laborare solon . equidem exempla multa docere possu●t . ouid : am● : christoprero columbo , deind ameri●oue vesputio vnde & americiae ●omen fortitur . dubartus . terra australis incogn . ta est . vt enim solitudo in odioest , ita in dulcedine & appetitio sodalitalis s●nn ep . 9 quantum quisque sua numorum seruatin arca tantum habet & fidei . impiger mercator horrace . omnia adiues habet nam praestrantomnia numin . 1. marcell . martius aduerso dux strennus obv●at hosti quandr sub hac veluti palladi bella gerit . matheus leiueruill vbi : volupias nonnisi varietate confistit . et deprendi uihill esse melius quam laetari in opere sua & hane esse partem illius eclesiafies . delectant alterna magis vetitisque potiridulcius & sordent qua possunt semper haberi : pallin . ● . amor , dci beneficia omnibus horis consideranda . august . psalme . 10. stulta placent slultis obsonia quisque palato querit dignasuo non emnibus vita voluptas mare : paline . psalme . 19. nam vt quise arnant adhibent speculum , ita gesturus negotium proponat sibi illustrum virorumexempla plutarke . viri excellentis antipites varijsque casus habent admirationem , laetitium , molestiam siuero exitu notabili conclud untur expletur mens gaudio sum●o cicer : lucullo episto . 12. 〈…〉 venustas in mari ●span quid babies laus est omnesque vi●e partes bonaesunt me●rodorus qualis qu●que aerbor tales solet dere fructus . quallitates des ; iderande virtutem veram qui possidet ille beatus ille satis felix permitat cetera diuis marcell . siqua amisis●● vitae gaudia negotiatio est parua amitere vt maiora lucrerir : chrisost : rom. 7 ad pop : antis : mercator facturus iter terretur & alt● : pectore d●● gemitus , metu ens scopulos●reta ventos . sicredire dignum est , ouid. colligitac ponit temere & mulatur in horrace imberhis iunen is tandem custode remote gaudet equis canibusque & aprici gramine campivtilium tardax prouisor noratrus in arte p●etic● . omnia me a mecum porto cic : som : sc : hipocrates . pectoribus mores tot sunt quot in orbe figurae : qui sapit innumeris moribus aptus crit ouid 1 : amor. flumina pauc● vides magnis de fontibusor ta plurima collectis multip licantur aquis ibid. barbaro & indianor peritia , non intendunt qua a nobis di●●ntur gen●ilia sed quae aguntur 〈◊〉 ●om . 7. ad pop : autio . eorum fily dicimur quorum actus nos immitamur grigen : ineze genes . 4 , s●nce the fall , we trauaile all . ca. 5. genes . 7. caput . 11. 12. 14. genes . 25. 26. hic enimnos diuersorium comorandi , non habitandi habebus . cic●● sence●● gennes . 37 vt hoc ag●mn●● in deum offendere ? ●enres . 50 hic eclesiamillitans illie triumphans . exodus . 15. exo. 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 , 9. vide ●t israelitarum vita deseribitur quinque libris moyst iosue iudicu●r , & regum . caput , 14. deutronom . 13 exod. 13 , &c. iosuah : 1. caput . 24. iob : 1 , 2 , 3. &c caput . 42. 10. ruth . 4 13 hestre , 2. 16. vide litincra daiud a regum 13. priads . cunterlij . ionah . 2. math. 3 , 15. esay 61. 11. iohn 46 ma●●● . 21. omnis christi actio , nostra est instructio august math. 27. math. 16 , 19. math , 3 , ● ▪ hebrewes . 11. caput . 14. 12. 10 : baptistae vita . luc. 1. actor , 14. 16. 2. cor. 5. 22. 1 tim. 4. 16. apocahp . 1 ▪ 1 , vide policron graston . fortitudo parentum filliorum segnitia narrat . erat fide nobilis quae omnibus ornatibus ornamonto sine quauil tam ornatam quod ornare queatnin . salui . ep . 1. netantiuiri laudes minere oratione m●a potus quam exornarem , culpetur sane in genium non voluntas chris : de sacr liber : 1. 〈…〉 parent animos , compraendunt plurima paucis : aures delectant , pristina comemorant iohn sab comentar in arist : & hoc . quaese scopulosis ardua clmis , in longum prorum pit iter riget . aspera prim● ingressus . hes●ed liber . 1. quod bene fit his fit . ●ustitia in sevirtutes continet omnes . pythagorus . naturam expelolac furcalicet vsque recurret haman vid woolsey . &c. exemp , phaettonis proprietatum equabilitas requiritur . preda suis tanibus non minus ille fuit metam : lib. 1. numquid amore 〈…〉 as in russy a groynland &c. qualitatum proportio . in vitium ducit culpae fuga sicaret arte . horatiua . recte collata retina expectant predam● ignorantia confusionis mater non . potos , sotos , deuotes . hisp : pro. non satest bene ali quul sacere visietiam fiatvenuste . i anuo lingnarunt gramatica . equabilitas infortune bonis . qvantum quisque sua , &c , quam fausta● habet regma pecunia sortes vtque sit hec seltx quamque beata vide ibid. aruillarj vbij via in qu● . non nobis solum natisumus sed liberis , sed a micis & patriae . cicero : de offi . ●t quis non causas mille doloris babet . ouid amor . vns hore zey● royta●n skepke royt : all zij●gh diewills ver ●i moyt in hettzee van tribulation icke zal vster ckene met in i●● gration . heylichey● ni●t in de sc●ii● . our 〈…〉 transporters . ex malo dogn●te pra●usque moribus dig●oscuntur lupi . melancton . spend●brists sollace . our crack braines come bome by weeping crosse qui populari inititur aur a domini in luto extruitur . mach. 1. princip . orst : west : thys : best . dilligentia-sagacitas . nil tam d●fficile quod non solertia vincat . temperantia , modum vocoid non dolorem afferens pythagoras . moderation praised . quis secum preit ? ebri●tas , sopor , otia , lux us qui comites ? rixa , bella , odiae opprobium . marulus● lecheritanians . prud niia est habitus agendi orta human ● b●na v●ra cum 〈◊〉 . 〈…〉 vt corpus absque ●ceulis , ita & vir●r n●gotio im-prouidens by●n opitime crede i●uat rerum pru dentia cunctos , ledtiur aduersoqui necligit vndique fate-hesiod . note . landloper . giddy pate-nunquam tefall aut animi sub vulpe latentes impia sub dulci melle venena latent augustin . iustitia in se vir●●tes ●●ntinel omnes . de iustitia vni●uique quod suum distribure cic , do : offe : frugalitas cla●is conse ruandi quod est maphae : note . magnanimitas ▪ si fortuna . sonat caveto ●o'li , cum fortuna tona tonat : ca●e to mergi cato , gratia bene ordinas quae dedit creatio bernardus in tract : degr● : lib : 6 : note ! effabilit as quid . haman . ixion ! phaeton ! icarus ! primus mali m●tor cachedra pestilent a superhia , augustin ambitis secretum virus . pe●tis occulta doliartifex mater hipocrests liuori● parens vitior un● origo tinea sanctitatis cordium excatrix . &c : bernard : in ser q●adragess note ! beware of machi uillian fawning , & simplician slaues . n●te ; west 〈◊〉 ende 〈…〉 . voorzich ●ich in al. keert meni g●en val vibanitas quid . non volo tescu● ram , sed fi pot●s este facetus ● ▪ alling . merus stoicus merus a sinus . comes secund●● in via pro vebi culoest . horat : in su : lib : 1 : hl● is zo ment acht viuat , valeat vincat carolus met ghemat men gaet verr . beati pacifici . math : 5. elt hefi ze●n tij● omnia tempus habent , & suit spatijs transe vnt vniuersa sub caelo ecles . 3. 1. naufragium , occursus pirat arnm . pall. psal . 107. ionas . 3 acts. 23. ziet opt eynde . apres lapluye vientle beane temps . est modus in rebussunt certi denique fines . temporibus modicina valent data tempore prosunt & data non apto tempore vinanocent . ouid : art am : temporiserua , neere stauentis phooilides . fronte capillata postest occasio calua natura gaet voor lecre . wat noodich is moet vergaen extreman●cent virtus medio , ziet menkan godt niet bedrieghen gratiarum enim cessat de cursus vbi recursus non fuerit . bern : serm : 55. obiectio : 1. defoliuge breue sort nce . 〈…〉 . obiectio . 2. quisqxt habet mores ita iudicat itaq fatur : m : palling . licet acrioraqua legas , altius tamen in animo sedent quae vult us , habitus ; & gestus dicentis ad figit . pliny . epistola : 4 : lib : 2. obiectio . 3. omnibus sane factis in est periculum neque quis nouit quo apulsurus esta : negotii principio solon ibi fides nullum habet meritum , vbi ratio buma nahabet experimentum . gregor : in euan ●6 . oivitae secur a vbi est conscien●●a pura . romans . 8. caelum non animum mutant qui transemare currunt . posse pati facileest tibi ni patientia desit . ouid : amor , iazillan gebuz basimah , turk . procua . obiectio . 4. exemplis flectite quoque posse puto amorum ; oune saurit faired'une buse unespre ●ier . acarion crowe neuer good bawke . obiectio quinta : angli●ano , 〈…〉 de : 〈…〉 de . impig●r extremos currit mercator ad indos : per mar● pau periem vitans horat : note apapret virtue in prosperis ; at emin et aduersie bern : cant . 7 : dan : lib : obiecti● 6. fac quod fecit . iaia ost west thuys best . none hac●t ca●ll●rs a bo● entend●urilnef●ut que demye parol carpere vell noli nostra , vel edetua martiall . recollectio . generalis att male dum recitas incipit esse tuus martiall : dat rosa mell apibus qua sugit aranea virus granger . exemplo tanginen propriore potes ouid : amor : diuersorium enim hic commorandinon habit andi habemus . cic : desen●●●nt trauails welfare to be added . veritas ●●e and 〈◊〉 ille quidem dus gratus est eu : coginat● hoc sunt : omnia sue 〈…〉 rerum se 〈…〉 ad usus hefio●●● . ep : eronn . ephilegu● ●ax pocali patriaeque ●alus , & gloria regni , carol●● . a relation of a journey of the right honourable my lord henry howard from london to vienna, and thence to constantinople, in the company of his excellency count lesley, knight of the order of the golden fleece, councellour of state to his imperial majesty, &c. and extraordinary ambassadour from leopoldus emperour of germany to the grand signior, sultan mahomet ... / written by john banbury ... burbury, john. 1671 approx. 165 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 131 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a30215 wing b5611 estc r8283 12251976 ocm 12251976 57153 this keyboarded and encoded 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a30215) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57153) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 910:4) a relation of a journey of the right honourable my lord henry howard from london to vienna, and thence to constantinople, in the company of his excellency count lesley, knight of the order of the golden fleece, councellour of state to his imperial majesty, &c. and extraordinary ambassadour from leopoldus emperour of germany to the grand signior, sultan mahomet ... / written by john banbury ... burbury, john. norfolk, henry howard, duke of, 1628-1684. [10], 225, [25] p. printed for t. collins and i. ford ... and s. hickman ..., london : 1671. reproduction of original in huntington beach. advertisement: p. [2]-[25] created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels. europe -description and travel. 2004-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-10 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-11 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2004-11 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a relation of a journey of the right honourable my lord henry howard , from london to vienna , and thence to constantinople ; in the company of his excellency count lesley , knight of the order of the golden fleece , councellour of state to his imperial majesty , &c. and extraordinary ambassadour from leopoldus emperour of germany to the grand signior , sulton mahomet hau the fourth . written by john burbury gent. london , printed for t. collins and i. ford , at the middle-temple gate , and s. hickman at the rose in st. pauls church yard . 1671. to the honourable henry howard , eldest son of the right honourable my lord henry howard . sir , pictures , which relate to a family , are usually exposed in galleries , that the heir by looking on them , may not only see the features , but read too the vertues and generous exploits of his truly noble ancestors . this picture of my lord , your fathers journey into turky ( whom you have so lively coppi'd in your early travels abroad ) i humbly present at your feet , being sure it will have a choice place in the gallery of your mind , since the original it self ( which extracts admiration from all ) will doubtless as highly deserve of posterity , as any of your greatest progenitours . here without the wind of adulation , i might tow down the stream of my lord your fathers qualities , and excellent endowments , but remembring that you two only differ in time , i shall but say this ( least i seem to flatter you ) that you are most happy in your father , and your father as happy in you . may your happiness like the danube ( which in its long passage through tyrole , bavaria , austria , and hungary , receives thirty navigable rivers , e're it falls into the sea ) increase all along in the course of your life , till it come to be as great , as to your noble self , and your family , the devotion is of , sir , your most humble and most obedient faithful servant , john burbury . a relation of a journey of the right honourable my lord henry howard , from london to vienna and constantinople . on tuesday the twenty one of february , 1664. about one of the clock in the morning , the right honourable my lord henry howard , and his noble brother mr. edward howard , together with their retinue , set forward towards constantinople , and that night arrived at dover . the invitation to this journey ( besides the curiosity of seeing that eastern part of the world ) had its rise and beginning , from the emperour of germany his sending an extraordinary ambassadour to the grand signior , in order to the setling & establishment of that peace ▪ which not long before , on each side the ministers of state , had agreed on and concluded . besides , count lesley , the person design'd for ambassadour , was so very well known , to my lord of happy memory , thomas earl of arundel and surrey ( while his lordship was ambassadour in germany ) that as long as my said lord of arundel liv'd , letters of correspondence past weekly between them . his grand-son could not therefore have a fairer pretence , to accompany count lesley , nor in reason doubt the least of a favourable reception , which his lordship alwayes found in the greatest measure possible . but to return to dover , on wednesday the twenty two , my lord , with his brother aforesaid , took shipping for calice , sending part of his train with the baggage to dunkirk , where on the twenty three his lordship met the rest of his retinue . that day we went together to bruges , the following to gant , and the twenty five arrived at bruxels , where we staid but two dayes , in which little time , to relate the many visits , his lordship received from persons of the greatest condition , as the prince of ligne , the dukes of arscott and avry , &c. would equally weary the reader , as they did my noble lord , who scarce in the mornings had time to make him ready , and was forc'd to give out , he was often gone abroad , to decline that respect , which , though due to his lordships great quality , was unseasonable then , since my lord had many things to do in that place , where his stay was so short . i should likewise acquaint the reader , how nobly and civilly my lord was received by marquis castle roderigo , the then governour of that countrey ; but being to leave bruxels , i must post away to wavre , a double post thence , and the place of our abode for that night . the next day we passed through gibloix , namur , vive l' aigneau , entim , and lay at hoyne , which are all single posts ; and here began our lodging on straw , which we were so familiar with afterwards . the first of march we posted to lignier , through grand-champ , flamizoule & michamp , and quarter'd at asselborne , the first four being single , and the last a double post. thence we passed to artsfelt , next to bickendorf , and afterwards to binsfelt , all double posts . here we rested , if we could take any rest in a lodging , where there was not the least accomodation for repose . but what could we expect in so wild a country , abounding with nothing but hills , dales and woods , where we scarce met the face of a man , and for those of the feminine sex , they well might be compared to bug-bears , which made me think of often , and as often remember my countrey-women , whom though i did alwayes highly value , yet now i cannot estimate enough . as for our horses , some of them were constantly taken from the plough , and wearied with labour beforehand , so as 't is no wonder we had so many falls . but one that had not plowed that day , and so was more lusty and gamesome , got loose by an accident , and ran to the next stage before us , so as two of our company , ( to help one another ) were forc'd to ride by turns , and by turns to go a foot . and to mend the matter , our guide in the night , though the moon was very clear , like an ignis fatuus misled us up and down , he could not tell whither , for which being rated severely , he was for a while so abominably unsavoury , there was no going near him . but at last , by good fortune , we lighted on a village , where the peasants were so rude , or so fearful at least ( hearing so many horsemen ) that we could not extract a word from them , they putting out their candles , and lying like coneys in their burroughs , till partly by threats , and partly by good words , i got in amongst them , and perswaded two of them , to shew us the way to the neighbouring posthouse ; which at last taking heart , they ventur'd upon ; but when we got thither , and they found with what kindness we us'd them , they repented themselves they had been so inhospitable to us . there we met with a lutheran parson , as full of wine as fat , whose latine came from him in clusters , which shew'd he had doubled his glasses . thence we posted to lizer , where we passed the moselle , and because we were forced to stay there for horses ( which were fetcht out of the fields from their work ) we din'd at that place , and had excellent wine , which is all i can commend , besides the talking host , who was a jolly fellow , and fill'd it with a grace , and drank it off as well . this our stay there retarded us so much , we could only arrive at laufferswiler that night , two double posts from binsfelt . but of all the postilion we had , i must needs tell the reader of one , who formally appearing in his ruffe , his cloak and highsteepl'd hat , no sooner got up on his horse , which was skittish , and had a trunk behind him , but the horse not enduring the ratling and weight of the trunk , fell a kicking and dancing in that manner , that down went the steeple , and the cloak , ruffe and man had followed after , but that relief ran in , and his wife cry'd to him , if you have not hans a care , that horse will throw you to the devil . but hans boldly venturing again , sate very demurely and gingerly , while we could do no less , than follow after and laugh , to see in what posture he sate , and how often his hat was toss'd into the air , and his gravity disordered . from laufferswisel we passed through to eckerswiler to walstein , two double posts thence , where because we could not find fresh horses enough , his lordship thought it good to separate his company , he himself making choice of the road to rhinshowsen , and ordering his brother , with the rest of the retinue , to pass the rhyne at mentz , and meet all together at ratisbone . from walstein therefore my lord rode to hanguisen , which was a post off , and lodged at a village called boveren , half a mile beyond worms . on the fifth his lordship posted through frankendale to mowda , thence to spire , and so to rhinshowsen , where he crossed the rhyne . the next place was proussell , then nitling , where there is a good inn. ensfinde , canstat and eberspoch succeeded , then alderstat and westerstet , elskinger , lowen and donawert follow'd after , and usher'd in newburgh , where my lord lay that night , and stay'd the next day . the ninth his lordship hired a boat down the danube to ratisbone , intending his arrival there that night , but failing an hour , he lay three leagues short , and only got thither the next day at noon . having brought my lord to ratisbone , and left him well there , give me leave to post back again to walstein , to conduct his noble brother to that place . we that were to road it through franckford , departed from walstein the fourth , and lay that night at mentz a double post off . the city is built near the rhyne , and the seat of an arch-bishop , and one of the electors of germany . here we hir'd a post-chariot , and passing the rhyne over a bridge of boats ( for which we paid tole ) arrived at franckford , a great and goodly city , renowned for the mart , and a double post from mentz . from frankford we chariotted it again to the city of hanow , which admits of no inhabitants but those of the calvinist religion . the place is strong and neat , but of a short continuance , being built but some fourscore years since , and is a single post from franckford aforesaid . at hanow we found another chariot , which carried us to tetting , a single post thence , where we lodged that night . the sixth we past bessenback , a post and a half , whence to esselback ( which is a double post ) we met with a chariot and six horses , all the rest having only had three , or four at the most . but here we had three men to attend us , one riding postilion , another on a horse next the chariot , and the last running afoot , who changed by turns with the postilion ; and one thing i observed , when the horses were weary all the three men would be sure to get up . in this manner we passed the spessaert , a vast and thick wood , full of overgrown oaks , and belonging to the elector of mentz . from esselback we crossed the river of main , and lodged at raulinghen , a single post thence . wirtzburgh we posted to next , where we past the main again , and on the right hand , saw a regular fortress and house , appertaining to the elector of mentz aforesaid . this as kitzinghem , posthenhem , launghenfelt and emskerken , where we lodged that night , are all single posts . but before i go farther , give me leave to look back , and tell the gentle reader , that my lord in his passage to newburgh , saw a certain race of men , which fasten so their breeches to their doublets with points , that as others use to put down their breeches , they pull off their doublets , to do the necessities of nature . fornback presented next it self , a single post from norimberg , a city of excellent houses , and as excellently furnished , whose town-hall is an admirable structure . thence we passed to faicht , postbaw and finingen all single posts , where we took up our quarters . the ninth we rode through postberge and labour , and at noon arriv'd at ratisbone , all single posts , where we met not with my lord till the following day , for his lordship went about , and out of the post-road to this place . having viewed the city , which is famous for little , but the dyet kept there , on the one and twentieth ( for now i must observe the stile of the countrey , for fear of mistakes ) we hired a boat for vienna , and that night got to strawbing . the next day we arrived at vilshoven , this town with the other appertaining to the duke of bavaria . here the servant attending at supper , being asked his name , said nothing , but ran out of the room , as if he had recourse to his godfather , to enquire what it was , so dull and heavy are some of the ordinary people . the three and twentieth we lay at odensham , a town of the emperours , where otho was born . here the canopies of the beds were so low , we could not sit upright , and the beds plac'd so near one another , as no passing between , but side-long , and with difficulty . the beds too and coverings are alike , being all soft feather-beds , to stew in betwixt , but that for a remedy , the head is made so high , and the feet lye so low , that while your face is in the air , your legs are on the ground . their napkins are likewise extravagant , and no bigger than childrens pinners , or at best but pocket-handkerchiefs . in one of the stews above stairs , you have commonly but one bed , but the other is hospital-wise , and hath usually six or seven , and to mend the matter , a necessary house , which needs no directour to finde it . a little before we came to st. nicholas ( some seven leagues from lince an imperial town ) the boat-men desir'd us to sit still , and we had indeed great reason so to do , for there between the rocks , the danube is contracted in that manner , that it runs most impetuously , and the water whirles about so in several places , as if through some tunnel it emptied it self into a gulph , and the watermen assur'd us , that part of the danube ran there under ground , disburthening it self afterwards in hungary , where it made a great lake , and this was confirmed , they said , by sinking a great pole , with a proportionable weight fastened to it , which was afterwards found again in the lake aforesaid . in our passage to melke , where we lodged that night , we toucht several times on the ground , and twice were constrain'd to disingage our selves by labouring hard at the oars , and one time were so fast , that we were in some hazard of staying all the night on the water . the five and twentieth we lay at tulne , and the next day arrived at vienna , the capital city of austria , and residence of the emperours of germany , and during our journey , from the time we departed from london , till two dayes after our arrival at vienna aforesaid , being three weeks and four dayes , we had not any rain . that day we repaired to the golden-hart , a great and goodly inn , where my lord lodg'd that night , but the next day count lesley , having not leisure to come himself , for he was to be present at the emperours councel , sent his nephew , my lord hay , to complement his lordship , and carry him to his house ; where count lesley highly welcom'd my lord , and after many ceremonies , and great demonstrations of kindness and respect , carryed his lordship and his brother to the house of the earl of trawne who is the land marshal where they had a noble dinner . the eight and twentieth my lord din'd with count lesley , who by means of my lord hay , provided his lordship of lodgings near his house , and the next day with count dietrichstien the emperours master of his horse . the same day my lord waited on the emperour to the convent of the capucines , where his imperial majesty din'd , the princes and lords of the greatest condition ( as the custom is there ) waiting on his majesty , and walking afoot before his coach. the thirtieth my lord waited again on the emperour , who dined that day with his mother in law the empress , where his lordship staying , till his imperial majesty had drunk his first draught ( a ceremony observed by ambassadours themselves ) retired , and din'd with count lesley , attending after dinner on the emperour , the empress and princesses , to a park about a mile from vienna , where his majesties huntsmen inclosing some four acres of ground , with canvas extended by poles above a mans height , and a little way farther , with canvas aforesaid , making a lane a breast high , by letting fall the canvas towards the east , with beagles hunted in at a time , some eight or ten foxes , which coursed up and down , were by several gentlemen , who had nets in their hands for that purpose , of a foot and half wide , and between three and four yards long , toss'd up into the air , as it were in several blankets , as they ran up and down seeking places to escape . in this manner , and with dogs and sticks , they sacrific'd seventy foxes to the emperours pleasure , and afterwards baited and killed six badgers . the one and thirtieth my lord din'd with the earl of staremberg the marshal of the court , and waited after dinner on the emperour , who that day went afoot to a church , about a mile from vienna , where a sepulchre , in imitation of that of our saviours at jerusalem , is annually visited , and his majesty kneel'd and pray'd by the way at five several stations . the first of april his lordship din'd with count lesley , where he constantly din'd , unless he was invited to any other place , for still about noon , count lesley aforesaid sent his coach for my lord , to oblige him with with his company at dinner . the second of the month the emperour and his nobility receiv'd the blessed sacrament , and his majesty wash'd and kiss'd the feet o● twelve men , the youngest o● which was seventy years old , and the eldest one hundred and four ; and among them all they made up the age of nine hundred and eighty seven years ; to every one of whom he gave a sute of black cloath , a pair of shooes and stockings , and a purse with some money . at dinner they had each three courses of fish , and four dishes at each course , his imperial majesty waiting upon them ; and when dinner was done , the youngest made a speech to the emperour , very gratefully acknowledging the honours they had received . that day our saviours passion was represented in italian , in musick , in the church near the court , and on the third at the jesuites , where the emperour was present , and his majesty heard five several sermons that day . the fourth the emperour visited afoot the churches and sepulchres , in number thirty seven , at three of which the passion of our saviour was exhibited in musick . on easter day his imperial majesty din'd publickly , as he usually doth four times in the year , and at the first course , only cold and blessed meats are served in . the tenth my lord , with his brother , and several other persons of quality , accompanyed count lesley to the jesuits colledge , where they had a noble dinner . the eleventh his lordship din'd with count roddols . the fourteenth at earl koningsecks , who was formerly ambassadour in england : and the fifteenth at the count de nosticks . the eighteenth his lordship saw the emperour ride the great horse , and fourscore colts backt by the riders ; as also his majesties stables , where there were many brave and goodly horses , to the number of one hundred and twelve . the nineteenth my lord din'd at prince portia's , and the twentieth at count altemms . the two and twentieth the emperour ( as he uses every year ) retir'd to his castle of lauxembourgh , to fly at the heron. the eight and twentieth his lordship din'd with count wallestein , and the following day with count montecuculo . the second of may with marquis pio , and the third with the marquis of baden . but now the ambassadour , together with his comrades and their retinue , being pompously and nobly apparelled after the turkish fashion , in cloaths of gold and silver , on the sixth of may , in a very solemn manner , rode along through the streets to the emperours palace , the windows of which were throng'd with the spectators of this sumptuous cavalcade , which was in this order . first , two grooms of the emperours . secondly , the quartermaster . thirdly , two coriers . fourthly , the gentleman of the horse . fifthly , eight led horses , with noble and most rich trappings and furniture . sixthly , twelve pages riding two and two together . seventhly , eight trumpeters riding four and four abreast , and a kettle-drum in the middle . eighthly , the ambassadours steward alone at the head of his squadron . ninthly , his excellencies own colours carried by one of his gentlemen , between his physitian and secretary , and followed by the rest of his gentlemen , and others belonging to the comrades of his excellency , in number thirty and one . tenthly , twelve footmen . eleventhly , the secretary of the embassy , and interpreter of his imperial majesty . twelfthly , the ambassadour with four and twenty halbardiers , twelve of which preceded , and the like number followed him . thirteenthly , the cavaliers , the comrades of his excellency , and the emperours colours of cloth of silver embroidered , and carried by count sterhaimb , whose names here ensue . first , count herberstein . secondly , my lord henry howard . thirdly , the duke of holstein incognito , and called the baron of binnendorff . fourthly , count sterhaimb . fifthly , marquis durazzo , a genouese . sixthly , the honourable edward howard of norfolk . seventhly , marquis pecori , a florentine . eighthly , the baron of finvekercken . ninthly , marquis chasteauvieux , a frenchman . tenthly , francis hay baron of delgate , nephew to the ambassadour . eleventhly , the baron of rech , nephew to the bishop of munster . twelfthly , baron coronini of friuli . thirteenthly , baron fin of the same countrey . fourteenthly , baron kornfeil of austria . besides , there were several gentlemen of several countreys , as signore vincenzo marchiao of luca , signore casner of austria , signore oversche of holland , &c. lastly came four coaches with six horses a piece , and his excellencies litter . one of the coaches was nobly guilt and furnisht , which his excellency presented , with the horses , to the grand signior at adrianople . the cavalcade being over , we continued in vienna till the five and twentieth of may , during which time , my lord was feasted as formerly , for on the twelfth he dined with count sincsindorff , presidente della camera , and the fifteenth with count d' iterstein . the seventeenth my lord went to lauxenbourg , and dining ▪ with prince ▪ lobkoviz , waited after dinner on the emperour , and saw him hawk at the heron , and kill four that day . the nineteenth his lordship din'd with the marquis of baden , and on the two and twentieth he went in the company of the marquisses durazzo and pecori , and his brother , to see the hot baths , some four leagues distant from vienna , whither persons of quality , as earls and countesses , very frequently resort , who go all together into the same bath , but with this distinction , that the men keep on one side , and the women on the other . the men go with drawers and their shirts , wearing black leather caps , with buttons on the top , for the easier saluting of the ladies and gentlemen , when they come into the bath . they have several laws , and the forfeitures go to the poor , and commonly the women are very great sticklers , for exacting and leavying of the same . but since i must soon leave vienna , for the five and twentieth instant is the day of our departure , i think it not amiss to give you a little description of the place . vienna , the metropolis of inferiour austria , is seated near a branch of the danube , the famousest river of europe . the geographical latitude is forty eight degrees and twenty minutes , and the longitude forty . the figure of the city is not perfectly round , but inclining much to it . the circuit about five thousand geometrical paces , which with an easie walk may be compast in an hour and a half . 't is strong , and well fortified , and if as well provided of men , and all things appertaining to a siege , will hardly be taken . the houses are goodly and large , and commonly have great cellars for stowage of their wines , which are in that abundance in this city , that vulgarly they say ( and perhaps without vanity ) there is more wine than water at vienna , though the city hath many fair fountains and wells . the said wine is carried into bohemia , silesia , superiour austria and bavaria , saltzburg , and several other places . by the help of their stoves , they have fresh and green sallats in the winter , so as in a very strange season of the year , when the countrey is cover'd with snow , they have lettices and herbs in very great plenty in the markets . there are four great piazzo's in the city , which are beautified and adorned with marble fountains and statues . in one , call'd by excellency , the piazzo , two fairs are yearly kept , to which in great throngs , from all parts of germany , the merchants resort . there are many princes pallaces , many religious houses of both sexes , together with many churches , though far more conspicuous for their neatness , than vastness of fabrick . the cathedral is dedicated to saint stephen , whose steeple is about four hundred sixty and five foot high , all consisting of hewn stone , and carv'd into various figures of men , birds and beasts , which are fastned together with irons . the suburbs are bigger than the city , not for the number of the inhabitants , which are scarce twenty thousand , and the city hath fourscore thousand souls , but the largeness of the territory : and though there are many wooden houses , where the poorer sort dwell , yet the monasteries and churches may well be compared to those in the city . besides , there are many fair buildings of princes , and the richer sort of citizens , with very fine gardens , where you can desire nothing , that is either for pleasure or profit . but amongst all the gardens , the empresses , call'd favorith , exceeds far the rest , for that in other gardens is scattered and disperst , is here found united and collected . in one of the suburbs , seated in an island of the danube , the jews do inhabit , who with boards , and a piece of a wall , are divided from the christians that live in the said suburbs . the said island is joyned to the city with a wooden bridge , which commonly every year is broken and thrown down by the ice ; and there is a park in it , abounding with tall trees , and herds of deer and bores , which wander up and down in a tame and fearless manner ; and there is too a walk four thousand paces long , with trees on both sides , which reacheth to a place called gruen-lusthouse . some two or three miles from the city , a structure , call'd naugebeu , was erected by rodolphus the second , which , as you approach it , appears not like a garden , but rather a city of towers , which , together with the walks , supported by arches , is covered with copper-plates , and was built in imitation and memory of solyman the magnificent's tent , which he picht in that place , when he came with the design of besieging vienna . besides many things that deserve to be seen , there 's a well of a strange work , out of which they draw water with three hundred sixty and five buckets , as likewise fair fountains with alabaster statues , together with lyons and tygers kept there in a place for that purpose . about the same distance from vienna is schoenbrun , encompast with a wall , where there is a shady wood on a pleasant ascent , and a fine plain below . the house is beautified with pictures , and the garden very curious , whither the empress retires , when she goes into the country . i omit the rest , as lauxenburg , mariabrun , ebersdorffe , and other sweet places , as remoter from the city . the inhabitants , generally speaking , are courteous and affable , and as well bred as any in germany , by reason of the court , and the concourse of french and italians , whose behaviour and fashion they happily emulate : and many , besides their own tongue , and the latine ( which they speak very fluently ) speak italian and french. the university of vienna , renown'd through all germany , is not the least ornament of the city , it having great splendour and power : for besides many priviledges indulged by the emperours , and several arch-dukes , it hath power of life and death , not only over them that actually study , but a great part of the city and neighbourhood , for the doctors in the town , the stationers , engravers , book-binders , apothecaries , chirurg●ons , and those too , who attain indirectly to learning , are subject to the academical tribunal , where the causes of pupils and widdows , and some appertaining to matrimony , are heard and determined . the territory of vienna is plain , yet rising in some places into easie hills planted with vines . it produceth wheat enough for the inhabitants , as also rie , barley , millet-seed and pease , chestnuts too and almonds , peaches , quinces and many sorts of apples and pears , and excellent saffron , but neither figs , olives , or lemmons , unless extraordinary industry , and diligence be used . and every thing growing there , smells somewhat of brimstone , for the soil is sulphureous . the air is sharp in the winter , in so much as not only the waters , which are standing and immoveable , but the danube it self is frequently frozen , and serves as it were for a bridge to the coaches and carts . the vigour of that season they expel with their stoves , in which they have the spring , together with the summer and autumn at their pleasure . the summer is temperate , and yet hot enough to ripen their fruits . they have frequent winds , which , if they cease long in the summer , the plague ensues often , so as they have a proverb , if austria be not windy , it is subject to contagion . the plague , when it comes there , is commonly in autumn , and seldom spreads much , as it doth in other places , in regard of the exquisite diligence they use to prevent it , and the coldness of the winter approaching , which quickly suppresseth the force of that poyson . the things of curiosity , that deserve to be seen in the city , are the emperours treasure , the arch-dukes gallery , the church and steeple of saint stephen , the treasure of the church , and the sepulchre of otho , as likewise the arsenals , the colledge and profest house of the jesuits , the church and convent of the benedictines , the bishops palace , the church and convent of the dominicans , with that of the franciscans , where they shew a hole of strangers , through which , as they affirm , the devil once carried away a sacrilegious person , and it never could be clos'd up again . in the suburbs , favorith is worthy to be seen , as likewise the garden of the bishop , the house and garden of the earl of traun , with those of the prince of aversperg , and others . nor is the church and monastery of the carmelites , nor that of the augustines , with the hermitage of the capucines , the little spanish monastery , and the convent of the servi , to be unregarded . in fine , vienna is little within the walls , but as beautiful , as strong , and abounds not with only what austria and hungary affords , but that too which italy can contribute . the markets are most plentifully supply'd , and there 's great store of flesh , and fresh-water fish , especially crawfish , which are in that abundance , as 't is almost incredible . and 't is too as strange , to one that doth not know it , how infamous a killer of dogs is reputed at vienna , which , being the office of the hangman , or his deputies ( who on wednesdayes and fridayes go seeking for dogs , and kill all that are not priviledged with collars ) makes the party so hated and contemn'd , that none will keep him company . but to think of our journey into turky , on the five and twentieth instant , my lord din'd with the prince of lichtenstein , in the company of his excellency count lesley , who that day departed from vienna about three of the clock , all the persons of quality , that accompanied him in that embassy , following him to the water-side , in coaches with six horses apiece , but the throngs of spectators were so great ( for never the like embassy was seen in vienna ) they could scarce get to the barques , which , though large , and six and thirty in number , were but sufficient for his excellency and his company , which amounted to two hundred twenty and two . his excellencies barque was bigger , and much handsomer than the rest , and having eight trumpetters and a kettle-drum aboard it , which sounded all the way ▪ and beautified with variety of streamers , drew all the eyes thither . in this manner , and in order ( for one barque followed another , according to the quality of the persons within it ) we arrived at vischen , some four leagues from vienna , on the right hand of the danube , whither the prince of dietrichstein , and the earl of trauttmansdorff waited on the ambassadour ; and here we all lodged in the boats , as we did all along to belgrade , his excellency , and the cavaliers with him , having beds in the barques , and all accommodation very sutable to their quality ▪ we departed the next morning about seven of the clock , and passing by petronel , taben and haimburg , arrived at presburgh about noon , whither his excellency was welcom'd by the canon from the castle , and received and complemented at the water-side , by the palatine or viceroy vesselleni , who , accompanyed by count palsi and other hungarian lords , had eight coaches in readiness for his excellency , and the persons of quality with him , whom he carried to his pleasure-house , in a garden without the town , and feasted most magnificently . presburg , the metropolis now of hungary , is an old and neat town , and pleasantly seated . in the suburbs , on a high mountain , is a very strong castle , where the regal crown is kept , and below in the bottom , on both sides the danube , most large and happy pastures are presented to the eye . the kingdom of hungary ( to speak a little of it , now we are on the place ) was formerly extended from the pontick sea to austria , and from poland to the adriatick gulph , containing within it ten very large kingdoms , which as feudators depended on that crown , so as the king of hungary was then an arch-king . but from the year of our lord , one thousand three hundred and ninety six , to this our present age , it hath been much and often afflicted with intestine contentions and discords , so as the better part is subject to the turks , it only retaining a very small figure of the ancient liberty , dignity and greatness it had , and having scarce now as many strong cities , as it formerly had kingdoms . on the east it hath transylvania , on the west austria and styria , on the north the carpathian mountains , poland and moravia , and on the south the river drave and croatia . the meadows are so luxuriant , that the grass in many places almost equals the stature of a man , and they have such store of cattel , that they send very many into italy , germany , and other remote countreys , and only on the way to vienna , 't is reported , that fourscore thousand oxen were driven one year into germany . it abounds with fowl and wild beasts , which the peasants have liberty to kill ; for fish they have store , which the rivers of hungary are full of , especially the besch , of which it is commonly said , two parts of it are water , and the third fish. the soil is most fruitful , for what in other countreys is produced with labour and charge , flows here with more ease , and without the art of dressing and manuring the ground . it hath several sorts of vines , and some for the delicacy not inferiour to the italian . of all sorts of metals it hath store , ( tin only excepted ) and the gold they get out of the mountains , is compar'd to , and preferred before the arabian , and that of peru. but the hungarians , from the highest to the lowest , are generally as bad as the countrey is good , being treacherous to one , another , and haters of strangers . and this may be enough of the kingdom of hungary . on the seven and twentieth in the morning , we following the course of the danube , arrived at a little island about noon , and din'd aboard the barques ; whence departing after dinner , we passed by alfenburg , some four by land , but by water ten leagues distant from ●resburg , by reason of the turnings and windings of the river . the next place was wiselburg , which is seated on the right hand of the danube , over against the isle of schutt . the next morning early we prosecuted our journey , and passing by the villages of kymela , st. paul , petceier , and samring , in a meadow , some half a league from raab , we disimbarqued and din'd . after dinner we advanced to the fortress of raab aforesaid , where the ambassadour was saluted in this manner : on the right hand three troops of the hussars , or hungarian horse stood ranged in order , together with three companies of the heyducks , or foot , and three companies of german musketeers . besides , the bastions commanding the river , were fill'd with the souldiers of the garrison , and had all the guns planted and in readiness , so as when his excellencies barque approached the fortress , they so regularly gave fire , that the bastions all seconded one another in a moment , as the horse and foot did , which discharged three times . his excellency was intreated to lodge in the town , and pressed the more , in regard the night came on , but he urging , that ( besides his imperial majesties commands , to pursue with all diligence his journey ) the turkish ambassadour impatiently expected him , at the place of the interview and exchange , excused himself from accepting then that honour , which he promis'd to receive at his return out of turky . these complements ended , the ambassadour went on without further stay , and passed by marhoffen , the first village tributary to both the emperours , and a league from comorro . the next day general souches , the governour of the place , sent fourteen boats to meet and wait on the ambassadour , in eight of which were heyducks , and germans in the rest . these boats were of the fashion of little galleys , long and narrow , and had thirteen oars on a side : the back-end resembled our barges , but was rather hooped up , as our watermen do their boats , for two or three to sit on a side , and they carry before , some two , some three little field-pieces , which shoot at a great distance ; and along on either side stand as many pikes as oars , each pike having a little flag upon it , which is the armes for horsemen , as well for the turks as hungarians . at his excellencies arrival they discharged the field-pieces and muskets in the boats , and six & thirty canon from the new fortress of comorra . in the mean time general souches came out of the town to the danube , and going aboard the ambassadours boat , first saluted and complemented him , and the cavaliers afterwards , conducting them all into the fortress , at the entrance into which they were welcom'd with twenty great guns , discharg'd from the inward fort , and likewise with the volleys of three companies of heyducks , one troop of hussars , and two companies of germans . in this manner the ambassadour was receiv'd into the governours residence , out of which , through a gallery , he past to the works , to take a little view of the fortifications of the place , while all things were drepared for his better entertainment , and his retinues at dinner , which was splendid and magnificent ; and the canon of the fortress , being sixty brass pieces , all roared like thunder at the many healths they drank , for each health of consequence was attended by three cannon . at night general souches , to shew all imaginable respect to the ambassadour , entertain'd him with rare fire-works , not only disposed on each side of the danube , but plac'd too ( by the help of some boats ) in the middle of the river , which succeeded so happily , that generally the spectators receiv'd all content and satisfaction . the fortress of comorro is of a triangular form , and seated in an angle of the isle of schutt , between the rivers danube and waage . the garrison of the place , in that 't is so considerable a bulwark against the mahometans , consists most of germans , whom the governour rather trusts than the natives . the next morning about ten of the clock , being embarqued , and all ready to depart , general souches ( who accompanyed the ambassadour ) ordered fourteen barques to tow us to the other side of the river , while five and twenty cannon were discharged from the fortress , and all the small guns in the boats . here we made a halt , a little short of a village call'd sennack , the first of the territories of the turks , where we made a hasty dinner , and immediately afterwards all landed for the interview . the turks coming by land , were on horseback , and many as ill horsed as clad . their waggons and baggage stai'd a little behind them , as our barques likewise did , which though but thirty six , made much the better shew , especially by the addition of general souches boats. the turks as we landed lighted off their horses , their number being less than two hundred , and ours under three , but they agreed on both sides to meet with a less number . we saw before us , as the turks before them , three great posts erected for boundaries and limits of the borders , the middle of which was the mark of the confines . about twenty paces nearer to each other , we drew up to our posts on each side , while the mutual guards of four troops of horse on a side , stood facing one another . each ambassadour then departed at the same time from his post , and so arriv'd together at that in the middle , each being accompanyed only with ten of his chiefest comrades . general souches was on the ambassadours right hand , and commissary feichtinger on the left , his excellencies train being born by two gentlemen of the countrey . the turkish ambassadour mahomet bashaw , though he actually perform'd not the office of basha , yet being of the councel of war , was held in great esteem with the turks , and accompanyed with the basha of alba regalis , some begues an aga and janizaries , which said basha of alba regalis , the grand signior sent expresly to vye with the emperours pompous embassy , since no ambassadour had the honour before , to have an actual basha for his commissary . the two ambassadours meeting at the post aforesaid , complemented each other by an interpreter , and enquiring of the healths of their masters , with their reciprocal wishes of a durable peace , joyn'd hands , and departed , the basha of alba regalis conducting his excellency to his boat , and general souches consigning the turkish ambassadour to commissary feichtinger , and the hungarian convoy . this ceremony ended , the christians and turks began to sound trumpets , and beat kettle-drums in testimony of their joy , we entring again into our boats , which were manned by turks ( for the christian watermen returned now back ) and the turkish ambassadour pursuing his journey by land. in our passage to strigonium , call'd vulgarly gran , a garrison of the turks , where we arrived that night , and were welcom'd by the cannon , and several volleys of shot ; the mahometan watermen , who tow'd us down the stream , in expressions of their gladness , often cry'd out like mad-men , and utter'd uncouth words of mahomet their prophet . the turkish souldiers that guarded us ( for we lay without the town ) were civil and courteous , so as we conversed and walked familiarly among them . that night after supper , two of our barques unty'd from the rest , and driving down the stream towards the bridge ( where they who were within apprehended some danger , in regard of the swiftness of the current ) occasion'd great confusion and horror . but the storm was soon appeas'd , for the souldiers came readily to our help , and reliev'd and secur'd us , e're the barques arriv'd the bridge . the governour of gran , accompanying the turkish ambassadour a part of his way , returned back late the same night , in so much that he visited not count lesley till the following morning , and then he came on horseback , and very well attended his horses furniture being noble and rich , with a bag of taffaty about his neck , wherein were horses tails , which none but those of quality are permitted to have . this begue , ( who is said to be the favourite of the basha of newheusel , who procur'd him that government ) sent his excellency a present of wines , four cows , some fowl , fish and other provisions . count lesley , though he return'd not the governours visit , yet sent him by count herberstein , and the baron of finvekercken , some sweet-meats , a clock , and a pair of pistols , which he courteously received , with the discharge of some great guns , in honour of the ambassadour , and when he had treated them with coffee and sherbet , and led them round the walls of the castle , he civilly dismiss'd them , not without a great sense of the favour done to him . this morning the basha of alba regalis askt leave of the ambassadour to go wait on the visier of buda , and inform him of his excellencies motion and advance , to the end he might have all things in readiness for his better reception . the one and thirtieth being sunday , his excellency heard mass in a tent ▪ in a very open place before the turks ( having all along before still heard it in his barque ) and departed after dinner ; and while we were traversing the river , to pass the bridge of boats , the garrison of gran gave us twenty great guns . between two and three leagues of this place , we passed by vicegrade , a ruinous castle on the top of a hill , with a town in the bottom of that name . in our passage they discharged eight cannon , which by reason of the turnings and windings of the danube among the rocks and woods , made a terrible noise . the river near this place dividing it self , makes a very considerable island , as well for the largeness , as fertility of the place . that night we lay near vacia , a city much decay'd , and formerly the seat of a bishop , which from the time of solyman the magnificent , in the space of a hundred and thirty years , had changed its master twenty times ▪ and had often been plunder'd , and once set on fire . the first of june in the morning , we arrived at buda , formerly the metropolis and royal residence of hungary , and indeed for the pleasant scituation , a place truly regal , having on the one side hills fruitful in vines , and large and rich meadows on the other , with the danube gliding by them . the place looks as design'd for the empire of hungary , and though formerly beautified with many noble fabricks , now ruinous and decay'd , being inhabited for the most part by souldiers , who looking no farther than the date of their lives , make shift for their time , and so they lye but dry , and secure themselves and horses from the injury of the weather , 't is all they regard ; and indeed all along as we travelled , and even at constantinople it self , the houses in general are mean. here the ambassadour at his landing was usher'd into a royal tent , most sumptuously prepared for that purpose by the kehaia , or grand visiers steward , a person of worth and civility , and when he had din'd , the visier of buda sent the next in office under him , to visit and complement his excellency , who came with a splendid retinue . the ambassadour sate in state in a chair , the basha ▪ with his excellencies comrades , sitting like taylers on carpets , or standing as they pleased , only my lord and count herberstein had the priviledge of sitting on a great cushion by the ambassadours side . they passed near two hours in this manner , while the horse and foot rang'd along the shore ▪ to the number of five thousand , marcht into the city near his excellencies tent ▪ and a barbarous noise of tabers , drums , trumpets and cymbals , with other warlike instruments of joy resounded in all places . in the emperours special order , that in case count lesley miscarried in the journey , he might supply his place . next to this gentleman , my lord had priority , not for the merit of his birth ( though all lookt upon him in the quality of a duke , according to the custom of germany ) but by reason of his lordships rare parts and endowments . for though the ambassadour had of his retinue , many persons of eminent condition , of several christian nations , as particularly the duke of holstein , who being an absolute prince , had right to the precedence of all the cavaliers , yet still in all occurrences my lord was preferr'd . these said lords on horses , which the visier of buda had sent , rode along to the town , accompanyed by another visier , and several guards of janizaries , together with the interpreter and secretary of the embassy . as soon as they alighted at the palace , they were first carried up , and received in the publick place of audience , till the visier was advertis'd of their coming , and then they were straight usher'd in , and plac'd face to face against him , and sate in chairs of velvet , as he did , such as are used in christendom , which is an extraordinary favour and grace among the turks . all they desired , the visier granted readily , and treating them civilly , and cloathing them with caftans ( which resemble porters cloaks , with long sleeves to the ground , and the armes thrust out of the slits , and are of a stuffe like italian brocados , of thread and silk with a mixture of silver ) dismist them with abundance of ceremony and kindness . that evening as the ambassadour was at supper in his tent , the turks stood gaping and staring extreamly , to whom the gavaliers gave sweet-meats and biskets ( for they love sugar dearly ) and some of the bashas , and the aga ( who that night commanded the guard ) sate down with his excellency , and drank wine as freely as any at the table . the turks were strangely pleas'd with the ambassadours musick , both the vocal and instrumental , and indeed they had reason , for theirs is the worst in the world. one of them play'd on a cittern , and sang before his excellency , but it was like tom a bedlam , only a little sweetned with a portugal like mimikry . and the musick most esteem'd among the souldiery , is the shrillest and squeakingest trumpet that ever was heard , and a bagpipe-like instrument , such as accompanies the jackanapes to the bear-garden , with other ill pipes and hoboys , approaching the nearest to our worst city-waits . the third of june his excellency had audience , and accordingly that morning , the worst of the turks , and the meanest of the ambassadours retinue , marcht foremost two by two , but the christians by themselves , only the chiefest cavaliers had each to his companion a basha , who rode on the left hand , the best place esteemed for souldiers by them , as the right among schollars . the prime collonel of the janizaries rode before the ambassadour , and alone , with a huge and flat white feather , like an old and large queen elizabeths fan , but four times as wide , and the corner forward , not flat . there walk'd too afoot before his excellency , a bellows-mouth'd and butcherlike fellow , who made a hideous noise all along , which call'd the boyes together , and caus'd young and old to repair to the windows , to be witnesses and spectators of the shew , which doubtless the women ( who lookt out at iron-grates , and are kept in great slavery ) were very glad to see , for indeed it was pompous . in the gate , where we enter'd , we saw a strong guard , and on both sides of the streets , all along to the palace of the visier , the janizaries stood in armes , which were excellently good , especially the gun and musket : they are short , but wide bored and heavy , and carry twice the charge of those we have in england , and many of the janizaries had coats of male down to their knees . the visier of buda receiv'd the ambassadour , as he had done my lord and count herberstein before , but with more of the same stile and state . his excellency and the visier only sate , the cavaliers and turks standing round , and the room , though very large , was so crowded and thronged , there was scarce any stirring from one place to another . the complements ended , and the visier receiving the ambassadours presents , gave sixty caftans to his excellency and his followers , which we put on over the rest of our clothes , and so rode back as we came , being sixty horse only , for the visier gave but sixty caftans , but the footmen had distributed among them as many yards of cloath , of red and purple colours , as serv'd to make vests for each . the four bashas , with the aga and begue , which accompany'd the ambassadour to , and from the visier , din'd that day with his excellency , and drinking very plentifully of the wine , pocketted up in their breasts ( where they carry several things as in pockets ) abundance of sweet-meats and sugar-plums . here the poorer sort of people wear no turbants , but caps with , or without fur , according to their ability , and all the women generally ( those only excepted that are old or very young ) have their faces muffled with linnen , so as little is seen but their eyes , and a part of their noses . they have no clocks , but at certain times of the day , some persons appointed for the same , for which they have a sallary , go up into a kind of balcone round the steeple of the mosches or churches , and with a noise , hideous enough to affright all unacquainted with the sound , cry alowd , how the day doth pass away . every great person buyes , and hath a kind of standard , which is carryed before him when he rides , or stuck in his boat , like a small mast or may pole , when he goes by water , for which he payes a thousand dollars to the visier , chief basha , or governour of the place he belongs to , and 't is no more than six or seven horses tails dy'd of several colours , and hung round the top of the pole aforesaid . the souldiers too use these kinds of standards as cornets . in the palace at buda are several courts , and in one a fair fountain of marble , with a bason , or huge shell of brass , with the armes of the kings of hungary , supported with snails of that metal . on the right hand are the stairs , the upper part of which hath rails and ballestres of porphyrie . the dining-room is prodigiously great , and the windows proportionable , with the jaumes of red marble , as the chimney-piece is , which is curiously carved and rich , and at the end of the said dining-room is a noble square chamber . about the said palace many pieces of brass are enclosed in several places apart , which the turks admit not christians to see , unless by some particular favour . the hot bath here ( for which buda is celebrated ) hath the pavement of marble , and the fountain that feeds it is so luxuriant in water , that what runs in waste drives two powder-mills , and a corn-mill . the pond , where the spring rises , is said to have fish , which if true , may be said to be parboyl'd , but frogs i saw in it . the chief bath is so hot , that it presently causeth sweat , and is very much frequented . before your eye can find it , you enter a square room , with windows on both sides , and light from the top , with places erected from the ground , and cover'd with mats and carpets , to repose on after bathing , with a place in the middle for the clothes of the ordinary people , and round about the room hang clothes in the nature of aprons , which the bathers put before them , and persons there attending do furnish them with , who , while they are bathing , do wash their boots or shooes , the way the turks use for making them clean . having bathed enough , and drest themselves again , on a stall , that is cover'd with carpets , the receiver of the money sits demanding his due , which is inconsiderably little . but to return to the city ( for the bath is without the town ) buda is at present in so tatter'd a condition , that could solyman the magnificent return from the dead , he would change and recant his opinion , of thinking it the fairest city in the world. and as for the library , which the visier permitted to be seen , and formerly was the glory of the world , for it had a thousand volumes of rare and choice books , of excellent authors of the eastern church , how poor a thing 't is now , and how much disagreeing with the fame and ancient lustre it had , since the few books it hath are of little or no use , being almost consum'd by moths , dust and rats . during our stay here , i visited a turkish convent , where some religious persons , call'd dervis , inhabited , who live all in common , and have only what they get , each being of one trade or other . they live morally well , and do no wrong to any , and while they live in common , they are not to marry , but if they take a wife , they retire and live apart , however they continue still religious , and meet in their cloysters on fridayes and tuesdayes , the dayes of their devotion and ceremonies . they receive and lodge travellers , and what they have to eat , give them freely part of it , and usually have a fountain at the door , with a wooden-dish fastened to a chain , with which they give water to passengers , and indeed the turks generally are hospitable to strangers . there are other religious men among the turks , which are known by the name of santons , but are vagabonds and poor , and addicted to all sorts of vices , and particularly to sodomy , yet many of the turks are so sensless and blind , to hold them for saints . over against buda ( where a dutch man , a painter of our company , who was sick of a feaver , leapt into the danube , and was drowned ) is the ruinous city of pest , where there is a little convent of franciscans , and several poor christians , who often are subject to many affronts and insolencies of the turks , especially when in wine , which albeit prohibited by their law , yet many make bold with , especially the younger sort of people , who indulge themselves the more , since they are of opinion , that their punishment after death is the same , and not greater , if they drink but a little , or much , so as once having tasted of wine , they use to drink on , having less restraint afterwards upon them . and 't is said , an old turk in constantinople , when he had a cup of wine in his hand , and was about to drink it , first cry'd out alowd , and askt , why he did so , reply'd , that he admonished his soul to retire into some corner of his body , or vanish for a time , that it might not be polluted with the wine he was drinking . from buda we descended to adam and tschankurtaran , whither solyman the magnificent , when he raised his siege from vienna , made all the haste he could , not thinking himself out of danger , till he got to that place , which he called , the refreshing of his soul. thence we came to basoka , and passing by pentole and fodwar , arrived at tolna . the next place was waia , then mohachz , from whence we saw the castle of zetzchuy , the ancient seat of the illustrious family of the palfi . this town was very fatal to hungary by the loss of king lodowick , in order to whose death various things are reported . the plain where the battel was fought is about half a league from the place , and as large , as free from wood , and incumbrances of that sort , but the river carassus glides gently between , whose water moves so slowly , it hardly seems to stir . hither the king fled , whom the darkness of the night , and the fear of his enemies pursuing , gave not time to explore and sound the miry passage , into which his horse rushing , and falling , stifled him with the weight of his armour . many of the nobility , together with six bishops , and ten thousand horse , and twelve thousand foot , are said to have perisht in that battel , in memory of which slaughter , solyman , who was present at the fight , caus'd a fabrick of wood to be erected , which remains to this day , and now only serves as a retreat to the beasts from the heat of the sun. the tenth we went to wilack , and the next day to erdeod , where the annuntiation of our blessed lady continues in painting . the twelfth we came to valkovar , where in the river valpus ( which abounds with good fish ) a dead body came swimming down the stream . the next place was illock , where we saw the sepulchre of a son of the king of bosnia , together with the ruines of a monastery . hence we past by petrovaradine to salankemen , a city and castle very pleasantly seated , and proud with old buildings . here ( where the tibiseus is joyn'd to the danube ) we staid till the couriers ( who often went betwixt the said place and belgrade ) had adjusted all the ceremonies for the ambassadours reception . signore giovanni battista casanova , the emperours new resident for turky , came hither after dinner from belgrade , to wait on his excellency , and discourse about all things , in order to his entrance and stay in that town , whither the ambassadour was welcom'd by the roaring of the cannon , the volleys of the souldiers , and showts of the people , who flockt in that manner to see us come ashore , that the town was quite unfurnish'd of inhabitants . two thousand or more were in armes at our landing ( for not belgrade alone , but other little towns , though with less ostentation , came out to receive us ) but not all fit for service , for some were decrepit , and others too young , whose fathers the year before had been drown'd in the fatal river of raab in hungary . these wearing the caps of janizaries , supply'd their fathers places , and with their armes across , and countenances dejected , stood among the other souldiers . and though in appearance they might seem born for no other end , than to eat up the fruits of the earth , yet from their tender age they have a martial spirit instill'd into them , from which the nerves and sinews of the ottoman empire derive their force and vigour . the camycan or governour of the town , the capigi-basha , and the hassan-aga of the bed-chamber to the sultan ( whom the prime visier had order'd to attend the ambassadour ) congratulating his arrival , conducted him to his tents , which were pitcht on the side of a hill , not far from the river , where his excellency rather chose to remain , than to lodge in the city , whose prospect from salankemen is most pleasant and delightful , as is the scituation , the place being washt by two great and famous rivers , the sava and the danube , where the former soon looseth its name . our passage from vienna to belgrade was with very much ease , accommodation and delight , for we went down the stream , and when we came to land , as in the afternoons we continually did ) the turks , to shew how welcome we were , made us arbours and bowers to secure us from the sun. after supper we walk'd usually on the shore , and sometimes stray'd a little , invited and transported with the verdure of the place , and the many pleasant objects we met with . the boats lying one by one , took up much space of ground , and look'd like some navy at anchor , while the passengers going to and from them , appear'd a little army , and 't was pretty to hear them inquire of one another for their vessels , which when they had lost , they were forc'd to use a figure to find , for the boats were distinguished by numbers . 't was likewise not unpleasant to walk among the turks and the greeks , and see them dress their meat in the fields , and sleep about the fires they had made , which commonly were great , there being much wood , and do restraint on any that cut it . belgrade ( which is seated at the confluence of the danube and sava aforesaid , and on that side , where 't is joyned to the land , hath the castle ) was first besieg'd by amurath , and afterwards by mahomet , who took constantinople , but the hungarians and other christians defending it stoutly , the turks were repell'd with a considerable loss . at length solyman , in the beginning of his reign , finding it unprovided of men , and consequently unfit to hold out a siege , by the negligence of lodowick the young king of hungary , and the variance and dissentions of the nobility , and others , reduc'd it with much ease into his power . the suburbs ( where several nations , as greeks , jews and others inhabit ) are spatious and great , and usually in the confines of turky , the suburbs are greater than the cities themselves . here while we remained , his excellency was visited by the ambassadours of ragusa , which commonly go in pairs to the ottoman court. they came on horseback with forty attendants , all waiting upon them afoot , two only excepted , and were quarter'd in the town , which with janizaries we had liberty to see , for t is unsafe for strangers to go by themselves , and withall we were commanded to the contrary , as likewise in cases of affronts from the turks , to support them with a christian magnanimity and patience . the christians of belgrade , not accustomed to see so many persons together , of the same faith with them , especially of quality , were transported with joy at the ambassadours arrival , and 't is not imaginable with what great affection they receiv'd us in their houses , particularly a greek merchant , signore marco manicato , who shewing us all sort of harmless liberty and freedom , made us excellent chear , and producing his best wines , did put us in mind of the ancient merry greeks , for he drinking like a fish , and beating a drum betwixt whiles with his bare fingers only , and singing to it , was so pleasant and jocund , that he flung , as we usually say , the house out of the windows . his drum was remarkable , for 't was only a huge earthen-bottle in fashion like a wide-neck ale-jug , with the bottom out , whose top was only cover'd and stopt with thin velum or parchment , and on this , with his fingers , he made a pleasing noise . in fine , we were so welcom'd , that seeming to wonder at the unsutableness of his poor and mean house , to his rich mind and fortune , he began ( with many cursings and inveighings against the grand signior , and his slavish way of treating his subjects and vassals ) to tell us , that if he , or any other christian , did but seem to increase in any sort of plenty and magnificence , he straightwayes was sure to be squeez'd , over-taxed and rifled accordingly , without any other reason given , or possibility of relief ; though indeed this treatment doth seem the less cruel , since they are forewarned of it , and have so very little assurance of their childrens enjoying any thing long after their deaths . yet 't is not as many write ( and we among the rest did believe , till otherwise informed on the place ) that the grand signiors subjects are all his slaves , and can bequeath nothing to their children , he being the sole heir and disposer of all , for albeit in some this be true , yet in others several customs are predominant , and raign , and are duly enough observ'd , some inheriting half , some more , some less , according to their several tenures , capitulations and agreements ; for when the grand signior makes any new conquest , those which will stay and duly pay their tribute , their children and money do run the hazard only of feeling now and then his extrajudicial way of being squeez'd , but otherwise may quietly enjoy all their lands and revenues , though willingly the sultan cares for no christian subjects , but poor distressed peasants , such as do feed cattel , and till and cultivate the lands , since no native turk will hardly ever work , but generally they are souldiers , and the most of them horsemen , for the best sort of foot , especially in europe , are the christians tributary children , the janizaries , who know no other home , nor have other love , then that of their emperours greatness . their best horse are the spahyes , and such of them , especially , who for merit are rewarded with lands , which are called timarrs , and are like our old knights-services here : as for example , a horseman hath a village allotted him , perhaps some a farm , some more , and some less in proportion , which they hold during life , and according to the value of the lands , are bound to find more or less horsemen , to serve at all times , when the grand signior wars and calls upon them . some have but one , others more , to the number of twenty , and few above , and a revenue of twenty or thirty pound● sterling , is reckon'd for ● timarre . these tenures are still disposed of from hand to hand , on the deaths or respective behaviours of his subjects , not only throughout the greatest part of his ancientest dominions , but practis'd so likewise where he conquers any land on the christians , or others , where his usual stile is , to seize first on all the domains of the conquered prince , and of what belongs to such as are kill'd or fled , as also of the churches revenues and royalties , which they in this manner divide into timarrs , and the residue , which belongs to such christians as will stay , they suffer them to enjoy , and inherit , as i said , some all , some half , on such several conditions , as they promised and granted to them . but their tyrannous government , together with the laziness and pride of the natives , is the reason all their countreys lye desart in a manner , so as scarce in a dayes march we met with a village , and all along the danube , as we went to belgrade , and so in all our journey to adrianople , we saw vast woods and fields , with very rich campagnias , all desolate as it were , or for pasture at best , and here and there a little and inconsiderable patch of corn , since , as i said before , all the culture is from christians , who though for the most part of the greek church , yet they , as well as catholicks , in most great towns have their chappels and churches , and every where free liberty of their religion . jews also , though inferiour in number , have the like , which joyn'd to the christians , exceed far the number of the turks , to whom , though many wives are allow'd , and concubines not forbidden by their law , yet few but grandees have more than one or two , and likewise few children , which when the parent dyes are left to gods mercy and the great turks unmercifulness , since of the greatest persons , who are born turks among them , the child seldom inherits , the wives inconsiderably little , and the concubines nothing , unless some ready money , which is likewise done with privacy . but to leave as well this subject at present , as the town of belgrade , where i fear , i have detained the reader too long , i shall only acquaint him , that as our coming thither was of great joy to many , so our going away was to many as sad ▪ especially to the captives of austria , who deploring their slavish condition , could not hope for any liberty and redemption , till at the ambassadours return from constantinople , which by his mediation , and the great liberality of the province of austria ▪ was afterwards very happily effected . but on midsummer-day , the feast of saint john baptist , the turks on the contrary side , in memory of the sacrifice of abraham , expressed extraordinary joy , by the discharge of the guns from the castle , which were answered by the volleys of the souldiers . in the mean time the ambassadour had advice from adrianople , that the grand visier made extraordinary preparations for his excellencies entertainment , so as if he made too much haste , he could not have so splendid a reception . the ambassadour therefore was to make easie journeys , which easily was granted and consented unto . the six and twentieth of june , with above two hundred waggons , each waggon having three , and four horses some , besides saddle-horses for many , we departed from belgrade to isarchich , where we lost the pleasant sight of the danube . the ambassadour had four coaches with six horses apiece , one of which he rode in himself , with my lord and count herberstein . in the second and third was his excellencies nephew my lord hay , with his chaplain and others , and the fourth , which was the richest , and carried no body in it , was presented at adrianople to the emperour of turky . the rest of the ambassadours comrades and retinue had generally waggons for themselves , their beds and their baggage , and usually in the mornings about one of the clock , the trumpets gave us notice to be stirring , which commonly sounded twice , but the first time was preparatory , and only in order to the fitting of the waggons , and packing up of things against the second sounding , at what time we marched by torch-light , to decline the great heats , and in case any waggons chanc'd to break on the way , or the horses did tire , the commissaries appointed for that purpose , supply'd all defects in that kind , so as sooner or later we all met together at the general rendezvous , which was still before noon , but earlier or later , as the conacks or journeys were longer or shorter . we had not our quarters in villages or towns , but usually in the fields , in some plain , and alwayes near fountains or brooks , where before we arriv'd the tents were still pitcht , and the cooks very busie in getting dinner ready , who had elbow-room enough , for the campagnia was their kitchen . in the afternoon the clerk of the kitchen , with the quartermaster and part of the cooks ( for some staid behind to get supper ready ) departed before , to have all things in order against the next day , so that as we advanc'd , we still were provided of what the place afforded . and indeed for us that travell'd in waggons , we had the greatest ease , and the best accommodation imaginable such a journey could administer , for we went into our beds after supper , and march'd in that posture till we came to our quarters the following day , and then only rose and made our selves ready . after dinner some reposed in their tents , while others play'd at tables or cards , and many in the evenings would walk up and down , and visit the turks , and particularly our commissary , who was a civil person . on the eight and twentieth we came to colar , from whence we saw samandria , once the famous metropolis of servia , and a colony of the romans , but now very ruinous . some remains are yet there of a little chappel dedicated to our lady , and the catholicks the inhabitants are as celebrated for their poverty and constancy in religion , as the place was renown'd heretofore for its riches and glory . here we staid the next day , and his excellency entertained at dinner hassan-aga the commissary . the next place was hassan-basha-palanka , a fortress , or rather a retreat from the incursions of horse , which consists of tall poles only lathed and mudded , the houses within being nothing but smoak and cow-dung without . the first of july ( for the last of june was spent in repose , and the commissary gave his excellency a dinner drest after the fashion of the turks ) we came to bodauzin , and the next day to jogada , a place naturally pleasant and fit for delights , for it abounded with fountains , which in that hot season of the year were of great refreshment to us . allur'd with this sweetness , we tarried here two dayes , and withall because 't was said to be the half way between vienna and constantinople . during our stay here , the commissary invited the ambassadour , and the cavaliers with him , to a house very pleasantly seated , where he gave them a collation , and while they were at table , his excellencies musick , both vocal and instrumental , transported the turks ; but one of them , a cook of the commissaries , was handled more roughly for running away , for he was drubb'd most severely , and on his bare feet receiv'd two hundred strokes with a stick , as big and shap'd like that we play at goff with , in so much that he was black in the face , and lolling out his tongue , expir'd in a manner , but afterwards recover'd . from jogada , on a fine and strong wooden bridge , we passed the river morava , which separates servia from bulgaria . the next place was baraizin , then pellacderesi , and afterwards aleschinti , where in a little brook , and on the grass thereabout , we saw many tortoises , and caught about a hundred . at nissa ( which was once an episcopal , but is now a small town ) we arriv'd on the seventh , and staid the next day . here the courier of vienna overtook us , and brought joyful letters out of christendom , which not only refresh'd us with the memory of our friends and alliances there , but renew'd too our desires of returning to them . coitina , a place three leagues distant from nissa , received us next , wherein excellent baths a little out of the road , many washed themselves , as the turks often do , who , most of all the elements , are lovers of water , which serves , as they imagine , as well for the purifying and cleansing of the soul as the body , so as they wash often , and have fountains in their mosches , which as frequently they repair to as they pray . on the tenth musan-basha-palanka was our station , where after a new fashion the bulgarian women welcomed us , who meeting us , strew'd little bits of butter and salt on the way , presaging and wishing thereby , a prosperity to our journey and affairs . on the eleventh we came to sackerkoi , where we staid the next day . here by reason of the heats , the change of diet and air , above forty were sick , and several strangely recovering , some six and twenty dy'd , among whom was the baron of kornpsiel . here the governour of the place invited the ambassadour , together with the cavaliers , and hassan-basha the commissary to dinner . the dukes of villack had their residence here , where yet three christian churches remain ; in one of which , ( appertaining heretofore to the dominicans ) over the tomb of the said dukes , the statue of a man at full length , is yet to be seen , and at the foot of the duke , a wheel with a crescent , where is written as follows , hic est sepultus illustris dominus laurentius dux de villack , filius olim serenissimi domini nicolai regis bosniae cum consorte sua catharina , anno 1500. on the fifteenth we got to sophia , the capital city of bulgaria , where the beglerbeg , or vice-roy of greece most ordinarily resides , by reason whereof 't is most of all inhabited by turks . the town hath no walls , yet a thousand horsemen met us on the way , and when we enter'd into the place , the towns-men stood in ranks in their armes , distinguish'd by their trades in the streets , as we passed along , but they had no great guns , for towns unwalled have none . during our stay here , while a courier was dispatched to vienna , the bishop of the place changing his habit , waited on his excellency , and shew'd us the church , which was without the town , which is said to have been built above fourteen hundred years . after two dayes repose we departed , and quitting the plain of sophia , discover'd mount rodope , where antiquity will have it , that orpheus play'd so sweetly on his harp. on the top of this mountain seven springs issue forth , which those of the countrey , do call to this day , the seven fountains of orpheus , they imagining that the tears which he shed for eurydice his wife gave beginning to those sources . this said mountain and mount haemus , which are joyned together , separate bulgaria from romania , called anciently thrace , and one of the six provinces , which in the romans time was compriz'd under the common name of dacia . the other five are moldavia , transylvania , raslia , walachia and servia . these daci , or davi , for so they are called , gave 〈…〉 that proverb , da●us sum non aedipus . the people of bulgaria have had many revolutions , and almost beyond the example of any other countrey . the triballi were the first , who worsted king philip of macedon , and made him surrender the mares he had plunder'd out of scythia , for a breed for his thessalian horses . secondly the maesi , thirdly the daci . fourthly the romans . the goths were the fifth . the slavonians the sixth . the bulgarians the seventh . the grecians the eighth , and the turks the ninth : yet still it retaineth the name of bulgaria , from the volgarians , who came from the river volga , and by the change of v into b are called bulgarians , whose metropolis , call'd formerly tibiscum , is known now , as i intimated before , by the name of sophia , from a church , which justinian the emperour did here dedicate to sancta sophia . as for thrace in general , before the greeks possessed and planted it , the nation was as barbarous as any in the world. they lamented the births of their children , and sang at their deaths , yet were alwayes a fighting people , and never fully subdu'd till the romans undertook them . on the eighteenth we came to kupra-basha , the next day to ictiman , and the twentieth to kisterfent by a very stony way . sakurambeg was next , in an open and fertile countrey , whence passing the day following through dartarbastek , we arriv'd at philippopolis . this city , call'd formerly peneropolis , and afterwards philippopolis by philip of macedon that repair'd it , is seated near a plain of a very great extent , and wash'd by the celebrated river of hebrus , now called marissa , into which the taponiza and caludris do empty themselves . the said hebrus is famous for the very frequent mentions the poets make of it , particularly for orpheus , who discontented in that manner , for the loss of eurydice his wife , against the whole sex , introduced the practice of masculine venery , for which the ciconian matrons tore him in pieces , and threw his limbs into the river . among other things at philippopolis , they shew'd us a little church on a hill , which was dedicated to saint paul , and 't is very memorable , that but three leagues from hence many thousands of people are spread up and down in the villages and towns , which are called paulini . this place hath an old tower , and in it a clock , which seem'd the stranger to us , since in this vast and barbarous countrey we saw none before . not far from the city , on an eminent mountain , is a very great convent of monks of the grecian religion , in whose church , call'd saint george , our mahometan commissary caus'd the body of baron kornpfeil to be buried , which the lord hay , and the secretary of the embassy attended to the grave , but the rest of the dead were interr'd near the banks of the river . the wine of philippopolis is as cheap as 't is excellent , for 't is in great abundance thereabouts , and preserved in vessels of an extraordinary greatness , which as i admir'd , so i wonder'd at the low and little doors of their houses , till they told me , that they had them so on purpose , to hinder the turks from bringing in their horses , and turning their dwellings into stables . and i likewise observed , when we knock'd at any door , to taste and buy wines , the people within were still very shy to admit us , till they first had explor'd what company we were in , so fearful they are of the turks , from whom they are subject to many affronts , especially when in wine . from philippopolis we went to papasli , whose moschee and caravansaria ( the inn in turky as well for beasts as men , for men and their horses are under the same roof ) was built by the progenitour of the present grand visier . the next day we came to kiral , and the third to a great plain , where , because we wanted water , we went out of the way , till we came to a fountain . here malignant feavers , bloody fluxes , and other dire diseases began to reign again , which some of the retinue had caught and contracted , by visiting infectious cottages , as also by eating much fruit , and drinking wine cooled excessively in snow , which the turks had procured , but one only dyed . here likewise , while the priest was at mass , three bulgarians brought two bears and a cub , which were taught to dance and wrestle at the sound of a cymball , which while some unadvisedly minded more than their prayers , the basha , that observ'd it , was displeas'd in that manner , that he commanded them to be beaten away . on the seven and twentieth we arriv'd at ormandli , where we saw a moschee , a caravansaria , and a handsom stone-bridge . the next place was mustapha-basha-cupri , where there is a royal hau , or caravansaria , which i thought to describe in my return from constantinople , for in our passage thither we say without the towns , in the open fields in tents , or in waggons . but this structure being regal , and the best i have seen , i think it now best to acquaint the reader with it , who may easily fancy a spatious oval court , and opposite to the gate that leads in , a high and stately porch , on both sides of which , a building as vast , as magnificently cover'd with lead , is presented to the eye . 't is supported by four and twenty pillars of marble , which are of that bigness , they cannot be fathom'd , and resembles two huge barns joyn'd together , as aforesaid . within on each hand , besides the main wall ( where the light comes in at several little slits ) is a wall two cubits high , and as broad , and about some ten foot distance from each other , several chimneys are erected for the service of passengers , as well to dress their meat , as to warm them in the winter . the said wall serves for bedsteads , for tables , stools and other conveniencies , which the common inns in christendom afford . there are no partitions , but all things clear and obvious to others ▪ when you eat or lye down ; and the same roof is for camels and horses , as i said said before , which are ty'd to rings fastened to posts . 't is easily to be imagined what sleep and repose the weary traveller may expect , and what smells and what noises he must be subject to . at the gate , hay and barley ( for i saw no oats in turky ) and wood too are commonly sold , but the provision for the horses is ordinarily the best , for besides ill bread , and wine ( which is usually good ) if the travellers meet with any flesh or fish , they must dress it themselves , if they have no servants with them . these are the inns in turky , and the place takes the name from caravana , which is a company that travel together , for 't is not safe in turky to travel alone . this place is likewise famous for an excellent bridge of white stones , which resembles that of ratisbone , or prague , as well for the breadth as the length . hither cavalier simon a rheningen , who had been the emperours resident seventeen years in constantinople , came to wait on the ambassadour , who receiv'd him with all kindness and respect , by whom , when his excellency had gladly been inform'd , the grand signior was at adrianople , preparation was made for our departure ; but before we went hence , hassan-basha , our commissaries son ( a youth of good meen , and of a comely countenance ) came to wait on his father , who sent him after dinner to kiss his excellencies hands , who treated him courteously , and gave him a watch of good value . in the morning betimes we marched away , and the same day arriv'd in a campagnia , within two hours of adrianople , where the ambassadour continued two dayes in his tents , which were pitch'd near the banks of the river hebrus aforesaid . on the first of august , the glorious and anniversary day of the battel of saint gotard , where the pride of the ottoman scepter was depressed in some measure , by the slaughter of above twelve thousand men of the flower of the army , the ambassadour , in a very solemn manner , past through the turkish camp ( the army , to the number of thirty thousand , lying then near the city in tents ) towards adrianople in the following order . the quarter-master , with two of the turkish attendants , preceded , and vvas followed by the gentleman of the horse to the ambassadour , vvith his excellencies led horses . the pages vvere next , and after them eight trumpetters , with their trumpets of silver , but they vvere not to sound them , and the kettle-drum was as silent . signore lelio de luca , the ambassadours steward , with the squadron of his excellencies servants , and those of the cavaliers his comrades followed next , to whom two hundred chiauses were added , and among them many sons of the better sort of turks . several persons of honour of several nations went next , as baron fin , baron coronini , the baron de rech , the lord hay , marquis chasteauvieux , the baron of funffkerken , the marquis pecori , marquis durazzo , the duke of holstein incognito , and the honourable edward howard of norfolk . then the banner of the embassy very richly embroyder'd , was carried by count sterhaimb , which ( though rouled up , the arrogancy of that monarchy permitting no potentates colours to be display'd before the sultan ) yet on one side our lady trampling on the head of the dragon , and on the other the imperial eagle were sufficiently discover'd . on count sterhaimbs right hand my lord rode , and the earl of herberstein on his left . the emperours resident was next with a train of his servants , then the ambassadours guard , and his excellency himself , whose venerable beard joyn'd to his tall stature , together with his very rich habit , and cap , where he wore a rare feather of herons beset with noble diamonds , allur'd the spectators , and drew their eyes upon him . on the right hand of his excellency rode the chiaus-basha , the marshal of the court , and the aga of the spahyes on the left . signore panniotti a grecian , and interpreter to both the emperours , came behind with the secretary of the embassy , john frederick metzger , doctor of the civil law , and signore wachina the ambassadours private interpreter . on both sides his excellency , a hundred janizaries attended , to keep off the people . two hundred spahys with their coats of mail , quivers and lances follow'd in the rear , and behind them the ambassadours litter , with four coaches with six horses apiece : and lastly , a hundred and ninety waggons with the baggage . in this manner we passed to the city of adrianople , through the midst of the ottoman camp , by the grand visiers tent , and near the serraglio , while the grandees of the court stood admiring and gazing on the pomp of this embassy , which rather represented the glory and triumph of the emperour of the west , then a salutation and an address to the monarch of the east . and afterwards we heard , that the sultan himself , who , together with his mother , his wife , and two brothers , sate behind a thin curtain , and with joy and admiration was a spectator like others , and observ'd all things curiously , said , that in all kinds he had never seen the like . it was noon e're we came to our quarters , which were in the suburbs on the other side of the town , and how gladly we got thither , the reader may imagine , since the heats were so excessive , we could hardly endure them . the next day the grand visier sent his excellency a present , of several sorts of fruits , to the number of thirty baskets ; to the bringers of which , the ambassadour commanded thirty crowns to be given . some other few dayes were spent in receiving and giving reciprocal complements . the city of adrianople ( call'd anciently oreste ) is partly seated on the top , and partly on the descent of a hill , on that side , where the rivers tunza and harda loose their names in the marissa . 't is the best , and most considerable town between strigonium and constantinople , the buildings whereof are as good as any other in turky , and the air more sweet and temperate than any in romania . on the sixth his excellency was conducted by the chiaus-basha to the grand visiers tent , where after the ceremonies perform'd on each side , the ambassadour delivered him the emperours letters , which had this address : strenuo & magnifico viro , achmet bassa serenissimi turcarum imperatoris supremo vezirio sincere nobis dilecto . his excellency likewise presented him from the emperour , with gifts of a very great value , and the grand visier gave him a caftan lin'd with sables , to the worth of a thousand dollars , as also the horse and furniture he had lent him , when his excellency made his entrance into adrianople . a hundred caftans were likewise then distributed among the ambassadours comrades , and others of the retinue . here we had the news , that part of the serraglio at constantinople was burnt , and above two hundred houses consum'd , in so much that a little before the queen-mother and the sultana return'd in haste thither . and now since the season of the year put the sultan in mind of visiting his maritine castles ( a thing he had designed before ) the ambassadours audience was hastened . on the eleventh a hundred chiauses and two hundred janizaries , very early in the morning , came to wait on the ambassadour , and conduct him to the serraglio , and the grand visier , as formerly , sent horses accordingly , so as we marched thither in a very solemn manner . in the inward court his excellency alighting , was usher'd into the divan ( the place where the visiers meet three times a week to do justice ) here six of them ( the arbiters and disposers of all things in asia and europe ) expected his arrival , and the grand visier met him , and courteously receiving him , made him sit in a rich chair . then that the pomp and ostentation of the ottoman greatness might more visibly appear , he caused the sum of three hundred and seventy five thousand dollars , to be distributed before us , among the souldiers and officers of the court , ( the pay for three months ) which they usually receive on the dayes the grand signior gives audience to ambassadours . the janizaries stood unarm'd in a row , with their armes across and their faces downward , but towards the divan , and over against them fifteen little field-pieces of brass . on the other side were the spahys ; and as the several captains were call'd by a list , some of that troop or company followed them , to receive their pay in red leather-purses ( each purse containing five hundred dollars ) which they threw on their shoulders , and carried away in that manner . this lasted near two hours , and then dinner followed . at the first table was the ambassadour , with the resident , the grand visier , and another of great quality . the cavaliers were disposed here and there at other tables , with the other visiers . the rest of the retinue sate like taylers on the ground , where skins of red leather were spread in the nature of carpets , where the meat was set thick . the greatest pomp of the dishes , besides flesh and fish , were things made of sugar , of musk and ambergreece , and the drink was only water and sherbett , but the attendants finely clad , and very numerous . while we were at dinner , the presents from the emperour ( which were in great abundance , and inestimable in a manner ) were carried by the turks through the court , that the people might see them , and all curiosities be satisfied , as well with the number as the variety of the gifts . dinner being ended , and forty caftans distributed , ( without which no access to the sultan , who gave fewer than the grand ▪ visier his minister ) the capigi-basha inform'd the visiers , the grand signior was ready for the audience , who immediately waited on him , and after their low reverences stood about him in their places ▪ then the ambassadour was led and usher'd in , and the cavaliers soon after introduced in order , between two of the turks of good quality ; and no sooner were admitted , and had made their obeissances , but dismissed as soon . the persons that had admittance , were the residents , the cavaliers a renninghen , and casanova , my lord , count herberstein , the marquisses durazzo , and pecori , the honourable edward howard of norfolk , count sterhaimb , the barons of binnendorff , funffkercken , hay , coro●ini , fin , vernavel , and ree● , together with the s●cre●… and interpreter of the embassy . all being retired and gone , but the ambassadour , the resident , and the interpreter , this last presented the emperours letters to the ambassadour , and he to the sultan , who resplendent and glittering with his gold and his gems ( which no where are fixed , but carried by camels wheresoever he goes ) look'd rather like one from a bed than a throne . after the complements on the part of the emperour , the publick and private causes of the embassy were briefly recited . the sultan reply'd , he was glad to hear of the emperours health , and bad the ambassadour welcome . as to what might conduce to the happiness of both empires , he said very little , but bad the ambassadour go to constantinople , whence he would not long be absent , his maritime expedition being over , after which the ambassadour ( who alone kist the hem of his garment ) repeating his obeissances , returned to his quarters . on the thirteenth his excellency sent the gentleman of his horse , to present the grand signior with a noble and rich coach , together with seven neopolitan horses , and four irish greyhounds . on the sixteenth the grand visier entertained the ambassadour , and the cavaliers with him , at a dinner , in a palace without the city , belonging to the mufti , who is as a pope , or high-priest to the turks ▪ and was also there . when they had din'd , a hundred turks well mounted and clad , for the divertisement of his excellency , shew'd rare feats of horsemanship , darting staves at one another , with such vigour and agility , that 't was a kind of wonder , how they possibly could decline them , though two or three were dangerously hurt , if not kill'd . on the three and twentieth the grand signior came out of the serraglio with great pomp and state , and passed through the city to his tent in the camp , in order to his motion towards gallipolis , but staid there some dayes , by reason of the heats , not returning into the serraglio , unless by disguize , or in the night , as the fashion is there , when he publickly comes forth , in order to any progress or journey . during our stay at adrianople , which was near a month , i had the opportunity of conversing with an italian renegado , who acted there the part of a physitian . by his and others help on the place , i had the information of some things , which usually to strangers are not so clear and obvious ▪ and having now some leisure , i shall prosecute the relation i left off at belgrade . and first of the rigour of the turks . the mahometans are severe in their punishments , and for the least fault beat commonly the offenders on the soles of their feet , sometimes on the belly , and buttocks , and other parts of the body , which is used most to janizaries , from which the best and greatest amongst them are hardly exempt , but when they pay the forfeiture with their heads . for at mahomet agas tent , who was our conductor , at a small town between buda and belgrade , because the captain of the castle , who commanded in chief in that and many other petty places adjacent , came not early enough to pay him his respects , as soon as he arriv'd , he was by our conductor aforesaid , as he sate cross-legg'd , after a little rubbing in turkish , kickt down with a foot on his breast , and so lying on his back , his leggs ( as the custom is there , which i wrote of before ) were straightwayes held up , till our aga , in six or seven blows , broak the biggest end of a great and strong stick on his feet , which was done in a trice , e're my lord ( who was in the tent with the cholerick aga ) could rise up , and catch him by the arm , to hinder him from striking any more ; for his lordship was struck with compassion , to behold a reverend old man of seventy years of age , with a long and milk white beard to his girdle , so treated and us'd ; and had not my lord tugged hard , and been of some credit with the aga , he swore he would have given him at least threescore blows , and bad the poor old governour thank only my lord for his clemency . yet as soon as e're 't was over , he sate down again with the rest in the tent , and had coffee given to him , which by reason of his smarting , he seeming not so readily to drink , and muttering only , that in almost sixty years , that he had serv'd the grand signior , he had not been beaten before ; had not my lord , with others there present , intreated for him , he had been put in chains , and sent away that evening to the visier of buda , who , as they affirm'd , would have caused his head to be quickly strucken off , without hearing him speak , or examining the matter . the like or worse treatment was intended to the cadis of the place , for having , like the captain aforesaid , deferred his duty ; but he hearing , it seems , of the others rude fate , fled away , and lay concealed all night in the vineyards , not returning to his station till after our departure . this cadis is a judge in all respective places , as well of civil persons as affairs , and hath as great a power in all legal matters , as the governour in military , they two being the sharers and arbiters of all things within their jurisdiction and verge , and only accountable to the next visier or basha , whose government it lyes under ; and yet notwithstanding our commissary aforesaid , so deputed by the visier of buda , bore all along the journey such absolute authority , as i said , over all such persons in every place we passed . another example occurs to my memory , while we actually resided at adrianople . 't is the fashion in the ottoman serraglio , when the sultan goes publickly abroad , to give a gracious nod to the officers of his court , for which the chiaus-basha , in the name of the rest , gives thanks to his majesty , and cryes out alowd , long live our emperour , the king , &c. the said chiaus-basha , when the sultan went into the camp near the city of adrianople , forgetting his duty , or employ'd about some business , neglected or omitted the usual ceremonies , his princes gracious nod oblig'd him to . the emperour dissembled it then , but arriving at the camp , inform'd the grand visier of the fault , who hastning to his tent , caus'd the instruments to be brought , where the feet of offenders are put in and beaten . while all the great officers , which standing round about , beheld one another ( for none was yet design'd for the punishment ) were guessing at the nocent : the chiaus-basha was commanded to lie down , and had a hundred blows on the soles of his feet , which no sooner were over , and he recovering his legs , but he fell down at the grand visiers feet , endeavouring to kiss his vest , and be restor'd to his favour . but the grand visier raging , turn'd his back upon him , and calling him villain , bad him ever for the future to be carefuller of his duty , for otherwise he would order him to be strangled . the wretch indur'd this usage with patience , and the next day they were both again at court , each one in his office , as if nothing the day before had at all interven'd . for the government of their provinces , 't is alwayes triennial , and ordinarily the grand signior sends persons from the court , who have seen no other light than that of the serraglio , and yet when the emperour bestows a charge on any , they say , at the same time , god gives him understanding and conduct to exercise and manage the same . the grandees , when out of the field , lead luxurious and lazy lives , passing most their time in eating and debauchery , the worst of which sodomy is so frequent among them , as when 't is not forced , 't is hardly look'd upon as a vice. for their military discipline in general , it is a meer confusion , and supply'd alone by force . and as for their forts , they are naked and pitiful works , for they repair nothing , except peradventure some frontier town or castle , and those but poorly neither , for unless by the help of renegadoes ( of which , though they have of all nations , yet 〈◊〉 of any note , or consi 〈…〉 ) they know not how well to go about to do it . the like want of care is observed in their houses , and gardens , and all sorts of buildings ( except the publick works ) which we may the less wonder to see go to ruine , in regard , as i told you before , almost all look no farther , then for their own lives , which depend upon the malice or caprise of the respective governours ; nay , should they make the least ostentation and pomp of being rich ( as i intimated before ) straight that is crime enough to cut off their heads , and confiscate their estates , as it often arrives to some wealthy basha or visier , whose head is cut off by a couple of chiauses , or messengers , in his own house or tent , though he have a hundred servants about him , nay , perhaps many thousands of souldiers in his view , and under his command . many of their villages are built like souldiers huts , few or none of the houses being cover'd with tile , and the cow-houses commonly in england much sweeter and cleanlier . the village walls resemble those in hungary , but are something worse , being only long stakes thrust into the ground , and crossed through like basket-work , and so dawbed all over on both sides with mud and dirt. but their publick buildings , as garavansarias or hanes , as also their baths , bridges , causies and fountains , which almost all the way , in every dayes journey we met with , are very stately things , their religion directs them to make , and the more easily great persons perswade themselves to , in regard they know not sometimes which way to dispose of their riches when they dye , having little assurance , that other dispositions will stand good and take place . wherefore to eternize their memories here , they make often vast expences of this kind , and endow them with perpetual revenues , for the publick good of passengers . nay , some out of particular devotion and charity , give meat to dogs and birds , causing holes to be made on their grave-stones and monuments , as receptacles of water for the fowls of the air , some of which , as particularly turtles , are so tame and so foolish ( being seldom shot at , or molested by the turks ) as i have seen in the journey , when some of the company had shot and kill'd several from a tree , the others would sit still unconcern'd , and the same bird , if missed at first , would commonly sit still to be afterwards kill'd . this priviledge and liberty of shooting on the way was not indulged to us , because we were strangers , and of another faith , but as being of the ambassadours train , whose errand and business , in that it related to peace and commerce , which then was very grateful to the turks , gave us all sort of harmless conversation and freedom , and generally made them civil and obliging to us , since never any embassy was so pompous and glorious , nor any ambassadour so welcome , as the insuing relation will instance to the reader . the hungarians averse to the peace with the turks , in regard his imperial majesty ( of whom they had desired , that one of their own nation might be joyn'd with count lesley in the embassy into turky ) had denyed their request , the hussars of filleck , with several of the neighbouring inhabitants , uniting themselves to the number of six hundred , made an incursion thirty leagues into the country , and plundering all the villages about waia , the very day before the ambassadour arrived there , return'd with a considerable booty . this insolency of the hungarians , in a time of peace and amity , and so near the ambassadour ( whom they had a design to involve in some labyrinth of trouble and affront ) was as highly resented by his excellency as the turks , who ( considering the enormity of the fact ) as they made very just , and very grievous complaints to the ambassadour , so they might by requiring satisfaction , in all probability , have lessen'd their civilities to his person ; yet they ceas'd not to treat him with all respect and honour , and the governour of the place sent his excellency a present of several sorts of provision . but many of the commonalty were as clownish and ignorant , as the better sort were courteous ; for when on the road we askt by an interpreter , how far , or how many hours journey it was to such a place , they knew not what an hour or mile meant . 't is true , that near the confines of hungary they have some great clocks , else generally they measure the day by their several times of praying and eating , which is sooner or later , as the dayes and nights lengthen or decrease . at dinner time often , as we travell'd along , they would come and stand round about the table , and wonder at our hats ( which many carried with them ) our fans , gloves , &c. and some among them bolder than the rest , with civil meen enough , would take them up into their hands , when laid aside by us , to feel and put them on . the ordinary sort also , when we plaid at cards or tables , would gaze , and stand so near about the table , that often we were forced to becken to the janizaries , to make them stand off , who , on the least sign of displeasure , would baste them like dogs , as they served an arabian , who being a bravo amongst them , and marching with a spear , thrust through his naked body on purpose , with several arrows pierced through the flesh of both armes , for not making haste enough out of the way , as we passed along , was cruelly cudgell'd and bang'd by a janizary , sometimes on the back , and sometimes on his sides , and even the arrows or spear as it lighted , without the least regard to the posture he was in , which to us , unacquainted with spectacles of that nature , was pitiful and compassionate , as others were bizarre and extravagant , particularly those of the horsemen , some having huge wings on their backs , and others odd ▪ and various kinds of feathers on their heads , with phantastical caps , and other strange marks , to shew how many christians they had killed . the foot too , to demonstrate their actions in the wars , are distinguish'd from the rest , by their several sorts of dresses and caps , of many shapes and colours , which they animate one another to deserve , by perswading themselves , that he , who dyes fighting in the field against the christians , gains paradise presently , a place ( as they describe it ) most sutable to their sensual delights . we met with very few that are literate , and those which are so , reap little satisfaction by their reading , since they have no printed books . but i cannot omit the cleanliness of the turks , who , as they had occasion to ▪ urine , still kneel'd with one knee at the least on the ground , and afterwards wash'd their hands , as they do still before and after their eating , which with them is as often as their prayers , four or five times a day , for though at several hours they do eat , yet the chief time with them is about ten of the clock in the morning , when they they usually feast best ; as when our conductor entertained and treated the ambassadour , which was in this manner . first , he rose up when his excellency came into the tent , and bidding him welcome , and the cavaliers with him , sate down again with them , who had each a cushion on the ground , the ambassadour alone having two , to raise him a little higher , for his legs were not so plyable in sitting tayler-wise like the rest , yet he would not use a chair , though they offered him one , he being then incognito , and that no time of ceremony . when they were thus set a little , two pages of the commissary ( tall fellows , and forty years old ) came to each of the guests , and covering their heads and faces with a fine striped taffaty , which they held over them , continued it so , till another with a silver incense had perfum'd and smoak'd their faces and heads . that done , and the incense remov'd , another silk cloath was laid cross the lap and the knees of the guests , whom another great page brought rose-water to , with which they wash'd their faces and beards . when that was taken away , a linnen-cloath was laid , as the other , on their knees , and coffee given to them . after this they brought sherbett , which is pleasant enough , when perfum'd with amber-greece , and made of several juyces of fruits , according to the season , which is mixed and dissolved in water , and then brought to drink . and lastly , tobacco ( unless in or near the court , where it is prohibited ) is offer'd those that like it , when commonly the discourse doth begin . when dinner time approached , they all first washed as they sate , then they spread in the middle , about the upper end of the tent , a round leather-table-cloath on the ground , the floor being almost all over ( especially at the head of the tent , and round the sides of it ) ever cover'd with carpets . to this table they remov'd , and sate round as many as could , which is seldom above ten , on the middle of which is set first a foot , and then a round table , which is commonly of pewter or tin ( for the grand signior only uses gold , though forbidden by their law ) and rais'd about two handfuls high , in shape ( though much bigger ) like our assiets or stands . in the middle of this table is set ( and never but one at once ) a great round bason of the same metal , fill'd full of meat , the first being ever of tender roasted mutton , or the like , cut all in joynts and bits , which often on great dayes , and feasts , is smoaked with perfumes e're it comes to the table . the boyl'd meats are also so tender , as with ease they may be pulled in pieces , since knives are never used at meals . many soops of milks and spoon-meats are served in afterwards , which with long wooden-spoons , or ovalladles rather , they reach . brown bread is cut before-hand , and in long slices thrown on the table , both to eat and serve for trenchers , on which they gave and put away their bones , as they pleased , or flung them on the table , as the turks us'd to do , and fresh bread was as frequently given as demanded , though the turks eat commonly their trenchers . sherbetts are also given as oft as called for , and not as some write , only once at the end of the dinner , which being now over , 't is fit i should rise and be gone . on the seven and twentieth of august , very early in the morning , we departed from adrianople , and passing the river hebrus , over a great and long bridge , march'd by the turkish camp , the trumpets all sounding , and the kettle-drum beating by his excellencies command . about noon we arrived a hapsa , and the next day a baba , a pretty little town . the next place was borgas , and afterwards caristeran , near which in a campagnia , by a fine little stream , we took up our quarters . on the last of the month we came to chiurlu , and the first of september to simenly , a very poor village . the next day betimes we got to selivrea , call'd formerly selymbria , or the city of selys , for eria in the old thracian language doth signifie a city , other cities of thrace having the like termination , as olymbria and mesembria . the town is very pleasant , being seated on a hill , ●nd by the sea-side , where usually ( when the wind is propitious ) boats are hired ●or constantinople . from hence we remov'd to ponte grande , where we passed four stone-bridges , with●n a little distance of each other , which crossed an arm of the sea. ponte picciolo received us ●ext , where we met with fresh occasions of joy , for ●ere the long-look'd for rodolphus , the courier from vienna overtook us , and brought welcome letters out of christendom . our last station but one was within two hours journey of constantinople , where we staid two dayes in tents , while all things were prepar'd for our advance to that city ; in order to which , the same day we removed , my lord of winchelsea , his majesties then ambassadour sent his secretary and train , together with the english merchants , to complement and accompany his excellency , whose entrance into constantinople was pompous and solemn , and with all the usual ceremonies of greatness . my lord , ( though he had a fair quarter assign'd him near his excellency ) yet invited before to my lord of winchelseas house , directly went thither , with his brother and retinue , and was very nobly receiv'd and entertain'd . i , who for a while had been sick ( even to death ) in the journey , soon found my recovery there , by my noble lord of winchelseas favour , and my ladies greatest charity and goodness , whose incomparable vertues surpassing all expression , i can only with gratitude commemorate , and with silence admire . byzantium , the ancient name of the city , was reputed little bigger than the serraglio is now . the principal trade for fishing , especially for tunny , which in very great quantities the bosphorus yielded yearly , and o're against the point of the serraglio ( which was call'd the golden horn from the gains of the fishermen ) vast numbers were taken , being driven and frighted thither from the chalcedonian shore , by a white stone appearing in the bottom of the shallow and transparent water . constantine the great , and first christian emperour , enlarging and beautifying it with very fair buildings , and walling it round , establish'd there his seat , and nam'd it new rome , but after his death , his successor , in honour of his memory and name , caus'd it to be called constantinople . it hath since been the seat of the emperours of the east , but not without great changes of fortune , for instead of christian emperours , 't is under the power and domination of a mahometan prince , mahomet the second having taken it by assault , and sacrific'd it to the fury of his souldiers . this great disaster to christendom arriv'd in the year of our lord , one thousand four hundred fifty three , on the nine and twentieth of may , and the second day of whitsuntide , the feast of the holy ghost , against whom the greeks so often had sinn'd , god punishing them that day with the loss of their capital city , to shew them the enormity of their sin . this city , by its apt and advantagious scituation , may seem to be built to command all the world , for 't is in the extremity of europe , and separated only from asia by an arm of the sea , some half a league broad . the haven is so deep , and so safe , that ships of the greatest burthen may ride near the shore with the greatest security . the city is in general ill built , and the streets very narrow , so as in many places neither chariots nor waggons can pass . there is only one fair street , and that is but indifferently large , which traverses the town to the adrianople-gate . but the moschees built by several emperours are very noble structures , and all in imitation of sancta sophia , which is the only church preserved from ruine at the taking of constantinople , and which for the beauty of the edifice , the turks were contented to profane , by converting it into a mosque . this church was built by justinian the emperour , who for the building of it imploy'd the revenue of egypt , which continu'd seventeen years , and when he had finish'd it , and saw the beauty of it , he bragg'd he had surpassed king solomon in the structure of his temple . near it he erected a very fair monastery , where the serraglio is now , and endowed it with a revenue of eight hundred thousand crowns , maintaining nine hundred priests there for the service of the temple . near sancta sophia , the serraglio ( divided from the city by a wall , and wash'd on two sides by the sea ) contains three miles in circuit , which , the goodly groves of cypresses considered , the gardens and fountains , with the plains , and other objects of delight , is a place of variety of pleasure . i speak very sparingly of the serraglio , because several others have said enough of it , and more than is usually discover'd to strangers . in the great piazza ( which the greeks call'd the hippodrome , and the emperours design'd for the races of horses ) we saw two antick pyramids , three brazen serpents so wreathed and twined together , that nothing is free but the head. near the end of the town , towards the north , the ruines of the ancient palace of constantine remain , where so many christian emperours had formerly their residence , and near the said ruines , is the church and habitation of the patriarch of constantinople . there are several great places in the city , which are called besestines , which resemble our exchanges , where all sorts of things may be bought , and there is too a market of slaves , where they sell men and women , in the last of which the jews traffick much , and gain extreamly by , for they buy them young and handsome , and teaching them to work with the needle , to dance , sing and play on several instruments , put them off with great advantage , which they do too out of policy , as well as for lucre , for the women thus preferr'd to the court , out of gratitude to the jews , do them many good offices . in the middle of the city is the old serraglio , which mahomet the second built , as well for his own , as his successours residence , but they liking the new better , as being more healthful and pleasanter , abandon'd it to the service of the grand signiors women when he dyes , where they languish out the residue of their dayes . the armenians have a great space inclos'd in the city , where the patriarch inhabits , whose church is poor and little , and there are yet the remains of a hall , where a councel was held . there are two great inclosures , where the janizaries are lodg'd , when the army is out of the field , where they live in great order and discipline . in an angle of the city is the castle of the seven towers , where the sultan keeps the prisoners of note he puts not to death , and here sultan osman was strangled by his subjects . the burrough of galata , which is separated by the haven , hath much better houses than the city , for it belonging to the genoueses was surrendred on composition , and so kept from ruine , and this is the reason the churches of the catholicks were preserv'd and intire . here and at pera the christians for the most part inhabit , where they have the free exercise of their churches and religion . o're against the serraglio , on the asian shore , is the burrough of scutary , where the caravanes meet together , which go into persia , to aleppo , and damascus , and other eastern parts . on the side of the said scutary , are the fragments and remains of the ancient city chalcedon , so celebrated for the general councel in the time of the emperour martianus . the shore of the thracian bosphorus ▪ ( which discharges its waters into the mediterranean ) is full of pleasant villages and houses of delight , and at the mouth of it ( some eighteen miles distant from constantinople ) on a rock which advances into the sea , in the form of near an island , is a pillar of white marble , which is called pompey's pillar , erected , as reported , when he defeated mithridates . about two or three leagues from the town , where the channel is most narrow , two castles well provided of artillery are built , to hinder the passage of vessels they are willing to stop . round about the town there are nothing but grave-stones and monuments of the dead , which no sooner we had past , but the countrey was as fertile as pleasant , the valleys and hills being variously beautified with objects of pleasure . three leagues from the city there is a vast confluence of waters , conserv'd in a cistern of a very great circuit and magnitude , not far from which place , to joyn and bring two mountains together , three arches are erected , the one above the other , from whence the water runs in that plenty to the city , that besides the publick fountains , and those in the houses of bashas , eight hundred are supply'd in the moschees . as for the provisions of constantinople , there is no want of any thing , wheat , wine and flesh of all sorts , being there in great abundance and cheapness , and as for the fish , there are alwayes great quantities of the same , and those very good , as turbuts , soles , mullets and the like , as during our stay there , which was above three months , we found by experience . but to return to the ambassadour , the camacan of constantinople sent two galleys to his excellency ( each galley , having four hundred and eighty six oars , and five men at an oar , all christians , but most of them russians and polanders ) to carry him with his comrades ▪ and retinue , to a pleasant garden-house on the bosphorus , where he feasted us nobly , and for the ambassadours divertisement , caused dancings ▪ and tricks to be shew'd after dinner , but on our way thither , the galley his excellency was in , ran foul on another , and was in some danger . on the third of october the sultan return'd from his maritime expedition , and the grand visier feasted the ambassadour at his garden . on the tenth of november his excellency had his second and last audience of the sultan ( no ambassadour having oftner than twice , to wit , at his coming and going away ) in order to which , the grand visier sent him horses and furniture for himself and his retinue . he enter'd into the serraglio at the principal gate near sancta sophia , which was guarded by five and twenty capigis , or porters , where we saw a spacious court , and a fabrick on the left hand , which anciently was the sacristy to sancta sophia , but the turks keep the armes there at present which they took from the christians , as well as the taking of constantinople , as in other rencounters . on the right hand is a structure , which serves for an infirmary for the sick of the serraglio . this court we rode into , but alighted at the second , which was guarded as the former , and his excellency was received with the same state and ceremony , as before at adrianople . on the eighteenth the ambassadour and resident din'd with the grand visier , who gave them caftanns , which were lined with sables . on the third of december the grand signior hunted , a sport he loves much , and is in this manner . several thousands of peasants beat and drive a whole wood , while the sultan and his followers stand in an open place with the dogs , which run at any game , sparing nothing that comes forth , though unfit to be kill'd . when the sultan had done , the grand visier presented him with five purses of dollars , as also with two vests , the two vests he disliked , and four of the purses he gave to his pages , and the other among the peasants , who frequently , when the grand signior hunts , through extremity of cold , are frozen to death in the woods . on the seventh the ambassadour had audience of the grand visier , and on the tenth of the testardar , or treasurer general , both of which gave caftanns . but the day of our departure being come ( which was on the one and twentieth instant ) the ambassadour full of glory ( though many of his train had been swept away by death ) went away with a greater retinue , by the addition of the captives , which he carried with him . o how the poor christians , which he left sad behind , regretted the loss and the absence of that guest , from whom they had received such abundance of comfort , and now were apprehensive , they should never see again . we went not away in the order and manner we came , for the ambassadour being gone , all that were in waggons , afraid to be hindmost , made all the haste they could , and some made more haste than good speed , for between constantinople and ponte picciolo ( the place of our abode for that night ) many waggons were unserviceable by their jostling one another , till refitted and amended , and here lay a wheel , and there a broken axeltree . the next morning we departed , and continuing our journey towards belgrade , returned the same way by which we came thence , nothing intervening of moment , only at sackarcoi , an arabian with his torch in his hand ( who led us in the dark ) and some others with their bufali , were frozen to death , while they slept on the ground . doctor metzger likewise , the secretary of the embassy , as also of the councel of war to the emperour , who fell mad at constantinople , expired at nissa , and was buried near the town in the sepulchre of the raguseans . at belgrade ( where we staid till the thirteenth of february , the day of our departure ) i wanting some gloves , desired a jew to help me to a pair , which he readily undertook , and brought several to me , but all for one hand , for the turks were but one . two dayes being spent in ferrying the horses , the coaches and waggons over the river of sava , ( where the turks with their whips forced all idle gazers to lend a helping hand ) on the fourteenth we came to colombitza , a village under ground , the houses of which we were glad to creep into on our knees . nitrovitz was next , where we staid the following day , and then came to valkovar and esseck , the latter of which is a walled town , where we saw a great gun , which was nineteen foot long , and several heads of christians , which were set up on poles . the streets were plank'd with timber , and we past a wooden-bridge three or four miles in length , which was over the drava , and the many moorish places we met with . without the town was a gaunch , or double gallows , full of hooks , on which malefactors were thrown headlong down , and as they were caught , had either a quicker , or a lingering death . the next place was bernovar , then mohachz , and afterwards battaseck . secksar , a place finely seated ( where we saw the remains of an old christian church , and the ruines of a large building ) was our station for two dayes , and pax received us next . footvar , tschankurtaran and erchin , all towns on the danube , we passed through afterwards , and arrived at buda , some two miles from whence we were met by the spahyes , and march'd through the janizaries , which on both sides the way stood expecting us in their armes , while many great guns were discharged from the castle and city . here we staid thirteen dayes , and sixty slaves , hungarians and germans , were released ; the visier shewing the ambassadour all imaginable civility , and causing the like skirmish on horseback , to be done and perfomed at buda , as was before at adrianople for his excellencies divertisement . while we staid in this town , the turks had their ramasan or lent , which continues a whole moon , and changes every year , during which time , they neither eat nor drink till the stars do appear , and then they eat and drink what they will , and all the night too if they please , at what time burning lamps are set round all the steeples of the moschees , which make a fine shew . the ramasan being over , they feast three dayes together and rejoyce , that being their biram or easter . on the fourteenth of march we departed from buda , two hundred horse conducting , and the turkish trumpets sounding as we march'd , for at least a league together . that day we came to veruwar , and the next to strigonium or gran , the begue of which place in his coat of male , met us out of the town with five hundred horse , and two companies of foot. the castle is on a hill , and the prospect from thence towards the danube most pleasing and alluring , the eye being boundless and wearied , as it were , with objects of delight ; but the town looks like a carcass , no care being taken for repairing of the walls . the seat of an archbishop is turn'd into a cottage , and of sacred become profane . the chappel of saint adalbert is employ'd in mahometan uses , yet still on the wall the annunciation of our lady remains , and escaped the fury of the souldiers , which destroy'd all things else . in the suburbs there 's a pond which continually smoaks , where frogs croak all the winter , which is caused by the much sulphureous matter in the bottom . and not far from the city a sad spectacle was seen , to wit , many heads of poor christians pil'd up on a heap , which exceeded a thousand . they were taken at barchan , and kill'd in cold blood by the visiers command , who to satiate his unquenchable thirst of humane slaughter , had them pickt out one by one , and kill'd before his face , as he lay in his tent. after three dayes stay at gran , we advanced to nemeth , and the next day arrived at hatch , the place of exchange , and our much desired haven . but we met even here with some difficulties and stops ▪ the turkish ambassadour returning from vienna to comorra , and minding more his interest then the honour of his master , hover'd there up and down , on one pretence or other , but would not quit the place , unless he first receiv'd an arrear of some pay of the emperours allowance . in the mean time count lesley , who on a great plain ( where no meat could be had , nor any the least shelter from the wind and the cold , which were very piercing and great ) stood expecting his arrival , and had continued there some six or seven hours , grew impatient at his stay . the five hundred horse , which convoy'd us from gran , and were ignorant of the cause , were amaz'd , and so unsatisfied , that they drew up together , and began to look about them : the motion and agitation of our bodies , was the only means we had of resisting the weather , while the messengers went between , but still without success . the obstacle was discover'd at last , and 't was publickly divulg'd , that the ottoman ambassadours pretensions to money , which had been made good , and otherwise allow'd him , occasion'd that disorder . this no sooner was known , but resented by his excellency , with the greatest indignation , who in so long a journey had not made the least scruple in any thing of that nature , but still preferr'd the glory of the emperour his master , and the publick advantage , before his own private concerns . when he therefore saw with whom he was to deal , he resolv'd to go back with all his retinue to buda , and acquaint the visier there with the turkish ambassadours sordid nature and avarice ; in order to which he caused his coachman to turn about his horses , and bad him go on . but the basha of funfkircken and the begue of strigonium ( more sensible of the grand signiors honour than the turkish ambassadour ) besought him to desist from that purpose , and promis'd their ambassadour should quickly leave comorra , and if he should be refractory , they with their own hands would force him from the town . the turkish ambassadour was summon'd accordingly , and durst not disobey , but came towards the evening , and the ambassadours soon after , with the same state and ceremony as before , arriv'd at the middle post , and made the exchange . passing by comorra ( which welcom'd our return into christendom with the discharge of many cannon ) we came very late to a village ; which was tributary to the turks . the next day about noon we arriv'd at raab , where count montecuculi the governour met us out of the town , to which as we approached , the great guns proclaimed our arrival and welcome , and not only the souldiers drawn out of the garrison , but those too on the works gave us several volleys . the next day was dedicated to feasting and mirth , the cannon in the garrison amounting to one hundred and sixty , being all discharg'd for joy . the mahometans ( when masters of the town ) made under the market-place , a deep and dismal prison , which hath no other light , but that which goes in at the top through great iron bars . thither several poor turks ( faln into the pit designed for others ) came up to breath fresh air , and beg some relief , which was readily given them . we lodg'd the three and twentieth at altemburg , and dining the next day at pruk , came to swehet that evening . hither the emperour sent horses for our entrance into vienna , which when we came near , we made a halt a while , and put into order , march'd two and two abreast to the emperours palace ; all the streets we past through , and the windows on both sides being throng'd with spectactors . the ambassadour alightting at the palace aforesaid , went up the great stairs , and passing through the rooms came to the presence-chamber , all the cavaliers , and those of his retinue of fashion attending his excellency . then the emperour withdrew with the ambassadour alone , and when they had be●n private a while , the cavaliers were called in , who likewise for some time were together with his majesty ; after which we were admitted , and all had the honour to kiss the emperours hand . the like order was observed in our waiting on the empress , whose hand we likewise kist . i should now relate , with what joy and feasting count lesley was received by his friends and alliances , but the embassy ending here , i shall end too my relation , and give no further trouble to the reader . finis . books printed and are to be sold by tho. collins and john ford at the middle-temple gate , and spencer hickman at the rose in st. pauls church-yard . folio's . the history of the civil wars of france , written in italian by henrico caterino d'avila , the whole fifteen books translated into english , by sir charles cotterel , and william alesbury . the continuation , being in ten books . a compleat chronicle of england , began by john stowe , and continued by edmond hews . gent. with an appendix of the universities in england . cabula sive s●rinia sacra , mysteries of state and government , in letters of illustrious persons and great ministers of state , as well forreign as domestick , in the reigns of king henry the eighth , queen elizabeth , king james and k. charles i. in one volume . the compleat ambassadour , containing the letters and negotiations of sir h. walsingham , the lord bunleigh , and other eminent persons , being a perfect series of the most remarkable passages of state , both at home and abroad , in the reign of queen elizabeth of blessed memory , collected by sir dudley diggs . the history of the reign of king henry the seventh , written by the right honourable francis lord verulam , viscount st. alban . plutarch's morals , written by the learned philosopher , translated out of greek into english , and conferred with the latine and french translation , by philemon holland doctor of physick . the roman history , written by t. livius of padua : also the breviaries of l. florus ; with a chronology to the whole history , and the topography of rome in all time , translated out of latine into english , by philemon holland doctor of physick . the annals of the world , deduced from the origen of time , and continued to the beginning of the emperour vespasian's reign , and the total destruction and abolition of the temple and common-wealth of the jews , containing the history of the old and new testament , with that of the maccabees . also all the most memorable affairs of asia and egypt , and the rise of the empire of the roman cesars , under c. julius and octavianus , collected from all history , as well sacred as prophane , and methodically digested , by the most reverend james usher , archbishop of armagh , and primate of ireland . a paraphrase and annotations upon the books of the psalms , briefly explaining the difficulties thereof , by h. hammond , d. d. an historical account of the romish state , court , interest and policy , and the mighty influences of the jesuits in that church , and many other christian states , not hitherto extant , being a full discovery of all the transactions both in france and at rome , concerning the five famous propositions , controverted ▪ between the jansenists and the molinists , from the beginning of that affair till the popes decision ; written in french by monsieur de sanct. amour , doctor of sorbonne , and englished by g. havers gent. ninety six sermons , by the right honourable and reverend father in god , lancelot andrews , late lord bishop of winchester ; published by his majesties special command ; the fifth edition : whereunto is added , a sermon preached before two kings on the fifth of august , 1606. flora , ceres , & pomona , by john rea gent. the history of the wars of italy , from the year 1612. to 1644. in eighteen books , written in italian by pietro giovani capriata , doctor at law ; rendred into english by henry earl of monmouth . reports of edward bulstrode , of the inner-temple , esquire , of divers resolutions and judgments given , with great advice and mature deliberation , by the grave , reverend and learned judges and sages of the law , of cases and matters of the law , with the reasons of their said resolutions and judgments , given in the court of kings bench , in the time of the late reign of king james , and the beginning of king charles the first , in three parts . maxims of reason , or the reason of the common law of england , by edmond , wingate , of grays-inn , esquire . the practical councellour of the law , touching fines , common recoveries , judgments , and the execution thereof , statutes , recognizances and bargain and sale , collected out of the great volumes of the law , with an alphabetical table , for the ready finding out the chief things therein contained , by william shepherd esquire . the reports of sir george croke knight , in three volumes in english , allowed of by all the judges ; the second edition , carefully corrected by the original . the second part of the institutes of the laws of england , containing the exposition of magna charta , and many ancient and other statutes ; written by the lord chief justice coke ; the third edition ; with an alphabetical table added . the third part of the institutes of the laws of england , concerning high-treason , and other pleas of the crown , and criminal causes ; the fourth edition ; written by the lord chief justice coke . the fourth part of the institutes of the laws of england , concerning the jurisdiction of courts ; written by the lord chief justice coke ; the fourth edition ; with an alphabetical table , not hitherto printed . regestrum omnium brevium tam originalium , quam judicialium , correctat . & emendatum ad vetus exemplar manuscriptum , cujus beneficio , a multis erroribus purgatum , ad usus quibus inservit , redd●ium accomodatius . the eleven reports of sir edward coke translated into english : to which is added , the declarations ▪ and pleadings . the reports of the learned edmond anderson knight , late chief justice of the common bench , of many principal cases argued and adjudged in the time of the late queen elizabeth , as well in the commons bench , as before all the judges of this realm ; in two parts . narrationes modernae , or modern reports , begun in the new upper bench court at westminster , in the beginning of hillary term 21 caroli , and continued to the end of michaelmas term , 1655. by will. style of the inner-temple esquire . reports in the courts of exchequer , beginning in the third , and ending in the ninth year of the late king james , by the honourable richard lane of the middle-temple ; being the first collection in that court hitherto extant . quarto's the christian man , or the reparation of nature by grace ; written in french by that elegant and pious author , john francis serault ; englished by h. g. sometime student of christ-church oxford . potters interpretation of the number 666. or number of the beast . man become guilty , or the corruption of nature by sin , according to saint augustines sense ; written in french , and englished by the right honourable henry earl of monmouth . scrinia caeciliana , mysteries of state government in letters of the late famous lord burleigh , and other grand ministers of state , in the reigns of queen elizabeth and king james . a treatise of the forrest laws , by john manwood ; the third edition corrected and much inlarged . miscellania spiritualia , or devout essayes ; the second part ; composed by the honourable walter mountague esquire . the history of the imperial estate of the grand signiors , their habitations , lives , titles , qualities , exercises , works , revenues , habits , descent , ceremonies , magnificence , judgments , officers , favourites , religion , power , government and tyranny : to which is added the history of the court of the king of china . the touchstone of commons assurances , or a plain familiar treatise , opening the learning of the common assurances or conveyances of the kingdom , by will. sheppard esquire . reports of certain cases arising in the several courts in westminster , in the reign of queen elizabeth , king james , and the late king charles , with the resolutions of the judges of the said courts ; collected by good hands , and approved by the learned justice godbolt . the history of england , from the first traditional beginning to the norman conquest ; collected out of the ancientest and best authors , by john milton . a letter to a friend , concerning some of doctor owen's principles and practises ; to which is added an independent catechism . playes . just general , by cosmo. manuch . the faithful shepherdess , by john fletcher . michaelmas term. the phoenix . the combate of love and friendship , by doctor mead. polyeuctes , or the martyr . horatius , a tragedy . the cheats , a comedy , by john wilson gent. octavo's large . the memoires of the duke of rohan , or a faithful relation of the most remarkable occurrences in france , especially concerning those of the reformed churches there , from the death of henry the great , until the peace made with them in june 1629. together with divers politick discourses upon several occasions ; written in french by the duke of rohan , englished by george bridges of lincolns-inn esquire . the poems of horace , consisting of odes , satyres and epistles , rendred in english , and paraphrased by several persons , the second edition . a humble apology for learning and learned men , by edmond waterhouse esquire . a discourse and defence of armes and armory , shewing the nature and rises of armes and honour in england , from the camp , to the court , the city , under the two latter of which are contained universities and inns of court ; by edward waterhouse esquire . lasida pastora comoedia pastoralis . two excellent playes ; the wits , a comedy : the platonick lovers , tragi-comedy ; both presented at the private house in black-friers by his majesties servants ; by sir william davenant . an essay on the first book of t. lucretius carus de rerum ▪ natura ; interpreted and made english verse , by j. evelyn esquire . instructions concerning erecting of a library , presented to my lord the president de mesme , by j. evelyn esquire . the justice of peace his clerks cabinet , or a book of presidents or warrants , fitted and made ready to his hand , for every case that may happen within the compass of his masters office , for the ease of the justice of peace , and more speedy dispatch of justice ▪ by will. shepherd . court-keepers guide , or a plain and familiar treatise , needful and useful for the help of many that are imployed in the keeping of law-dayes or court-barons , wherein is largely and plainly opened the jurisdiction of those courts , with the learning of mannors , copyholds , rents , harriots , and other services and advantages belonging unto mannors , to the great profit belonging unto mannors and owners of these courts ; the fifth edition ; by william shepherd esquire . the office of a justice of peace , together with instructions how and in what manner statutes shall be expounded ; by w. fleetwood esquire , sometime recorder of london . reports and pleas of assizes at york ; held before several judges in that circuit ▪ with some presidents useful for pleaders at the assizes ▪ the young clerks tutor , being a most useful collection of the best presidents , of recognizances , obligations , conditions , acquittances , bills of sale , warrants of atturney , &c. as also all the names of men and women in latine , with the day and date , the several sums of money , and the addition of the several trades of imployments , in their proper cases , as they stand in the obligations , with directions of writs of habeas corpus ▪ writs of errour , &c. to the inferiour courts in cities and towns ; the whole work newly corrected and augmented . reports or causes in chancery , collected by sir george cary one of the masters of the chancery in anno 1601. out of the labours of mr. william lambert ; whereunto is annexed , the kings order and decree in chancery , for a rule to be observed by the chancellour in that court , exemplified and enrolled for a perpetual record there , anno 1616. of corporations , fraternities and guilds , or a discourse , wherein the learning of the language touching bodies politick is unfolded , shewing the use and necessity of that invention , the antiquity , various kinds , order and government of the same ; by william sheppard esquire . the golden book of saint john chrysostom , concerning the education of children , translated out of greek . common notions and advice of mr. a thevenear , advocate in parliament , dedicated to his lord the dauphin , translated out of the french copy , by will. barten esquire . a brief discourse concerning bodily worship , proving it to be gods due to be given unto him with acceptation on his part , and not to be denied without sin ▪ by simon gunton , one of the prebendaries of the cathedral church of peterborough . parsons guide of the law tythes , wherein is shewed who must pay tythes , and to whom and of what things , when and how they must be paid , and how they may be received at this day , and how a man may be discharged of payment thereof ; the second edition ▪ much inlarged throughout the whole book ; by will. sheppard esquire . steps of ascention unto god , or a ladder to heaven , containing prayers and meditations for every day of the week , and for all other times and occasions . three excellent tragedies , viz. the raging turk , or bajazet the second : the couragious turk , or amureth the first : the tragedy of orestes ; written by tho. gosse , m. a. a relation of a voyage made in the years 1695, 1696, 1697, on the coasts of africa, streights of magellan, brasil, cayenna, and the antilles, by a squadron of french men of war, under the command of m. de gennes by the sieur froger ... ; illustrated with divers strange figures, drawn to the life. relation d'un voyage fait en 1695, 1696, & 1697, aux côtes d'afrique, d'etroit de magellan, brezil, cayenne, & isles antilles, par une escadre des vaisseaux du roi, commandée par m. de gennes. english froger, françois, b. 1676. 1698 approx. 225 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 111 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a40503 wing f2233 estc r38897 18186762 ocm 18186762 106963 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a40503) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 106963) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1123:33) a relation of a voyage made in the years 1695, 1696, 1697, on the coasts of africa, streights of magellan, brasil, cayenna, and the antilles, by a squadron of french men of war, under the command of m. de gennes by the sieur froger ... ; illustrated with divers strange figures, drawn to the life. relation d'un voyage fait en 1695, 1696, & 1697, aux côtes d'afrique, d'etroit de magellan, brezil, cayenne, & isles antilles, par une escadre des vaisseaux du roi, commandée par m. de gennes. english froger, françois, b. 1676. [9], 173 [i.e. 170], [3] p., [19] leaves of plates : ill., maps. printed for m. gillyflower ...; w. freeman, m. wotton ...; j. walthoe ...; and r. parker ..., london : 1698. translated from the french-cf. nuc pre-1956 imprints. frontispiece engraved with title: a iournal of a late voyage of mr. de gennes to the straits of magellan. running title: a relation of the voyage of m. de gennes. numbers 92-95 not used in pagination. includes marginal notes. reproduction of original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels. south america -description and travel. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-03 celeste ng sampled and proofread 2007-03 celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a relation of a voyage made in the years 1695 , 1696 , 1697. on the coasts of africa , streights of magellan , brasil , cayenna , and the antilles , by a squadron of french men of war , under the command of m. de gennes . by the sieur froger , voluntier-engineer on board the english falcon. illustrated with divers strange figures , drawn to the life . london , printed for m. gillyflower in westminster-hall ; w. freeman , m. wotton in fleet-street ; j. walthoe in the temple ; and r. parker in cornhill . 1698. a iournal of a late voyage of m r. de gennes to the straits of magellan by le s r. froger to the right honourable the lord phelippeaux , count of maurepas , secretary of state , superintendant-general of maritime affairs , &c. my lord , the glorious post you are in possession of , and whereunto the judicious choice of the greatest and wisest of kings , as well as a most ripen'd capacity , hath advanced ▪ you to , doth so naturally appropriate this relation unto your self , that i cou'd not forbear , how shapeless soever the same may be , to present it to your honour : i had no other design in the first undertaking , than to compile it for my own particular instruction : but the silence of all those who made the voyage with me , constrained me to expose it to publick view . your lordship can find nothing here , which the extent of your knowledge hath not already anticipated ; for what can such a minister be ignorant of , who for the revolution of so many years , and in such hazardous times , hath sustain'd the weight of publick affairs in the most potent monarchy of the world , and whose extraction is from a family wherein science and illustrious qualities are as hereditary as nobleness of birth , and integrity of life ? wherefore , my lord , i have been so far from thinking to offer any thing new to your honour upon this occasion , that i have had no no other intention , than barely to make known the ardent desire i have to be in a condition to merit your protection by a continual application of my self to my duty , and an inviolable adherence to your lordship's will , who am with profoundest respect , my lord , your most humble , and most obedient servant , t. froger . the preface . as i have always had a passionate desire to see foreign countries , i was no sooner master of my own inclinations , but i made it my business , in the prosecution of my design , to attain to whatever might contribute to the imployment of an honest man , and to distinguish my self from those travellers , who run over the world for the sole delight they have of seeing different objects , without ever putting themselves in a condition to be useful to their country : wherefore being thus inclin'd , and assisted by the advice of my friends , i took to the study of the mathematicks , and at length , by reading the relations of others , made my self familiarly acquainted with the history of the different nations of the world. the noise which monsieur de gennes his expedition made in 1695 , determin'd my resolutions of taking that opportunity to go abroad , as believing i could not do better than to lay hold of the conveniency of so brave a voyage ; and therefore without any more ado , i abandon'd the little experience that an age of nineteen years cou'd supply me with , to the course of my fortune , came quickly to make use of the lessons i had learnt ( as well as the chief officers of the mariners ) under one of the greatest masters of the age ; and began now to come to the practick part of what i knew before but in the theory . the general idea i had formed with my self of the voyage , and the frequent conversations i had with our pilots , gave me the advantage of taking notice of all the circumstances i thought necessary to sailing ; and i am not to omit , that the long abode i have made in divers parts , giving me a real taste of the pleasure there is in seeing foreign countries ; i have with all imaginable exactness enquir'd into the commerce of the place , the particular interests of each colony , the strength , situation , and advantages of the ports ; the manners , customs , and religion of the people ; and lastly , the nature of those fruits , plants , birds , fishes , and the animals that seem'd to have any thing extraordinary in or peculiar to them , and these i have set out in the best manner i cou'd , by a great many copper-cuts , all of them respectively fixed in their proper places . but i have more particularly apply'd my self to make charts of the entrances of harbours and rivers , either of my self , as i have had leasure for it , as may be seen in those i have given of gambia , rio-janeiro , and all-saints-bay , as by reforming the charts or memoirs that have been taken of the streight of magellan , of the disemboguings of the isles of antilles , and of the government of cayenne , that hath not yet appear'd in the world , under the name of aequinoctial france , in that extent , and with those limits i have set it forth by . i hope this relation will meet with so much the more favourable reception , seeing i have retrencht it of those tedious particulars wherewith others of this kind are usually stuffed , and have made use of all the exactness and simplicity that a work requires that has no other than truth for its end , and wherein the reader will have the pleasure either of seeing new descriptions , or his judgment regulated in respect of those he has already seen elsewhere ; and lastly , an orderly view given of all the unfortunate disappointments of so noble an undertaking , that had been made , during the war we were engag'd in , and of which you have the subject at large in p. 80 , 85 , &c. and so onwards . a relation of a voyage made in the years 1695 , 1696 , 1697. to the coasts of africa , the streights of magellan , brasil , cayana , and the antilles or caribby islands . vve set out from rochel on the 3d. of june , a. d. 1695. to navigate the southern sea , with six vessels , viz. the english falcon , furnished with 46 pieces of cannon , and 260 men , under the command of monsieur de gennes captain : the sun of africa , carrying 32 pieces , and 220 men , comcommanded by m. du pare , captain of the light frigat : the seditious , a light frigat of 26 guns , and 140 men , m. de la roque commander : the corvette-felicity of 8 pieces of ordnance , and 40 men : the glutton-pink of 10 guns , and 40 men : and the fruitful-pink , of 4 guns , and 20 men : these two pinks carry'd two mortars and 600 bombs , with all sorts of provisions and ammunition necessary for a long voyage . we set sail about three a-clock in the morning , with a fair north-east wind , pass'd the pertuis or straight of antioch , and before noon , entirely lost the sight of land. on the 7th . instant at eleven of the clock , we discover'd at the distance of three or four leagues under the wind , two vessels , which the felicity went to view : they came from st. domingo , and were steering their course for rochel . on the 9th . we had sight of another vessel , which the seditious and the felicity gave chase to , during four hours : the latter , which came very near her , inform'd us , that she seem'd to be a sally-man , and might carry about 30 pieces of cannon . on the 10th . at noon , we made 15 leagues a-cross cape finisterre . on the 11th . at break of day , we were separated from the seditious , and the fruitful , as also from another vessel , which follow'd us from rochel . on the 15th . at four a-clock in the afternoon , we espy'd a very large ship , which came up to view us within three cannon-shot , and afterward tack'd about again ; whereupon we gave her chace , till the darkness of the night caus'd us to lose the sight of her . on the 21th . at sun-rising , we discover'd the island of madera , from whence we judg'd our selves to be distant about 20 leagues . on the 22th . at 11 a-clock at night , we lost the shallop with decks , which m. de gennes had caus'd to be built , on purpose to throw out the bombs : for as she was tacking about , whilst the sea ran very high , her cable broke , and she was driven out of her course . on the 26th . at three a-clock in the morning , we pass'd the tropick of cancer ; at break of day , we discover'd the land of praya ; and in the afternoon perform'd the ceremonies of the tropical baptism or ducking , which are commonly us'd by the mariners in those places . on the 1st . day of july , at three a-clock in the morning , the corvette let off a gun , to give us notice that she was near land ; whereupon we sail'd beyond that vessel without discerning her , by reason that she was very low built , and the night was dark . on the 3d. we discover'd cape verd , or green head , and cast anchor at 11 a-clock at night , within two leagues of the island of gorea : the next day we likewise rode at anchor within a cannon-shot of the place . the governour of that island immediately sent to compliment m. de gennes , with a present of an ox , and two dozen of pullets . the person who brought this present told us , that the vessels of the east-india company pass'd by a little while ago , and that an english deserter had inform'd them , that almost the whole garrison of gambia was fall'n sick , and wanted provisions ; which piece of news was so well confirm'd to m. de gennes , even by the relation of the governour himself ; that if the seditious and the fruitful had come up with us , we should have set sail the very next day , in order to besiege the fort , before the english could have had any notice of our arrival . in the mean while , waiting till those ships appear'd , we diverted our selves , some in hunting , and others in fishing ; nay we met with sufficient variety of divertisements , not very expensive , without leaving the villages . the negroes came continually on board with their * vessels full of fish , which they gave us in exchange for knives , sheets of paper , little pieces of iron , and other toys of the like nature : we also pierc'd some barrels of wine , and setting aside the heat of the weather , which was excessive , the sports and pastimes abated a great deal of the impatience that we had to go to gambia . on the fifth instant , m. de gennes , m. du parc , and the governour of gorea , went to give a visit to the alcaty or governour of a village call'd the gap , situate on the sea-shore , near a small marsh , being the only place where fresh water can be taken in ; upon which account the alcaty suffers none to do it , till an agreement be made beforehand , to give him a bottle of brandy for every shallop . he receiv'd these gentlemen very courteously , and granted their requests upon good terms . the next day m. de gennes invited to dinner the governour of gorea , the aforesaid alcaty of gap , and another alcaty of a neighbouring village , who was the brother of a favourite of the king of houmel , and otherwise in great esteem for his magnanimity , and for being one of the most robust and well-set men of the country . the alcaty of rufisca was also present , by chance , with a negro lady , the widow of a certain portuguese , who had one of the chief places in the kingdom : this lady had excellent features , was endow'd with a generous disposition , and of a very obliging deportment ; being of a middle-siz'd stature , and cloath'd after the portuguese fashion . m. du gennes treated them all magnificently , and made them some small presents : he was also desirous to divert them with a volly of cannon and musket-shot : but dinner was scarce ended , when they earnestly importun'd to be dismiss'd . the cause of their sudden departure being unknown to us , we were not a little surpriz'd , in regard that they had no reason to be tir'd with the company ; till the governour of gorea told us , that apparently they had occasion to ease themselves , and that a superstitious custom prevail'd among 'em , never to do it at sea. on the 9th . instant , our shallop being fitted out to take in fresh water , a storm of wind arose , which threw her on the coast : she suffer'd little dammage , by reason that the shock happen'd on the sand : nevertheless this accident was like to have occasion'd a great contest with the negroes , who gave it out , that one moiety of the vessels that run a-ground on their coasts , ought to be appropriated to their use : and even the governour of gorea himself acknowledg'd , that they had a right to such a claim : but forasmuch as this law was made only in reference to merchant-ships , we speedily set some of our men on shore , to stand upon their guard ; and for farther security , retain'd seven or eight negroes , who were come on board to trade with fish : in the mean while , our carpenters wrought during the whole night ; and the next day in the afternoon our shallop return'd laden with water , and as sound as before . on the 13th . at two a-clock , two vessels appear'd , whilst our corvette was sailing to the village of rusisca ; whereupon we discharg'd a cannon to cause her to return , and to recal all the mariners on board : we likewise made signals to the other ships , which were answer'd by them . they were the seditious and the fruitful pinks , which came to join with us again , after having waited for our arrival eleven days at madera : they cast anchor at two a-clock , and the next day our corvette set out a second time for rufisca , to get some provisions , that were necessary for our departure in good earnest . before we leave gorea , it may not be improper to give some account , how the french settled in that island , and to relate what i have seen and heard concerning the nature of the coast , and the traffick and manners of the inhabitants . the island of gorea is distant only one league from the continent , four from cape verd , and may be about half a league in compass . the hollanders first fix'd a colony therein , and built the forts of st. francis and st. michael , which are still to be seen : afterward the count d' etrées made himself master of the place a. d. 1678 : the english took it from the french in 1692. and demolish'd the forts which were erected by the hollanders : at last the senegal company , having re-taken it in 1693 , rebuilt st. michael's fort : and there are at present in this island about 100 frenchmen , with some families of lapto's or free negro's , who are hir'd by the company to trade from one coast to another . the sea-coast is flat , sandy , and in many places very barren : the soil brings forth millet , rice , tobacco , and some fruits , which are all generally very insipid : the country is every where beset with a sort of wild apple or crab-trees , that grow as thick as broom in a heath or warren : there are also certain small shrubs , which are very common ; their fruit , call'd mandanaza by the negro's , being no bigger than a small nut , exactly resembles an apricock in shape and colour : it is of a very grateful taste , but very unwholsom : its leaf is like that of ivy , but of a somewhat lighter green. i have seen there a sort of trees not unlike our plum-trees , the fruit of which has the colour , bigness , and almost taste of our cherries ; 't is call'd cahoüar ; and i have caus'd the figure of it to be drawn , because it appear'd to me to be very remarkable . the negro's made a present to us , as a choice banquet , of certain large fruits that resemble small gourds , but under the skin , is only a kind of substance like dress'd flax : they cause them to be roasted under embers , and afterward chew them to suck out the juice , which is as yellow as saffron : this fruit has a stone as large as an egg , and as hard as iron . in the country there is a great number of palm-trees , out of which the negro's extract a sort of white liquor , that we call palm-wine , and which is thus prepar'd : they make an incision in the trunk , and apply to it a gourd-bottle , into which the liquor runs by the means of a pipe : 't is very pleasant to drink when one is hot ; but at the end of two or three days , it is spoil'd , and easily inebriates . p : 10. an unknown bird kill'd on y e coaste of affrica . a storke of y e coaste of affrica . m. vander gucht scul : the people of these coasts from the river senegal , are entirely black , robust , and well-set . they all go stark naked , both men and women , except their privy parts , that are cover'd with a sort of cotton-stuff , which they call pagnes : they are very slothful , and always hold a pipe in their mouth : they feed upon nothing but millet and fish , and very seldom eat any flesh : they were surpriz'd to see us eat herbs , and said that we were like horses in that particular . their trade consists in slaves , gold , morphil or ivory , and wax ; which commodities they usually exchange for iron , hatchets , fusees , coral , glasses , knives , paper , red stuffs , and more especially brandy ; in which they take so great delight , that the son , when 't is in his power , often sells his father to procure it . map of the river of gambia pag. 15. a chart of the river of gambia with the coasts adjacent a scale of 2 leagues the most part of the negroes are destitute of religion , and live in the woods , of the booty that they get from travellers . those who have any kind of belief , follow the mahometan sect , very much corrupted : they wear about their neck , arms , and legs , and even bind about their horses , little leathern bags , which they call grisgris , in which are enclosed certain passages of the alcoran , which were given by the marabous , to secure them from venemous beasts , and from all sorts of wounds ; an abominable superstition , which they equally observe in reference to their manag'd war-horses . they circumcise their children , but not till they have attained to the age of twelve or thirteen years . their sabbath is kept on monday , during which they forbear working , and make but one meal . they have no considerable festival but that of tabaské , which happens in the month of june ; and for the celebration of which , they prepare themselves a month before , by continual fasting and abstaining from correspondence with their wives : then they meet together in a large plain , to say their prayers , and to be reconcil'd with their enemies , every one bringing a goat , a calf , or some other animal of the like nature , which the marabous , cloath'd with a kind of surplice made of white pagnes , or cotton-stuff , sacrifice to mahomet . after ●he celebration of the festival , which continues till evening , every one carries away his victim to make a solemn banquet of it , with his family ; which custom seems to have much relation to the jewish passover . when one of the principal elders dies , the marabous embalm his body , and expose it to publick view in a hut , where the women of the neighbourhood are assembled to lament his death during several days . at last when these lamentations , which continue more or less , according to the quality of the deceased person , are ended , the marabous wrap up the corps in a pagnes or cotton-shrowd , and bury it ; whilst his intimate friends take a pride in stabbing themselves , to shew the sincerity of their affection ; which barbarous custom they blindly observe , even contrary to the prohibitions of their own religion and laws . this is all that i have seen , or could get information of , concerning those coasts , with any manner of probability . on the 19th . we set sail for the river of gambia , having for our guides two negroes , and the english deserter , of whom we have already made mention . we sail'd along the coasts four or five leagues in length , and twenty the next day . at 6 a-clock in the evening we cast anchor within three leagues and a half of the mouth of the river , and immediately sent out our shallops to sound the depth of it , but they met with a great deal of foul weather during the whole night , and were not able to return till the next day at noon . on the 22d . instant , at eight a-clock in the morning , we all enter'd the river , with english colours , and at eleven we saluted with three cannon-shot , a thick and very high tree , which serves instead of a pavilion to the king of bar , and which the english are likewise wont to salute , as often as they come into , or go out of the river . at noon we ran a-ground before the isle of dogs , on a shelf of mud , where we stuck above two hours , and could not get off without some difficulty . at last at five a-clock in the evening , we cast anchor within a small league of the fort , which we immediately invested , with the corvette and the shallops , to hinder the importation of provisions , or of any manner of succours . we also began to unmast the fruitful pink , to turn it into a bomb-galley . the same evening m. de gennes sent our two negro agents to a village called gilofriée , situated on the river-side , to carry a letter to a certain ancient portuguese , nam'd don cardos , whom the governour of gorea had assur'd us to be well-affected to the french. and indeed , this portuguese having receiv'd the letter , came to salute m. de gennes , to whom he afterwards gave an exact account of the condition of the fort , and insinuated at the same time , that forasmuch as the english were not well belov'd by the king of bar , it would be no difficult matter , by the means of some present , to bring him over to their party . the chevalier de fontenay , our second captain , went at two a-clock in the morning , to compliment don cardos , and to entreat him to permit us to land a body of men ; to hinder the english from taking in fresh water and provisions : but the king had told him that he wou'd not be concern'd in our quarrels , lest if we could not take the fort , it might give an occasion of hatred to the english , who might afterwards resent the affront ; and that therefore he would not suffer any one to land , but that he would readily supply us with all things that were in his power . on the 23d . instant m. de la roque went to summon the fort to surrender , and upon his approach , a canoo appear'd to enquire of him what were his demands : he answer'd , that he was desirous to speak with the governour : whereupon he was conducted blind-fold to the governour 's house , and was receiv'd in his absence by the king's lieutenant , whom he made acquainted with the occasion of our arrival , and that he was come to summon the place before we proceeded to any acts of hostility . m. de la roque was nobly treated , and the healths of the kings of england and france were drank several times , with volleys of cannon-shot . after the collation , m. de la roque return'd on board , with three english officers , whom m. de gennes entertain'd with the like magnificence . they desir'd some days of truce to consult about the affair , but no longer time was granted to make their positive answer , than till six a-clock the next morning ; so that they were reconducted to their fort very much dissatisfy'd with these proceedings , and wrote the following letter to m. de gennes . a letter written by the english officers to m. de gennes . from st. james's fort , july 23. 1695 . sir , you have allow'd us so little time to consider about your summons , made ( as you say ) by the order of the french king , that we are resolv'd to wait for your attacks , and to defend our selves to the last extremity , rather than to surrender ; not doubting but to meet with a generous enemy . we are , sir , &c. the next night 23 or 24 of our shallops took a brigantine and several canoos , laden with provisions for the fort ; whilst the sun of africa gave chace to another canoo , in which the governour was passing over thither , who perceiving their close pursuit , threw himself into the sea , and made his escape to the woods , from whence he found means to retire the same night , without being discover'd . at break of day , we set out two of our shallops , and sail'd three leagues up a small river , which takes its name from the village of block , where a certain prince resides , who assumes the title of emperor , and who is almost continually engag'd in war against the king of bar. we burnt two small vessels , which the english were refitting there , and laded our shallops with two pieces of cannon , and divers cast paterero's that were taken out of them . in passing down the river , we landed at the village of barifet , where a petty king keeps his court , who is tributary to the other of block . this prince sent us word , that it was customary for strangers to make him some present , and that he desir'd us to furnish him with a scarlet-cloak : we contented him with some bottles of brandy , which were more acceptable to him than the finest cloak in the world. on the 24th . instant , at eight a-clock in the morning , the fruitful pink discharg'd two bombs , which did not come near the fort ; therefore m. de gennes forbad the letting off any more , and determin'd to wait for the tide of flood , in order to level the shot within reach of the place . in the mean while , the governour having sent a canoo with a white flag , to desire to capitulate , two officers were detain'd as hostages , and m. de la roque and the chevalier de fontenay were sent to the fort , to draw up the articles , which were sign'd the same day , by all the english officers , and the next day , by all the captains of the squadron . articles of capitulation granted to the officers of the garrison of st. james's fort in the river of gambia on the coasts of africa . i. that the salaries due to them from the company shall be paid . ii. that every man shall be permitted to carry along with him his arms , baggage , chests , attire , ammunition and money , with drums beating , and match lighted ; and that every officer shall be attended with a young negro . iii. that every marry'd man , or inhabitant of the country , shall have liberty to continue therein . iv. that the commissioners for trade shall enjoy the same privilege , in repairing thither , and making the french a return of what they have traded for . v. that the sieur charles daval , a french man settled in england for the space of 16 years , shall enjoy the same privilege as the governour himself . vi. that two days shall be allow'd them , to make up their accounts ; that is to say , that the fort shall be deliver'd up on tuesday morning at six of the clock . vii . that twelve free negroes who are employ'd in the company 's service , shall be permitted to go wheresoever they shall think fit . viii . that a vessel with three masts shall be given them , with artillery , ammunition , and provisions to return to england , without detaining any thing whatever ; and that their departure shall be within thirty days at the farthest . ix . that they shall have a good pass-port to go in safety ; and that the english governour shall in like manner grant an effectual pass-port to the french captain , who is to be their convoy back again , that his cargo may not be impair'd . x. the above-mention'd articles being granted , it was declar'd , that these goods belong'd to the royal company of england , viz. 500 quintals of morphil , 300 quintals of wax , 130 male negroes , 40 female in the island , 50 at gilofriée , and above 80000 crowns of merchandizes at the usual rates of the country , as also 72 large cannons mounted , 30 dismounted , and a considerable quantity of warlike ammunition ; and that they shou'd have a truce till the commander in chief return'd an answer . sign'd john hambury . de la roque . the chevalier de fontenay . on the 27th . at break of day , m. de la perriere , major of the squadron ▪ gave notice to the governour to prepare for his departure , the term which was granted him being expir'd : at six a-clock the shallops and canoos ready fitted up , attended on the commander , and then cast anchor in a line , within pistol-shot of the fort. m. de fontenay , who was chosen for governour , first came on shore , where the english governour gave him the keys , and embark'd the same time to go on board the felicity . afterwards all the forces landed ; sentinels were set in all the necessary posts ; the french standard was set up ; te deum was sung by the almoners of the squadron , and 37 cannons were discharg'd . this fort was square , with four bastions , lined with good brick-work , having in the out-works three pieces of fortification call'd horse-shooes , and several batteries along the pallisado's : it was furnished with a prodigious quantity arms , and the magazines of powder were well stor'd ; insomuch that 't is certain that if the governour , being a young man , ( who was more intent upon his pleasures than on the putting of his fort in a good condition ) had taken care to keep therein a sufficient quantity of provisions and of fresh water , it might have held out for a long time . the situation of this fort was very advantageous , and there wanted only a magazine of powder , and a cistern bomb-proof , to render it impregnable . on the 28th . instant m. de la roque went to desire the king of bar to give us leave to take possession of the slaves and oxen , which the english had in his dominions : whereupon the king reply'd , that the fort being surrender'd , every thing that was left on the land ▪ of very good right belonged to him : m. de la roque told him , that we would not be so satisfy'd , and that if he refus'd to grant our demands willingly , we wou'd certainly do our selves justice by force of arms. and indeed a council was held about that answer ; and forasmuch as it was well known , that in the beginning of the war , he had seiz'd on merchandizes to the value of above 40000 crowns , belonging to the french who traded on that river ; it was determin'd to make a descent upon the country , to take the king prisoner , and as many negroes as cou'd be catched ; and to burn all their hutts . this decree was ready to be put in execution , when an alcaty came to pass a compliment upon m. de gennes , and to assure him , that the king was unwilling to engage in a war against him ; on the contrary , that he was very desirous to keep an amicable correspondence with him ; and that he might freely take whatever he should think fit . the next day , m. de gennes went to give a visit to the king ; the principal officers walk'd before him to his canoo , and conducted him to the place where the interview was to be made . the king appear'd a little while after , without any regular train , in the midst of a great number of negroes , and attended with some drummers : he was of a very advantageous stature , and was cloath'd with a red doublet beset with the tails of wild beasts , and little bells . he had on his head an osier-cap , adorn'd with divers rows of coral , and two ox-horns . here we may observe by the way , that circumcised persons in those parts , have the liberty to wear such a cap , during eight days immediately after their circumcision , by vertue of which , they are authoriz'd to commit all manner of crimes imaginable , with impunity , and none durst complain of their outragious villainies . the king in this pompous equipage , holding a pipe in his mouth , walk'd with a majestick gate under a stately tree , where he usually gives audience to the ambassadors of the neighbouring princes . m. de gennes went thither to salute him , and made him a present of 20 bars of iron , a barrel of brandy , a pair of pistols , and a burning-glass , with the effects of which he was extremely surpriz'd . the interpreter being a frenchman who dwelt on the river above ten years , spoke the language of the country very fluently ; by which means their conversation was continu'd for a considerable time ; and among other things , this poor king often enquir'd whether he was much talk'd of in france ? after a great deal of discourse of the like nature , they parted ; but the king caused m. de gennes to be reconducted by forty men of his own guards , and several drummers , and presented him with some of the finest oxen that could be found in the village . on the 30th . instant , a council was held to determine , whether the fort should be kept or slighted : the latter advice was follow'd for divers reasons , and therefore we drew near , to take all the merchandizes that were to be exported in our vessels : they consisted in several pieces of ordnance , a great quantity of arms , morphil , wax , vessels of tin and copper , &c. woollen and linen-cloth , printed calico's , coral , glasses , and other commodities , in which a great trade is carryed on in that country . on the 5th . day of august a. d. 1695. the sun of africa pass'd down the river , to transport certain merchandizes and ammunition to gorea ; but that voyage was undertaken to no purpose , because the governour would not furnish himself with them , without the consent of the company . on the 14th . instant , a free-booter of st. domingo , which parted from thence a year ago , came to cast anchor before us , and having saluted us with three cannon-shot , we answer'd her with one . this vessel met with the sun of africa at gorea , by whom she was informed of the taking of st. james's fort ; and that since it was determined to demolish it , some advantage might be got by divers provisions that were left , as being of no use to us . the same day , we suffered a considerable loss upon this occasion : forasmuch as the fruitful pink was appointed to convey the english officers into france , and was obliged to pass by cayenna to leave some of our negroes there ; 150 of them were shut up in the hold , lest they shou'd attempt to make their escape : but these miserable wretches , scarce having room to breathe in , threw themselves one upon another , as it were in despair , so that 34 of them were found stifled . on the 16th . the fruitful pink being ready to sail for cayenna , saluted us with her whole artillery , and we answer'd her with a cannon-shot . the 17th , 18th , 19th . and 20th . days of this month were spent in breaking the cannons at st. john's fort , and undermining the walls , from whence we remov'd on the 21st . to avoid the ill accidents that might happen upon the blowing up of the place : on the 22d . the mines sprang , and took very good effect ; except two , which miscarry'd , and were sprung the same evening . the king of bar immediately sent to search among the ruines for such things as might turn to his advantage ; and the portuguese , who had several colonies on the river , told us , that they durst not go thither till after that the king and his officers had caus'd every thing to be carry'd away , which might be serviceable to them . the english spent several years in building this fort , which was situated in the middle of a fine river , where the traffick is very considerable ; and the revenues which they receiv'd from thence are computed to amount to a million ; so that the loss of the place cannot be easily repair'd . this river is navigable even so as to bear large barks , 200 leagues up the country , where it is join'd with that of senegal , in that place where the niger forms its famous arms : its sides are flat , and cut with many channels , to which the sea runs up ; and the soil along its banks is fertil in millet , rice , tobacco , and divers sorts of fruits ; affording also good pasture for the feeding of numerous herds of oxen. the principal fruits that we observ'd in those parts , are the banana , the tabakomba , and the plougue . the banana is a long fruit cover'd with a yellow and tender skin ; the pulp of it being soft like cotton , and of a very good taste : it grows on a tender stalk , about two or three fathoms high ; its leaves are a fathom long , and of a proportionate breadth . this stalk bears only one single bunch or cluster , round which there may be forty or fifty banana's ; and when the bunch is gathered , the stalk is to be cut , by reason that otherwise it cou'd not bring forth any more fruit. the tabakomba is almost of the same shape as a bon-chretien pear ; its peel or rind is like that of a pomegranate , and opens when the fruit is ripe : it contains five or six small fruits of a rose-colour , the pulp of which is insipid , and the stone very large . the plougues or medicinal-nuts contain three small kernels , that are call'd indian pine-apple kernels , and which are us'd by the apothecaries in the composition of their medicines . p : 32. ptougues or indian pine. apple kernels cahouar taba komba m. vander gucht scul . p : 33. how monkeys carry infants up trees the habit of the circumcised ▪ a negro playing on ye balafo the apes are larger and more mischievous than in any part of africa ; the negroes dread them , and cannot travel alone in the country without running the hazard of being attack'd by these animals , who often present them with a stick , and force them to fight . i have heard the portugueses say , that they have often seen them hoist up young girles about seven or eight years old , into trees , and that they could not be wrested from them without a great deal of difficulty . the most part of the negroes imagine them to be a foreign nation come to inhabit their country , and that they do not speak for fear of being compell'd to work . the air about this river is very unwholsom , by reason of the rains that continually fall during six months in the year ; that is to say , from june till november ; insomuch that strangers can scarce avoid its malign influence ; for this air causes lingring feavers , by which men are extremely wasted before they die . we experimentally felt these direful effects , departing from thence with about 250 sick persons , of whom above two third parts dy'd a little while after . these rains sometimes come with terrible blasts of wind ; which are so much the more formidable , in regard that a vessel may be suddenly surpriz'd and over-set with them . p : 35. the balafo an instrument of the negroes . the sticks a brasil cherry the great trade which is manag'd in that river , has render'd the people much more polite and civiliz'd than those of gorea : they are better mahometans , and have a greater veneration for their commanders , whom they never accost , but with one knee on the ground , and throwing sand over their heads , as a mark of their submission . their hutts are neat , and well built , being made of a fat binding earth , which soon hardens : they are cover'd with palm-tree leaves , so well fitted , that they cannot be penetrated either by the rain , or the heat of the sun. they are of a round figure , and cannot be better compar'd than to our ice-houses . the most part of the negroes divert themselves therein , with discoursing about the alcoran , or with playing on a certain musical instrument , which they call balafo , whilst their wives are employ'd in tilling the ground . the balafo is nothing else but several pipes of very hard wood set in order , which diminish by little and little in length , and are ty'd together with thongs of very thin leather . these thongs are twisted about small round wands , which are put between every one of those pipes , to leave a small space : this instrument very much resembles one of ours in that particular ; but that of the negroes is compos'd of many more parts , in regard that they fasten underneath ten or twelve gourds , the different sizes of which perform the same effect as our organ-pipes : they usually play upon it with sticks , the ends of which are cover'd with leather , to render the sound less harsh . the portugueses told us , that the negroes who live further up the country , with whom they have but small dealings , are altogether savage ; boast of being great sorcerers , and have little religion : that when a king , or one of the principal commanders , dies , they lay them in a new hut , kill his best belov'd wife , with a certain number of slaves to serve him in the other world ; and lastly , having said particular prayers , and put provisions and tobacco sufficient to last a long time into the hutt , they cover it with earth . on the 24th . instant at noon we passed down the river , and the next day about 8 a-clock in the morning , we prepar'd to set sail . the free-booter passing by us , saluted us with five guns , and we answer'd her with one . we were stearing our course for brasil , and that pickeroon for the red-sea . we gave the ship 's crew two pieces of ordnance , with powder , ball , and some oxen , on condition that in the passage they shou'd set the negro prince of assiny a-shore in his own territories . m. de gennes had the charge of him , but cou'd not perform it , without interrupting the voyage he had undertaken . on the 26th . and 27th . we had a great calm , and on the 28th . a barrel of brandy took fire in the hold , but it was soon put out , by the care that was taken in applying a great quantity of wet clothes . the number of our sick men increasing every day , and the most part of them dying for want of necessary refreshment , a council was held on the 30th . to know whether it were most expedient to continue our course to brasil , or to stand in for some port : the latter advice was follow'd , and it was determin'd that we shou'd go in quest of the islands of cape verd , where the air is much more healthful than on the coast of guinee . on the 3d. day of september , we had boisterous winds , which being contrary wou'd have driven us off from the islands , and perhaps wou'd have hinder'd us from making them : wherefore we steer'd our course for gorea , to take in fresh provisions , waiting for a more favourable wind to return to the island of cape verd. on the 5th . at break of day , we discover'd land , and at six a-clock in the evening we cast anchor before gorea , where we took in 15 oxen , and loaded some of our shallops with water : then we set sail again on the 9th . instant , with a favourable gale of wind. on the 12th . 13th . and 14th . we had a great calm ; and on the 15th . at 8 a-clock in the morning we discover'd the island of may , from whence we steer'd our course for that of st. vincent . on the 17th . we came within sight of an island , the coasts of which appear'd to be very high and foggy . and indeed , by its height we judg'd it to be that of st. nicholas . on the 18th . and 19th . the winds were contrary ; but on the 19th . and 20th . at night they favour'd us ; and at two a-clock in the morning we discover'd land by the light of the moon : we continu'd the rest of the night about the cape ; and at break of day we perceiv'd it to be the island of st. lucia . at two a-clock in the afternoon we enter'd the channel , which separates the island of st. vincent from that of st. antony ; and when we were arriv'd within musket-shot of a great rock which lay in form of a sugar-loaf in the middle of that channel , at the entrance of st. vincent's bay , where our ship was to cast anchor ; we were becalm'd , and oblig'd to tow it up with our shallops against the current that carry'd us above the place . we spent the night in a perpetual hurry ; for the wind continu'd so little in the same point , and veer'd so often , that we durst not fall into the bay till break of day . on the 22d . we set up tents on the land , for our sick mariners , who were very numerous ; for many of them were seiz'd with the scurvy , besides the feavers of gambia ; and of 260 men belonging to our ship 's crew , we had only 80 left who were in a condition to work. the island of st. vincent is inhabited , but it is barren , and beset with very high mountains : it affords little fresh water ; wood is also scarce there , and it is customary to cast anchor before it , only by reason of the safety of its harbour . we met with 20 portugueses of st. nicholas's island , who were employ'd there during two years , in dressing goat-skins , with which this island abounds : these animals were taken with dogs so well inur'd to the game , that each of them was wont to bring twelve or fifteen every night . there is also abundance of tortoises in that island , of which there are different kinds , and some that weigh three or four hundred pounds . these animals make to land to lay their eggs , hide them in the sand , and return without sitting on them : they are not hatch'd till the end of 17 days , and continue during nine of them without being able to pass to the bottom of the water , insomuch that three quarters of them are usually destroy'd by the birds . on the 23d . instant , we mann'd out our boat for st. antony's island , to trade for some provisions ; and our mariners , conducted by two portugueses of st. vincent , went to certain cottages , where they were kindly entertain'd by the inhabitants , who gave us some pullets , and a great quantity of the fruits of the country , viz. figs , raisins , banana's , oranges , lemmons , and water-melons ; telling them at the same time , that if we sent word thither in three days , they wou'd give notice to the village , where we might be supply'd with oxen , hoggs , pullets , ducks , fruit , and every thing we cou'd desire . this village is situated in the middle of many high mountains , which render its access difficult : there are above 500 inhabitants capable of bearing arms , and a great number of negro-slaves . the fathers cordeliers have a church there . the portugueses of this island , as all the other of the islands of cape verd , are of a swarthy complexion , but they are ingenious people , and very sociable : they feed on a kind of bread made of millet and banana's . they have numerous herds of oxen , asses , goats , and hogs , with variety of fowl ; their wine is also good , and their fruits excellent ; insomuch that this island , where the air is healthful , and always temperate , may well pass for a very delightful place . on the 26th . at two a-clock in the morning , a merchant-man of nantes , that came to salt tortoises for martinica , cast anchor by us . if their ship 's crew had known that they shou'd have met with so good company , they wou'd not have enter'd so boldly ; but they were not aware of us till it was too late to retreat ; and if they had prov'd englishmen , they might have paid dear enough for their curiosity . these men inform'd us of the loss of namur , and told us , that they pass'd by the island of st. nicolas , where the inhabitants ingag'd them to bring back their countrymen , of whom they had heard no news since they went to st. vincent . they kept their word ; so that the portugueses convey'd the vessel under the wind into a creek , where there is greater abundance of tortoises than in any other place : they often assisted 'em in fishing , and were afterwards carry'd back to st. nicolas . bourse asort of fish taken in y e road of y e island of s. t vincent at cape verd p : 43. m vander gucht sculp : amongst the fish that were caught by us , we met with one of an extraordinary beauty in respect of the rayes about the eyes , a great number of spots and hexagonal marks of a very lively blue colour : this fish is commonly called a bourse . on the 4th . day , at eight of the clock , we set sail with a north-east wind , steering our course again to rio-janeiro , or the river of january on the coasts of brasil . on the 5th . at night , we pass'd between the islands of st. jago and fuogo . the former is the first of all the islands of cape verd , and the see of a bishop : the other is only a large mountain , that continually burns , where we saw fire on the top of it during the whole night ; and in the day it only appear'd to be smoke . the portugueses have often endeavour'd to fix settl'd habitations therein , but could never accomplish their design , as being perhaps too much disturb'd by the cinders , sulphureous matter , and even stones that are thrown out of this burning mountain . on the 6th . and 7th . we had strong blasts of wind , with thunder and rain ; and on the 10th . we saw two blowers , being a sort of small whales , which spout up water very high , and with a great noise . we likewise discover'd vast shoales of porpoises , that follow'd us above two hours : they are of the size of a hogg , swim in rank and file as it were so many companies of infantry , and sometimes reach above two miles in length . on the 11th . 12th . 13th . and 14th . the rains were continual , and the winds very unconstant , so that our pilots were very much surpriz'd ; for in drawing near the coasts of africa , they expected to meet with the trade-winds , which are very common in those parts that lie between the tropicks . in the mean while , our water diminish'd , half of our men were fallen sick , and our negroes perish'd daily . on the 30th . at night we pass'd the equinoctial-line within a degree , or thereabouts , of the first meridian ; and the same night we observ'd a comet , which continu'd till the 19th . of november . indeed we were not sensible of the excessive heats , and tedious calms , with which all the relations of voyages threaten those who cross the torrid zone ; for we always had some fresh gales of wind , and the nights were very cool . on the 4th . day of november , we saw abundance of flying fish , and fregats . these flying fish are almost as big as a herring , but their head is more square ; and their wings are nothing else , but two very long fins , that support them above the water as long as they retain never so little moisture . the gold-fish and the bonite continually make war with them in the water , and the birds assault them in the air. the frigate is a large bird , of a grey colour , having short legs , feet like a goose , a forked tail , and the wings sometimes seven or eight foot in compass : these birds fly with a great deal of swiftness , and are to be seen for 300 leagues . on the 13th . we gave orders to the felicity to spread her sails , because she stood in need of being careen'd ; and at the same time , to search for store-houses , where at our arrival we might unlade our gambia merchandizes . on the 17th . we saw a great flock of birds ; and on the next day we discover'd the island of the ascension , which is distant above 150 leagues from the coasts of brasil ; it is of a small compass , and very steep . on the 22d . a very remarkable thing hapned in reference to a sow with young that we took at st. antony's island . this sow pigg'd , and the first of her young was a monster , which had the body of a pig , the ears and snout of an elephant ; and above that snout which was in the middle of the forehead , an eye with two apples . this monster might have been kept for a rarity if it had liv'd ; but the sea kill'd it immediately after it was brought forth . on the 24th . at four a-clock in the afternoon , we discover'd land ; but the winds and currents being contrary to us , we were not able to cast anchor till the 26th . instant , which we then did before the island of st. ann , on the side of the continent , from which they are distant two small leagues : they formerly serv'd as a place of retreat for the hollanders , when they attempted the conquest of brasil . they are three in number , and the greatest of them lies in the middle , being about a league and half in compass , and having a convenient sandy creek , where good fresh water may be taken in . there are also some wild fruits , as purslain and small channell'd cherries , which are almost of the same taste as ours . in the woods , with which these islands are beset , one may hear a melodious harmony , made by a great number of small birds , with fine feathers : among others , there are perroquets , cardinals , and colibries . the cardinal is a kind of small sparrow , the wings and tail of which are black , and the rest of the body of a very lively scarlet . the colibrie is a small bird no bigger than a may-bugg , with green feathers : it has a bill somewhat long , and feeds on the juice of flowers like our bees : its nest is as large as an egg , and is so much the more curious , in regard that it is made of fine cotton , and hung up with very small threads . on the sea-coasts there are dotterils in so great abundance , that our mariners sometimes kill'd five or six of them with a stick at one blow . these birds are as big as ducks , and commonly fly about the islands and the rocks that are not extended far in the sea. the two other islands are much less , and form with the greater , to the north and south , certain channels , which one may pass through , as occasion serves . the northern on the side of the continent , has a creek very convenient for the careening of vessels ; but the southern is only a huge round rock . map of the mouth of the river ianeiro pag : 49 the mouth of the river ianeiro on the coast of brasil . a scale of one league on the 27th . we took in fresh water , and the next day set sail for the river of janeiro . on the 29th . we doubl'd cape frie , and on the 30th . at eight a-clock in the morning , supposing that we had almost made the river , we let off a gun , to give notice that we stood in need of a pilot ; but having tack'd about on all sides till three a-clock in the afternoon , without hearing any news , and without being able to discover the mouth ; we cast anchor within three leagues of the land , and sent our boat along the coast , to search it out . the portugueses of st. ann had told us , that there was at the entrance , a huge rock in form of a sugar-loaf ; but instead of one , we discern'd two , at a great distance one from another ; so that we were much perplex'd , not knowing how to steer our course . our boat lay at anchor during the night , at the mouth of the river , under the cannon of the forts , which caus'd it to be stop'd . at break of day the officer , who was in the boat , went to meet the governour of the place , and return'd at six a-clock in the evenning , to inform us that the inhabitants scrupl'd to permit us to enter , by reason ( as they gave it out ) of the great number of our sick men : but it is more probable , that not being accustom'd to see any other ships than those of their own nation , and fearing lest we might be engag'd in a war against them , they were so extremely terrify'd at our arrival , that as soon as our corvette ( which enter'd eight days before us ) appear'd , all the women retir'd to the country , with the best effects of the town . at six a-clock in the morning , we prepar'd to draw near , and at nine an officer came , who caus'd us to cast anchor within half a cannon-shot of the forts , which are built on both sides of that river . afterwards he went to make a report to the governour , and promis'd us that he wou'd use his utmost endeavours to get an order for the sending of a pilot. in the mean while , there arose a strong blast of wind , which oblig'd us to hoist up sail , by reason that our ship got loose from anchor , and ran upon a shelf of rocks which is in the middle of the river : but the commanders of the forts , who had orders to stop our course , and who , without having any regard to the apparent danger we were in of perishing at that instant , imagin'd that we design'd to enter without their leave , discharg'd twelve or fifteen cannon-balls a-cross our masts , to oblige us to cast anchor : thus they made a bravado , insulting over us , because they knew that we stood in need of their assistance , and durst not resent their affronts . therefore we made haste to cast anchor ; and about a quarter of an hour after , an officer came on board , who left us a pilot , and a physician to visit our sick men : he told us that we might weigh anchor , and that he was going to the fort to know the governour 's pleasure : but as we were under sail , before he arriv'd there , we receiv'd ten cannon-shot more , which shatter'd our flag , dismounted one of the port-holes in the gunner's room , and pass'd between the shrouds , without hurting any one of our crew . then we went to cast anchor with the seditious pink , within a small league of the town ; neither wou'd the governour suffer the sun of africa , nor the glutton frigate , to enter , by reason that he had orders ( as he pretended ) from the king of portugal , not to admit above three foreign men of war into the harbour . the next night , at two or three a-clock , the sun of africa , which continu'd still at the mouth of the river , got loose from anchor ; and forasmuch as the current drove her on the abovemention'd shelf of rocks , so that she could not be stay'd by any of the anchors , she discharg'd several cannon-shot , and made fires upon all the masts , as a signal to get succour : whereupon we sent our shallop , which got her off from that place , where she would have been inevitably lost without their assistance . this ship set sail the same day for la isla grande , which is twenty leagues distant from thence ; and the pink cast anchor in a small bay at the mouth of the river , where she waited till the corvette came up to enter . m. de gennes made a complaint to the governour , of the insult that was offer'd us at our entrance , and that the king's ships were basely left in danger : he excus'd himself upon account that the people were ready to make an insurrection ; that it was none of his fault that we did not enter at first ; and that for the future he wou'd serve us as far as it lay in his power . on the 4th . instant , we set our sick men a-shore in a small village that fronts the town on the other side the river . on the 5th . the governour sent us a pilot , who caus'd us to cast anchor within a quarter of a league of the town ; which we did not salute , because they refus'd to return us an equal number of shot . on the 15th . a vessel enter'd which came from the bay of all-saints . on the 17th . and 18th . two other vessels arriv'd that came from the coast of angola , loaden with negroes . on the 20th . we paid our ship. on the 22d . the felicity set out for la isla grande , and the glutton pink enter'd in its place , to take in some quintals of bisket , made of meal that we brought out of europe . she likewise took in some salt-meats , meal of manioc or yuca , with cassave , rice , mayz , guildive , and other provisions , which we purchas'd with gambia merchandizes , upon which we lost a great deal in the exchange , by reason that the governour having prohibited the inhabitants to trade with us , and taking upon him to be the sole seller and buyer , we were oblig'd to afford our commodities at a cheaper rate than they bear in europe ; which sufficiently shews the sinister practices of that nation , of whom three quarters are originally jews . we likewise sold our negroes , but retain'd the most robust of them , to recruit part of our fleet , which the sickness of gambia had much impair'd ; our single ship having already lost above 50 men. we continu'd till the 27th . instant in this river , which may without doubt pass for one of the safest and most convenient in america . before it falls into the sea , it forms a large bay , where vessels ride as it were in a private port. the bottom of it is firm , and the winds are broken by the means of the high lands , with which it is encompass'd : the shelf of rocks that lies at its mouth , and by which one cannot pass without coming within half a cannon-shot of the forts that command it , contributes much to the security of the harbour . at the distance of two leagues from the mouth of the river , stands the city of st. sebastian , which is an episcopal see , the usual place of residence of the governour of the province . 't is situated on the western side of the river , and in a fine plain , surrounded with high mountains : 't is large and well built , and the streets are streight , so that the magnificent structures of the jesuits and benedictins that terminate them on both sides , each on a small ascent , render the prospect very delightful : it has no fortification on that side towards the country ; and 't is defended only by a small fort on the sea-shore below the jesuite's college . the inhabitants are polite , and endow'd with a gravity customary to their nation : they are rich , take much delight in trading , and keep a great number of negro-slaves , besides divers entire families of indians , whom they maintain in their sugar-plantations , and whose liberty they are not willing to retrench , as being the natives of the country . their slaves for the most part manage all their houshold-affairs , which renders them so dissolute and esfeminate , that they will not vouchsafe to stoop to take up a pin themselves , for which they have occasion . luxury is so predominant among them , that not only the burghers , but even the monks may have to do with common harlots , without fearing the censures or reproaches of the people , who have a very great respect for them . uncleanness is not the only vice peculiar to these lewd monks : they live in gross ignorance , so that very few of them understand the latin tongue ; and it is to be fear'd , that as they strive even to out-vie the sodomites in their debaucheries , they may one day partake of the like punishment . there are vast multitudes of cordeliers , carmelites , and benedictin monks every where in the territories of brasil ; but they take little care of the conversion of an infinite number of poor indians , who stand in need of being instructed in the mysteries of the gospel ; and there are only eight or ten reverend capuchin fathers of the french nation , and some jesuits , throughout that vast continent , who take pains in performing the functions of their mission with an extraordinary zeal . i cannot forbear relating a small adventure which happen'd to a young man of our squadron , who fell out with one of the inhabitants , and was oblig'd to draw his sword in his own defence ; but perceiving himself alone , and press'd with a great number of portugueses , he thought fit to retire , and seeing the door of the carmelite's monastery open'd , he made bold to enter , not doubting but to meet with a sure sanctuary in that place ; but he soon found the contrary , for one of these charitable monks immediately struck him on the head with a hanger , the marks of which wound will always appear during his whole life-time : then many others rush'd in , and beat him with cudgels , and at last put him again into the hands of the inhabitants , who had compassion on him , and detested the barbarous proceedings of the monks . the reflections i have made on these counterfeit monks , ought not to give offence to those who make a conscience of discharging their duty ; since the invectives made against such libertines ▪ serve only to augment the respect that ought to be had for those who seek for an occasion to shew the effects of a true zeal , and use all possible means for the propagating the christian religion , even to the apparent hazard of their lives . the country lying about this river affords good pasture , bringing forth abundance of tobacco and canes , of which the finest sugar is made ; and also a kind of very strong brandy , which we call guildive . the latter comes of slips , are full of knots , that put forth leaves like those of reeds , and grow on ridges as corn : these canes when gather'd , are carry'd to the mill to be ground , and the juice that they yield runs through several pipes into the cauldrons , where the sugar is made and refin'd , almost after the same manner as salt-petre . the soil is likewise very fruitful in rice , mayz , and manioc , which are roots that put forth a small shrub four or five foot high , and are propagated of slips : the fields in which they are planted , and where they are left standing two or three years , are like those of our hemp-closes : these roots , which serve instead of bread in a great part of america ; are as thick and long as carrots : they are usually grated with rasps made for that purpose , and meal is made of 'em after having squeez'd out all their juice , which is the rankest poyson in the world , and which they take care to drain off into places under-ground , lest the cattle shou'd drink it . the most part of the portugueses feed on this meal , such as it is ; and others make of it a kind of small cakes , which they bake on iron-plates appropriated to that use . there is abundance of fruit and pulse in those parts : cabbiges , onions , lettuces , purcelain , melons , water-melons , goads , grapes , and many other fruits that we have in europe , thrive there , and come to perfection : but the peculiar fruits of the country are oranges , banana's , ananas's , potato's , ighname's , coco's , goyaves , and many others , of which they make very good confections . the ananas grows like an artichoak , and resembles a large pine-apple : its leaves are long , thick , and arm'd with small prickles . it bears a crown of the same leaves , and may be esteemed as the best fruit in the whole continent of america . the potato and ighname , are roots very like the toupinambous ; the former is of the taste of a chesnut , and is usually eaten broil'd or roasted in embers . the ighname is somewhat insipid , but much more wholsome and larger than the potato , but both these sorts of roots are of singular use to make very savory pottage . the coco grows upon a tree which is much like a palm-tree : this fruit is very large , and has nothing but what may be apply'd to some use : it is cover'd with a kind of tow , which may serve to caulk vessels , better than hemp : this tow being taken off , we meet with a large hard nut , of an oval figure ; of which cups and other toys of the like nature are usually made , that bear the name of coco's . this nut contains a white kernel , of the taste of a hazel nut , lying round about of the thickness of one's finger : lastly , the middle is fill'd with a cool liquor resembling thin milk , about the quantity of a large glass-full ; insomuch that this fruit alone may serve for a man's sustenance : and indeed the most part of the indians do not trouble themselves about providing any victuals , when they know that they shall meet with coco-trees in the places through which they are to pass . the goyave is somewhat bigger than a nut : its pulp is red , very stony , and of the taste of a peach . the tree that bears this fruit resembles our plum-trees . there are also numerous herds of oxen , hogs , and sheep , with variety of game , and several sorts of fowl , but every thing is sold ●t an excessive dear rate . the fleet that arrives there every year from portugal , brings wine , meal , oil , cheese ; linnen and woollen cloth , and all other necessary merchandizes ; and returns laden with sugar , leather , and train-oil ; from whence arises a considerable revenue to the king of portugal . formerly they had great quantities of tobacco , but at present the sale of it is forbidden , as one of the greatest obstacles to the trade of the bay of all saints : 't is also prohibited to deal in corn and wine , to prevent the interrupting of the european commerce , of which the inhabitants may make considerable advantage , as well as those of st. paul , in the territories of st. vincent , whose political government is so remarkable , that it may not be amiss to give some account of it by the way . this town , which is situated ten leagues up the country , derives its original from an association of robbers of all nations , who by little and little , form'd a great town , and a kind of common-wealth , where they made a law , not to admit a governour . they are surrounded with high mountains ; so that one cannot enter , or go out , but thro' a defilé or narrow passage , where they keep a strong guard , for fear of being surpriz'd by the indians , with whom they almost continually make war , and lest their slaves should find means to escape . these paulists usually march 40 or 50 in a body , arm'd with bows and arrows , which they use more dexterously than any nation in the world : they traverse the whole continent of brasil , passing as far as the river of plata , or to that of the amazons , and return at the end of four or five months , sometimes with above 300 slaves , whom they drive as herds of oxen ; and having tamed a little , they dispose of them in the country to till the ground , or employ them in fishing for gold , which they find in so great quantity , that the king of portugal , to whom they carefully send a fifth part , receives every year above 8 or 900 marks : they pay him this tribute not out of a motive of fear , for they are more potent than he , but to follow the custom of their ancestors , who not being at first well settled in their retreat , endeavoured to withdraw themselves from subjection to their governours , under pretence of managing the king's affairs , to whom they own themselves at present , to be tributaries , but not subjects , that they may shake off the yoke on the first opportunity . on the 25th . instant , we set our sick men on board again , who , except five or six , were very hearty . the commander of the place where they lodg'd , was a generous old gentleman , of great integrity , and was not at all tainted with the sordid principles of his countrymen ; for he entertain'd our sick mariners with a paternal charity , supplying them with eggs , confits , wine , and generally with every thing that was necessary for them , at his own proper costs and charges ; nay he offer'd to retain the weakest of them in his own house till our return . on the 27th . we set sail , and pass'd between the forts , with our cannons mounted , and matches lighted , being all ready to answer them if they shou'd attempt to disturb us about the salute at parting , or shou'd make us wait for the governour 's orders . we no longer stood in need of them , of which they were also very sensible : they all appear'd in ranks on their parapets , and seem'd to be overjoy'd at our departure , by reason that they were tir'd with the continual guards that they kept during the time of our abode among them . the governour thought himself so little secure , that he summon'd all the inhabitants within four leagues round about . we were no sooner gone , but he caus'd a fort , furnish'd with some pieces of ordnance , to be built below the town on a small island , which commands the road , and where the french settl'd when this river was first discover'd . an unknown fruit found in y e great island at brasil , p : 65 a mapou pear found in y e great island at brasil , la isla grande or the great island , being about 18 leagues in compass , lies high , and is beset with woods of a prodigious thickness , insomuch that one cannot walk in them 100 paces together : but there are entire plains of orange-trees and lemmon-trees , with much variety of wild fruits ; and among others the pear of mapou , which bears a sort of red cotton , and of which quilts are made , that are so extremely durable , that they can scarce be worn out ; for by exposing them to the sun from time to time , the cotton swells again of it self , and the quilt becomes as it were new . we met with another sort of fruit , which is as big as a small nut , and seems to have the crown'd head of a clove . there are also many of those animals that we call tatous , and the scales of which serve to adorn apothecaries shops : their flesh is firm , and has the taste of fresh pork . on the coast over-again●● this creek , stands a large town belonging to the portugueses , where there are about four or five hundred inhabitants , and two convents , viz. one of carmelites , and the other of the cordeliers . we there bought some provisions , viz. oxen , fowl , dry'd fish , and four pyrogues , which cost us from forty to eighty crowns : these are large canoos , very long , and made of one single tree hollow'd : they are light , fit for descents , and capable of holding 60 men. the governour of rio-janeiro sent on purpose to forbid the inhabitants to sell us any sorts of commodities whatever ; but they had not much regard to his prohibition , for they furnish'd us with every thing we desir'd . they have all habitations in the mountains , and affect to be as free as the paulists . on the 5th . day of january a. d. 1696. after having taken in fresh water and wood , we set sail for the streights of magellan . map of the strait of magellan pag. 66. the straight of magellan a scale of leagues on the 21st . and 22d . at night , as we were sailing a-cross cape st. antony , we lost sight of the felicity , altho' the moon shone bright , the sea was calm , and the wind moderate ; neither could the fault be attributed to any thing , but the negligence of those mariners who were then upon the watch , and who relying too much on the calmness of the weather , fell asleep . we discharg'd divers cannon-shot , and all steer'd different courses , in quest of that ship , but it was to no purpose . on the 23d . we saw a great many sea-wolves lying asleep on their backs , upon the surface of the water . on the 26th . and 27th . we had a dreadful storm of thunder , and much rain . on the 29th . we saw some whales , sea-pies , and prodigious flocks of other birds , that follow'd us as it were so many ducks . on the 30th . we saw abundance of sea-weeds , which made us conjecture we were near land ; but having sounded , it appear'd that we were still distant from it above forty leagues . on the 31st . the sea was all over cover'd with small cray-fish , insomuch that it might well be call'd the red-sea ; we took up above 10000 of them in baskets . on the 1st . and 2d . of february , the winds were boisterous , and the sea ran high . on the 4th . at noon , we discover'd the cape of st. ynes de las-bareras : the lands thereabouts are low , and as far as we cou'd discern , very barren : we discern'd a very thick smoke , which induc'd us to believe that there were some inhabitants . the most part of navigators who have sail'd on those coasts , and who have publish'd relations of their voyages , affirm , that when the savages discover the arrival of any vessels , they usually make great fires , and offer sacrifices to the devil , to conjure him to raise storms to destroy them . on the 5th . and 6th . the winds were very variable , and the weather hazy . on the 7th . at three a-clock in the morning , the pink let off a gun , to give us notice that she descry'd land , whereupon we cast anchor , because it was very requisite for us to discover it ; and at break of day we discern'd a cape , which our pilot , and two of our officers , who had before pass'd the streights of magellan , assur'd us to be that of the virgins . the winds veer'd , and became contrary , so that we were not able to cast anchor , to make any discovery . on the 8th . the winds still continu'd contrary to us ; and at two a-clock in the afternoon blew with so great impetuosity , that our cable broke ; neither could we hoise up our sails , which were taken in , to give less advantage to the wind ; forasmuch as there was no probability of being able to carry any sail , we suffer'd our selves to lie by , at the mercy of the waves , till the next day at four a-clock in the morning , when the fury of the wind being somewhat abated , we drew near the land , and at noon cast anchor at the mouth of the river of sancta cruz , there to wait for a favourable gale , to rejoyn our vessels . we scarce let fall anchor , but the storm was appeas'd , the sea became calm , and we made as much sail as we could that day . we doubl'd the cape at night , and at break of day came up with our fleet , and steer'd our course to the above-mention'd promontory , which we suppos'd to be that of the virgins ; choosing rather to follow the directions of the navigators who had already cruis'd about those coasts , than that of the sea-charts , which are often mistaken in places that are so little frequented : however we insensibly drove upon a shelf , from whence it would have been very difficult to get off , if we had not timely discover'd our error by sounding : therefore we immediately chang'd our course , and lengthen'd the coast , bearing but little sail. on the 11th . instant , we discover'd another cape , very like the former , and altho' we had scarce reason to doubt it to be that of the virgins , yet we could not be well satisfy'd till we found it by experience . we tack'd about for some time , till the foggs were dispers'd , and at noon we enter'd the straight , where we cast anchor at four a-clock in the afternoon , at the entrance of the bay of possession , with a favourable wind and current . on the 12th . at break of day , we prepar'd to set sail , but there was so little wind , that we were not able to make three leagues during the whole day . on the 13th . at break of day , we set out again , and made as much sail as the tides wou'd permit us . at four a-clock in the afternoon we doubled the cape entrana , and cast anchor at the entrance of the bay of boucaut . we there saw several whales , and a great number of porpoises all over white except their head and tail. on the 14th . we weigh'd anchor , and tack'd about till noon , when the tide being contrary to us , we were oblig'd to cast anchor within two leagues of the land , in the middle of boucaut bay. the coast is flat , barren , and destitute both of fresh water and wood. we there met with snipes , and many flocks of sea-pies ; and some of our mariners told us , that a league up the land , they had seen buffles and goats . there is also ( as everywhere throughout the streights ) a prodigious quantity of cockles and muscles , which are not at all inferiour to those of charonne . we found some , the shells of which were of an admirable beauty , and weigh'd half a pound . on the 16th . we weather'd cape gregory , and at noon cast anchor within a small league of st. george's island , to which we could not come nearer , by reason that we were becalm'd , and the tides began to run contrary . this island being about a league in compass , is high and barren , yet we found there some mushrooms , many sea-pies , and several hutts of savages abandon'd . we also took some penguins , from which the island derives its name , which was impos'd by the english , by reason of a great quantity of this sort of birds which they found therein : they are somewhat larger than geese , have short legs , with grey and very thick feathers ; their wings are bare without any feathers , and serve only instead of finns : they live for the most part in the water , retire to land to sleep , and make holes in the ground like foxes . the most part of our company spent the night there , to have the pleasure of viewing the sea-wolves : these animals climb up steep rocks , sit on their tails like monkeys , and make a dreadful noise to call their mates : when they bring forth young , they carry them into the woods , supply them with fish , and tend them as carefully as an indulgent mother does her children . on the 18th . a blustering wind arose , which oblig'd us to stand in again for boucaut-bay , where we cast anchor in the evening , under shelter of cape gregory : the pink follow'd us , and the other vessels were not long in coming up . on the 19th , and 20th . it was excessive cold , and the winds grew more boisterous . we saw great fires on the island of fuogo , and the savages seem'd to be desirous to converse with us , but the sea ran so high , th●● we could not come near them . on the 21th . we set sail again , doubled cape gregory , and having cross'd st. george's island , along which we coasted with plummet in hand , we suddenly found our selves fallen upon the point of a shelf : we cast anchor to sound , and continu'd our course again an hour after . at 5 a-clock in the evening , we cast anchor within six leagues of st. george's island , in a creek , where the coast arises delightfully , and begins to be beset with woods : there are divers small rivers , where very good water may be taken in , and on the banks of which we met with salery , gooseberries , foxes , bustards , thrushes , ducks , and cormorants , and abundance of other sea-fowl . on the 22th , and 23th . the winds were contrary . p. 74 mountaines coverd with snow dureing y e whole year . the hutts of y e savages peng●●●●s m. vander gucht scul : these savages are robust , and of a tall stature , their complexion being of an olive-colour : their hair is black , long , and cut above their head in form of a crown . they usually paint their faces , arms , and several other parts of their body , with a white tincture . notwithstanding the excessive cold , they always go naked ; except that their shoulders are cover'd with the skins of sea-dogs and sea-wolves . they are destitute of religion , and free from all manner of care. they have no settled habitation , but rove up and down , sometimes in one place , sometimes in another . their hutts are made only of a semi-circle of branches , which they set up , and let one into another , to shelter themselves from the wind. these are the famous patagons whom some authors avouch to be eight or ten foot high , and of whom they tell so many strange tales , even making them swallow whole pails full of wine : however they appear'd to us to be very sober ; and the tallest among them was not above six foot high . on the 25th . we prepar'd to set sail , but had scarce pass'd cape froward , when we found the winds variable and contrary ; insomuch that not being able to cast anchor , we were oblig'd to pass the cape in the night . map the french bay with the mouth of the river gennes in the straight of magellan pag. 77 on the 3d. of march we put out to sea , with a favourable gale ; but we had scarce doubl'd cape froward , when the winds veer'd after their usual manner , with blasts that came by fits , and fell foul on our vessel when we were least aware of it . we pass'd the cape in the night , the winds blew f●●h , and we were oblig'd to stand in two leagues above the french bay , which we were not able to make . on the 5th . we discover'd famine-bay , so call'd , because the inhabitants of a new colony of spaniards were there miserably starv'd to death , which colony was settl'd by philip ii. king of spain , who endeavour'd by that means to hinder the passage of foreigners to the southern sea. this bay is large , having a firm bottom , so that 40 ships may conveniently ride at anchor therein . there are spacious plains round about , which may be sown with divers sorts of grains . there is also great plenty of game ; and 't is probable that the spaniards might find more in those parts , if it were not destroy'd by the savages . on the 6th . we weigh'd anchor , and doubl'd the capes froward and holland , where we felt , as at other times , very furious blasts of wind ; but the next day at noon , we cast anchor two leagues below port gallant . on the 8th . a high wind arose , which drove the sun of africa from her anchor , and forc'd her to stand in for the french bay● on the 9th . at noon , the winds were as favourable as could be wish'd for ; yet we could not take the advantage , by reason that we were oblig'd to wait for the sun of africa , which did not appear till the next morning at break of day : then we prepar'd to set sail , but the winds immediately veer'd , and became contrary , with a great deal of hail and rains so that we were oblig'd to cast anchor a league below port gallant . the winds continu'd contrary to us , till the 20th . instant , being very sharp , and there fell abundance of rain , hail , and snow , with which the mountains are cover'd during the whole year . we took in fresh water and wood , and saw a great number of whales . on the 20th . we set sail with a favourable wind , but it soon return'd to its wonted career , and we could only make the road of port galant , where we continu'd fifteen days longer , with cold winds , a great deal of rain and snow . this road is large , and shelter'd from the eastern winds . the situation of the harbour is pleasant and very commodious , two small rivers falling into it . there are also to be seen the finest shells in the world , with variety of fowl , viz. larks , thrushes , ducks , and abundance of sea-pies . we often heard the cries of the savages in the mountains , but could not see them . forasmuch as our provisions began to fail , the season being already very far advanc'd , and there was no longer any hopes to meet with favourable winds to convey us into the southern sea ; we held a council on the 3d. day of april , and it was determin'd that if the wind did not change within the space of two days , we should return to la isla grande , to take in provisions , in order to seek our fortunes elsewhere . it may be easily imagin'd in so lamentable a conjuncture , how great a mortification this disappointment was to persons , who hoped to make their fortune by so noble an enterprize . there was not one mariner of the whole squadron who did not choose rather to perish with hunger , than to be diverted from the right course ; and indeed they were already accustom'd to eat rats , and paid fifteen pence a-piece for them . altho' we were not so happy as to see those fortunate coasts of peru , from whence we are supply'd with what is generally esteem'd , most precious ; nevertheless i am apt to believe , that a particular account of the occasion of our undertaking this voyage , may not be altogether unacceptable to the reader . in the year 1686. certain free-booters of st. domingo , who are well known to be enemies to peace , after having for many years infested the coast of carack , new-spain , and cuba , without being able to get any considerable prize , took a resolution to pass to those of the southern-sea , which they know to be much more rich , and less fortify'd . there were two passages which lay open into those parts , viz. one along the coast , and the other by the streight of magellan : the former , as the shortest , was taken by some other rovers ; but there were two great difficulties , one of being attack'd by the indians during their course , who have sometimes war and sometimes peace with the spaniards : and the other difficulty is to find in that sea , vessels convenient for the performing of such a voyage . the passage thro' the streight of magellan appearing to these free-booters to be the safest , they set sail , being 80 men in number , for the southern-sea , where they soon became formidable by the frequent descents they made in several places , and by the great number of ships richly laden , which they took : however , notwithstanding these prizes , they made but little booty , as well by reason of the irregular conduct of their ill-disciplin'd company , as in regard that the merchandizes were too combersome to be manag'd by persons who had no settled place of retreat : therefore they contented themselves only with putting them to ransome ; and when they could take a sufficient quantity of provisions for five or six months , they retir'd to some island , where they spent their time in hunting and fishing ; and after having consum'd their whole stock , they return'd to the coast . thus our free-booters liv'd wretchedly for the space of seven years , till some of them , mov'd with a desire to return to their native country , took a resolution to sail back to the northern sea , and to that purpose met together in the island fernand , where they divided their booty , and every one of them had the summ of eight or nine thousand livres for his share . however twenty three of them having lost by gaming what they were so long in getting , continu'd on that island with a * pirogue , in which they cross'd over to peru , resolving either to perish , or at least to repair their losses . some time after , they took five rich ships , among which they chose that which they judg'd to be most convenient for the making an end of their voyage : they loaded it with cast metal , divers indian merchandizes and provisions , and at last would have return'd with a much richer cargo than the others , if they had not had the ill fortune to lose their ship in the streight of magellan , where they spent ten whole months in building a bark , as well as they could , and with all the application requisite in so great an exigence : they laded their bark with what they could save out of the wreck of their ship , and pass'd cayenna . all the free-booters being come back to the northern sea , thought fit to retire with their small cargo ; so that some of them settled at brasil , and others went to cayenna , st. domingo , and the other islands of america ; but there were about four or five , who being unwilling any longer to undergo the hardships of so mean a condition , took a resolution to make a second voyage , and to that purpose , they pass'd over into france , with good memoires concerning their adventures . one of them nam'd macerty , made application to mousieur de gennes , whom he knew to be a man very fit for the management of great undertakings , insomuch that the latter approv'd his design , and went to paris , to represent to the court the advantages that might arise from such a voyage , proffering his service to carry on so noble an enterprize . the proposals made by m. de gennes were receiv'd with all the approbation , that could be wish'd for ; the king supply'd him with ships at his own choice , and the project was so well approv'd of , upon account of its novelty , that divers persons of the highest quality readily contributed to the equipping of our fleet. a great number of young men , who were equally excited by curiosity to see such fine countries ; and by the hopes of getting an opportunity to make their fortune , earnestly desir'd to be admitted into the company : however it seems , we did not go on successfully in all points , since our design at last prov'd abortive : but 't is to be hop'd , that the court will not discourage an undertaking of so great importance , which failed only by reason of the small experience we then had of the season of the winds . 't is well known , that the spaniards are not in a condition to make war with us ; that by the means of the vast treasures which they gather daily out of new-spain and peru , they have actually made themselves masters of those countries , by spilling the blood of a vast multitude of poor indians , who only sought for an amicable correspondence with those haughty invaders , who to strike a greater terror into their minds , gave it out , that they were descended of the gods. besides all the tortures which they could devise for the destroying of those miserable wretches , they carried on their cruelty so far , as to assassinate and sell them for the slaughter , for the maintenance of their attendants . and indeed , there are many frenchmen who can testifie , that the coasts of peru are still cover'd with the skeletons of those unfortunate victims , whose blood cries to heaven for vengeance , and for the liberty of their native country ; insomuch that nothing can prevent the destruction of those enemies of god and nature , who under the name of christians , revive idolatry , and live in the midst of their treasure , in a luxury that even surpasses that of brute beasts . i might enlarge on this subject , but that 't is more expedient to resume our former discourse , and to give a farther account of our misfortunes . on the 5th . instant , the winds being still contrary , we prepar'd to return to the northern sea , as it was determin'd two days before . but we were scarce under sail , when the winds chang'd as it were on purpose to deceive us , and induc'd us to make another attempt , which was not only fruitless , but wou'd have certainly proved our ruine , if we had not been apparently protected by divine providence in a very extraordinary manner . we had not made a league , when these favourable winds terminated in a great calm , and the tides ( the course of which we cou'd not discern from cape froward ) drove us on the coasts , insomuch that four shallops were not able to get us clear of the shore . we let fall a large anchor , which very much abated the force of the current , but could not hinder us from running a-float , by reason that the bottom not being firm , cou'd not hold it . we might have leapt off from the poop ashore , and judg'd the danger to be unavoidable , when a gentle breeze happily blew fresh from the north , and set us at liberty ; whereas if any other wind had arose , we had certainly perish'd . in the mean while , the sun of africa and the glutton frigate were very near running the same hazard . we lay before the cape during the whole night , and at break of day , we set sail again , but the winds being contrary , we were forc'd to spend the next night in the like manner , before cape froward . on the 7th . at break of day , the winds blowing fresh again from the north-east , we made our last effort , and doubl'd cape froward , but to no purpose . however we did not forbear to put out to sea , and on the 11th . at six a-clock in the evening , having pass'd between terra de fuogo and the shelves that lie at the mouth of the streight , we re-enter'd the northern sea , and steer'd our course directly for la isla grande . on the 16th . at break of day , we were separated from the sun of africa and the seditious frigat , by the means of a great fog , which hinder'd 'em from hearing the signals that we gave to tack about . on the 17th . and 18th . we had foul weather , and the sea ran very high . on the 26th . the weather was very foggy , and the winds were so boisterous , that we were oblig'd to take down the mizzen-mast : the waves swell'd extremely , and we were beset on all sides as it were with mountains of foaming billows ; insomuch that in the evening we lost one of our mariners , who fell into the sea , as he was coming down from the top-mast . on the 27th . our pilots sail'd a-cross the river de la plata , at the distance of 60 leagues from the land , and on the 29th . we had a great deal of foul weather . the winds were very favourable to us , till the 9th . of the next month ; but we did not take a provident care to sail along the coasts , which we could not discover till within 20 leagues to the north of the islands of st. ann. on the 12th . we cast anchor in a road very full of fish , where we took a great quantity of fine ones , and among others , divers sea-porcupines , so called , because they are actually armed with sharp-pointed bristles , as the porcupine or hedg-hog , which they prick up when pursued by other fishes . on the 13th . at nine a-clock in the evening , we made ready to set sail ; but on the 14th . and 15th . the winds were very variable . p. 88 a sea porcupine taken on the coast of brasil ▪ on the 16th . we discover'd cape frie , but were not able to double it , because there was very little wind stirring . about eight a-clock in the evening , the sky being very serene , we discern'd the moon to be in an eclipse , that continu'd almost for the space of two hours , and which indeed was not foreseen by us , in regard that we did not meet with any almanacks in the straight of magellan , where the inhabitants , although great star-gazers , do not reap the fruits of their observations . about two a-clock in the morning , we descry'd a vessel under the wind , and some gave it out that there were two : whereupon we prepar'd our batteries , and kept the weather-gage during the whole night . at break of day , we perceiv'd it to be a portuguese bark , which a storm had driven from the mouth of the river janëiro : the mariners belonging to this . vessel inform'd us , that the fleet was arriv'd , and that the governor was chang'd , but that he heard no news of our ships . we freely bestow'd on them two barrels of water , of which they were destitute two days , and were not able to make land , to take in any . on the 19th . we doubl'd cape frie , and on the 20th . we cast anchor within seven leagues of rio-janeiro ; but we had not so much as one blast of wind , and the currents were contrary . there we saw two of those pillars of water that arise out of the sea , and which are commonly call'd spouts : when they draw near , 't is customary to discharge several cannon-shot , to disperse them , and by that means the danger is often escap'd . on the 21st . we put out to sea , and the next day we cast anchor , within two leagues of the coast , before the mouth of the river , but we determin'd not to enter it , by reason that our place of meeting was appointed to be at la isla grande . on the 24th . we prepar'd to set sail again , when the rocks cut our cable , and sav'd us the trouble of weighing anchor ; and so little wind was stirring in the night , that at break of day we found our selves driven by the currents under cape frie , which made us take a resolution to stand in for the islands of st. ann , to wait for a fair wind , as also to take in fresh water and provisions , of which we had a very short allowance . thus we cast anchor on the 26th . instant at noon , and found the island as full of fowl as at our first arrival . on the 27th . we sent our boat ashore to take in provisions , and to get information about our vessels : we purchas'd six oxen , two hoggs , and some pullets , but not without a great deal of difficulty , by reason that all the provisions were transported to rio janeiro , for the use of the fleet : we were also inform'd , that our ships had enter'd that river twenty days ago . on the 29th . at five a-clock in the evening , we set sail with a favourable wind , and order'd the pink to carry the lanthorn : we follow'd her for some time , but forasmuch as she sail'd too near the coast , and the night was dark , we left her to continue her course , and stood somewhat farther out to sea. on the 30th . at break of day , we weather'd cape frie , and found the winds and currents contrary as before . at the same time , we discern'd the pink four large leagues to the windward of us ; nevertheless ( as we were afterwards inform'd ) she continu'd at sea eight days longer , before she could find means to enter the river . the rest of that day , and the next , we had but little wind , and that too was contrary ; insomuch that after divers fruitless attempts , monsieur de gennes judg'd , that for the future we ought not to be obstinately resolv'd to pursue our intended course , lest we should be reduc'd to the greatest extremity ; but that 't was more expedient to stand in for the bay of all-saints ; since by sailing thither , we should get so far onward in our way , and we should certainly meet with plenty of provisions in that place . therefore we cast anchor june the first , at four a-clock in the evening , before the islands of st. ann , to get some recruits , having on board victuals sufficient only to serve for eight days at most ; and forasmuch as it was requisite to give notice to our vessels of the course that we had determin'd to steer , we sent an officer a-shore to desire a pass-port of the commander of the town , to go to rio-janeiro by land , to acquaint them with our design : the officer who had received orders to return the same evening , not appearing by next day noon ; monsieur de gennes believing some misfortune had befallen him , sent out a shallop armed with two small guns , to get intelligence , which return'd to us again about five in the evening : and the men reported , that they had seen the canoe in the river , where there were dwelling-places ; and that the officer who appeared on shoar , came up to the point of land there , in order to give them notice to return , because it was shallow water , and that he had passed over a ridge of rocks where the surge of the sea was very frightful ; and that this was the reason , together with his tarrying for three beefs they were in quest of for us , that detained our canoe from returning to us . the shallop went back next day , about ten of the clock , and as she was ready to enter in , the officer who had sent her back the day before , gave them a signal to come to an anchor , and to wait till the tide came in . they continued in that posture till two a clock in the afternoon ; when the officer that commanded , grown quite weary with staying , made use both of his sails and oars , and put forwards ; and that in spight of the advice of the master , and of all the signals that could be made from the shoar to the contrary : but he was no sooner incommoded with the terrible rocks aforementioned , than that he began to repent ( tho' it was now too late ) of his rashness . after they had bore divers rude attacks of the sea , a wave brought all their oars on one side , and this wave was followed by another , that opened the shallop in the very middle , and drowned the commander , with seven seamen more ; but the master , together with the gunner and seven other mariners , saved themselves , and remained on shoar to seek out their comrades bodies . p. 99 a capivard or water hog at the foot of a bananier . on the 4th we sung mass for the dead , and discharged three pieces of cannon for the officer that had been drowned , whose name was salior , born at paris , and a young gentleman whose loss deserved to be regretted . this being over , the canoe was sent to shoar again , to bring back those seamen that had the luck to escape drowning ; she returned the same day , and brought along with her two beefs more : the bodies of our drowned friends could not be found , and the portuguese informing us that the place where they were lost were full of requins , it 's not to be doubted but they were devoured by them . next day , which was the sixth , about three in the morning , we made ready to sail for the bay of all-saints , without giving information of the same to the other vessels we had with us ; but seeing monsieur de gennes had spoken of it before at la gloutonne , we had some sort of reason to hope that they would rejoin us , at least at cayenne . on the 7th and 8th we steer'd a wide course , that we might put by the abralhes , which are certain islands and heaps of rocks that run out five and forty leagues into the sea , and on which divers ships have perished . the portuguese , who are well acquainted with them , make no great difficulty of sailing through the midst of them ; and so save a large compass that others are oblig'd to make , to avoid them . we saw a great whale the day following , that went round our ship several times , and twice under it . we were on the 10th , 11th , and 12th . troubled with excessive heats , and had but very little wind ; at what time we catch'd a great number of requins , which was a considerable help to lengthen out our provisions : but tho' this fish appears to be firm flesh enough , yet it is so insipid that several of our men were injured with the eating of it . it 's thick , and five or six foot long , a great lover of man's flesh , has a large mouth , and therein five rows of very sharp teeth : he turns himself upon his back to catch his prey , and has two or three small fishes near him that are his pilots , and never forsake him , but serve to secure him from being surprized by the whale . there is a sort of fish which they call sucet , that is commonly fastened to the requin , and this has given many men occasion to believe that he is his pilot ; but herein they are mistaken , for this small fish never closes with the other , but when he finds himself pursued ; and then taking half a turn round , he strikes the requin over the head , and fixes himself so fast to the other , that it 's impossible for him to make him let go his hold ; insomuch , that this little fish makes himself to be convoyed with this pretty sort of guard whithersoever he pleases : on the three following days , viz. the 13th , 14th , and 15th , we were incommoded with contrary winds ; but on the 17th we kept about fifteen leagues off of the abralhes and sailed on , and next day passed over the shallows of st. antony . we made land the nineteenth , which our pilots computed at above thirty leagues distance ; and this made us judge , that the sea currents moved to the north , as the portuguese had assured us , who take it for a maxim , that the currents on the coast of brasil follow the course of the sun ; that when the same is in the northern hemisphere , they run to the northward , but when in the southern , to the southward . on the nineteenth at night , having got within six leagues of cape st. antony , we brought to , and by break of day , we saw about two leagues to the windward of us , a ship that steered the same course as we did ; whereupon we slackned our sail to let her come up , and believing it might have been one of our own fleet , we gave her a signal whereby to know us , but she returned us no answer , and proved to be a portuguese ship , that was making the best of her way for the bay of all-saints as well as we : about noon we made the cape of st. antony , and saw all along the coast a great number of barks , and the negro's piperies , as they are called , being no other than three or four pieces of wood made fast together , whereon two men go out a fishing to the extent of two leagues : some of them we boarded , but we could never bring them to conduct us to the road , they alledging , they were forbid to do it ; but i believe it was because they would not leave their fishing . but it fortunately happen'd , that we descry'd two sorts of small tartanes , that were for making the best of their way into the bay as well as we ; them we waited for , and required them to grant us a pilot for our money ; upon which , one of the masters of these tartanes , offered himself to conduct us to the place where we were to anchor , and this he performed with all imaginable civility : we drew up in order , within cannon shot of cape st. antony , and about five in the evening cast anchor within a small league of the town , that we might not embarrass our selves with the portuguese fleet we found there , consisting of between forty and fifty sail , all laden and ready every minute to sail away . as soon as we were come to an anchor , there came a lieutenant from the admiral , to require us to salute him ; but monsieur de gennes made him answer , the king had given him orders not to salute any , without they received gun for gun ; and that he would send his next captain , to settle that affair with the governour : the lieutenant hereupon , sent to see for his shallop , in order to assist us ; and after a thousand tenders of his service to us , he accompanied the chevalier de fontenay to wait upon the governour , with whom he had no long dispute , for they quickly agreed not to salute one another at all , which made most of the portuguese to murmur , and concernedly to say , that it was not to be endured , that a frenchman should pass under their forts without saluting them , and yet not be called to an account for it : but 't is well known , they are no otherwise brave than upon their own dunghills ; and that they had rather , upon occasion , have recourse to their beads than to their courage . the morrow being the feast of god , monsieur de gennes , accompanied with several other officers , went to wait upon the governour and the intendant , who shew'd him abundance of civilities : the governour 's name was don john de lancastre , one of the principal men of the kingdom , and vice-roy of brasil : then they went to see the procession of the holy sacrament , which is as remarkable in that town , for the vast number of crosses , shrines , rich ornaments , armed troops , companies , fraternities , and religious orders ; as 't is ridiculous for the masquerades , musical instruments , and dancers that attend thereat , and who by their wanton postures , invert the end of this holy ceremony . the procession was no sooner over , but our gentlemen went to hear mass , to the convent of the reverend fathers the jesuits ; where they were received by some fathers of the french nation very kindly , who confirmed unto them the loss of namur , and the hopes there were of a peace with savoy ; from them they went to dine with the french consul , and heard a great deal more news there also . we were also informed by a friar newly come from goa , that before he had left that port , he had seen a french ship that put in there , after having fought three arabian vessels , by whom she had been very rudely handled . when these mischievous pirates board any ship , they do , in order to blind their enemies , make use of a sort of wrought lime , which being squashed down upon the bridge they use upon that occasion , has a most terrible effect . here we came to know also of the loss of the famous montauban , of whom the free-booters made so much noise at bourdeaux . he met with a large english ship on the coast of guinea , whom he boarded , and took her by main force ; but the english commander being enraged that he should be taken by a free-booter , he set the powder on fire , and blew up his own ship and that of montauban's ; who with a dozen or fifteen of his own men , threw himself into the sea , where they floated upon masts for five days and five nights , and at last got a-shoar half dead in the king of the negro's country , where they were kindly received , upon the account of an old portuguese that traded upon that coast , and who took compassion on those miserable wretches : when they had been there about five or six months , a dutch ship bound for jamaica passed by that way , which took montauban and seven or eight of his followers , who promised to pay for their passage , on board him ; while the other six , who could not find the same favour at the dutch-man's hands , got a passage in a portuguese flute , that carried negro's to all-saints bay , from whence we gave them free transportation to martenico . on the 4th of july , the admiral with divers merchant ships , anchored in the road ; and on the 8th , the whole fleet made ready to sail away for lisbon , consisting in all of 45 ships , laden with sugar , tobacco , cotton , fish , oyl and skins ; they were almost all of them mounted from twelve to thirty six pieces of cannon , but the admiral and vice-admiral that were men of war , and out upon the king's account , carried one of them sixty guns , and the other no less than seventy two . we drew nearer to the city on the 9th , having hitherto taken in no provisions ; for the portuguese fleet had made it excessive dear , but now we bought some european meal , magniot , and rice ; and the intendant was so civil , as to let us have the use of the king's magazine , to provide salt to season our provision with : and that we might not be wanting in any thing to our selves that was necessary ; we began also to build us a shallop instead of that which we had lost at st. anne's . all-saints may be reckoned for one of the largest , finest , and most convenient bay of any other in the world , being capable of containing no less than two thousand ships ; of a very good depth , and no winds to be feared there . they take a great number of whales therein , build very fine ships , and they had one then upon the stocks that would carry sixty pieces of cannon . as for the city of st. salvador , that is seated upon this bay , it 's large , well built , and very populous ; but the scituation of it is not so advantagious , as could be wished . it 's high and low , and scarce one straight street therein ; it 's the capital city of brasil , an archiepiscopal see , and the residence of the vice-roy : this place is honoured with a soveraign council , and the privilege to coin money ; where , in order to quicken trade , they make such sort of pieces as are current no-where else , but in brasil : they have on the one side the arms of portugal , and a cross charged with a spear on the other , with this inscription , svbq . sign . stabo . this city , to the seaward , is defended with some forts , and several batteries mounted with cannon , and to the landward , with earthen bastions ill made . we saw them lay the foundation of a fortress , the governour had ordered to be erected about half a cannon shot without the town : the dutch attempted divers times to make themselves masters of this place , but without success , tho' they have taken away two and twenty ships from thence at one clap . the inhabitants , to say nothing of the common people , who are insolent to the highest degree , are neat , civil , and honest , and withal rich , being lovers of trade , and for the most part are of a jewish extract ; and this is the reason , that when any one of the inhabitants is about to make one of his sons a divine , he is obliged to prove his ancestors were christians , as the knights of malta are under an obligation of making out their gentility , before they enter into the order . they love women extreamly , and spare no charges for the setting out of their wives , who in respect to all other things , have cause enough to complain ; for they are never allowed to see any body , and go not out of doors at any other time but on sunday early in the morning , to go to church : they are a very jealous people , and 't is a kind of a point of honour for a man to stab his wife , when he can convict her of being unfaithful to his bed ; tho' for all that , this cannot hinder many of them from finding out a way to impart some of their favours to us frenchmen , whose winning and free conversation they are mightily in love with . as the town is nothing throughout but up's and downs , and that consequently carriages are very impracticable there ; their slaves are forced to perform what horses should otherwise do , and carry the heaviest sort of goods from one place unto another : and 't is also for the same reason , that a thing they call a palanquin is much in use there ; it 's nothing else but a kind of a sedan , covered over with a little embroidered canopy , and carried by two negro's by the help of a long pole , whereunto it 's fastned at both ends : persons of quality are carried therein to church , to make their visits , and also into the fields . the houses are high-built , and most of them of free-stone and brick ; their churches are very sumptuous , being finely gilt , full of silver-plate , sculptures , and a vast number of the best ornaments that are to be met with : and as for the cathedral-church there , dedicated to the cross , the lamps and candlesticks are so high , and massy withal , that two men can scarce carry them . they have several sorts of religious orders amongst them ; as franciscans , carmelites , benedictines , jesuits , and divers others , and all of them , except a little convent of french and italian capuchins , are very rich ; and more particularly , the jesuits are very potent there , they being no less than 190 in number , their house of a vast extent , and their church large and well beautified : their vestry is one of the most magnificent that ever was seen , it 's about an hundred and fifty foot long , and of proportionable breadth : they have three altars in it , two whereof are placed at the two ends , and the third in the midst of that part that joins to the church ; and upon which may be seen , every morning , above twenty calices , all of them made of gold , vermillion , and silver ; on each side of this last altar stand two great tables , that are of that length , that there is room only left for two doors to open , by which they enter into the church . these two tables are made of very fine wood , the whole surface of them being adorned with ivory , a sort of net-work , and a great many fine water-colour paintings , that are brought thither from rome . the fourth side of this vestry , that stands to the seaward , is pierced with divers large crosses from top to bottom , and the ceiling very curiously painted . the soyl here is flat or level , watered with fine rivers , on which the portuguese inhabit for above fifty leagues into the country , whose dominion the indians shun , and for that end retire into the woods ; but they steal their cattle continually , and eat them themselves when they can catch them : our capuchins , who ( as we have already observed ) have a convent in this city , have travelled four or five years among these poor people , and expos'd themselves with an apostolical zeal , to all sorts of fatigues , in order to reduce them from their blindness and ignorance . the earth produces sugar-canes , tobacco , cotton , magniot-roots , rice , maes , and such good pasturage , that they breed so great a number of cattle , that meat is sold there under a penny a pound ; but the country is so pestered with ants , that they are constrained , for the preserving of their fields of maes and magniot , to carry them to feed upon the roads : and those who are curious in gardening , must , by the help of several small channels , form an island of every bed , to drown the ants in their passage over . they have pulse and fruits there in abundance , such as they call the banane , ananas , patatoes , ighname , cocoe , and goyave , of which we have given a description already . here they have also cinamon , pepper , ginger , the oyl of capahu , balsom , and several sorts of roots that have a wonderful effect ; and amongst the rest , those called para-ayra-braba , and hypopecovana . the cinnamon-tree is about the height of a small cherry-tree , bearing long leaves , and pointed at the end , of a bright green colour ; the jesuits were the first that brought them thither out of ceylan , of which they took great care : but in some years they grew very common , because that the birds who eat the fruit thereof , sow the seed up and down every-where , being not able to digest it . the plant which bears the pepper , clings round about to other trees like ivy , has pretty large leaves , pointed at the ends , and of a deep green ; and the fruit it produces are small grapes , like those growing on the wild vine . the capahu-oyle and the balsom , come from the jurisdiction of spiritu sancto ; those they draw from certain trees , where the wild beasts by rubing against their bark , cure themselves of their wounds ; for let them take off never so little of them , these liquors will gush out , and have so much the more admirable effect , in that they are not adulterated , as those we have in europe are . the para-ayra-braba , is a thick hard root , which is made use of as an infallible remedy against all sorts of poysons : and as for the hypopecovana it 's a small root , that in our armies has sufficiently discovered the vertues of it against the bloody-flux , being valued at ten pistoles a pound ; but now it 's cheaper , as being more common . among those that are curious , you shall find very large oranges , that originally were brought from the mogul country ; according to which they have their names , and some whereof are eight inches diameter . they have a sort of roses growing amongst them , whose leaves are very like unto those of guimauva , and the fruit whereof is very singular , being white from midnight till noon , and from noon to mid-night again of a red colour . they have abundance of wild fowl in that country , and a great number of extraordinary birds , and more especially the finest parrots in the world ; to which may be added tygers , deer , wild boars , and several other animals that are unknown to us in europe : monsieur de gennes was presented with a very large tortoise , that lived without eating and drinking the rest of the summer , under one of the carriages of our cannon ; and these are a sort of animals that will never die till all their fat is entirely consumed . we observed two sorts of monkeys there , which they distinguished by the names of sagovins and macaques ; the former are about the bigness of a squirrel , some of them being of a greyish colour , but others have a fine coat , and of a golden hue ; they are always very merry and lightsome , but so tender that the least cold kills them : the macaques are larger , and of a brown colour , weep continually , and are no otherwise diverting , but that they will imitate every thing they see you do ; and we had one of them that would make some of our ship-tackle as well as the seamen themselves . the portuguese have already found some silver mines there , and lately amethists also ; they have brass enough from the coast of angola , from the traffick they drive there , upon the account of the negro's . but to return , on the 17th of july came in a portuguese ship , belonging to the guinea-company , lately erected amongst them , which carried a white flag with a sinople or green cross in it , and next day our three ships , which we did not expect to see till we came to cayenne , joined us ; the sun of africa gave us seven guns , and we returned her as many ; the seditious had lost her fore-round-top , and by them we were informed that a fleet of eighteen sail were put out of rio-janeiro ; that the felicity had gone thither , that fifteen men had deserted them , and that monsieur de la roque had two of his men killed and an officer wounded , in a descent they had made against the portuguese , who detained five or six of our officers in prison , upon account of a quarrel that happened , wherein two of the inhabitants were left dead upon the spot . on the 22d we heard the good capuchin father francis preach ; this man had spent five and twenty years in preaching to the indians , and told monsieur de gennes , that he had several times asked leave of the general of his order , to return for some time into europe , but that he had desired him to continue where he was , and not to forsake that work he had so happily entered upon ; and that so taking the desires of his superiour , as a command from him , he said he was ready to re-enter upon his mission , and had no farther thoughts of his native country . having , by the sixth of august , taken in our stores of water and wood , and laid in provision for six months , we prepared for our departure , and found the governour very civil , who made a present to all the captains of some amethists , and of all sorts of refreshments ; and the seventh day being come , we sailed away , and having doubled the cape of st. antony , we kept our course out at sea for some days , that we might shun the coast , which , by reason of the banks of rocks , as well as the storms that are frequent there , is very dangerous . on the 8 th we descry'd two barks , that made all the sail they could to come up with us , and we staid for them , as believing they were about to bring us some news , because there was a ship put in there the day before . but they proved to be negro's , who came to desire us to take them away with us , or else they would commit themselves to the mercy of the waves , sooner than they would return again under the tyranny of their masters ; but we sent them back , that we might not give the portuguese occasion to complain of us , that we had taken away their slaves : and in truth , these sort of wretches are in a very miserable state ; they are born slaves , and they are scarce able to lift up their hands to their heads , but they make them work at tilling the ground as oxen do : besides they are ill-fed , and bastinado'd for the least fault : they behold their children sold before their faces , and sometimes their wives : and this does affect the greatest part of those who have been bred up in the christian religion , to that degree , that they run away from their masters , and chuse rather to go and die in the woods among the indians , where they meet with greater humanity than with the other : but this they must execute with the greatest precaution , for if their masters once catch them , they give them no quarter ; for they hang a great iron collar about their necks on each side whereof there are hooks , whereunto is fastened a stake or branch of a tree , with which they thrash them at pleasure ; and this they repeat so often , that they put them almost out of condition to follow their work : but if it so happen , that after this sort of chastisement they relapse again into the same fault , they without any more ado , cut off one of their legs , nay , and sometimes hang them for an example of terrour unto others ; and tho' all this is bad enough , yet the spaniards and the english treat them still in a more cruel manner . i knew one living in martinico , who being of a compassionate nature , could not find in his heart to cut off his slave's leg , who had run away four or five times , but to the end he might not again run the risque of losing him altogether , he bethought himself of fastening a chain to his neck , which trailing down backwards , catches up his leg behind , as may be seen by the cut : and this , in the space of two or three years , does so contract the nerves , that it will be impossible for this slave to make use of his leg. and thus , without running the hazard of this unhappy wretch's death , and without doing him any mischief , he thereby deprived him of the means to make his escape . p 120 how y e portuguese whip their slaves when they run away a slave that has his leg cut off for running away an invention of a french man in marlinico on the 27th by break of day , as our pilots allow'd us to be yet above sixty leagues from the shoar , we observ'd the water to be of a yellowish colour , and muddy ; and those of the company , who were so curious as to taste them , told us , they did not want much of being sweet ; and this made us believe that we were come to the mouth of the famous river of the amazons , that is so rapid as to preserve the sweetness of its waters for near twenty leagues within the sea ; we ran upon the coast till three in the afternoon , when we discovered a flat , even , and woody coast , where we anchored about six in the evening ; and on the 28th and 29th , we followed the said coast , at three or four leagues distance from the shoar , and never found above five or six fathom water . on the 30th , about seven in the morning , we descry'd the cape of orange , where we began to see the foot of the mountains : about three in the afternoon , we doubled a great rock called the constable , three leagues out in the sea , and five from cayenne ; we drew up , at about half a cannon shot 's distance , and about six in the evening came to an anchor , three leagues to the north of cayenne before five little islands lying near to that place . when next day was come , monsieur de gennes sent an officer to complement the governour , and to desire him to send us a pilot to conduct us to a sase anchorage ; but our arrival had already allarm'd the whole island , and they fired off their cannon all night long , to give the inhabitants notice to come together ; and they would not trust to our colours , because the dutch in their passage to surinam and barbicha , have often cast anchor within a league of the town , under white colours ; and as they had not been used to see four french ships at one time , they were apprehensive of some design upon them . our shallop could not return before next day , which happened to be the first of september , the same being oblig'd to take a course round the island , for avoiding the currents , which are very violent on that coast ; but she brought a pilot along , tho' the sea was so shallow that we were forced to tarry where we were till the day following : and then on the second and third , we made as much use of the tide as possibly we could , in order to get in , because there was so very little water , and that we could not make ready before it had half flowed : but about four in the evening , we cast anchor under the cannon of the town , within pistol-shot of land ; there were two merchants ships already in cayenne , that had waited seven or eight months for their cargo , besides another vessel that came in the day before us , laden with wine and brandy . as our men had , just about this time , received a month's pay , and that it was now a long time since they had met with so good an opportunity , they not only drank up the ship 's whole cargo in eight days time , but also all the wine they had in the island . cayenne is a french island , scituated on the coast of guiana , four degrees and forty five minutes north latitude , and 332 longitude ; it 's formed by the two arms of a river , and may be reckoned to be about eighteen leagues in circumference ; it stands high , upon the brink of the sea , and is so marshy in the middle , that you cannot travel by land , from one end to the other ; the fens of it are covered with a sort of large trees called mangles , which above all other , have the peculiar quality of growing in sea-water ; these trees are so thick , and their roots for the most part springing out of the earth , rise up , and are so well interlaced one with another , that in some places a man may walk upon them above fifteen or twenty leagues together , without setting his foot upon the ground ; amongst them also divers indians retire with their canoes , and there they make their carbets . the town stands on the west-part of the island , and is very advantageously scituated , nature and art having both equally contributed to the fortifying of it : it 's of an irregular hexagone-figure , has near sixty pieces of cannon planted upon batteries , for the security of it ; and on the sea-side , upon an eminence , there is a fort built that commands every way : the garrison of the place consists of two hundred regular troops , but there are above four hundred inhabitants living either upon , or round about the island , that upon the least alarm are oblig'd to stand to their arms. monsieur de feroles , the governour , is a person that has great insight into the affairs of a colony ; the power of distributing justice is vested in him , and he is much beloved by the inhabitants : the jesuits have a church in the town , and a chappel at the other end of the island , for the conveniency of those that live remote . this island was formerly very unhealthy , as well for the continual rains that fell there , for nine months in the year , as because the ground was covered with wood , and withal very marshy ; diseases were very rife amongst them , and infants usually died almost as soon as they were born ; but since the island has been grubbed up , they have begun to grow more healthy , the women have good lyings-in , and their children are lusty . the chief commodity of the country , is sugar and rocou , but they make no great quantity , because the inhabitants want slaves to work for them , and that is the reason that ships wait sometimes for near a year's time for their lading : those negro's which we had sent thither by the ship called the fertill , were almost all dead before they got to the place ; for being taken with a calm , they wanted both water and victuals : but we having still about forty on board , we sold them for five hundred livres a man. the commodities they have from france , are wine , brandy , meal , and powdered meats ; for beefs are very rare to be found there , besides they are not allowed to kill any of them without leave , as being desirous to let them multiply . they carry iron tools , and small wares also thither , for to traffick with the indians : four or five years since , money was very scarce amongst them ; but the free-booters who returned from the southern-seas , and the meanest of which had at least two or three thousand crowns for his share , bought them habitations here , increased the colony , and thereby made money current amongst them . they drive a considerable trade in slaves , dry'd fish , and amacks , with the indians living upon the river of the amazons , and by this commerce the colony is very much enriched ; but the portuguese , who for some years past have a mind to settle there , have massacred in a most cruel manner those persons who before went thither unmolested , and in all manner of security . monsieur de feroles hath begun a road which is to go by land to this river , and pretends he 'll drive the portuguese from thence . the same belongs to france , and 't is our interest to preserve it , not only upon the account of our traffick , but also because there are silver mines there . the earth , besides sugar and rocou ; produces cotton and indigo , and is withal very fertil in maes and magniot ; besides those fruits we have seen in brasil , we find growing here , the cassia , papaye , acajou-apples , the vanilla , peet , and several others . as for the papaye , it 's a thick fruit , and tastes somewhat like a cucumber ; it grows round the stem of a tall but tender tree that has large leaves , and cleft as your vine leaves are ; the tree it self is hollow , and grows above fifteen foot in one year's time . the acajou-apple is thick , long , and of a yellow-red ; has a sharp taste , and is usually eaten baked . at the end of this apple you have a little green nut , that tastes like a filbert , and in form resembles a sheeps-kidney : this fruit grows upon a tall and round sort of a tree , like unto a chesnut-tree , whose leaves are of the same form and colour , as those of the laurel : the wood of it is very fine , and proper to make houshold furniture of , and pirogues of forty and fifty foot long ; if a line , or such a thing , be once spotted with the juice of this acajou-apple , it 's impossible to take away the stain , till the season of the fruit be entirely gone . the vanilla is a plant that creeps up along other trees , in the same manner as ivy does ; its leaves being of a bright green colour , thick , long , strait , and pointed at the ends . about seven years after it is planted , it begins to hear a sort of husks that are full of an oyly matter , and seed that is smaller than that of poppy , which they make use of in that country , to give a good scent to tobacco , and liquors they have amongst them . the peet is an herb that can be peeled in the same manner , as hemp with us , and whose threads are stronger and finer than silk , the use whereof it would have long since put out of doors , if so be it would have been allowed to be transported to france . ebony , of a different sort , letter-wood ( as they call it ) and that of violet , with several others , are very common in that country . to say nothing of the fish and fowl that we find there in great abundance , as we do also tygers , deer , pigs , little porcupines , camelions , those beasts they call agontills and sapaions , and divers sorts of animals more . as for the agontill , it 's a creature of the same bigness with an hare , of a reddish colour like unto a deer , sharp muzzle , small ears , and short as well as very small legs ; but the sapaion is a kind of a little monkey , of a yellowish colour , having large eyes , a white face and black chin : it 's of a low stature , but of a lively and caressing nature . the camelion doth somewhat resemble those small lizards that creep up our walls , whose colour cannot be agreed on , because they receive it from every thing they touch : they have here also very large serpents , but not very venomous , and some of them have been observed to have swallowed a whole deer at a time . as for birds , they have very curious parrots in that country , that will quickly learn to speak ; from which the indians pluck feathers of divers colours , by the help of the blood of certain creeping animals , with which they rub them . they have also other birds , called flamands , ocos , toucans , and many sorts besides . the first whereof , viz. the flamands are sea-birds , about the bigness of an hen , which flie in bands as ducks , or rather cranes do ; and whose feathers being of a scarlet colour , the indians make unto themselves crowns of them : the ocos are as big as the indian poultry , black on the back , but white breasted , with a short yellow bill , a fierce gate , and have small frizled feathers standing up like a cop upon their heads . and for the toucan , that is a bird that hath both black , red , and yellow feathers , being very near as big as a pidgeon , whose bill is almost as thick as his body , and of a very singular make , as being all over nothing but black and white welts or streaks , like ebony and ivory interlaid ; neither is his tongue less admirable , being nought but a plain feather , and that very streight . we shall say nothing of several birds , who have nothing remarkable in them besides their feathers ; and therefore , we shall now proceed to a short description of the government of cayenne , which some , by reason of the bigness of it , and its scituation under the equator , have called equinoxial france . the government of cayenne contains about an hundred leagues in length , upon the ocean , wherewith it 's bounded both on the east and north ; as it has to the west the river marony , which separates the same from surinam , now in the hands of the states of holland ; and to the south , the northern boundary of the amazons , where the portuguese have already built three forts upon the rivers of paron and macaba : one may see by the map made of this government ( which i have taken care to correct , according to the memoirs of monsieur de feroles , for to send it to court ) the road that has been made , in order to drive them from thence : this road begins at the river of peira , which falls into that of paron , and by which they can afterwards go down in canoes : here also observations may be made of the different nations of the indians that dwell in those parts , and who all of them , tho' intermixt one with another , speak different languages , and are almost always ingaged in war , which is not usually put an end to , until they make forty or fifty of their enemies prisoners . we were informed by the jesuits , that several of these nations were once entred into a league against one another ; and that they were about a year's space in making grand preparation for war , which after all ended one night , in their surprizing two or three carbets , where they might burn perhaps about an hundred persons , men , women and children , and so returned home as fierce and vaunting , as if they had made a conquest of the whole country . these indians are red , of short stature , having black , long , and lank hair ; they go all naked , unless it be their privy-parts , which they cover with a little cotton-welt , that hangs down by their legs : but for the women , they use a piece of cloth half a foot square , which they call camisa , and which is usually woven after a striped manner , of divers colours , and especially white , which they prefer above any other ; but some of them there are , who only hang a carrot-leaf at their girdle : the men cut off their beards , dye their faces with rocou , and cover their arms and faces with several folds of the forementioned sort of cloth ; they generally , by way of ornament , wear crowns made of feathers of various colours , and bore a hole between their nostrils , where they hang a little piece of money , or a large knob of green crystal that is brought from the river of amazons , and which they mightily value : but there is particularly one whole nation of these indians , that make a large hole in the nether lip , through which they put a piece of wood , whereunto they fasten this crystal : and as these are thus singular , all the other nations have particular marks of distinction also . these people are very skilful in bows and arrows , which they make use of as well in fishing as fowling : they work their amacks very curiously , and make very pretty pots and baskets , which they call pagara , and are wrought in such a manner , that they go one into another , and cannot be penetrated by water : they also make use of their couis or calabasses , about which they turn their ornaments , and varnish them with divers colours , so as that the waters shall not injure them ; but for all this skill of theirs , they are very lazy , and continually lain down , taking no care for the morrow , no , not for their necessary subsistence : and there is nothing but famine that can draw them out of their amacks . when they are in the country , or waging war , and chance to hear that the wife lies in , they return with all speed , bind up their heads , and , as if themselves were in labour , they lie in their beds , where their neighbours come to comfort them under their imaginary illness : there are several of them live together in one or more large cottages , which they call carbets , over each of which there is a captain constituted . as for their diet , they feed upon that which they call cassave , maes , fish and fruits ; the men they live by fishing , and 't is the women that till the ground : they earry but a small matter of victuals along with them , when they go to war ; for they feast upon the fattest part of their prisoners flesh , and for the rest they sell them to the french. they have divers sorts of feasts amongst them , unto which one carbet invites another ; and there they appear with crowns on their heads , and feather-girdles , and spend the day in dancing round , and in feasting , where they make themselves drunk with a strong sort of liquor , which they call ovicon , made of cassave and fruit , boyled together . these poor people live in miserable ignorance , for they worship the stars , and are very much afraid of the devil , which they call piaye , and who ( as they say ) comes to beat and torment them : every one of them hath his wife , which they cannot forsake , ' tho they find them tardy : old men they highly venerate , and when any of them die , they bury them in their carbets , without any other ceremony than to make themselves soundly drunk : but as soon as they think the corps is almost rotten , they dig up the bones , and burning the same to ashes , they put it into their ovicon , and this they esteem excellent chear ; the jesuits take a deal of pains in instructing these poor people , who with much docility give ear to the mysteries of the christian faith. on the 16th a fire broke out in the house of one of the officers , which was a great loss not only to the owners , but also to several of the inhabitants round the town , who had their moveables there . all these houses are built of wood , and thatched over , which is the reason that fire takes them so fast that nothing can be saved . on the 25th we made ready for a cruise upon the coast of barbadoes , which island is under the dominion of the english , who send thither above six hundred ships every year : it 's well peopled , and they reckon no less than six thousand negro-slaves to be in it , so that without contradiction it may be esteemed the most powerful colony of all the american islands . monsieur de gennes had some thoughts of going to attack surinam , and for furthering of his design , monsieur de feroles made him an offer to go thither in person with part of his garrison ; but certain indians who do nothing else but go backwards and forwards to give an account of what is done both on the one and the other side , informed us there were two large dutch ships there carrying 70 pieces of cannon , that were ready to put out forthwith , and that so we should have to deal with the fort and these two ships at a time ; which made us alter our resolution , and to continue cruising . on the 14th of october , believing our selves to be in the height of barbadoes , we sent the glutton to martinico , with orders to lade her self with sugar , and so to sail away for france : and there we cruised to the 16th , fifty , forty , and thirty leagues distance from the shoar , without seeing any thing , and therefore we thought it advisable to draw near to the island . the 17th the weather was very hazy till five in the afternoon , when clearing up all of a sudden , we discovered barbadoes , from which we might be about five leagues distance : about an hour after we descryed a ship ; but as we found she was near the shoar , and that it was now night , we thought it more convenient to bear off than to come up with her . on the 18th the wind being very slack , we found our selves still to be at the same distance from shoar , but about noon we gave chase under english colours to a carvet that came to discover what we were , but upon her putting up french colours , and giving us a gun as a signal that she was really such , we hung out ours also , and gave her the same assurance . this was a small vessel from martinico called the malovin , carrying four guns , and was manned with five and forty buccaneers , whose captain came on board us , and gave us an account of the death of monsieur de blenac , general of the american islands , adding farther that he had met with our fleet , and that there were six and twenty sail of ships got into barbadoes about six weeks before . about five in the evening we discovered three ships near the shoar , which the malovin told us was a man of war for a guard-ship , that carried four and fifty guns , and two small frigates of fourteen guns each , and that they were come out to hinder her to take a merchant ship , that she had chased to the very mouth of the port. on the 19th by break of day we discovered the said guard-ship followed by a skiff about two leagues off of us : but as there was but very little wind stirring , and that she had a great mind to know what we were , she made use of her oars to get out , and about three in the afternoon sent her shallop to see what the seditious was , which was not above two cannon-shot off , but about five she recalled her , and an hour after she sailed off and made a show of getting to the shoar and recovering land : but we did not think fit to pursue her , because we were apprehensive she might return , and had a design to surprize us : but in short we saw her again at ten at night within cannon-shot of us , and she followed us all that night long almost within musket-shot , and from time to time fired rockets as a signal for the shallop to come up , that had not yet rejoyned her . at break of day we came up to her with a good wind under french colours , and all our sails loose , but as she had no other design than to see what we were , and not to fight , she gave us no occasion to desire her to return to port , which she did very safely , as did also the skiff and her shallop , which we discharged some shot at . on the 20th and 21th we bore off to sea , and next day about noon discovered a ship , about three leagues to the windward of us , with which we came very near up , when the night approached and prevented our taking of her . on the 24th we took a small fly-boat of forty tunn , coming from virginia , laden with tobacco , bacon , and meal for barbadoes , and was valued at 10000 livres ; and the seditious the very same day gave chase to another small ship , that made her escape by the favour of the night . the 25th and 26th we had a great deal of bad weather , on the last of which , about three in the afternoon we saw a large ship two leagues to the windward of us , towards which we bare , and all that night kept a different course that we might not lose her , but all in vain . on the 28th we found our selves in sight of barbadoes , from which we computed our selves to be five and twenty leagues distance ; we were surprized with our mistake , and could attribute the cause of it to nothing but the currents ; but we took this opportunity to send our fly-boat to martinico , towards which she made good sail by the help of the night , and a favourable wind. we spent the rest of our time to the fourth of november , to get thirty or forty leagues out to sea , because the winds are always contrary , and that no way can be made but upon a tack ; and on the sixth , seventh , and eighth we had very bad weather , and next day we were ready to sail back , when we discovered a ship two leagues off to the see-ward , which as well as we , was at the cape , to stay for the weather to prove better ; hereupon we made all the sail we could , and in two hours time came within cannon-shot of her ; she put out english colours , which we answered with ours , and at the same time gave her some chase guns ; she kept fighting , retreating , and wounded three of the sun of africa's men , which was ready to give her a whole broadside and to send her to the deep , when , to prevent it , she presently struck . she was a tight ship , carrying two and twenty guns , belonged to new england , and this was her first voyage : her lading consisted chiefly in materials for shipping , and some cod ; we put twenty men on board her , and steered for martinico , but that night it blew very hard , and we were separated from the seditious in the storm ; and on the 11th we had sight of barbadoes , which we left to the north of us . next day early in the morning , we found our selves at two leagues distance from st. lucia , which we had a desire to leave behind us , but the wind took us short : this island is high of scituation , covered all over with wood , and very remarkable for two peaks in it like a sugar-loaf , that may be seen at twenty leagues distance in clear weather : we coasted it all day , and on the 13th early in the morning , we found we were three leagues from the diamond-point of martinico ; we plyed till evening for to get into the mouth of sack-royal , ( as they call it ) where we anchored at five , within half a league of the fort , which we saluted with seven pieces of cannon , and were answered with as many from thence . next day the captain of the fort entred us for careening ; we found four or five ships there from rochel and bourdeaux , and two danes hired by french merchants for the voyage , one of which saluted us with five guns , which we answered with three : we anchored about two spears length from the mead , where we took out our first tier , provision , and utensils , in order to cleanse our ship. we understood on the 16th , that the seditious was come to fort st. peter , and that the glutton , laden with sugar , was sailed away for france , the same day we were entred for careening . the english failed not to send a packet-boat to fetch away their prisoners , with a design to discover what state we were in , and the french prisoners she brought over , told us that the guard-ship , that had given us chase , when she understood what we were , not thinking her self safe in that port , had sailed away for antegoe to joyn another ship of sixty guns that cruised about that island : the packet-boat went from port royal to fort st. peter , where all the english prisoners that were in the island , were delivered up to her , and some of whom the very same night , they were to sail for barbadoes , took away a small privateer that was ready to put to sea , and had but one man to look after her ; whereupon the english officers were presently seized , and the packet-boat sent back to demand satisfaction for this seisure , which was contrary to the law of war. on the first of december , tho' we had not fully embarked all our things that we had to put a shoar , we left the careening place , to the end we might put an stop to the desertion of our men , of whom we had already lost no less than thirty , all of them brave young fellows , who sought for nothing more than an opportunity to fight for the honour of their country , in order to make their fortune , or lose their lives , and who were enraged at their sufferings now for two years together without any hopes of attaining their ends : and what is still more lamentable , there were three or four of them found starved to death on the mountains about fifteen days after . from the third at night to the fourth we set sail for st. peter's fort , where we anchored at five in the evening , within pistol-shot of land , and continued there to the thirteenth to take in water . but seeing it is now a long time since we have had any account of the islands of america ; and that the face of things there is much altered since fifteen or twenty years , i thought it would not be impertinent to make a short description of the same , whereon depends all the rest that are in our possession . martinico was at first inhabited by some french and english , who took this , as was done by all the other islands , as a place of refuge , and each of them upon different accounts : they lived there a long time at peace with the indians , who gave them a share of the cassave and fruits that they cultivated ; but after the descent monsieur d' enambuc made on st. christopher , in the year 1625 , those indians being put in the head by their wizards , that these new guests came with an intention to destroy them , and to take away their country , they resolved to massacre them ; but the french discovering the design , took all the caution imaginable to prevent it . in 1626 there was a company erected for the american islands , and then they began to be peopled , and ships frequently sailed thither , to trade for sugar , for which they paid ready money ; but after divers petty wars , there was a general peace made with the indians in 1660 , and they had st. vincent and domingo assigned them to retire to . they continue there to this day , and come constantly to trade with our french-men , between whom and them there is so great an unity , that when they catch the english , whom they know to be our enemies , they murder and eat them , and the french themselves have no power to bring them to give them quarter : the jesuits , and other orders settled in these parts , do from time to time make small voyages into their islands , to instruct them in the principles of religion ; which they hear with a great deal of joy , but reap little benefit thereby , as being still very tenacious of their old superstition . the american islands company were of no longer duration than the year 1651 , when they sold them to the knights of malta , and several particular persons ; but now the king is master of them ; where he has erected forts , and keeps good garrisons . martinico is the residence of the general , and soveraign courts of judicature ; whereon depends st. domingo , guadalupa , granada , mary-galanda , the saints , st. cross , st. lucia , and tabago ; of which they have abandoned the last three . this island is scituated in 14 degrees north latitude ; and 315 , 25 minutes longitude , stands high , and is fifty five or sixty leagues in circumference . it has the conveniency of three ports , where you may lade above an hundred ships every year ; and their names are the cul-de-sac royal , the bourg of st. peter , and the cul-de-sac de la trinity . cul-de-sac royal is a large bay to the south of the island , and at the bottom whereof stands a pretty town , containing near three hundred inhabitants , where the general resides , and the courts of justice are kept : the streets of it are straight , the houses regular , and mostly built of wood ; and here the capuchins have a very fine convent . the fort which is very advantageously scituated , is built upon a large and long point of land that runs out into the sea , and makes the best careening place in all the islands : the fort is no other way accessible to the sea-ward , but by layes or banks of rocks which do encompass it ; and the town cannot be otherwise approached to , than by a small but very narrow clascis , that is flanked with an half moon , and two bastions , lined with good stone-work ; and defended with a ditch full of water ; they have eighteen and four and twenty pounders mounted every way upon it , and six marine companies in garrison . monsieur de blenac before his death erected a magazine of powder there , and a cistern bomb-proof , so that the fort is now in a condition to withstand a whole army . the town of st. peter is pretty large , and better peopled than that of fort royal ; but to speak the truth of it , it 's no more than one street , a good quarter of a league in length , full of ascents and descents , and in several places interrupted with diverse curious rows of orange trees ; to say nothing of a river that runs cross the middle thereof , that has excellent water ; this river comes down from a great valley , that stands behind the town , and where may be seen a great many sugar plantations , that are very agreeable to the eye : at one end of the town stands the jesuits house , which is curiously built ; and at the other the jacobins church ; where also there is a small convent of vrsulines in the middle , besides an hospital , over which the brethren of charity ( as they are called ) have the super-intendency : most of the houses there are built of wood , but very well , and the inhabitants are very civil and affable . france may be known there by the neatness of the people , and martinico can boast that her females are as handsome as the women of europe : there had been a fort at the mouth of the river , which the hurricans entirely ruined and levelled to the ground ; they have no more now there , than two companies of foot , and two batteries at both ends of the town , consisting of eight or ten pieces of cannon each ; but they are continually at work there to raise new fortifications . the english came thither in 1693 , with sixty sail of ships , and made a descent above the town towards the preacher's point , from whence they were vigorously repulsed by the inhabitants , who killed about fifteen hundred of them upon the spot , with the disadvantage of no more than twenty killed and wounded on their own side ; and monsieur de blenac signalized himself very much upon this occasion : he marched in one night from fort royal with two hundred men thither , and so incouraged the inhabitants , that it may be said , it was almost to him alone that the success of this expedition was owing . cul-de sac de la trinity , that stands on the other side of the island , is much smaller , and less frequented than the other ports ; besides which , there are divers small places on the sea-side , where barks and canoes take in their lading ; so that since the taking of st. christopher's , whose inhabitants withdrew into other islands , they reckon martinico to have three thousand men bearing arms , and above fifteen thousand negro-slaves . this island , as has been already noted , is very high and so full of mountains , that the middle part thereof cannot be inhabited ; but it 's very fruitful in sugars , where they are now refined , in cotton , rocou , cinnamon , cocoe , of which they make chocolate , in magniot , and the fruits of the country , which i have describ'd already . they have very fine sort of wood there , especially that which they call the gayac , of which they make pullies , and such like things , for the king's men of war. these , and several other fruits , which are transported thence into france grow in this country mighty well ; and sheep , oxen , and horses , multiply amongst them apace ; and the ships that sail thither , whether singly , or in company , to lade sugar , carry with them wines , corn , salt-meats , and all sorts of merchandizes they may have occasion for ; so that a man of an estate can live there , as well as in france : but yet the high scituation of the country makes the air unwholsome , and there are but a few ships that go thither , whose crew does not feel the effects of it ; and we our selves , lost about a dozen or fifteen men , who died as it were from one day to another , without any symptom of being sick . the inhabitants , besides the inconveniency of a bad air , are much incommoded with ants , mousticks , and a kind of an hand-worm , which they call chiques , and which fix themselves in the soles of the feet , and are so much the more troublesome and insupportable , in that they cannot be rooted out from thence , if they have once time given them to lay their eggs there : serpents are also very common in this island , and creep into the very houses , of which there are se●eral sorts , whose stinging is very dangerous ; but the negro's find simples there that cure them presently . we made ready on the 13th to go and take in wood at st. lucia , and from thence to return to cruise on the coast of barbadoes ; but the seditious had been ordered away for a convoy to a merchant-ship , bound for guadalupa , where she received monsieur de gennes his commands , to make the best of her way for france . on the 14th , about nine in the morning , we anchored in a great bank of sand at st. lucia , where a very good port may be made , and convenient habitations fixed . st. lucia is of a high scituation , covered with wood , and rendred almost uninhabitable , by a vast number of serpents that are to be found there ; but for all that , there are two or three indian carbets , or villages , upon the place , and some frenchmen , who fetch tortoises from thence for martinico : you will find upon the sea-shoar , a great many macheveliers , which is a tree that does not grow very tall , whose wood is very fine , and its leaves like unto those of a pear-tree ; it bears small apples , that are of such a smell and colour , as do invite people to eat of them ; but it 's very dangerous to comply with the temptation ; for there is no antidote that can secure a man from a speedy death , that hath once tasted of them : the very leaf of it makes an ulcer upon the place it toucheth , the dew that falls from them takes away the skin , and the very shadow of this tree makes a man swell to that degree , that it will infallibly kill him without speedy help . on the 15th , in the afternoon , we weigh'd anchor , and kept pretty near the shoar , that we might be able to get to the coast of st. vincent , within two leagues of which we found our selves next morning by break of day : but it was three in the afternoon before we could draw near , tho' we had a small gale that was favourable enough ; and this made us suppose that the currents were against us ; but it blowing at length , at three of the clock , a fresh gale , we made a little more sail , and coasted within half a league of the island , where we saw a very fine country , and seemingly well cultivated : the same is inhabited , on the coast by which we passed , with twelve or fifteen hundred negro's , that fled thither from the neighbouring islands , and especially from barbadoes , from whence they made their escapes , with a favourable wind , in their masters canoes : but the other side is peopled with two or three thousand indians , who have a great trade with those that dwell upon the river orenoquo that is on the continent , whither they pass in their pirogues , as they do to all the islands scituate in the gulph of mexico ; and that which is very wonderful , is , that they are never overtaken with bad weather , but that on the contrary , they are always aware of the day wherein an hurricane happens , a long time before the same doth come to pass . st. vincent is also high of scituation , abounding in fruits , fowl , in goats and hogs . there is a very fine port there to lee-ward , which the english some years since , would have made themselves masters of ; but the indians prevented their making a descent , with showers of poison'd arrows , and the assistance of the negro's , who took vengeance on them for all the ill usage they had met with at the hands of that nation . on the 17th we doubled that place they call the pomgranates , and next day saw the island of tabago , which the mareschal d' estre took from the dutch in 1678. after two of the sharpest engagements that have been heard of ; but this island is now desolate , and serves only for a place of retreat to birds . about noon we steered towards barbadoes , which we discovered on the one and twentieth ; and having a fair wind on the 25th and 26th , we made much of our way towards barbadoes . on the 31th we discovered , by break of day , a small vessel to leeward , and made all the sail we could to come up with her ; and as she saw we were got near her , and that it was to no purpose to flee , she came to , and staid for us : she was a vessel of forty tuns , that had been three months sailing from bristol for the barbadoes , and was laden with beer , syder , herrings , cheese , butter , hats , and several sorts of other goods , being valued at 20000 livres . we put eight men on board her , and sent her away for martinico . next day , which was the first of january , 1697. we discovered also another vessel , four leagues to windward of us , and we bore up towards her till three in the afternoon , but could not come up with her , which made us give o'er the chase . on the 6th we had a sight of barbadoes . as monsieur de gennes , who had been sick for fifteen days , found himself now sicker than ordinary , he thought fit to return to martinico . we left the sun of africa behind us , to cruise , which she did for five or six days , without purchase ; and we making all the sail we could , next day about four in the evening discovered the coast of st. lucia , which we left to leeward of us ; and on the 8th , about ten in the morning , entred the port they call cul-de-sac royal : we were come very near the fort , and ready to cast anchor , when we met with a great rock , that took out three of our ship 's outer planks , without doing us any further damage ; we quickly brought her back , and anchored a good cannon-shot from the shoar ; and indeed it 's dangerous to get nearer , and we had good luck to come off so well . we discharged our prizes , and sold the goods very well , because the inhabitants , who were in daily expectation of the arrival of monsieur d' amblimont's fleet , wanted provisions ; and it 's certain they had not twenty barrels of meal left in the whole island . the free-booters had contributed very much to subsist them for the first years of the war , by the many prizes they had taken on the coast of barbadoes , st. christopher , and the other islands belonging to the english , but now their merchant-ships sailed together in fleets ; and there are also some of them , who to avoid the privateers , go to the coast of tabago and la trinity , and come back again to recover barbadoes . on the 24th we made ready to sail for the fort of st. peter , where we anchored on the 25th , and continued in that place till the fourth of the next month , to take in sugar , cassia , and cocoe , with which martinico almost supplies all france : the cassia grows in husks about half a foot long , upon a tree much like unto our walnut-tree . the cocoe grows no where but in moist places , and such as are but little exposed to the sun ; the tree that produces it is but small , the fruit is long and uneven , like a cucumber ; when it is ripe they gather it , and leave it for a time to dry in the sun ; it 's properly nothing else but a rind , like that of the pomgranate , that contains about five and twenty , or thirty beans , of which thy make chocolate . on the 31st . we fitted out a brigantine , to sail to barbadoes , to exchange the prisoners they had made of the crew of a small free-booter , that had been taken in sight of guadalupa . i have a mind , before we go from hence , to relate the adventure of our poor mango , who gave us continually some diversion or other ; this was an old monkey we had , belonging once to the governour of gambie ; who was so prodigiously strong , that he broke his chain at least once in eight hours ; and as soon as he got loose , he failed not to make a ravage : his main care was to get him a dinner , and when he had fooled any poor seaman out of his mess , it was very pleasant to see him get up to the top of the masts , and to jump from one sail unto another with a dish of rice , or a great piece of bacon in his paws . if any one was so bold as to go about to take away his prey , he threw a cannon-ball at his head , or what ever else came in his way ; all which was nothing in comparison of the wounds of his teeth , which made such an impression , that the marks of them some times remained for the space of two months and upwards . at last he took upon him to throw into the sea the wheels of an ivory-clock which monsieur de gennes had ordered to be made , and took up two years time in the doing : but this was no sooner known , than that the poor devil was condemned to have his head chopped off , and therefore he was carryed a shoar to have the sentence executed upon him ; but he managed his part so well , that after two or three pistols shot at him , he broke his cord and took to his feet ; and all that day we saw the poor animal , as wounded as he was , run up and down along the shoar , to seek out an opportunity to return on board ; and if he was much concerned for losing of us , we were no less to find our selves deprived of his dear company . from the fourth at night to the fifth of february , we made ready to sail for guadalupa . as for our great prize which remained at fort royal , to dispose of her wood , and relade with sugar , we left twenty men on board of her ; but for the other two prizes , we sold them , tho' to no great advantage , because they were but small , and the lading inconsiderable . at the preacher's point we met an english prize , taken by the merchant-ship , that entred at the same time with us into cayenne , near st. christophers ; then we coasted st. domingo , and on the sixth anchored very near the shoar before guadalupa , even in the midst of the town , to the south-west of the island , at the bottom of a very high sulphurous cavity , that casts out smoke continually , and oftentimes fire . we got our full cargoe in less than two days , and the inhabitants came to intreat us with great earnestness to take off their goods , so that we could have laden fifteen ships in fifteen days time . this island is very large , and healthier than martinico , being divided into two parts by an arm of the sea , called the salt-river , by which barks may pass up when the tide is in ; the land is high , but fruitful in sugar , indico , and cotton : here also they have rocou , cassia , cocoe , and very good comfits . fruits and fowl are very common there ; and they have a sort of birds about the forementioned sulphurous cavity , which they call diabolins , which are very large , and as good as pullets ; they live upon nothing else but fish , which they vomit up to feed their young withal , and the inhabitants send out their negro's to take them ; but whether it be that they are not used to it , or that the cold , or the air of the said sulphurous cavity seizes upon them , they are taken with such a languishment upon it , that they cannot surmount without much difficulty ; they also find several boyling fountains in this island . that part of the island which stands to the northward , because of its being larger than the other , is called the great land , and hath been inhabited a long time , but at present has not above an hundred inhabitants . the other , which is known by the name of guadalupa , has two companies of foot in it , about a thousand inhabitants fit to bear arms , and a great number of negro-slaves : the jesuits , jacobins , capuchins and carmelites , have their parishes there in distinct places , as well as in mary-galand , and the island called saints . the town where we cast anchor , is the most considerable and almost the only one of the island , being divided into two parts by a small river , which runs from behind the sulphurous cavity we have already mentioned ; it 's large enough , and the greatest part of the houses in it are built of stone : there is a battery of eight pieces of cannon erected in the middle , and the same commands all the road ; and at the end thereof , upon the bank of a swift torrent , stands a little fort defended by eight pieces of cannon , and lined with good stone-work . the english made a descent upon this place in 1691 , burnt the town , took away the battery that stood in the middle of it ; and there was none but this fort made good by the inhabitants , till monsieur d' vragny , then general of the islands , came with three or four men of war , and some merchant ships , fitted up in haste to raise the siege ; when the english re-imbarked with precipitation ; and left above two hundred men in the woods , to the mercy of the french. between the tenth at night , and the eleventh , we weighed anchor , and at break of day saw a brigantine , that bore up towards us , when we on our part did the same in respect to her ; upon which about noon we fired three pieces of cannon , which made her presently alter her course ; it is likely she might be some small english privateer , that look'd after some prey on these coasts . on the 12th and 13th we were very much becalmed , and on the 15th we discovered the island of st. cross , which many of our crew were confident , to be the islands called the virgins ; for indeed at a distance it appeared to be no other than a number of little islands separated from one another : here they have sugar , cotton , and indico , great plenty of fowl and swine . and cows and horses would have multiplied here apace : but as they were from day to day apprehensive of the loss of this island , they caused the inhabitants to withdraw to st. domingo , with all their effects , and entirely to abandon the place . on the 16th by break of day we discovered st. thomas , that is to leeward of all the isles of the virgins : it 's very remarkable for many banks , and white towers that do surround the port of it : upon our approach we discovered the town , and a great fortress of stone-work that defends the entrance of it , without which rode three large ships . this island belonged to the danes ; the hamburghers have an agent there , and the product of the place is sugar and indico , but no very great quantity of either ; and they would not think it worth their while to mind it , but that this does facilitate the trade they drive in negro's with the spaniards of portorico , that is about fifteen leagues off . about noon we doubled the island of st. thomas , and left a great white rock on the left , that looked at a distance , like a hoy under-sail : this euripus , as i may call it , is very commodious for the merchant-ships that stand in fear of the corsairs , which they cannot many times escape , when they sail by st. christophers , saba , and others of the enemies islands . on the seventeenth , eighteenth , nineteenth and twentieth , we had a great deal of rain and but little wind ; and on the one and twentieth , we past the tropick of cancer . from the twenty third to the twenty eighth we had variable winds , and very rainy weather . the second and third of march we had great winds , rains , and foggy weather , and the following days we were becalmed : we found our selves parallel to the bermudoes , but an hundred and fifty leagues distance from it , as being a place which all the ships that come from the islands , take care to shun , seeing they have found by constant experience , they must meet with bad weather there ; for the contrary winds either forces them to draw near it , or to pass to lee-ward of it . on the 6th , 7th , 8th , and 9th , we had a fair wind and moderate weather but from the time of our leaving st. thomas , till we came parallel with the azores , we saw herbs every day floating upon the sea , which those who had sailed upon the coasts of new spain , told us came from the channel of bahama , from whence they were carried into the main ocean by the rapidity of the currents , and then dispersed over all this sea , by the westerly winds that continually blow upon the coasts of virginia and new-england . on the 10th we had both winds and rain , and the weather was very cold ; we came parallel to the azores , and kept at an hundred and fifty leagues distance from the isle of corva . on the 11th we had very great winds , but they blowing of us onward in our way , we were easily brought to acquiesce with them . very early on the 12th in the morning , the winds blew very hard , the heavens were all over-cast , and the sea grew very boisterous and terrible , and it was with very great difficulty that we could carry low sails : we had a foot of water in the hole , but we could not use our pumps ; the waves were as high as our masts , and came in upon us on all sides : and in this dangerous pickle we continued all the day : but about ten at night the winds began to allay , and on the thirteenth we rejoned the sun of africa , which the bad weather had separated from us the day before , and whose gallery had been swept away by a great wave . on the sixteenth , being come parallel to cape finister , we made all the sail we could to get a sight of it ; and next day , at five in the evening , we saw a small vessel two leagues to windward of us , and which we believed was bound for the bank of new-found-land : but on this , and the two succeeding days , we had hail , rain , and very cold winds . on the nineteenth we discovered a pretty large ship three leagues to leeward , whom we chased for four hours , but could not come up with her . and on the twentieth , by break of day , we found another within two cannon-shot of us , which made us put out all our sails , and give her chase , which continued for seven hours : but as we had but little wind , we could not come up with her , and so we resumed our course again . from the two and twentieth to the 27th , the weather was very hazy ; and for six days together , we saw neither sun , moon , nor stars , and had but very little wind. on the 17th we saw three ships to windward of us , which we did not think convenient to look after , seeing our provision was now almost spent , and that it was our interest to improve our time well ; and this same night , we beheld a rain-bow cross the heavens , which , without receiving any reflection from the stars , that were very much over-cast , had a very lively red colour . the 28th , 29th , and 30th , we had favourable winds , and fine moderate weather . but now the first day of the month of april being come , the wind chopp'd about all of a sudden , and came contrary ; at what time we accounted our selves not above fifty leagues from cape finister : next day the winds bare hard upon us , and disabled us to make the cape . but on the fourth and fifth they began to allay , and proved fair enough ; and next day , at seven in the morning , we discovered about a league from us to leeward , a pretty large ship , which we chased all night long , gained much upon her , and had it not been for a fog that fell for two hours , by favour of which she sailed away , she had certainly given us either bullets or bread , which last we now most wanted , all our provisions being spent , and the winds still contrary . on the eighth we saw pewets , and other sea-birds , who are never seen very far from the shoar ; next day being the ninth , we met with a sort of little sparrows , who passed over our sail-yards without resting themselves ; and this was an infallible sign unto us , that we were not far from land. on the 12th at break of day , we descry'd two ships at a league 's distance from us , but we could not come up with them , our ships being too foul , too full of herbs and shell-work , to think of gaining upon vessels newly careened , as we apprehended these to be . on the 13th we saw several birds that waited as well as we , for a favourable wind to put them a-shoar ; next day the wind was boisterous , and we had much rain , hail and melting snow : and we lost company with the sun of africa in a fog , who not observing the signal , sailed away , while we were setting our round-tops , that were displaced , in order again . on the 15th the wind being somewhat allay'd , and the weather clearing up , about break of day we saw five ships , three to the star-board , and two to the lar-board ; but we were not in a condition to go and look after any them . by the sixteenth our provision was all spent , and we necessitated to use the sugar and cocoe of the merchants , to make chocolate for the ships crew ; which is a liquor that is of a very nourishing nature , and might serve instead of victuals ; but our seamen , who were not accustomed to it , did not like it at all , and said it made their heads giddy . on the 17th at sun rising , we thought we had the sight of the tower of cordovan , but our joy was short-lived , and this tower was all of a sudden transformed into a ship. at last on the 18th , after a traverse of sixty seven days , we sounded and found a bottom , and were come parallel to pertuis de maumusson , about twenty leagues distance from the shoar : on the ninteenth we had but a small wind. but on the 20th we discovered rochebonne , which is fifteen leagues wide of pertuis d' antioch ; the sea , tho' very even , proved now to be broken and violent : about noon we saw four ships , and they steered the same course with us . soon after we discovered the steeple of god's island , about five in the the evening , the whale-tower in the isle of rhee , and at night we came to an anchor , to wait for the tide . on the 21st we weigh'd , and by break of day we found our selves within two cannon-shot of four ships , which we had seen the day before , which made us put out french colours : they did the like , and we sent our canoe on board them , to know what news from france : they happened to be a bark of the isle of oleron , and three st. malo men , half men of war , and half merchants , who were going to take in salt in the isle of rhee , and from thence to fish on the bank of new-found-land : they gave us six baskets of bread , one barrel of bacon , and some beer , which a little refreshed our men . the st. malo men passed by pertuis breton , and we by that of antioch , and so on till about midnight , we cast anchor before rochelle , where we found the sun of africa , who was got into that port two days before us . finis . an extract of the french king's grant , for the printing of this book . by the king's grant , made at paris the 15th of october , 1697. and signed midy ; the sieur de fer , geographer to the dauphin , is allowed to print , sell , and dispose of , by the hands of what printer or bookseller he pleases , a book intituled , a relation of a voyage made on the coasts of africa , brasil , the streights of magellan , and islands of america , for the space of eight years : and all persons , of what quality or condition soever they be , are forbidden to print the said book , without the consent of the said sieur de fer , upon pain of such penalty , confiscation of the copies , &c. as are held forth in the said grant. entred in the hall-book of the company of stationers and printers of paris , the 12th of october , 1697. signed p. aubouyn , syndic . begun to be printed the first time , january the 9th , 1698. the end . books printed for m. gillyflower , w. freeman , m. wotton , j. walthoe , and r. parker . of wisdom , three books . written originally in french by the sieur de charron , with an account of the author ; made english ; with some necessary advertisements . by george stanhope , d. d. late fellow of kings-college in cambridge , from the best edition . corrected and enlarged by the author , a little before his death . the roman history , from the building of the city to the perfect settlement of the empire by augustus caesar , containing the space of 727 years ; designed as well for the understanding of the roman authors , as the roman affairs . by lawrence echard , a. m. of christ's college in cambridge . now in the press . the roman history , the second part. by lawrence echard , a. m. a compleat body of chirurgical operations ; containing their definitions and causes , from the structures of the several parts : the signs of the diseases for which the operations are made : the preparations for , and the manual performance of each : the manner of cure after every particular operation : together with remarks of the most skilful practitioners upon each case ; as also instructions for sea-surgeons , and all concerned in midwifery . the whole illustrated-with copper-plates , explaining the several bandages and instruments . by monsieur de la vauguion , m. d. and intendant o● the royal hospitals about paris . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a40503-e570 june 3. 1695. the island of madera . july 1. 1695. cape verd. the island of gorea . * pirogues . superstition of the negro's . the description of the island of gorea . the people . their religion . their burials . st. james's fort summon'd . the king of block styled emperor . the king of barifet tributary . the bombarding of the fort. the fort surrender'd the description of the fort. august , 1695. the meeting of a free-booter . the fort is blown up . the description of the river . hutts . balafo , a musical instrument . their departure from the coast of brasil . septemb. 1695. they stand in for gorea . their arrival at the island of cape verd. a description of st. vincent's island . great plenty in st. antony's island . bourse . they steer'd their course again to brasil . blowers and porpoises . they passed the line . novemb. 1695. flying fish . the frigate . the island of the ascension . a sow that brought forth a monster . the isle of st. ann. channell'd cherries . cape frie. the river jeneiro . a scruple made to permit them to enter the river . the sick men set on shore . they do not salute the town . the governour 's unfair dealing . st. sebastian . the manners of the inhabitants of st. sebastian . a notable adventure . sugar canes . manioc . the town of s. paul tributary , but not subject to the king of portugal . the generosity of a portuguese . la isla grande . what pyrogues are , jan. 96. february 1696. the river of sancta cruz. cape 24. taken for that of the virgins . cape entrana . boucaut . bay. cape gregory . s. george ' s island . penguins . sea wolves . cape froward . march 3. 1696. famine bay. the rode of port gallant . april 1696. the occasion of our voyage . the free-booters enter the southern sea thro' the streight they continu'd there seven years * a sort of vessel . they return to the northern sea. apparent danger . they stand in for the northern sea. may 1696 sea-porcupines . june 1696 the shallop lost . the currents follow the course of the sun on the coast of brasil . cape st. antony . the procession of the holy sacrament . news from goa . montauban shipwreck'd . july , 1696 a description of all-saints bay. aug. 1696 the miserable condition of the negro slaves . the river of the amazons . cape of orange . sep. 1696. the description of cayenne . the mangle . traffick . a road from cayenne to the river of amazons . fruits . birds . the government of cayenne . the indians of cayenne . october , 1696. the taking of an english fly-boat . novem. 1696. the taking of another vessel . december 1696. a description of martinico . cul-de-sac royal. the town of st. peter . their departure from martinico . the isle of st. lucia , an english prize . january , 1697. they return to martinico . cocoe . february , 1697. st. cross . st. thomas . march , 1697. april , 1697. the men brought to live upon chocolate . the travellours guide and historians faithful companion giving an account of the most remarkable things and matters relating to the religion, government, custom, manners, laws, pollicies, companies, trade, &c. in all the principal kingdoms, being the 16 years travels of william carr, gentleman ... carr, william, 17th cent. 1695 approx. 223 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 122 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a34622 wing c637 estc r20467 12259169 ocm 12259169 57761 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a34622) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57761) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 175:18) the travellours guide and historians faithful companion giving an account of the most remarkable things and matters relating to the religion, government, custom, manners, laws, pollicies, companies, trade, &c. in all the principal kingdoms, being the 16 years travels of william carr, gentleman ... carr, william, 17th cent. e. t. [12], 210, [6] p. for eben tracy, [london : 1695] the "preface to the reader" signed: e.t. imprint from bm. title page gives 1690 in ms. reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce 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(leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the travellours guide and historians faithful companion : giving an account of the most remarkable things and matters relating to the religion , government , custom , manners , laws , pollicies , companies , trade , &c. in all the principal kingdoms , states , and provinces , not only in europe , but other parts of the world ; more particularly england , holland , flanders , denmark , sweeden , hamburg , lubeck , and the principal cities and towns of the german empire , italy , and its provinces , rome , france , &c and what is worthy of note to be found and observed in them : as to rivers , cities , pallaces , fortifications , strong towns , castles , churches , antiquities , and divers remarks upon many of them . instructions how we ought to behave our selves in travelling : the prises of land and water passages , provisions ; and how thereby to avoid many ilconveniencies : with a catalogue of the chief cities , &c. and the number of houses every one of them are said to contain . with many other things worthy of note . being the 16 years travels of william carr , gentleman , sometimes consul for the english at amsterdam , in holland . the preface to the reader . as histories , travels , and the description of the laws , manners , customs , and divers rarities in empires , kingdoms , and states , have taken up the care and industry of judicious men , in all ages , carefully to collect , and compile them , to increase a knowledge in those that have not the like advantages of being abroad , as well as to be a light and guide to those that shall make their advances in the like nature ; so they more particularly redound to the advantages of those that trade , or have concerns of any moment in foreign countrys , by letting them be sensible how they ought prudently to manage their business conformable to the constitution of the government they happen to be negotiated under , for want of a true notion of which , many errors and prejudices have ensued , as well in greater as lesser affairs ; so that wise men have blushed to find themselves insensibly mistaken for want of seasonable directions , that would easily have set them right , and amongst others that may prove exceeding useful , you are presented with one by a learned gentleman , sometimes a consul for the english nation at amsterdam , who made it his business , for sixteen years , to visit all the remarkable places in europe ; and has given such an exact account of them in all material particulars , that no hist r an has , as yet , come up with him in an even line , but are behind by many degrees ; laying a perpetual obligation even upon the countryes themselves , for being so faithfully particularized : england indeed is but lightly touched on , yet so as many things of weight and moment are in this book revived , as it were , from oblivion , and transactions of former reigns impartially related . the vnited provinces owe much to this ingenious pen , which has lively drawn every thing , that is rare , and note-worthy , in their laws , customs , raising taxes , shipping , their bank , east-india company , frugality , wars , and trade in most parts of the known world ; with many remarkable deliverances that common-wealth has , in late years , been blessed with from the insults and tyranny of france , &c. and by what pollicies they have defeated their enemies , and enriched themselves . the same , or to the like purpose , in this book is considered in denmark , sweeden , the spanish netherlands , and the principal towns of the german empire , italy , and other places , with particular remarks on france , and the affairs of that kingdom , all of it being interwoven with many curious relations of divers strange things , where a digression is any ways propper , or that they may fall in smoothly , without infringing too much on the patience of the reader ; it being in the whole serie like a curious lanskip , pleasing at once to all capacities , unless to such , as nothing that is ingenious or reasonable is taking , who many times cavel at things before they will give themselves leave any ways materially to consider them . this famous piece was written indeed in holland , but now comes over speaking english , that this nation might not be ignorant of so laboured a work , the remarking of which in so many sundry nations , without borrowing , or that but a very little , from any historians , that had lightly touched on them before , must , beyond all per adventure , require , as well as it did a large time , great cost and industry , and indeed the authors stile and method speaks him no less than a man fitly qualified for such an undertaking , not leaving any thing unpried into , that is propper to be a link in the chain of his discourse ; for though the volumn boasts not of largeness in the number of sheets , yet in what it treats on , it is very copious , a great deal of sense being comprized in few words , which is the propperest way of writing , and most pleasing to the judicious . but least i should be taxed with indiscretion in elaborating in commendation of that which is capable of recommending it self , i shall conclude in a few words . you have in it , besides what has been mentioned , an account of all the remarkable cityes of europe , whereby their largeness may be gathered from the number of houses they contain , set down over-against them ; with the distances of places , bridges , fords , or passages of rivers , and many antiquities , with other things ; so that it may be termed the students library , the travelors guide , the souldiers companion , the merchants magazine , and the states-mans consulter : and so recommending you to the serious perusal of it , i am reader , your very humble and obliged servant e. t. some necessarie remarks for such as entend to travel thro the province of holland . as they that confine themselves to their own countrie have not the opportunitie to see and observe rarities in other parts of the world : so such as goe into forrain places , rather wander at random then travel , who hane not the curiositie to commit to memorie or writing such things they meet with , both for thier own and others satisfaction , as may demonstrate the fruits of their travels . i confesse all travellers are not of alike temper : some delight themselves in contemplation of the curiosities of arts , som are taken with the varieties of the works of nature , others speculate with a kind of reverence the decays and ruins of antiquitie , others studiously inform themselves with the transactions of modern tymes , others with thee gouvernment and politie , other speculate the strange customs and fashion of the places they passe thro ; to be short everie one labors to entertain the reader with those objects and rarities of forain parts , his genius and inclination is most affected with . as to my self , although during the space of 16 yeaves travel , i might have inlarged , according to the curiositie and opportunitie i have had in the rehearsal of many rare and exquisite things verie observable : yet my chiefe aime was to make such remarks , as might most contribute to the common good of humane society and civil life , in taking notice of the government and politie of the several states and dominions where i have been , viz. the vnited provinces , germany , denmark , sweeden , and other countries , whose natural temper and disposition seemed to me most to sympathise with our english nation , and thereby have an occa●●on to do some good to my own countrie . expect not reader alike punctualness , as to all the forementioned places , because very many things which i might have observed , are much agreeing , and so may be referred , to what shall be spoken of the politie and government of holland , which , for reasons i shall by and by hint at , is the chief end i aimed at in this treatise . we will begin then in the first place with the common-wealth of holland , and dominions of the states general which for some years hath been in a declining condition , and their forces exceedingly weakned , by reason of that fatal war it managed against england , france and the bishop of munster , that politick body was so tottered and torn , as did threaten its utter and total ruine . but as bodies whisher natural or politick , after that a violent fit hath sore shaken , dissipated and exhausted their spirits , may recover vigor and look lively again , if so be radical constitution and natural temper be not wholly changed and depraved : even so this common-wealth of holland hath visibly recovered strength again and probably may attain to its former force and lustre , except some depravation in its vital humours should still keep it languishing , and obstruct its perfect cure . we will therefore make some remarks as to the defects and faylings ( observed not onely by me but also by others ) which that famous commonwealth hath of late yeares bin guiltie of : which i shal doe not out of any malice or disigne of reflection , the intention of writing this treatise being simplie to insert those defaults , which the wisest of authors have alwayes judged necessarie not onely for the reformation of this , but of all states whatsoever . this commonwealth of holland hath worthily bin the wonder of all europe during this last age , and perhaps not to be paralled in the records of former tymes : for if we consider how many yeares it was assaulted by the then most potent prince of europe , who aspired to no les then the vniversal empire , and that how formidable soever he were , yet they not onely maintained their pretensions , but with uninterrupted prosperitie and succesfulnesse advanced their trade , and spread their conquests in all the foure parts of the world . rome it self though most famous and victorious , yet could not , as is believed , in so short a time do , what by this commonwealth hath bin effected . in india and affrica they soon forced the spaniard , and portugeses to yeeld to them most of their trade and posessions . and tho england put in for a share , yet they were a long while vigourously opposed by the dutch , and to this hour have enough to do , to keep what they have gotten : so that in lesse then an hundred years this commonwealth by their industrie and art in trading , are becom so excessive rich and potent that they began to insult and would needs be arbitraters to their neighbourning princes and states , and encroach upon their territories and dominions . this drew upon them that fatal war before mentioned , by which they were sorely weakned and brought so low , that except god by a more then ordiharie providence had protected and appeared for them , they had certainly bin ruinated and never able to recover themselves again , however their pride hereby was much abated : and as luxurie and lasciviousnes are the sad effects of prosperitie , as wel as pride , so such vices in a bodie politick and common-wealth , as do corrupt the radical humors , by abating the vigour of the vital parts , doe insensible tend to the consumption and decay of the whole . that this commonwealth hath much recovered its strength , may clearly appeare , if we consider what great things they have effected , since the little time they have enjoyed peace : they have in lesse then 7 yeares built about 40 gallant ships of war ; they have laid out vast sums of treasure in refortifying narden , mastricht , breda , the grave and many other places : they have payd vast sums of money to their allies for their auxiliarie troopes , as also 200000 pound sterling to the king of england to enjoy their peace with him . and besides all this their encrease in riches and power may be guest at , by the many stately houses built within these 5 years in amsterdam , rotterdam and other places ; to all which we may ad , to what excessive hight the actions of the east and west-indie companie are risen , and the obligations from the sates are so esteemed as to securitie , that they can get as much money as they please at 2 per cent : not to speak , of the exceeding encrease of their subjects , occasioned by the french kings tyrannie against the distressed protestants in france , alsace and other parts of his conquests , neither wil we speak of other signes of the encrease of this commonwealth , as not judging it convenient to commit them to paper , but wil now proceed to shew the method of living and travelling in the dominions and places of the states , which if you do wel consider you may see , how happie and easie the government of england is , above that of other nations . the brill in holland is the usual place where the packet and kings pleasure boats bring on such as come for to see the united provinces : here be sure to furnish your self wel with money . from hence you take a boat to maseland sluce or rotterdam , which if you goe in companie with others , wil only cost you 5 stivers : but if you take one for your self , wil cost 25. stivers for maseland sluce , and a ducaton to rotterdam . the fifth part of which goes to the states for a tax , they call passagie gelt : and the other 4 parts are for the boat-men or shippers , who also out of their gaines must pay a tax to the states , so that by computation you pay a fift pennie to the states for your travelling either in boats by water , or in waggons by land . as you passe by maseland sluce you 'l see a verie faire fishing village , to which belong near two hundred herring buisses , but if you goe by the way of rotterdam you sail by two old townes called flardin and schiedam : yet let me advise you before you depart from the bril , to take a serious view of it , as beeing the citie which in queen elisabeths time was one of the cautionarie townes pawned to england . the brill had a voyce among the states , but by reason rotterdam hath got away their trade , by which having lost its former lustre , is now become afishing town onely . rotterdam is the second citie for trade in holland and by some is caled little london , as having vast traffick with england , in so much that many of the citisens speak good english . there are in this citie two considerable churches of english and scotch : and how great a trade they drive with the king of englands subjects is evident , for in the yeare 1674 at the opening of the waters after a great frost , there departed out of rotterdam 300 sail of englesh , scotch and irish ships at once with an easterly wind : and if a reason should be demanded how it coms to passe , that so many english ships should frequently com to that haven ? it is casilie answered , because they can ordinarily load and unload , and make returns to england from rotterdam , before a ship can get clear from amsterdam and the texel : and therfore your english merchants find it cheaper and more commodious for trade , that after their goods are arrived at rotterdam , to send their goods in boats landward in , to amsterdam . this citie is famous as beeing the place where great erasmus was born , whose statue of brasse stands erected in the market place ; and although the buldings here are not so superb as those of amsterdam , leyden or harlem , yet the places worth the seeing , are , first the great church where several admirals lay stately entombed , here you see their admiraltie , east indie , and stathouses together with that caled , hot gemeen lands huis . from rotterdam you may for 5 stivers have a boat to bring you to delph , but before you com thither you passe thro a faire village called overschie , where the french and english youths are trayned up in litterature , as to the latin and dutch tongue , booke keeping , &c : from thence in the same boat you com to delph which is famous for making of porceline to that degree , that it much resembles the china , but onely it is not transparent . in delph is the great magasin of arms for the whole province of holland : their churches are verie large , in one of which are tombs of the princes of orange , admiral tromp and general morgans ladie , and in the cloyster over against the church you have an inscription in a pillar of brasse , shewing after what manner william the 1 , that famous prince of orange was shot to death by a miscreant jesuist , with his deserved punishment . delph hath the 3 d voyce in the states of holland , and sends its deputies unto the colledge of the states general , and to all other colledges of the commonwealth . they have also a chamber in the east-indie companie , as shal be more largely spoken to , when we shal com to treat of the state of the said companie . from delph you may by boat be brought to the hague for 2 stivers and an halfe : which is accounted the fairest village in the world , both for pompous buildings and the largenes thereof ; here the princes of orange hold their residence : as also the states general and the councel of state , here you have the courts of justice , chancerie , and other courts of law. here you see that great hall , in which many hundreds of coulers are hung up in trophie , taken from the emperor , spaniard and other potentates with whom they have waged war. there councel chambers are admired by all that see them . many faire libraries they have belonging to particular men . the princes pallace is a most superb building , and there are many costlie gardins adjoyning to the hague , together with that to the princes house in the woad , in which house are in a large hall the most rare and costly pictures of europe , there also are those magnificent and unparalled gardins of the heer bentham , of amesland and others . i might here speak of the splendor of the prince of orange his court , of his noble virtues and valour , of the most virtuous and beautiful princesse his royal confort , but i dare not , least i should infinitely fal short of what ought to be , and which others have alreadie don before me : and therfore leaving the hague , i shal onely tel you that from thence you may for 7 stivers have a boat to bring you to leyden . leyden is a faire and great citie , and the universitie is verie famous , beeing frequented by 1000 of students from all parts , as hungarie , poland , germanie , yea from the ottomans empire it self , who pretend to be grecians , besides the english , scots and irish , who this years were numbred to be above 80. the most remarkable things here to be seen , i shal summarilie set down : as the place called the bergh , formerly a castle belonging to the prince of liege in flanders : the stathowse , the vniversitie schooles , specially that of the anatomie , which excels all the anatomie schooles in the world , a book of the rarities whereof you may have for 6 stivers , their physick garden , and the professors closet are al ravishing in rare curiosities . but as to their colledges , they are but two and verie small , not ro be compared with the smallest hals in oxford , neither have they any endowments , their maintenance being onely from the charitable collections of the ministers of holland , neyther are any students to remain longer there , then til they attain the degree of batchelers of art : one of the curators beeing demaunded by me , why so rich a commonwealth as holland is , did not build and endow colledges after the manner of oxford and cambridge , answered they had not so many able and publick spirited men as are in england , and to deal plainly with you , said he , had we such colledges , our burgemasters and magistrates would fil them with their own and their friends sons , who by leading a lazie and idle life would never becom capable to serve the common-wealth , and therefore he judged it much better to put them to pension in burgers howses , leaveing them to the care of the professors , who are verie diligent in keeping the students at their exercises , both at publick lectures and in their private howses also , where they cause them punctually at their appointed houres to come to their examinations and lectures , besides those they have in publick . thier churches are rare , so are the walks round the citie , and the fortifications verie pleasing to behold . here you have the river rhine running through the citie and falling into it from catwyckop zee . leyden is verie famous in historie , for the long siege it held out against the spaniard . from hence for twelve stivers and an half you are brought to harlem by water , being twelve english miles . harlem is famous in that costor one of their burgers , first invented the art of printing . this costor beeing suspected to be a conjurer , was fain to flee from harlem to cologne in germany , and there perfected his invention , having in harlem onely found out the way of printing on one side of the paper . the first book he ever printed is kept in the stathouse , for those that are curious to see it . here is one of the fairest and largest churches of the 17 provinces , in the wals whereof there remain to this day sticking canon bullets , shot by the spaniards during the siege thereof . in this church are three organs , as also the model of the three ships , that sayled from harlem to . damiater , seasing the castle in which the earl of holland was kept prisoner , and brought him away to holland : in the tower of this church hang two silver bels which they also brought from thence , and now ring them everie night at nine a clock . harlem is renowned for making the finest linnen cloth , tyfinies dammasks and silk stufs ; also ribands and tapes ; they have mils by which they can weave fortie and 50 pieces at a time , they make the finest white thread and tapes for lace in the whole world , there bleacheries surpas al other whatsoever , their waters whitening cloath better then any in the seventeen provinces : they have a most pleasant grove like a little wood , divided into walks where on sondays and holly dayes the citisens of amsterdam and other places come to take their pleasure . harlem is the second citie of holland and sends in deputies unto all the colledges of the gouvernment . from hence you have a passage by boat to amsterdam for six stivers , but when you are come half way you must step out of one boat to goe into another , where you see a stately pallace , where the lords , called dykgraves sit , everie one of these lords hath his apartment when he coms for the concerns of the sea-dykes , and bancks : here are also 2 large sluces having gates to let in or out water from the harlemmer meer . near this place about ano : 1672 a part of the seabanck was broken by a strong northwest wind , drowning all the land betwixt amsterdam and harlem , which cost an incredible vast sum to have it repaired . they sunck in this breach 400 smal vessels fild with earth and stones for a foundation to rebuild the wal upon , and by unspeakable industrie and charges at last repaired the banck . i come now to speak of amsterdam , which having bin the place of my abode for several yeares , i shal give a more large and punctual account thereof then i doe of other places ; it is esteemed by intelligent men the second citie in the world for trade , and not inferiour to any in wealth . certainly amsterdam is one of the beautifullest cities in the world , their buildings are large , their streets for the most part pleasantly planted with trees & paved so neatly , as is to be found no where els in any other countrie , save in some of the 17 provinces . and although , as i have alreadie said , amsterdam may justly be taken for the second or third citie after london and paris , yet it hath neither court nor vniversitie , as they have . and now in treating of all the excellencies and virtues of amsterdam , i shal not hyperbolise , or flatter : for before i have don you shal see , i shal also faithfully declaime against the evils , mistakes and vices in it . amsterdam stands upon a thousand morgans of land , encompassed with a verie strong wal and bastions most pleasant to behold , with a verie large burgwal or gracht as they cal it , for the defence of three parts of the citie , the fourth being secured by the sea or ty. there are 13 churches in this citie for those of the reformed religion ( called dutch presbiterians ) to meet and worship in , with two frencb , one highdutch and one english , all presbiterian churches , who onely are alowed bels , and whose ministers are maintaynd by the magistrate . all these churches or congregations make up onely a third part of the inhabitants of the citie : the papists who have eightie five howses or chappels to meet in for their worship , make another third part , and have a long square of howses for their nuns tolive in , who are not shut up in cloysters , as in papists countries they are wont to doe , but may goe in and out at their pleasure , yea and marrie also if they grow wearie of a nunnish life : these churches of the papists have no bels allowed them , beeing lookt upon as conventicles , and are many times shut up , and again opened at the scouts pleasure . the other third part of the citie is made up by jewes , lutherans , arminians , brownists or english independents , anabaptists and the quakers : none of which , as was also said of the papists , have bels allowed them , but are accounted conventicles : and all that marie amongst them , must first be maried by the magistrate , and then if they pease among themselves in their own assemblies , neyther are any of them admitted unto any office in the government , but onely such as are of the reformed or presbiterian profession . the jewes who are verie considerable in the trade of this citie have two synagogues , one whereof is the largest in christendom , and as some say in the world , sure i am , it far exceeds , those in rome , venice , and all other places where i have bin : within the court yard where their synagogue stands , they have several roomes or schooles , where their children are taught hebrew , and verie carefully , to the shame of christians negligence , brought up and instruckted in the jewish principles . amsterdam for the wise statesmen it hath produced , is said to be a second athens : others make it the storehowse or magasin of europe , for that it hath such great store of corne , wherewith it furnishes many other nations . and secondly for the exceeding great magasin of spices , which in antient times the venetians brought by land , furnishing all parts of europe , but now is don by the east-indie companie which not onely supplyes europe therewith , but many places in the indies also . thirdly it hath inconceivable store of al manner of provisions for war , in so much that england and divers other nations send to amsterdam to buy arms , bufcoats , belts , match &c : yea here are several shopkeepers who can deliver armes for 4000 or 5000 men , and at a cheaper rate then can be got any where else , and this they can doe by reason of their great industry in the ingrossing most of the iron workes on the rhine and other rivers which run into holland . forthly amsterdam hath more store of sawed and prepared tymber for shipping then can be found in any one nation in the world , and this is the reason why her neighbour town sardam is made capable of building ships 20 per cent cheaper then they can doe in england or france : so that both france , and spaine do many times buy them in holland : as lately the king of spaine bought 10 capital ships of the two brothers the melts merchants in this citie . fifthly amsterdam is the staple where the emperor sels his quicksilver not only to the spaniard , to use in his mines in the indies , but for the making of cinoprium or vermillion , with which amsterdam furnisheth not only europe , but many places in the indies . sixtly amsterdam is the market where the french king bought his marble for versellis louvre , and other of his palaces in france : there are such vast magasins in amsterdam that a man would think , that sees them , there were quaries of marble neare the city gates . seaventhly amsterdam hath the most considerable bank that now is in the whole world ; i have compared the bank of venice with that of genua and both their banks write not of so much money in two dayes as amsterdam doth in one : further i have compared the bank of venice with hamburg and find both those banks fall very much short with the bank of amsterdam . there are many other particulars i could name , as arguments to prove the great riches & trade of amsterdam , as those vast quantities of wynes , & brandewynes they sell in the north & eastseas , & those vast countryes adjoyning thereunto , from whence they bring hemp , pitch & tar , & furnish france , italy & spain with the same , & they likewise have much ingrossed the copper & iron of sweedland . i will say no more of her stores & magazins , but shall in the next place say some thing of her churches & charitie to the poore . i will not speake much of her churches , but only that they are in general large and well built : in one of them the states have spared no cost to exceed the whole world in 3 things ( viz ) an organ with sets of pipes that counterfit a corus of voyces , it hath 52 whole stops besides halfe stops , & hath 2 rowes of keyes for the feet , and three rowes of keyes for the hands ; i have had people of quality to heare it play , who could not believe but that there were men or women above singing in the organ , untill they were convinced by goeing up into the organ roome . the second is such a large carved pulpet & canapie as cannot be found elsewhere in the world ; the third is a screene of brasle . the stathouse in this citty is a wonderfull superb building , on the uppermost part of which is a large magazin of armes . the copper statues that stand on top of the stathouse are very large & peeces exellently cast , espetially that called atlas , who hath a globe of the world on his back that will hold 30 barels of water , for me to speake of the several rarityes of pictures , carved works & marble in this stathouse , & of the globes celestiall & terrestriall that are on the floor of the great hall , would make a booke of it selfe ; i therefore will speake of their almeshouses & of the government of the poore , of their prisons & houses of correction . this citty is said to have 20000 poore every day at bed & board . the almeshouses are many & look more like princes palaces then lodgings for poore people ; first there are houses for poor ouldmen & women , then a large square palace for 300 widdowes , then there are hospitals for boyes & girles , for burgers children & for strangers children , or those cald foundlings , all these boyes & girles have every sonday & other dayes of worship 2 doites given them by the fathers of these houses , the which the children put into the deacons sack when they gather for the poore in the churches ; then there is an hospital for fooles , & a bedlam : there are houses where common beggers & gamesters & frequenters of taphouses are kept hard at work : there is also a house called the rasphouse where petty theeues & such as slash one another with knives , such as beg with cheating devises , women with fained great bellyes , men pretending to have been taken by the turk , others that pretend wrack at sea , & such as beg with a clapper or a bell , as if they could not speake or heare , such as these are kept hard at work , rasping every day 50 pounds between 2 of them , or else are beaten with a bulls pissel , & if yet thy rebel & wont work , they are set in a tub where if they doe not pump the water will swell over their heads ; then there is a house where whores are kept to worke , as also disobedient children who live idle & take no course to maintain themselves , likewise women commonly drinking themselves drunck , and scolds ; althese sorts of hospitals & almeshouses are stately buildings richly adorned with pictures & their lodgings very neat & cleane . in some of the boyes & girles hospitals there are 1500 in some 800 & in some 500 in a house ; then they have houses where a man or a woman may have their dyet , washing & lodging for his life , giving a small summe of money : these are called brouders houses , the almes children of this citie are held in such veneration & respect that a man had as good strike a burgemasters child as one of them . these children are permitted to travel in any of the treckscuts freely without money ; these hospitals are governed by men & women , as are of an unspotted life & reputed to be rich , devout & pious , it is very observable that the women governe their women hospitals better then the men do theirs yea it is a general observation in this country , that where the women have the direction of the purse & trade , the husband seldom prove bankrupts , it being the propertie of a true borne hollands-wife presently after marriage to apply her selfe wholly to ber business ; but i forbear to say any more of the duch houswives , for feare of displeasing our english dames , not so much addicted , at least not so generally bred up to industry ; but to returne to the acts of charitie of amsterdam , the which is so extraordinary that they surpas al other cittyes in the world , for they are dayly & houerly giveing to the poore , every house in amsterdam hath a box hanging in a chaine on which is written think on the poore , so that when any merchant sels goods they commonly conclude no bargain , but more or less is put in the poores box ; these boxes art lockt up by the deacons , who once a quarter goe round the citty & take the money out of the boxes . then twice a week there are men belonging to the hospitals that goe round the citty & ring a bell at every house to know what the master or mistris of the house will give to the box , who generally give not less then 2 stivers . then every first wedensday of the moneth the deacons in their turne goe round the citty from house to house to receive what every house keeper will give to the poore , then on the week before the sacrament is given , a minister with an elder goes round the city to every house where any members of the presbiterian religion live , & there ask if any differences be in the familie , offering their service to reconcile them , alsoe to instruct & prepare such as are to receive the sacrament ; at this tyme a minister may be seen to goe into a taphouse or taverne for which at another tyme he would be counted a wyne biber & the worst of reprobates ; at this tyme while these ministers & elders goe about the city on their visiations the people take an occasion to give to the poore . and here i ought not to omit telling you of their great charitie to the distressed french protestants , who are here in great numbers . they maintaine no less then 60 french ministers , & unto many handicraft tradesmen and makers of stuffs , & cloath , they lend sums of money without intrest to buy working tooles & materials for their work , but this is no other then they formerly did to the poore distressed protestants of ireland & piemont , & their charitie was not a littel that they gave to geneve towards the building their fortifications ; and here give me leave to tell you what king charles the second said of the charitie of amsterdam , when the duke of lotherdal heareing that the prince of oranges armie was not able to oppose the french from advanting so neare to amsterdam , the duke jeareingly said that oranges would be very scarse in holland , after amsterdam should fall into the french hands to plunder , to which his majestie said that he was of opinion that god would preserve amsterdam from being destroyed if it were only for the great charitie they have for the poore , the which put the duke out of countenance ; i will say no more of their charitie , only this that they leave no stone unturned to bring moneyes into the poores stock , they make the stage players pay 80000 gilders a yeare to the poore : thert is not a ropedancer , puppetplayer or any of that sort of unnecessary vermin which frequent faires , but pay the 3d penny to the poore , which is carefully looked after by placeing an almesman at the doore of the booths , to see that they cheat not the poore of their share ; i shall now in the next place say some thing of the clergie , i meane those called the states clergie , for the states are absolutely head of their church , & when any synod of divines meet , two of the states , are alwayes present to heare that they debate nothing relating or reflecting on the government , or governers , if they doe , presently the states cry ho la mijn heeren predicanten , & if their ministers meddel with any thing relating to the goverment in their pulpits they send them a briefe ( which some call a paire of shooes ) to quit the city , & some times impriprison them to boot : but if they behave them selves quietely & well , as they ought to doe , they th●n are respected by the people as gods upon earth ; they have a forme of prayer sent them , how they shall pray for the states & prince of orange , nor must they meddell with any other religion in the country , because all sorts are tollerated , at least connived at by the magistrates ; all those called the presbeterian ministers or states clergie are obliged under a forfiture to have done preaching & praying by eleven of the clock in the forenoone on sondayes , because then the schepens goe to the stathouse , to marry the jewes papists & lutherans & others that may not mary after the calvinisticall forme , & the reason why the states thus marry them first according to law , is to render their children legitimate , but they may marry againe afterward as they please themselves : none may marry untill they have made their appearence at the stathouse before the lords , where if the parties be agreed , the preachers marry the calvinists , & the schepens marry all the rest , who differ from the religion established by law. when one dyes the friends dare not burry the corps until it hath lain three dayes open in the coffen , that the friends & relations of the deceased may be satisfied that the party hath not been murdered or reported to be dead when alive , after 3 dayes the corps must be brought to the church before the belceaseth tolling , which is at two for if you keepe the body untill half three then the church dores are lockt & for the first halfe houre must be payd 25 gilders , & for the second 50 , & so untill six , then they may amers you as much as they please . there are many rich people who make that default on purpose , that they may have solemn occasion of giveing to the poore , as i knew once an english merchant did . the next thing i shall speake of is the method which the states observe in ordering their maritim affairs , one of the greatest mysteryes in their goverment ; the states generally divide their admiralty into five courts , which they call chambers : the first is rotterdam ( which is the chamber called the mase ) which hath the admirals flagg . then amsterdam which hath the vice-admirals flagg , & zealand hath the reare admiral flagg , the other two chambers are those in north holland & friesland : each of these five chambers have their admirals , vice admirals & reare admirals apart from the states generals flaggs , so that when the states have occasion to set out a fleet of an 100 shipps more or less , every chamber knowes the number they must provide for their proportion , tho in regard of its opulencye amsterdam frequently helps her neighbours & ads two or more shipps then their share comes to ; these chambers have lately built 36 men of war , & now are building of 7 more and all this is done without noise , every one building their proportion , & they have admirable methods in preserving their shipps when built , & their magazins are in good order every shipp haveing an appartment to lay up all its equipage in , & on the top of their magazins are vast cisterns , which are kept constantly full of water which have pipes into every appartment to let down water upon any accident of fire , & there is in their magazins a nursery roome , where a woman keeps an office to feed at certaine houres of the day a great number of cats , which afterward hunt among the stores for mice & ratts ; this great magazine in amsterdam was built in the tyme of cromwell in the space of 9 moneths & 14 dayes , in which tyme the lords of the admiraltie gave the workmen drinkgelt as they call it , to incourage them to work more then at an ordinary rate . at this tyme the biggest man of war the states had was the amelia , in which the famous admiral trump was kild , shee was a ship of no more then 56 guns , afterward made a fire ship. but the states quickly discovered their want of great shipps , and therefore built the same yeare 20 men of war , from 50 to 80 gunns . but the great shipps built at amsterdam had like to have proved of no use , had not the ingenious pensionaric de wit found out a devise to carry them over the pampus , betwixt those they call water shipps ; the admiralty have an exellent method in setting out their fleets , they neither presse soldiers nor sea-men , all goe voluntarie at the beating of à drumb , each captain providing men & provisions for his shipp , who after they have received orders from the lords to the equipagemaster to equipe out their shipps , & receive the povisions of war , then the states send a board each shipp a chaplin , & check master , who take care of the provision of war , & see that the seamen have the states allowance & wholesome food , & great care is taken by the lords that both captains & seamen receive their pay punctually for the tyme they are in the states service , & for the incouraging their seamen there is plaistred on a board hanging by the foremast , the several rewards to such as either take or fire a flagshipp or take or sinck any other shipp of the enimies , also what pensions a wounded seaman shal have if maimd or disabled in the states service &c. the lords of the admiralty follow the same methodes which the states general observe , as to their land obligations , & goe throw this great charge by the good management of their credit , for tho it be true that they are indebted great summes of money , yet they never want a supply , nay , moneyes are often forced upon them by rich merchants , who send in their moneys and only take the admyraltyes obligations , with which they afterward pay their customes , when their shipps arive , at which tyme the admiralty allowes them intrest for the tyme they have had their money , & this is it that makes the admiraltyes obligations more valued then ready money , for it saves the trouble of telling , & such is the credit of the admiralty that when they have occasion for any goods , the people strive to furnish them , & rather take their obligations then money , because they get intrest ; & all other assignments upon the admiralty are very punctually payd , & without exchequer fees , no they are sworne officers who are forbid to receive any moneyes for fees , being contented with the sallary , they have of the states . and their methodes used at the custome house for loading or unloading shipps are very easy , in so much that the women generally have the chargeing & dischargeing the shipps at the custome house , which is a great politie in the states to make trade easy for the incouragement of the merchants ; and the admiralty are very gratefull & generous unto their commanders , if any of their admiralls , or captains are kild at sea & have dove any considerable service , they then eternise their memories with lasting trophies of honor , as you may see by those stately monuments of trump , vpdam , de ruiter , the eversons , & others , nor are they sparcing in bestowing large gifts & pensions on the widdowes , & children of those as have served them faithfully & valiantly in the wars , whilst the treacherous & cowards meet with the severity they deserve ; i might here in the next place in large & tel you of the exellent methodes they have in building & preserveing their shipps when built , but i shall refer you to that exellent peece written by the heer witsen on that subject . and shall now in the next place say some thing of their famous company called the east-india company of the netherlands , this company is said to be a commonwealth within a commonwealth , & it is true if you consider the soveraigne power & priviledges they have granted them by the states general , & likewise consider their riches & vast number of subjects , & the many territories & colonies they possess in the east-indies , they are said to have 30000 men in constant pay , & above 200 capital shipps , besides sloopes , catches , & yachts . this company hath by their politick contrivances & sedulons industry possessed themselves of many colonies formerly belonging unto the spaniards , & portugeeses , & diverse indian princes , & as good christians have been at great charge in planting the gospel of christ in many parts there , printing in the indian language bibles , & prayer bookes & catechismes , for the instruction of the indians , maitaineing ministers & schoolemasters to inform those that are converted to the christian faith ; and now because i have said that this company is so considerable & as it were a commonwealth apart , i will demonstrate it to be so , first by their power , riches & strength in the indies , secondly what figure they make in europe , & this verie briefly , for if i should speake of every particular as to their posessions in the indies , it would swell into many volumes , but i will only begin with them at the cape of de bonne esperance where they have built a royall fort , in which they maintaine a garrison of souldiers to defend their shipps which come there to take in fresh water ; from thence let us take a view of them in the iland of java where they have built a faire city called battavia & fortified it with bastions after the mode of amsterdam . this city is the place of residence of their grand minister of state , called the general of the indies , he hath allowed him 6 privie councellers in ordinary & 2 extraordinary , these governe the concernes of the company throughout the indies , & they make peace & war , send ther ambassadors to all parts thereof , as occasion requireth . this general hath his guards of horse & foot & all sorts of officers & servants as if he were a soveraigne prince , the whole expence whereof is defraied out of the companys stock . this general hath much of the direction of bantam and other parts of the iland of java : from whence let us take a view of them , in their great possessions in the moluceas ilands & those of banda where they are become so formidable that they looke as if they aimed at the soveraingtye of the southseas : they have also a great trade in china & japan , from whence let us return to the ilands of sumatra & on the coast of bengale , where they have several lodges ; in persia they have likewise great commerce & are so considerable that they wage war with that mlghty monarch if he wrongs them in their trade . they also have several colonies & lodges on the coast of malabar & cormandel , & in the country of the great magul , & king of galcanda , but principally let us behold them in the rich iland of zylon where they are masters of the plaine country , so that the emperor or king of that iland is forced to live in the mountains whilst this company possess the city of colomba & other the most considerable garrisons of that iland : it is said that the company hath there in their pay 3600 souldiers , & at least 300 gunus planted in their forts & garrisons . in a word they are not only masters of the cinamon , but of all other spices except pepper & that they would also have , had it bin for their intrest to ingrosle , but they wisely fore saw that the english would be a block in their way , therefore they contented themselves to be masters the mace , cynamon , cloves and nutmegs with which they not only serve europe , but many places in the indies ; i will say no more of them in the indies , but let us see what figure they make in europe . and first to begin with them in amsterdam , where they have two large stately palaces , one being in the ould part of the city , and the other in the new ; in that of the ould part of the city they keep their court , and there sits the resident committie of the company , where alsoe they make the sales of the company goods . there for six yeares the grand councel or assembly of the 17 doe meet , and after six yeares are expired , the grand councel of the 17 doe assemble at middelburg in zealand for two yeares , and then againe returne to amsterdam : the other lesser chambers of delph , rotterdam , horne and enchusen never haveing the assembly of the 17 in their chambers , so that only amsterdam and zealand have the honour of that grand councel . i will therefore crave leave to describe unto you the chamber of amsterdam , it being the most considerable of the chambers , belonging to this famous company ; in there house or palace within the ould city are many large offices or appartments , as first on the lower floor is their parlement chamber , where the 17 doe sit : next to this chamber are several faire chambers for the committes to sit in . they have also a chamber of audience , where they do receive princes or ambassadors , or other great men as have occasion to speak with them . in one of these chambers are the armes of several indian princes they have conquered . on the same floor is their tresury office , where their receivers sit and receive money , and pay out the orders or assignments of the company , neer to that chamber sits their grand minister the heer peter van dam , who is said to be a second john de wit for parts , but he hath not one drop of john de wits or lovestine bloud , against the good prince of orange ; this great minister is a man of indefaigable industry and labor night and day in the companyes service ; he reads over twice the great journal bookes which come from the indies , and out of them makes minets to prepare matters of concerne necessary to be considered by the grand councel of the 17 , and by the inferiour committes of the company , and prepares instructions and orders to be sent to their chief ministers in the indies , i could say many more things of his great worth and virtues , but shall for beare least i should be judged a flatterer : overagainst this great ministers office sitt in a chamber many clarkes or under secretaryes , who receive from this minister their ordrs of dispatches in the affaires of company , and next to this chamber is a register office where are kept the journal bookes of the indies , where you may see the names of al the men , and women that have ever served the company in the indies , with the tyme of their death , or departing the companyes service ; then next to that is a councel chamber where the residing chamber or committe of the company alwayes sitts then assending up staires , there sitt their book-holders , who keepe the accounts of all the transactions of those that buy or sel actions of the company , and over against this office sitts the heer gerbrand elias who is the second advocate of the company : on this floore are several large roomes in which are great stores of packt goods , and also a roome with all sorts of drugs , tee , and wax , ambergreace , and musk , and on the same floore is a chamber where the commissiners sitt who governe , the packhouses ; and next to them sitt their clarks who keepe the registers of the sales of the company goods ; and on the same gallery or floore is a chamber where are kept the severall bookes of divinitie , printed in the indian language that are sent to the several colonies of the company : and at the end of this gallery is a magazine full of medicaments and instruments for barber chirurgions chests , to furnish the companyes shipps and garrisons in the indies . then assending up another paire of staires , there are several large magazins of nutmegs , cloves , mace and sinamond , and in a long gallery are many men at work sorting of spices fitt for sale . then ascending up another paire of staires there are many roomes full of spices , then desending into the court-yard there is a guard chamber where every night the house keeper hath a watch , and on the other side of the gate there is the chymist , who with his men prepares medicaments for the indies ; adjoyning to this court yard is their way-house and packhouse for pepper and grosle goods ; but before i leave this house in the ould part of the city , i must say some thing of the maner or method used in the transactions of the jewes and others , who make a trade of buyng and selling the actions of the company , the which is a great mystery of iniquitie , and where it inricheth one man , it ruins an hundred . the jewes are the chiefe in that trade , and are said to negotiate 17 parts of 20 in the company ; these actions are bought and sould 4 tymes a day , at 8 in the morning in the jewes street , at a 11 on the dam , at twelve and at one a clock upon the exchange , and at six in the evening on the dam , and in the coledges or clubs of the jewes until 12 at midnight , where many tymes the crafty jewes , and others have contrived to coine bad newes to make the actions fall , and good newes to raise them , the which craft of doing at amsterdam is not taken notice of , which is much to be wondered at , in such a wise government as amsterdam is , for it is a certaine trueth they many times spread scandalous reports touching the affaires of state , which passe amongst the ignorant for truth ; i shall now in the next place say some thing of their pallace or magazine in the new part of the city the which may more properly be called an arsenal ; it is a building so superb that it lookes more like a kings pallace , then a magazin for merchants ; i have measured the ground on which this arsenal stands which i find to be 2000 foot , and square every way , reckoning the motes , or burgals , about it ; i remember the ingenious sr. joseph williamsen measured the two rope-allies by telling the stone figures in the wal , & found them to be 1800 foot long , the like whereof is not to be seene in the world . on the backside of this rope-allie lyes a store of 500 large anchors besides small ones ; in this arsenal they build the ships belonging to this chamber : and here are al sorts of worke houses for the artificers that serve the company . and in a chamber next to the joyners office , is a model of a ship , they now build their ships by , which cost 6000 gilders . when a man beholds the great stores of tymber , cordage , and the provisions of war in their magazin , a man would think there were enough to furnish a whole nation ; in this arsenal the ships unload their goods layd up in several apartments in the grand magazin , and afterward is removed to the house in the ould part of the city , as their is occasion for sale : in the upper part of this large pallace sit the saile makers at worke , but on the lower part of this house is an appartment where the bewinthebbers assemble upon occasion of businesse ; this arsenal is not to be seen by strangers without a ticket from the bewinthebbers ; now al what i have spoaken of these two houses , or magazins doth only belong unto the chamber of amsterdam ; there are yet other chambers of the company , who according to their quota , or stock in the company , have the like houses and magazins , as the chambers of zealand , delph rotterdam , horne and enkusen . and now i have named the six chambers of which the company is composed , i shall say some thing of their constitution , which is from an octroy , or act of the states general , by which they have soveraign power over their servants in the indies , yea their authoritie reacheth their servants in al territoryes of the states general donions ; it is death for any of the states subjects to be interlopers against this company , nor may any of what nation soever that lives in any of the companyes territories as burgers or servants , returne into europe without leave from the company , only those called freemen may depart without askeing leave to remove ; the grand councel of this company is the assembly of the seventeen , which are elected out of the several chambers before named , that is , eight from amsterdam , and four from zealand : delph , rotterdam , horne and enkusen send one a peece , which makes sixteen , and the five lesser chambers by turns chose the seventeenth . in the chamber of amsterdam there are 20 bewinthebbers in ordinary , who are for life , and have 1000 ducatones a yeare and spices at christmas , and their travelling charges , when they goe upon the companyes service . the next chamber is zealand which hath twelve bewinthebbers , who have about 250 l. a yeare and travelling charges , and spices at christmas ; the next is delph which hath seven bewinthebbers , who have only 120 l. a yeare and travelling charges and spices at christmas : the other chambers of rotterdam , horne and enkhusen have seven bewinthebbers a peece , and the like sallarie , with travelling charges and spices at christmas , as the chamber of delph hath . these bewinthebbers are elected or chosen out of those adventerers called the high participanten of the company ; they generally chose such as are rich and men of parts , and wisdome , most of them being of the magistratie of the country . no man is capable of being elected a bewinthebber who hath not a 1000 l. stock in the company . in a word this grand councel of the seventeen make lawes for the governing the company , both in india and europe . it is they that appoint the dayes of sale and what number of ships each chamber must send to the indies : and likewise order the building of ships , and all other grand concernes . this company is worthily esteemed'a wise , politique , deserving company , spareing no cost to get good intelligence of affaires , sending messengers and expresses over land to the east-indies : they have their spies and correspondents in all the considerable trading parts of the world ; they have been so industrious as to gaine the spice trade , not only from the venetians , spaniards , portugueses , french , danes and other europian nations , but have also ingrossed all the spices , so that , as i tould you before , they sell spices to the indians themselves : but this i must say for them that they are a generous company and gratefully paying respectts where it is due , as lately they have complemented his royall highness the prince of orange with an annuall summe out of the profits of their company , to make him their , friend and protector . neyther are they backward in bestowing presents upon strangers that have obliged them , as i could instance in some of our own nation : they are also very charitable to the poore giveing them the 1000th gilder of all the goods they sell ; and to all the reformed ministers in amsterdam they send spices at christmas , to pray every sonday for the welfare and prosperitye of the companie is a buekler and defence for the commonwealth upon all urgent occasions : and truly our english east-india company might be the same to our king , if the differences between the two companyes were composed : especially now they have such a great king to protect them , and that the interlopers are distroyed . and now it is hightyme i should tell you the methodes a stranger must take if he hath occasion to keep house in amsterdam : if a man will hyer an house , he must take a lease upon seald paper , for which you must pay a tax to the states , and pay the broaker that makes the bargen , but before you can buy a house you must be in a capacitie to be made a burger . to this purpose it is usuall to take with you to the stathouse your broaker or any two securityes , and there before the burgemasters take the oath of burgerschap , which is to be faithfull to the city , to the magistrates and goverment &c. but if you buy either land or houses , and lodge privately you will find your case much worse , then you must pay a legion of taxes to the mils that draine your lands , and for maintaining the banks and sluces , and if the states have occasion to build a fortification on your lands , or to drownd them in the tyme of warre , you must be contented with the states termes , and if your house or houses stand empty without tenents , yet you must pay the states taxes on that house or houses ; thus much for the method how you are to be advanced to be a burger of amsterdam , and to give you a tast what you are to pay for houses or land , if you settel there , and if you have either purchased or hyred an house then comes an officer from the stathouse with a printed seald paper , who tels you , you must pay as followeth : first a pole tax for every male and female servant in the house above 8 yares old , six gilders a yeare . for a coach if you keepe one 75 gilders a yeare . for a coach without wheeles 50 gilders a yeare . for sope as the number of the familie is : the like for salt : for wyne as your qualitie is : to the rattel watch as your house is in greatnes . to the lanthornes as the largenes of the house is . for butter every 20 pound seven stivers . for beens halse as much as you pay for the beens . for turff every tun five stivers . for every 20 gilders in wood six gilders . for flesh the tax often changeth . there is also a tax on the bread. then there is a tax called the 200ste penny , and a tax called the 8th : then there are many taxes in trade , as that no man can weigh or measure out his owne goods if sould in grosse , but the states officers must doe it , then the states have a tax called the verpounding on all lands and houses in their dominious : then they have a tax on sealdpaper , and a tax for registering lands or houses , likewise a tax on cowes , horses , calues , and all sort of fruit. there are many other taxes i could name , as a stiver for every man that goes out or into any city after the houer of shutting the ports , also you pay for going over som bridges , and passing thro gates called tolhek , a stiver for every persons , but coaches , wagons or horses pay more ; these i have already named , you will say , are to many , yet i may not forget to tell you , that milke first payes as milke , and again if it be made butter yea the buttermilke , and whay payes a tax likewise , for all which a man would think that a people that stand so much upon maintaining of their liberty should mutinie and refuse payment . but this seldome happens , and if it doth the states punish them very severely . i remember that in my tyme there was a mutinie at sardam about paying a new tax , whereupon the states sent a regiment of their souldiers , and seased the heads of the mutiniers and hanged up 5 or six of them at the townes end , and severely whipt 8 under the gallowes ; and in the rich city of amsterdam if any refuse to pay their tax , the magistrates send their officer to pull of their dores , and if they remaine long obstinate , they send and fetch away the lower windowes of their house , and they dare not put up others , until they have payd the taxes ; howerer this is observable that if any man will sweare he is not worth what he is taxed at , then he is free : but there are many so proud , that they will not let the world know their condition , i knew a merchant named ornia , who payd during the war for his 200ste penny and other taxes for his and his wives children , ( haveing had two rich wives ) 14000 pound sterlyng : i also knew an english anabaptist merchant who tould mr. envoye sidney in my presence , that he had payd neare 4000 l. sterlyng to the war , and yet the same man did grumble to pay his majesties consul a pittyfull fee or consulat money on his ships : the reason whereof i once asked him , who answered me that the king could not raise a penny in england without his parlement , and therefore much less , could he doe it in the states country : thus these phanaticks had rather make bricks without straw , then pay the least tribut to their naturall princes officer : should wee in england be obliged to pay the taxes that are here imposed , there would be rebellion , upon rebellion : and yet after all that is here payd no man may bake his owne bread , or grind his owne corne , or brew his beere , nor dare any man keepe in his house a hand mil , althought it be but to grind mustard or coffy . i remember one mis guyn a coffy woman at rotterdam had like to have been ruined for grinding hir owne coffy , had not sir lyonel jenkins employed his secretary doctor wyn to intreat the states on her behalfe , and it was reckoned a grand favor that shee was only find , and not banished the city , and forfiture made of all her goods ; i remember also a landlord of mine in layden bought a live pig in the market and innocently brough it home , and kild it , for which he had like to have been ruinated , because he did not frist send to the accisemen to accise it , and also let the visitors see that the pig was free from deseases at an other time a wyne merchant comeing to give me a visit , tould me that he had the rarest rhinish in the city , and that if i would send my maid to his cellar with six bottels they should be fild : whereupon i sent the maid only with two bottels , and charged her to hide them under her apron , but such was her misfortune that the scouts dienaers met her and seized her and her bottels , and caryed her to prison , which cost the wyne merchant 1500 gilders , and had it not bin for the strongest solicitations made by us , he had bin ruined : so sacred are taxes here and must so exactly be payd . and were they not here so precise , it were impossible for so smal a country to subsist : and therefore you may heare the inhabitants generally say , that what they suffer is for their vaderland , hence the meanest among them are content to pay what is layd on them , for they say all what is the vaderlands is ours the men of war are theirs , the sumptuous magazins , bridges and every thing what is the vaderlands . and indeed in a sense it is so for they have this to comfort them , that if it please god to visit them with poverty , they and their children have the publick purse to maintaine them , and this is one maine reason why they so willingly pay their taxes as they doe , for there 's not a soule borne in the states dominions that wants warme cloathes and dyet ; and good lodging , if they make their case knowne to the magistrates ; and for the vagabonds that rove up and downe the streets , they are either walons or other strangers as pretend to have bin ruinated by the late wars . i shall now in the next place let you know how exellently the laws are here executed against fraud and periury , and the intention of murders , which lawes were once much used in england , as you shall heare hereafter when i speake of the duke of brandenburgs court. i shall here instance a few particullars that hapened in my tyme : there was a spark that made false assignments on the admiralty , who tho related to many of the magistrates of amsterdam , had his head cut of ; and another who was a clark in the merchants bank , who made false posts in their bookes , and had his head also cut of , and all the portions he had given with his daughters , the husbands were forced to pay back , and all his houses and goods were sould at his dore in the open streets ; i knew a french marquis who swore his regiment was compleat , and when the states knew that he had not halfe his regiment , he likewise had his head cut of in the prison in the hague . i also knew a french paedagogue a runagado monk who designed to have murdred his master major cavellio , and his two pupils young children of the majors , and afterward to set the house afire to couler the murder , he had his head cut of and set upon a post with his body on a wheele neare the hague ; i could name you two others cheaters , who were severely whipt under the gallowes : and two under farmers who designed to run away with the states money . the cheat of breakeing with ● full hand is not so frequent in holland as in england ( where some use it as a way to slip out of business and then to live conveniently afterward upon the estates of other men because in holland they are more severely punished when discovered , then in england : as on the contrary those that fall to decay throw losses and unavoidable accidents which they could not prevent , find a more speedy and easie way of compounding and finishing matters with their creditours if they be over strickt , then the custome or law of england doth aford , for the suing out of statuts of bankrupts in england doth prouve many tymes fo pernitious both to creditour and debtor throw the tediousnes of the proceedings and the expensivenes of executing the commissions , that what by commissioners fees , treatises and other incident charges , the creditours are put to such expences as to be uterly disappointed of their debt , and the poore debtors for ever ruinated and undone ; i shall therefore in this place give a short relation of the method used in amsterdam in the case of bankrupts , which perhaps may be taken notice of by our king and parlement for the preventing disorders and sad abuses that dayly hapen in executing the statutes of bankrupts ; the magistrates of amsterdam everie yeare name commissioners for bankrupts , out of those that make up a judicature , like to our courts of aldermen in london ; these meet certaine dayes in the weeke in a distinct chamber in the stathouse over whose doore is cut in marble the emblem of fortune flying away with wings , and round chests turnd up side down , with mice and ratts eateing the money baggs , pens , inkhornes and paperbookes . there they receive petitions from debtors and creditours , and as occasion requireth summon the partyes to appeare before them , and to lay open the true state of the matter : this done they either by authoritie seaze the bankrupts books and effects , or else without any stir and noise leave all remaining in the debtors houses , and send thither two committes to examine the bookes , and make an inventorie of the estate ; with power to compose the matter , without giveing much trouble to the parties . if the comissioners find that the debtor is come to decay by unexpected losses and unavoidable accidents , to which he did not at all contribute , it is their usuall way to propose to the creditour such amicable and easy termes , as the poore man may be able to performe , alotting some tymes the halse of the estate left to the debtor , some tymes a third part , and some tymes perswading the crediteurs to advance to the poore man a sum of mony to help him up againe in trade , upon condition that he do oblige himselfe to pay the creditours all he oweth them , when god shall be pleased to make him able ; but on the contrary if the commissioners find that a trader hath dealt knavishly and broaken with a designe to defraud and cheat his creditours , as if it appeare that a bankrupt hath kept false bookes , and counterfitted bills of exchange , bills of loading , or pretended commissions from forraigne parts ; in such a case they are very severe and not only seaze all the bookes and effects of the bankrupt , but also imprison him , and also punish him corporally , and if the cheat be of an haynous nature , sentence him somtime to death , whereas if the debtor be only unfortunate and no wayes knaveish , then the commissaries use all the power they have to force the creditours to accept the poore mans termes , the which is better for the creditours then to use the rigor of the law , in committing the poore man to prison , seeing in that case the creditours must maintaine him in prison according to his quality , where if he lyes a certaine tyme , and the creditours be not able to prove the prisoner hath an estate , then the debtor is admitted to his oath to sweare he is not worth 40 gilders besides his weareing cloathes , and working tooles , and then he is sett at libertie , but in the mean time let the prisoner have a care not to make a false oath , for then he is punished without mercy , an instance of which hapened in my tyme. the states haveing admitted a certaine few to come and make such an oath before them , were at the same tyme informed by the goaler that this few had been seen throw the chinks of the doore , quilting ducats of gould and some diamons in his cloathes , to the value of 5000 gilders the states hereupon admonished the few to take heed to what he was about to sweare , because the law was very strickt against such as made false oathes before them , and at the same tyme caused the oath and the law to be read unto him , nevertheless the few offered to take the oath , but the lords not suffering him to sweare , because then he must dye by law , caused him to be taken out into another room and searched , where they found about him the ducats and diamonts : this being tould the lords they sent for him in , and then sentenced him to have 60 lashes under the gallowes and to be banished the country , yet because the few had many children , they gave a 3 d part of what was taken about him to his wife and children , and a third to the poore , and the other 3 d to the creditours , which was enough to pay them their debt ; these commissiorers are payd by the states and have not a doit from debtors , or creditours for all what they doe . these commissioners are also much to be commended for their readynes to doe good offices to those poore merchants , who haveing lived honestly , are brought to decay by losses and crosses in their trade : who when they find any such so poore that they can neither pay their creditours , nor maintaine the charge of their families , it is their constant custome , to take their children from them , and maintaine and bring them up in their hospitalls , yea often also soliciting the burgemasters on their behalfe to bestow some smal office upon them for their reliefe , and subsistance ; and here i must not omitt to aquaint you , that as the compounding of matters in holland betwixt debtor and creditour so as hath been said , is very easy and equitable , so is also thier way or method of sueing for debts very favorable , which is after this maner , in the first place a note or summons is left at the debtors house , and if he nectlect to appeare , a second summons is sent , but then if he neither appeare himselfe , or send his proctor , the sheriffs order an arrest against him , and at last when he it brought before them , if the matter be difficult it is referred to two or three goodmen of the city , and tyme given him , but if the plaintiff make oath that he apprehends the debtor hath a designe to run away , then must the prisoner either give baile or return to prison . it is a remark that i have made in my travells , that excepting france and flanders i never saw in any prison above 40 prisoners for debt at one tyme , and in some great townes as in harlem and other , some tymes not one ; and the reason hereof is plaine , for you cannot lay a man in prison for an action or debt , small , or great , but you must maintaine the prisoner , so that many tymes the charges exceed the principall debt , and after all the prisoner can free himselfe ; whereas the custome in england encouraged by those varlets the pettyfogers and catchpoles of turning a man into prison for a crowne , or it may be for nothing at all , if he connot find bail , he may lye and starve there , is an abominable abuse , as also that of suborning false witnesses , to much in use in england , which is extremely cried out against beyond sea . and now because i am speakeing of pettyfogers , give me leave to tell you a story i mett with when i lived in rome , goeing with a romane to see some antiquityes , he shewed me a chapell dedicated to one st evona a lawyer of brittanie who he said came to rome to entreat the pope to give the lawyers of brittanie a patron , to which the pope replyed that he knew of no saint but what was disposed of to other professions , at which evona was very sad and earnestly begd of the pope to think of one for them : at the last the pope proposed to st evona that he should goe round the church of st. john de latera blind fould , and after he had said so many ave marias , that the first saint he layd hold of , should be his patron , which the good old lawyer willingly undertook , and at the end of his ave maryes , he stopt at st. michels altar , where he layd hold of the divell , under st. michels feet , and cryd out , this is our saint , let him be our patron , so beeing unblindfolded and seeing what a patron he had chosen , he went to his lodgings so dejected , that in few moneths after he die'd and coming to heavens gates knockt hard , whereupon st peoter asked who it was that knockt so bouldly , he replyed , that he was st. evona the advocate , away , away said st. peter here is but one advocate in heaven , here is no roome for you lawyers , o but said st. evona , i am that honest lawyer who never tooke fees on both sides , or ever pleaded in a bad cause , nor did i ever set my naibours together by the eares , or lived by the sins of the people ; well then said st. peter , come in ; this newes comeing downe to rome a witty poet writ upon st. evonas tomb these words : st. evona un briton , advocat non larron , haleluiah . this story put me in mind of ben : johnson goeing throw a church in surry , seeing poore people weeping over a grave , asked one of the women why they wept , oh said shee , we have lost our pretious lawyer , justice randall , he kept us all in peace , and always was so good as to keep us from goeing to law , the best man ever lived , well said ben johnson i will send you an epitaph to write upon his tomb , which was , god works wonders now and than , here lyes a lawyer an honest-man . and trully old ben : was in the right , for in my tyme i have observed some gentlemen of that profession that have not acted like st. evona , or justice randal , i wil say no more of them , but wish them as great fees , and as much encouragement as the lawyers have in switserland . i now come to speake some thing of the three taxes i mentioned in the former part of my remarques on taxes , of which the first ought rather to be called an usefull and publique invention , like to that of the insurance office in london , then a publick tax , seeing no man needs contribute to it unless they please , and find his profit by it , but the other may be called taxes because the subjects are obliged to submit to them , but then they are so easy , that what the publick gets thereby not only lessons extraordinary subsidies , which many tymes occasions clamour , when because of their raritie and the urgencie of occasions , they must needs be great . yet it is sufficently compensated by the advantage and securitie in the estates which private persons , who are obliged to pay it , reape thereby dayly ; i am confident that if the king and parlement thought fit to introduce some or all three of these taxes into england , the publick charge of goverment might be defrayed with more ease and with less repining and clamour , then when it must be done by new and high impositions , how ever our governers are the proper judges of that . the first then is an house called the merchants bank which is governed by diverse commissioners , clarks and booke keepers , likewise a essaymaster who judgeth of the gould and silver , that at any tyme is brought into the bank uncoyned , the security given for preservation thereof , are the states and magistrates of amsterdam . now if you have a mind to put money into the bank , suppose a 1000 l. less or more , you must goe to the clarks and ask a folio for your name , and then pay in your money at three or foure per cent according as the rate of the bank money is high or low , or you may buy it of those called cashiers or broakers : then get the clarks to set downe in the folio what you bring in , haveing done so you may draw this summe , or sell it in what parcels you please , but then if you let your money lye seven yeares in the bank , you receive no intrest for the same . if you aske where then is the advantage for the merchants ? i answer first you have your money ready at all tymes for answering bills of exchange , and making other payments : you are at no charge for baggs or portage , at no loss by false tale or bad money , in no danger of thieves or unfaithfull servants , or fire , and above all you have the accounts of your cash most punctually and justly kept without any trouble or runing the risk of gouldsmith or cashieres breaking in your debt ; for such is their care that twice a yeare , or some tymes oftner they shut up the bank for 14 dayes , and then all that have concerns therein must bring in their accounts to the clarkes , who a few dayes after , haveing viewed the bookes , aquaint such as have brought in wrong accounts with their mistakes , desiring them to returne to their bookes , and rectifie their error , not telling them wherein the mistake lyes , so that i have knowne merchants , in my tyme sent back three or foure tymes , with their wrong accounts : but if they begin to grow impatient and say that they will stand to their accounts , then they pay a mulct to the clarkes upon their covincing them of their mistakes , either by chargeing to much upon the bank , or forgetting or omitting what was their due . i knew two merchants , who haveing for gott the one 750 l. and the other 220 l. in their accounts , were honestly rectified by the clarkes , so that they susstained no loss ; besides this care of the clarkes in keeping and stating the accounts , the bank is obliged for five l. a yeare to send to every merchant , that desires it , their accounts every morning before exchange tyme , of the moneyes written of by them in the bank the day before upon any merchants account , and what summes are written of by others upon their accounts : so that the merchants may compare the banks notes with their bookes and so save much of the charges of booke keeping ; now if it be objected that though this be an advantage to the merchants , yet what can the publick gaine thereby , seeing the charges of paying officers , clarks &c. must needs be very considerable ? i answer , that indeed it is a mystery to those who understand not the thing , but if it were once known and practised , the advantage of it would appeare ; for among other things which might be said , the magistrates of the citty take out of the merchants bank a sufficent stock of money to supply the lumbert , a banck that lends out money , and is governed by 4 commissioners chosen out of the magistrates , who sitt in court every day in the lumbert , which is a large pile of building 3●0 foot long , containing several chambers and magazines under one roof , in these several chambers the commissioners have officers sitting to lend money upon all sorts of goods even from a paires of shooes to the richest jewell &c. this is a great convenicence for poore people , yea for merchants also , who some tymes may want money to pay a bill of exchange , and prevents the cheatting and extraordinary extortion used by the pawne brokers in england , france and other countryes . and besides the poore have their pawns safely and well preserved , neither are they punctually sould when the yeare is out or denied under the pretext of being mislaid , as the poore are often tymes served by the wicked pawn broakers . there is also another convenience in this lumbert viz , an exellent way they have of discovering thieves , and the stollen goods ; they publish two generall open sales of the goods pawnd twice a yeare , that such as will , may redeeme their goods and paying the intrest may have them although the time be relapsed . thus much as to the lumbert . i was once according to my duty to waite upon our present king at the bank of merchants , where shewing his majestie the way of keeping the journall book of the bank which is of a prodigious bigness , his majestie was extreamly pleased with the contrivance of preserveing it from fire ; saying that the course they tooke might be of great use for the preserving patents and the deeds of noblemens estates ; this contrivance which perhaps may be thought usefull or imitable , i shall therefore discribe it , it is a large firestone shaped like a chest , and set upright in a stone wall having a large brass doore of a vast thicknes with flops to fall over and cover the lock and hinges , into this chest the booke is drawn upon rouls , it being of such a bulk and waight as cannot be handed in by a man , and there it is so securely preserved that although the house should be burnt , the booke in al probabilitie would be safe ; should i here give an account of the vast summes of money that dayly are written of in this bank , i might probably be thought to speake at random , but this i may bouldly affirme that it farr exceeds all the bankes in europe , both for riches and business , and their credit is such that the italians , french , germans and english have great summes in the same , neither was ever any man refused his money in the worst of times . a second tax is what ariseth from the just and laudable establishment of a register , a tax which i think most men will be willing to submit to , except such as designe to cheat and defraud their naibours , and live by such like sins and confusion , and for the most part die with the curse of the people ; this register in holland begitts such assurance and safetie in dealling , that in purchasing of houses or land , a childe tho overreached in the value yet cannot be cheated as to the title : the methodes of which register . i have by me for the use of our king and parlement when they please to command it . the third and last tax is that of sealed paper as it is practised in holland . the method of which i likewise keep by me for his maiestie and parlements commands . there are many other things might be spoken , as to the government of amsterdam , but i may not tyre your patience . however one considerable thing i would not passe by touching the melitia ; there are in amsterdam 60 companyes of foot , the least of them haveing 200 men , some 300 , which in a modest account , amounts , at least to 15000 men , in which number neither jews nor anabaptists who carry no armes are reckned , only they are obliged to contribute to the maintenance of the 1400 souldiers who are kept in constant pay , as a guard for the citty , and towards the night watch or ratelwatch , who walke the streets the whole night to keepe good orders , and tell us every halfe houre what a clock it is . there are also upon every church tower , trumpetters who sound every halfe houre , and if any fire breakes out in the citty they give a signall on which side of the citty the fire is , and ring the firebell , and they have exellent wayes on a suddain in such sad accidents to quench fire : but i may not inlarge any longer , but hasten out of holland . and yet before i leave amsterdam i must vindicate her from a malitious aspersion cast upon her by the ignorant , they accuse her to have very rudely and uncivilly affrouted the duke of york beeing there . anno 1681 all which is very false , true the english phanaticks of amsterdam were so malitiously wicked as to spread severall lyes of his sacred person , and stird up the canalie as much as they could to affront his highnes , but as for the magistrates they payd him verie great respects : first sending me to the hague to know what day his highnes would please to honor their citty with his presence , that thereby they might be prepared to receive his royall person with all the honor emaginable , being resolved to treat his highnes in their stathouse , and that the burgers should be in their armes , also giveing out orders for coaches and the admiraltys yagts to attend his highnes , when ever he pleased to come , but his highnes by collonel werden let me know that i should attend the burgemasters , and thank them for their kind presentation , but his highnes was resolved to see theit citty incognito and therefore desired the burgemasters not to put themselves to any maner of trouble ; notwithslanding the magistrates commanded their yatchts to lye ready the halfeway harlem , and vice admiral de ruiter , dirick tulp , and others went out in their coaches to meet his highnes , and conduct him into the citty , at which tyme our english phanaticks especially those called monmouths twelve apostels did all that they could to stir up the rude multitude to affront his highnes , crying out to them , this is he that brought the last war upon you , and with his jesuits would cut all the protestants throats ; but the next day after his highnes was com into the citty burgemaster valkenier the great solon of amsterdam , sent for me and tould me that although the burgemasters which are the soveraignes of the city give no visits to strange princes , unless they be crouned heads , yet said he i have a great ambition to pay a visit to the duke of york , upon severall respects , first as being the brother of so great a king , and as he is our statholders vnckell and father in law , and therefore said he you shall procure me audience in the privatest maner imaginable : for i designe to goe with you to him without so much as a footman attending me ; here upon i waitted upon the earle of peterborow and collonel werden and collonel porter to desire them to aquaint his highnes with the burgemastrs designe , whereupon his highnes turnd to me , and said mr. carr when the burgemaster pleaseth , whereupon i went immediately to the burgemaster and attended him to his highnes quarters , the newes whereof comeing to the cittizens , they gathered together in great multitudes to see whether this great man their petty god did humble himself so far , as to pay a visit to his highnes , whereas the other burgemasters only sent a secretary and one of there pensionaries to visit the duke of monmouth , and all ambassadors have no other complement but by secretaries or pensionaries ; after the burgemaster had had a long houres audience with the duke in a roome a part , i attended the burgemaster to his daughter pelicorns house , the which was neare his highnes lodgings , for the tumult of the burgers was so great , that the burgemaster did not care to pas by them , and being come into his daughters parler , he began to speake to me after this maner , sir , i never in all my life met with a prince so generally experienced in all things , a prince that hath far penetrated into the affaires of europe , and hath the right measures of the present state of our country , and discourses as if he sate in our councell , but above all i was mightly pleased to heare him declare himselfe so freely touching liberty of conscience commending the wisdome of our state in opening their gates to all tender consciences , and that is it , said his highnes , that makes you so considerable and enticeth the rich merchants of other places to come & live amongst you , whereas the folly of the spanish inquisition hunts away the chiefest of their traders the jewes and others ; for my part said his highnes , i never was for oppressing tender consciences in england : for nothing more disturbs the peace and quiet thereof then forceing men by penal lawes to become all of one religion ; to conclude , said the burgemaster do but , remark this one thing and remember it , if you outlive me , viz , that if ever this great prince come to be king of england he will alter all the measures of europe , and possiblie become the arbiter thereof : after which discourse the burgemaster said let me now present you , mijn heer consul . with a glasse of rhenish wyne to his highnes health , and pray when you have an opportunitie to speake with his highnes , assure him that he hath in amsterdam a true and faithfull freind , and moreover he said , when i speake next with our statholder the prince of orange , and our pensionarie fagel , i will doe his highnes justice ; and thus wee parted : but the civil deportment of this burgemaster was not all , for other great ones of the citty did their part also , as vice-admiral de ruiter , with at least 30 captains of the admiralty chamber of amsterdam attended his highnes to shew him the men of warr and magazins of the admiralty : likewise sir dirick tulp and the heer peter van dam and others the bewinthebbers of the east-india company attended his highnes to the east-indie house , where was spread a banquet of sweetmeats , and rich wines , and they offered his highnes a present , but his highnes would not accept of any , only two large bookes in which were painted all the beasts , fishes , and foules , and likewise all the plants , flowers , and fruites of the east-indies , and because his highnes had tasted the mum in the east-indie magazine , and liked it , the company caused twelve caskes , to be neatly hoopt , and gave me them to be sent after his highnes to brussels ; and i know it was the resolution of the bewinthebbers to have spared no cost if his highnes would have accepted of a treat in their house , by all which you see that the magistrates and chiefe men in amsterdam were not guilty of rudenes to his highnes , but it was the canalie . and now haveing said so much good of the states government , and of amsterdam in particular , it will not be amisse to take notice of some bad customes and practises now in vogue in holland , and leave it to the reader to judge what they may portend ; there are tollerated in the citty of amsterdam , amongst other abuses , at least 50 musick houses , where lewd persons of both sexs meet and practise their villanies . there is also a place called the longseller a tollerated exchange or publick meeting house for whores and rogues to rendevous in , and make their filthy bargains : this exchange is open from six a clock afterdinner untill nine at night ; every whore must pay three stivers at the dore for her entrance or admission ; i confess the ministers preach and exclaim from the pulpit against this horrible abuse , but who they be that protect them i know not , yet i have heard some plead for the tolleration of these wicked meetings upon pretext , that when the east-india fleets come home , the seamen are so mad for women , that if they had not such houses to bait in , they would force the verie cittyzens wives and daughters : but it is well known that as money does countenance , so discipline might suppress that abuse . the ould severe and frugall way of liveing is now allmost quite out of date in holland , there is very littell to be seene of that sober modestie in apparell , diet , and habitations as formerly : in stead of convenient dwellings the hollanders now build stately palaces , have their delightfull gardens , and houses of pleasure , keep coaches , waggons and sleas , have very rich furniture for their horses with trappings adorned with silver bells , i have seen the vanitie of a vintners sonne , who had the bosses of the bit and trapping of his horse of pure silver , his footman and coachman having silver fringd gloves ; yea so much is the humour of the women altered and of their children also that no apparel can now serve them but the best and richest , that france and other countryes affoards , and their sonns are so much adicted to play , that many families in amsterdam are ruined by it not that england is lesse extravagant then the duch , who as i said before got such great estates by their frugalitie , whilest they were not addicted to such prodigalitie and wantoneste as the english are , whose excesse i can not excuse , neverthelesse the grave and sober people of holland are very sensible of the great alteration that now is in their country , and as they say paracelsus used to cure his patients of their disease with a full belly , so a good burgemaster desirous to convince his amsterdammers of their dissolute kind of life , invited the thirty six magistrates and their wives to a feast : who being come and the ladyes big with expectation of some rare and extraordinary entertainment , sat down at table ; where the first course was buttermilk boild with appells , stockfish , buttered turnips and carrots , lettice salade and red herrings , & only smale beare without any wyne ; at this the ladies startled and began to whisper to their husbands , that they expected no such entertainement , but upon removeing of the dishes and plates they found underneath printed verses importing that after that manner of liveing they began to thrive , & had inlarged their citty . the second course consisted of bocke de kooks , quarters of lamb , rosted rabits and a sort of pudding they cal a brother here they had dorts and english beare with french wyne yet all this did not please the dainty dames : but upon removing away the plates another dish of poetrie appeared , which acquainted them that after that modest and sober way of liveing , they might keep what they had gott , and lay up some thing for their children . then comes in the third course made up of all the rarities of the season , as patridges , pheseants and all sorts of foule and english pasties , with plenty of rinish and other sorts of wyne , to moisten them , this put the ladyes in a frolick and jolly humour , but under their plates was found the use and application in verses , telling them that to feed after that manner was voluptuous and luxurious , and would impaire their health and wast their estates , make them neglect their trade , and so in tyme reduce their stately and new built flourishing citty to their ould fishing towne againe . after this was brought in a banquet of all sorts of sweet meats piled up in piramides and delicate fruite with plenty of delitious wynes , and to conclude all a set of musick and maskers who danced with the young ladyes ; but at parting like the hand writing to belteshazzar upon the wall , every one had a printed paper of moralities put into their hand shewing them the causes of the ruine of the roman commonwealth , according to that of the poët . nullum crimen abest , facinusque libidinis exquo , paupertas romana perit . with an exellent aduice to them that if they did not quit the buffoneries and apish modes of the french , and returne to the simplicitie , plaineness and modestie of their ancestors and founders , their common-wealth could not long last ; but all the thanks the good ould burgemaster had for his kind and chargable entertainement in thus feasting his countrymen , was to be floutted at , and pasquild , the sparkes of amsterdam saying in all places , that the ould man being now past the yeares of pleasure himselfe , would have none others to take theirs ; and here i shall put a period to what i thought fitt to observe of the states of the vnited provinces only i will beg leave , to say something to the hollander by way of advise viz , that now they are in a prosperous condition , rich and at ease , they would looke back and remember what god in his infinite goodnes & mercy did for them in the dayes of their greatest calamities ; for my owne part i cannot but admire the great providence of god in preserveing them from being devoured by their many enimies they had in the last warr , besides their enimies at home , some of which particulars as they then happened , give me leave to relate . at the tyme when the french came to inuade the territoryes of the states general , it then looked as if god had markd out the way for the french to march , by sending such a wonderfull drye season that the rivers of the rhine , beta , wall , and other rivers were fordable , so that the french only waded throw , and became so victtorious , that in a little space of tyme ( what by the treasons of some , and the ignorance , and cowardise of others intrusted with the militia , and garrisons ) the french became masters of above 40 cittyes and garrisons , at which tyme there was nothing to be heard of in the states dominions but confusion and miserie , even in the strong and rich citty of amsterdam it self , who at this tyme beheld the french armie like a mighty torrent comeing within sight of the citty , and at the same tyme wanting water in their canalls , and burgwalls to ply their sluces , and such was the scarcity of raine that a payle of fresh water was worth 6 pence ; thus heaven seemed to frowne on them as well as the french armie , by the shutting up as it were the conduits of heaven , and yet a worse thing had like to have fallen out , for at the same tyme the divisions grew so high amongst the magistrates in the stathouse , that it was putting to the question wheather or no they should not goe and meet the french king with the keyes of their citty , to save it from fire , and plunder , now nothing in all probabilitie could save this rich citty from falling into the hands of the french , but an immediate hand from heaven , and it had undoubtedly come to passe , had not providence caused the french to make a stand at muyden , two howers from amsterdam , at what time the valiant roman of amsterdam scout hasselaer like a true father of his country opposed the french party in the councell , calling out to the burgers from the stathouse to take courage and rather choose to dye like old battavians with their swords in their hands , then tamely and treacherously to yeald up their citty to the mercy of the french , as some of the magestrates were about to doe , this so incouraged the burgers that with great courage they mand ' the walls , and heaven then assisting them with a suden and plenty full raine , that they plyd their sluces , and drouned the lands round the citty 3 and 4 foot high , in some places , which caused the victorious french armie to make a quick retreat , as farr as utrick , else the monsieur had payd deare for seeing of amsterdam ; thus was amsterdam delivered by the hand of heaven . a second was , when that bloody duke of luxenburg , who gloryed and thanked god that he was borne without pitty or remors of conscience , took the opportunitye of an exceeding hard frost to march his armie over the ice as it had been drye ground , burning in his way the three faire villages of bodygrave , swammerdam and goudse-sluys . acting there a move cruell tradigie and worse then ever did turk , for they generally fave the country people for ransom , but this cruell prince caused strong guards to surround the villages , and burnd men , women and children together , thus he began his march with a designe to burne leyden , hague , rotterdam , delph and all the rich country of rhineland : and this he might have done in all probabilitie , for first the governor of newsluce who commanded the post that should have stopt the french , treacherously delivered up the fort without firing a gunn , and the handfull of troopes then under general koningsmark were so inconsiderable that they joyned to the souldiers under pain and vin the governer of new sluce were not able to make head as could oppose luxenburgs armie , and at the same tyme the good prince of orange was with the states armie at charle le roy. now was leyden ready to meet the french with the keyes of their citty , and other cittyes too , for they had neither fortifications nor souldiers to man their walls ; thus the whole country and cittyes of rhineland were like to fall under the crneltyes and tyranny of the french , but god a second tyme sent these people reliefe from heaven , first by giveing such undanted courage to that great states man pensionarie fagel that he forced koningsmark to rally his troopes together and to make a stand neare leyden , offering himselfe to dye at the head of them if there were occasion , but god reserved him for a furder good to the commonwealth by sending such a sudden thaw as was never seen before , for in less then ten howers the ice so sunk and such floods of snow came downe from the high lands that the french were fain to make a very disorderly retreat , marching up to the middel for hast , because on the banks there could not march above four men a brest , so they were constrained to leave behind them the greatest part of the plunder they had robed from the innocent country people , and the nimble duch men on their scatses so long as the ice would beare them , did shoot downe the french like ducks diving under water , so that it cost luxenburgs armie deare , tho they had the pleasure to burne the poore people , of which the french afterward wickedly made their boast . the third was as wonderfull as the two others , and although i doe not believe miracles , as doe the papists , yet i say nothing i ever observed looked more like a miracle then this , to wit , when the english and french fleet lay before scheveling with a designe to land , and the french ready on their march to joyne with the english and other french as soon as they should land , at the same tyme the bisshop of munster lyeing before groeningen , and the french before gorcom , so that now all things looked with a dreadfull face for the states , yet at this very tyme god sent a 3 d reliefe by sending such mists , and wonderfull sorts of tydes , as so separated the two fleets , that the english were forced to quit scheveling shore , and were driven on the side of the texel roade ; from whence they were constrained by the season of the yeare to retire home , and such were the sudden & great showers of raine that the bisshop of munster was forced in disorder to raise his siege at groeningen , and the french to quit gorcom ; i could ad many more observations of the providences of god to these people , as the preserveing the prince of orange from the many treacherous designes contrived against him from his cradel , but moses must be preserved , to goe in and out before his people , certainely never young prince indured so many fatigues as did his highnes in his tender yeares , of which i was an eye witnes , and had his highnes had the yeares and experience , and such a good disciplinde armie ( as now he hath ) in the yeare 1671 when the french entered the country , his highnes had given them as good a welcome as he did at bergen . i will say no more of this subject only this , that the peace at nimwegen was also a very wonderful thing , for that not above 8 dayes before the peace was signed , most of the plenipotentiaries did believe the war would have continued another yeare ; first because the king of denmark and duke of brandenburg prospered exceedingly against sweedland , and totally refused the propositions of france , and secondly because the french king writ such bitter letters against the states generall : yet 8 dayes after drest a letter unto the states in which he calles them his good friends , and old allyes , offering them not only mastricht but every foot of ground they could lay claime to in the world , also giveing them new termes , and conditions as to their priviledges in france , by way of trade ; neither can i forget how speedilie and as strangly the mighty french king did quit his conquered townes after the valiant prince of orange took naerden , which was the first step to the frenchs ruine in the states dominions . i come now , according to promess in the beginning of this book , to give the reader some remarkes i made in other countries where i have been during my sixteen years travels . to give a full account of all that might be observed in so many countries , is not a taske for one man , nor a subject for so small a book ; i shall onely therefore briefely take notice of some remarkable matters which may in some measure satisfie the curiositie of my country men who have not been in the said places , and convince , if possible , all of them , that no countrey that ever i was in , afords so great conveniencies for the generalitie of people to live in , as the kingdome of england doth . though i have twice made the grand tour of germany , hungary , italy and france , and after my return back to england travelled a third time through holland as for as strasbourg , and so back by francfort to denmark and sweden ; yet the reader is not to expect i should follow a geographicall method and order in speaking of the places i have been in ; that is to be lookt for in the map , and not in travels ; but onely that i mention places as i found them on my rode according as busines or curiositie led mee to travel . the first considerable place i then met with , after i was out of the dominions of the states general was cleave the capital citie of the province so called , a fair and lovely citie standing upon the rhine and the rivers wall and leck . this province much resembles england in rich soyl and pleasantness of its rivers . the inhabitants of the countrey would have mee beleeve that they were originally descended of those saxons who made a descent in to england , and conquered it ; and to convince the truth of this , they shew'd mee a cloyster standing on a hill , called eltham , from which they say our eltham in kent had its name . i was made to observe also two places standing upon the rhine neare emmerick called doadford , and gronewich , which according to them , gave the names to deaford and greenwich in england ; but many such analogies and similitudes of names are to be found in other places of germany , but especially in uper saxony and denmark . the greatest part of this province of cleave , and part of the duchy's of julieres and berg , and of the provinces of marke and ravensbourg belongs to the elector of brandenbourg , the rest belonging to the duke of newbourg now elector palatine , and the elector of cologne . the inhabitants are partly roman catholicks , partly lutherans , and partly calvinists , who all live promiscuously and peaceably together both in city and countrey . the citie of cleave is the out most limit of the territories of the elector of brandenbourg on this side of germany ; from whence his electorall highness can travel two hundred dutch miles out right in his own dominions , and never sleep out of his own countrey but one night in the territories of the bishop of osnabrug . from cleave i went to a small town called rhinberg , but a very strong fortification belonging to the elector of cologne ; which lies at two miles distance from the citie of wesel that belongs to the elector of brandenbourg . through disseldorpe scituated on the rhine , and the residence of the duke of newbourg , i went next to cologne a very large city , called by the romans colonia agrippina , and the french rome d' allemagne . cologne is an imperial citie and a republick , though for some things it does homage to the elector of that name , and receives an oath from him . it is much decayed within these hundred years , having been much priest ridden , a misfortune that hath undone many other great cities . the jesuits have had so great influence upon the magistrats , that they prevailed with them to banish all protestants , who removed to hambourg and amsterdam , so that cologne is become so dispeopled , that the houses dayly fall to ruine for want of inhabitants , and a great deal of corn and wine now grows within the walls , upon ground where houses formerly stood . i dare be bold to affirm that there is twice the number of inhabitants in the parish of st. martins in the fields , then there is in cologne ; and yet it contains as many parish churches , monasteries and chappels , as there are days in the year . the streets are very large , and so are the houses also , in many of which one may drive a coach or waggon into the first room from the streets ; but the streets are so thin of people , that one may pass some of them and not meet ten men or women , unless it be church men or religious sisters . the most considerable inhabitants of the citie are protestant merchants , tho but few in number , and they not allowed a church neither , but a place called woullin a mile without the citie : the rest of the inhabitants who are lay men are miserably poor . there are no less than 3000 stud●nts in cologne taught by the 〈◊〉 gratis , who have the priviledge to beg in musicall notes in the day time , and take to them selves the liberty of borrowing hats and cloaks in the night : but if in the jesuits schools there be any rich burgemasters sons who have parts , they are sure to be snapt up and adopted into the societie . formerly , before the matter was otherwise adjusted in the diet of ratisbonne , there have been designs of voteing protestant magistrats into the government again ; but so soon as the jesuits come to discover who of the magistrats were for that , they immediately preferred their sons or daughters , and made them chanons , abbots or chanonesses , and so diverted them by interest . it 's pity to see a city so famous for traffike in former times now brought to so great a decay , that were it not for the trade of rhenish wine it would be utterly forsaken , and left wholy to the church men . the continuall alarms the magistrats have had by forreign designs upon their liberty , and the jealousies fomented among themselfs , as it is thought , by the agents and favourers of france , and especially the bishop of strasbourg , have for severall yeares kept them in continuall disquiet , and necessitated them to raise great taxes which hath not a litle contributed to the impoverishing of the people especially the boars round about ; who tho the countrey they live in be one of the most pleasant and fertile plains of germany , yet are so wretchedly poor that canvas cloaths , wooden shoes , and straw to sleep on in the fame room with their beasts , is the greatest worldly happiness that most of them can attain unto . the elector of cologne is a venerable old man , bishop of four great bishopricks , viz cologne , liege , munster , and heldershime . he divides his time betwixt his devotion and experimental studies , being punctuall in saying of mass every morning , and constant in his elaboratory in the afternoon ; for he is much addicted to chymistry , and leaves the administration of government to his cozen the bishop of strasbourg . to speak of all the miracles of the three kings of cologne , and the vast number of saints who were removed out of england and interred there , would be but tedious and perhaps incredible to the reader , as well as wide of my designe . i shall therefore proceed . from cologne i took water on the rhine and advanced to the citie of bon and so forward to coblints the residence of the elector of trier . over against this city , on the other side of the rhine stands that impregnable fort called herminshine , built on a high rocky hill as high again as windsorcastle , and on the north side of it the river mosel falls into the rhine , over which there is a stately stone bridge . this prince governs his subjects as the other spirituall electors doe , that is , both by temporall and spirituall authority , which in that country is pretty absolute . the chiefe trade of this countrey is in wine , corn , wood and iron . the next countrey i came to was that of the elector of mayence who is likewise both a secular and ecclesiasticall prince and governs his subjects accordingly . he is reckoned to be wholely for the interests of the french king ; who notwithstanding of that , pretends a title to the citadel of mayence . as i was upon my journey to mayence by land , i made a turn down the rhin to visit the famous litle city of backrack , and some towns belonging to the landgrave of hessen , but especially backrack , because travellers say it much resembles jerusalem in its scituation and manner of buildings . the burgemaster of this city told mee that the whole country about backrack does not yield above 200 fouders of wine a year ; and yet the merchants of dort by an art of multiplication which they have used some years , furnish england with severall thousande of fouders . here i shall take the liberty to relate a strange story which i found recorded in this countrey ; tho i know it to be mentioned in history . there was a certain cruel and inhumane bisshop of mayence , who in a year of great scarcity and famine when a great number of poor people came to his gates begging for bread , caused the poor wretches , men , women and children to be put into a barn , under pretext of relieving their necessities ; but so soon as they were got in , caused the barn doors to be shut , fire set to it , and so burnt them all alive : and whil'st the poor wretches cried and shreeked out for horrour and pain , the barbarous miscreant said to those that were about him , harke how the rats and mice doe crie . but the just judgement of god suffered not the fact to pass unpunished ; for not long after the cruel bishop was so haunted with rats and mice , that all the guards he kept about him , could not secure him from them , neither at table nor in bed , at length he resolved to flee for safetie into a tower that stood in the midle of the rhine ; but the rats pursued him , got into his chamber and devoured him alive ; so that the justice of the almighty made him a prey to vermine who had inhumanely reckoned his fellow christians to be such . the tower which i saw , to this day is called the rats-tower , and the story is upon record in the city of mayence . on my journey from thence i came to the litle village of hockom not far distant , famous for our hockomore wine , of which though the place does not produce above 150 fouders a year ; yet the ingenions hollanders of dort make some thousand fouders of it goe of , in england and the indies . from hockom i proceeded to francfort a pleasant city upon the river of maine , called formerley teutoburgum and helenopolis and since francfort , becaus here the franconians who came out of the province of franconia foarded over , wfien they went upon their expedition into gallia , which they conquered and named it france : and i thought it might very well deserve the name of petty-london , because of its priviledges , and the humour of the citizens . it is a hansiatick and imperiall town and common-wealth , the magistrats being lutherans which is the publick established religion ; though the cathedrall church belongs to the roman catholicks who also have severall monasteries there . the citie is populous and frequented by all sorts of merchants , from most parts of europe , & part of asia also , becaus of the two great faires that are yearely kept there , many jews live in this city , and the richest merchants are calvinists , who are not suffered to have a church in the town , but half an houres journey out of it , at a place called bucknam , where i have told seventy four coaches at a time all belonging to merchants of the city . it was in ancient times much enriched by charle le maigne and hath been since by the constitution of the golden bull : amongst other honours & priviledges its appointed to be the place of the emperours election , where many of the ornaments belonging to that august ceremonie are to be seen . it is strongly fortified having a stately stone bridge over the maine that joynes it to saxe-housen the quarter of the great master of the toutonick order . the government is easy to the people , they not being taxed as other cities are , and had it not been for the alarmes the french gave them during the last war , they had not been much troubled , but being forced to keep three or four thousand men in constant pay to defend their fortifications , the magistrats were constrained to raise money by a tax . besides that of the emperour , they are under the protection of some neighbouring princes , as of the landgrave of hessen cassells , landgrave of armestadt , the count of solmes and the count of hanau , who are either lutherans or calvinists , amongst whom the late elector palatine was also one ; but whether the present who is roman catholick be so or not , i cannot tel . this city takes great care of their poor , and in their charitie to poor travellers exceed holland . i have seen a list of seaven thousand whom they relieved in one year . their great hospitall is a large court or palace , where the english merchants formerly lived , in the time of queen mary's persecution of the protestants , who when they were recalled by queen elisabeth were so generous as to give the whole court , with all their packhouses and lands to the poor of the city . it was my fortune to be there in that cold winter in the year 1683. and saw a ceremonie performed by the wine coopers of the citie , who are obliged by law , that when ever the maine lyes fast frozen over for eight days together , to make a great fouder fat , hoops and staves , and set it up compleat upon the ice . it was very good diversion to see so many hands at worke , and to observe the jollity and mirth of the many thousands of spectators who wanted not plenty of rhenish wine to carouse in . i had the curiositie afterward to goe to the court of the landgrave of armestadt a lutheran prince who lives in part of the richest soyle in germany . his highness is a very courteous and obligeing prince to strangers , and his subjects are in a pretty good condition again , though they have been great sufferers by the last war between the landgrave of hessen and this familie . from thence i went to heidleberg a city i had been formerly in , in the life time of that wise tho unfortunate prince elector elder brother to prince rupert . here i had the honour to pay my dutifull respects to the elector the son of that great prince , whose commissary i had the honour to be for two years together in amsterdam . this prince , since my being there , is lately dead , and left behind him the reputation of having been a zealous thorough paced calvinist , and so constant a frequenter of the church , that some sundays he went thrice a day to sermon ; but never failed , if in health , to be once a day at least at the garrison-church ; where he took particular notice of such officers as were absent . he was married to a most virtuous lady the royall sister of the king of denmark and his brother prince george . during his life time the university of heidleberg flourished exceedingly , so that the number of students was so great that chambers and lodgings in the citie were scarce , and spanhemius was about quitting leyden to return to his professors place in heidleberg , but how matters stand since his death , i am as yet ignorant . this countrey is called the paradise of germany for its fruitfulness in wine , corn , and all sorts of fruit . i my self have seen growing in one plain at the same time , vines , corn , chestnuts , almonds , dates , figs , cherries , besides severall other sorts of fruit . and as the countrey is fertile in yeelding the fruits of the earth , so the people are carefull in providing store room for them . this i take notice of because of the prodigious rhenish wine fats which are to be seen there , amongst which there are seaven , the least whereof holds the quantitie of 250 barells of beere as i calculated ; but the large and most celebrated fat is that which goes by the name of the great tun of heidleberg , and holds 204 fouders of wine , and cost 705 l. sterling in buildiug , for which one may have a very good house built . this fat i have seen twice , and the first time was , when the elector treated the french ambassadours that came to conclude the match betwixt his daughter and monsieur the french kings brother , who married her after the death of our kings sister his first wife : at which treat there happened an adventure that i shall here please the reader with . in a gallery that is over this fat the elector caused a table to be placed in the midle , exactly above the bunghole of this monstrous vessell , and to be covered with a costly banquet of all sorts of sweet meats : the day before , all the wine being emptied out of this tun into other fat 's , a litle before the ambassadours with other forrein ministers and persons of qualitie mounted the stairs to come to the place of entertainment ; the elector caused twelve drummers with as many trumpeters , some kettledrums and other musick to be lodged in the belly of the tun , with orders to strike up upon a signall given , when the elector drank the french kings health . all being sate down at table and merrily feeding , the elector drank the health , and the signall was given ; whereupon the musick began to play its part with such a roaring and uncouth noise out of that vast cavitie below , that the french and other persons of qualitie who were unacquainted with the designe , looking upon it to be an infernall and ominous sound , in great astonishment began to cry out jesus marie . the worlds at an end , and to shift every one for himself in so great disorder and confusion , that for haste to be gone they tumbled down staires one over another . all that the elector could say to compose them , was either not heard or not valued , nor could any thing satisfie and reassure them , till they saw the actors com marching out of their den . had not many persons of qualitie and travellers seen this fat as wel as my self who know that what i say of its incredible bigness to be true , i should be afraid the reader might think i imposed upon his credulitie . from heidleberg i went to see that impregnable fort or citadell of manheim alias fredericks-berg built by the elector frederick brother to prince rupert , a prince of as good a head as any germany affoarded , who though some have too partially judged of him by his misfortunes , yet by the wisest of the age was acconnted the cato of germany . the wisest and best-men of the world have been unfortunate , which makes some to be of the opinion that god in his wisdom thinks fit it should be so , least otherwise they might attribute their prosperitie rather to the wise direction of their own conduct , then his all seeing providence : and indeed , dayly experience seemes to evince the truth of this , since wee see knaves and fools advanced to preferment and richess , when men of virtue and parts die neglected and poor in the eyes of the world , though rich in the enioyment of a contented mind . but this is a digression which the honour i have for the memory of that great man hath led mee into , and therefore i hope will be pardoned by the reader . in the citadel of manheim i saw some of the records of that illustrious familie , which without dispute is the most ancient of all the secular electors , being elder to that of bavaria which sprung from one and the same stock , to wit , two emperours of germany . many writers derive them originally from charle le maigne , by the line of pepin king of france . there have been severall emperours of that race , one king of denmark and four kings of sweden , one of which was king of norway also , besides many great generals of armies in germany , hungary , france and other countries . since i can remember there vere five protestant princes heires to that electorall dignity alive ; which now by their death is fallen to the duke of newbourg a roman catholick , whose daughter is empress of germany and another of his daughters maryed to the king of portugall . being so neare strasbourg , i had the curiositie to goe see what figure that famous citie now made since it had changed its master ; for i had been thrice there before , when it flourished under the emperours protection , with the liberty of a hausiatick town : and indeed i found it so disfigured , that had it not been for the stately cathedrall church , and fair streets and buildings , i could scarcely have know'n it . in the streets and exchange which formerly were thronged with sober rich and peaceable merchants , you meet with none hardly now but men in buff coats and scarffs with rabbles of soldiers their attendants . the churches i confess are gayer , but not so much frequented by the inhabitants as heretofore , seing the lutherans are thrust into the meanest churches and most of the chiefe merchants both lutherans and calvinists removed to holland and hambourg . within a few years , i beleeve it will be just such another city for trade and richess as brisac is . it was formerly a rich city and well stockt with merchants and wealthy inhabitants , who lived under a gentle and easy government ; but now the magistrats have litle else to doe in the government , but onely to take their rules and measures from a citadell and great guns , which are edicts that merchants least understand . i confess strasbourg is the less to be pityed that it so tamely became a slave , and put on its chains without any strugling . those magistrats who were instruments in it , are now sensible of their own folly , and bite their nails for anger , finding themselves no better but rather worse hated than the other magistrats , who did what they could to hinder the reception of their new masters the french. i quickly grew weary of being here , meeting with nothing but complaints of poverty , and paying exorbitant taxes ; i therefore soon returned to my petty london francfort , and from thence went to cassells , the chiefe residence of the landgrave of hessen . this prince is a calvinist , as most of his subjects are , very grave and zealous in his religion : he married a princess of courland , by whom he hath an hopefull issue , to wit , three sons and two daughters . the late king was god father to one of his sons , who was christened by the name of charles . captain william legg brother to the lord dartmouth representing his majestie as his envoy . the court of this prince does indeed resemble a well governed colledge , or religious cloyster , in regard of its modestie and regularitie in all things , and especially in the houres of devotion . he is rich in money , and entertains about nine thousand men in constant pay , under the command of count van derlipp , a brave and expert soldier his lieutenant generall ; but can bring many more upon occasion into field . this familie hath been very happy both in its progenie and alliances , many wise princes of both sexes having sprung from it ; and the mother of this present landgrave may be reckoned amongst the illustrious women of the present and past ages . after the death of william the 5. landgrave of hessen her husband , she not only supported but advanced the war wherein he was engaged , did many signall actions , enlarged her territories , and at the conclusion of the peace kept under her pay 56 cornets of horse in five regiments , 166 companies of foot , besides thirteen companies of dragons , and 14 independent companies , in all 249 companies of horse and foot ; she was a princess extreamly obliging to strangers : especially virtuous and learned divines . i had the honour a good many yeares agoe to kisse her highnesses hand ; at which time she was mighty zealous in promoting an accommodation amongst different religions , as the roman catholick , lutheran and calvinist , but especially betwixt the two latter , and therefore entertained doctor duris at her court in cassels who wrote severall pieces upon that subject of reconciliation , and with lome of his friends had a conference with a learned priest that came from rome to forward the project ; whereupon the doctor published his book of the harmoney of consent , which is highly esteemed in germany . from this princes court i directed my journey to hanover , taking lambspring in my way , a place where there is a convent of english monks ; and there i met with a very aged worthy and harmeless gentleman st. thomas gascoigue , a person of more integrity and pietie then to be guilty , so much as in thought , of what miscreants falsly swore against him in the licentions time of plotting ; the lord abbot and severall of the monks i had seen there formerly . this monastery is very obliging to all strangers that travell that way , as well as to theire own countreymen , and is highly respected by the neighbouring princes of all persuasions , as the princes of the house of lunenburg , the landgrave of hessen , and elector of cologne , who as bishop of hildersheim is their ordinary . the town of lambspring is lutheran though under the government of the lord abbot and his chapter , who constantly choose lutheran magistrats and officers for the civill administration , and live together in that love and unitie , that as yet there hath never the least debate happened amongst them ; and indeed this harmoney is now to be observed in most parts of germany where different religions are professed . when i considered so many goodly faces both of monks and students in that abbey , i could not forbeare to make a serious reflexion on the number of the english whom i had seen in the colledges and cloysters abroad , as at rome , rattesbonne , wirtzburg in lorraine , at liege , louvain , brussels , dunkerk , ghent , paris , and other places , besides the severall nunneries , and withall on the loss that both king and kingdome suffered thereby , when so many of our natives both men and women should be constrained to spend their own estats and the benevolence of others in a strange land , which amounts to more money than at first one may imagine ; and this thought , i confess , made me wish it were otherwise . i would not have the reader to mistake mee here , as if i espoused , or pleaded for any particular party ; no , i plead onely for the sentiments of humanity , without which our nature degenerates into that of brutes , and for the love that every honest man ought to have for his countrey . i am asmuch a friend to the spanish inquisition , as to the persecuting of tender conscienced protestants , provided there be no more but conscience in the case ; and i could heartily with that papists and protestants could live as lovingly together in england as they doe in holland , germany , and other countries ; for give mee leave to say it , i love not that religion which in stead of exalting , destroys the principles of morality and humane societie . i have met with honest men of all persuasions , even turks and jews , who in their lives and manners have far exceeded many of our enthusiastick professors at home ; and when ever this happened , i could not forbeare to love the men without embraceing there religion , for which they themselves are to account to their great master and judge . in my progress towards hanover i touched at hildersheim a city whose magistrates are lutheran , though roman catholicks have the cathedrall church , and severall monasteries there . the court of hanover makes another kind of figure than that of cassels , it being the court of a greater prince , who is bishop of osnaburg , duke of brunswick lunenburg , hanover &c. here i had the honour to kiss the hands of the princess royall sophia youngest sister to the late prince rupert . her highness has the character of the merry debonnaire princess of germany , a lady of extraordinary virtue and accomplishments , and mistriss of the italian , french , high and low dutch and english languages , which she speaks to perfection . her husband has the title of the gentlemen of germany , a gracefull and comely prince both a foot and on horseback , civill to strangers beyond compare , infinitely kind and beneficent to people in distress , and known in the world for a valiant and experienced soldier . i had the honour to see his troops which without controversie are as good men , and commanded by as expert officers as any are in europe : amongst his officers i found brave steel-hand gordon collonel of an excellent regiment of horse , grimes , hamilton , talbot and others of our kings subjects . god hath blest the prince with a numerous offspring , having six sons all galant princes ; of whom the two eldest signalized themselves so bravely at the raising of the siege of vienna , that as an undoubted proofe of their valour they brought three turks home to this court prisoners . his eldest son is married to a most beautifull princess sole heiress of the duke of lunenbourg and zell his elder brother ; as the lovely princess his daughter is lately married to the electorall prince of brandenbourg . he is a gracious prince to his people , and keeps a very splendid court , having in his stables for the use of himself and children no less than fifty two sets of coach horses . he himself is lutheran , but as his subjects are christians of different persuasions , nay and some of them jews too , so both in his court and army he entertains gentlemen of various opinions and countries , as italian abbots , and gentlemen that serve him , and many calvinist french officers : neither is he so bigotted in his religion but that he and his children goe many times to church with the princess who is a calvinist , and joine with her in her devotion . his countrey is good , having gold and silver mines in it , and his subjects live well under him ; as doe those also of his brother the duke of lunenbourg , and their cozen the duke of wolfembottel , which are the three princes of the house of lunenbourg ; of whom it may be said that they have alwayes stuck honestly to the right side , and befriended the interests of the empire ; so that no by respect , neither honour nor profit , could ever prevail with them , as it has with others , to make them abandon the publick concern . from this princes court i went to zell the residence of the duke the elder brother of the familie . this prince is called the mighty nimrod becaus of the great delight he takes in horses , dogs and hunting . he did mee the honour to let mee see his stables , wherein he keeps 370 horses most of them english , or of english breed . his dogs which are also english , are so many , that with great care they are quartered in severall apartments according to their kind and qualities , there being a large office like a brewhouse employed for boyling of malt and corn for them . it is this valiant prince who tooke tieves from the french , and made the mareshall de crequi prisoner : he is extreamely obliging to strangers , and hath severall brave scottish officers under his pay , as major general erskin , graham , coleman , hamilton melvin and others . his lieutenant general is one chavot a protestant of alsatia an excellent and experienced commander ; who did mee the honour to treat mee three days at his house , where with all his scottish and english officers , whom he had invited , wee liberally drank to the health of our present king , having , as he told us , served under his majestie , when duke of york , both in france and flanders , where he gained the reputation both for skill and conduct in the wars not onely from mareshall turin a competent judge , but also from all other general persons who had the honour to know him , that fame hath made better know'n in the world than the encomium which that generous gentleman ingenuously gave , and which heere i spare to relate . i shall adde no more concerning this prince , his officers , or countrey ; but that he with the other two princes of the house of lunenbourg hanover and wolfenbottel , can upon occasion bring into the field 36000 soldiers whom they keep in constant pay , and such men as i never saw better in my life . after some stay at the court of the duke of zell i went to hambourg a famous hansiatick town . it is a republick and city of great trade , occasioned partly by the english company of merchant adventures , but much more by the dutch protestants who in the time of the duke of alba forsook the low countries and seltled here , and the protestants also who were turned out of cologne and other places in germany ; who nevertheless are not now allowed publick churches within the citie , but at a place called altena a village belonging to the king of denmark , a quarter of an houres walk distant from hambourg . this commonwealth is lutheran and governed by four burgemasters , twenty four radtsheres , and a common council of all the burghers who have above 40 schellings per annum free hold . the symbole or motto under their armes is , da pacem domine in diebus nostris , and in their standart are these letters s. p. q. h. the people here grone under heavy taxes and impositions ; the state becaus of continuall alarms they have from the king of denmark or other neighbours ; and the intestine broiles that frequently happen here , as well as at cologne , where the burgemasters are often in danger of their lives from the mutinous mobile ; being sorced to maintain six or seaven thousand men in pay , besides two or three men of war to guard their havens from pirats . i shall not name all the wayes of imposing taxes which this commonwealth uses , becaus in most they imitate the methods of the states generall as to that , which have bin mentioned before : i shall onely take notice of some peculiar customes they have , wherein they differ from holland . when a barber , shoe maker , or any other artizan dies , leaving a widow and children , another of the same trade is not admitted to set up for himself as a master ; unless he compound with the widow for a piece of money , or else marry her , or a daughter of hers with her consent . if any man cause another to be arrested for debt or upon any other suit , the plaintif must goe along with the officer who arrests the party and stay by him untill the prisoner be examined by the sheriff ; so that if the sheriff be not to be spoken with that night , the plaintiff must tarry with the prisoner all night , untill the sheriff examine the matter , and see cause of discharging or committing the party ; but this a plaintiff may doe by a procuration notariall . if a prisoner be committed for debt , the plaintiff must maintain him in prison according to his qualitie : and if the party lye in prison during the space of six yeares , at the expiration of that time the prisoner is discharged ; and if during the time of his imprisonment , the plaintif doe not punctually pay the prisoners allowance at the months end , the prisoner is set at liberty , and nevertheless the plaintiff must pay the gailer the last months allowance . this state is severe in the execution of justice against thieves , murders and cheats . there is no pardon to be expected for murder , and a burgemaster himself if guilty cannot escape . the punishment for murder is here as in sweden , breaking malefactors on the wheele , pinching their breasts and arms with hot pincers , speeting them in at the fundament and out at the shoulder , they have also cruel wayes of torturing to make prisoners confess ; and are very carefull not to be cheated in their publick revenue , their accisemen and collectors being punished as in holland . they take a very good course not to be cheated in their accise ; for all the mils of the countrey are in the hands the state ; so that no baker nor brewer can grind his own corn , but must have it ground at the states mills , where they pay the accise . there is a generall tax upon all houses , and that is the eight penny , which nevertheless does not excuse them from chimney money . the states here as at genoa in italy are the publick vintners , of whom all people must buy their wine , which they buy from the merchants , or otherwise import it in their own ships . in their ceremonies of burying and christening , they are ridiculously prodigall ; as for instance . if one invite a burgemaster , he must give him a ducat in gold , if a raedtsheer , that is , an alderman , a rixdollar , to every preacher , doctor of physick , advocat or secretary halfe a rixdollar , and to every schoolmaster the third part of a rixdoller . the women are the inviters to burialls , weddings and christenings , who weare an antick kind of a dress , having mitered caps as high again as the miter of a bishop . the churches here are rich in revenues , and ornaments , as images and stately organs wherein they much delight . they are great lovers of musick ▪ in so much that i have told 75 masters of severell sorts of musick in one church , besides those who were in the organ ▪ gallery . their organs are extraordinarely large . i measured the great pipes in the organs of st. catharins and st. james's churches , and found them to be 3 foot and 3 quarters in circumference and 32 foot long ; in each of which organs there are two pipes 5 foot and 8 inches round . the wealth and trade of this citie encreases dayly : they send one year with another 70 ships to greenland , and have wonderfully engrossed that trade from england and holland , and it is beleeved that small and great there are belonging to this commonwealth five thousand sayl of ships . after amsterdam , genoa , and venice their bank is reckoned the chiefe in credit ; but in trade they are accounted the third in europe , and come next to london and amsterdam . hambourg is now become the magazine of germany and of the baltick and northern seas . they give great priviledges to the jewes , and to all strangers whatsoever , especially the english company of merchant adventurers , whom they allow a large building , where they have a church , and where the deputy governour , secretary , minister , and the other officers of the company live , to whom they yearly make present of wine , beere , sheep , salmond and sturgeon in their seasons . and so much of hambourg . from hambourg i went to lubeck , which is also a commonwealth and imperiall town . it is a large well built city containing ten parish churches ; the cathedrall dedicated to st. peter being in length 500 foot , with two high spires all covered with brass as the rest of the churches of that ciry are . in former times this city was the place where the deputies of all the hansiatick towns assembled , and was once so powerfull as to make war against denmark and sweden , and to conquer severall places and islands belonging to those two crowns , nay and to lend ships to england and other potentates , without any prejudice to their own trade , wherein they vied in all parts with their neighbours ; but it is now exceedingly run into decay not onely in territories , but in wealth and trade also . and the reason of that was chiefely the inconsiderate zeal of their lutheran ministers who perswaded the magistrates to banish all roman catholicks , calvinists , jews , and all that dissented from them in matter of religion , even the english company too , who all went and setled in hambourg , to the great advantage of that city and almost ruine of lubeck , which hath not now above 200 ships belonging to it , nor more territories to the state ; than the city it self and a small part called termond about eight miles distant from it . the rest of there territories are now in the possession of the danes and swedes , by whom the burghers are so continually allarmed , that they are quite tired out with keeping guard and paying of taxes . the city is indeed well fortified ; but the government not being able to maintain above 1500 soldiers in pay , 400 burghers in two companies are obliged to watch every day . they have a large well built stathouse , and an exchange covered , on the top whereof the globes of the world are painted . this exchange is about fifty yards in the length , and but fifteen in breadth ; over it there is a roome where the skins of five lions which the burghers killed at the city gates in the year 1252 are kept stuft . the great market place is very large where a monumentall stone is to be seen , on which one of their burgemasters was beheaded for running away without fighting in a sea engagement . the people here spend much time in their churches at devotion , which consists chiefely in singing . the women are beautifull but disfigured with a kind of antick dress ; they wearing cloaks like men . it is cheap living in this town ; for one may hire a palace for a matter of 20 l. a year , and have provisions at very reasonable rates : besides the air and water is very good ; the city being supplied with fountains of excellent fresh water , which hambourg wants ; and good ground for cellerage , there being cellars here fourty or fifty foot deep . i had the curiosity to goe from lubeck to see the ancient city of magdeburg , but found it so ruined and decayed by the swedish war , that i had no encouragement to stay there . i therefore hastened to berlin the chiefe residence of the elector of brandenbourg , at whose court i mett with a very ingenuous french merchant who tould me that he and divers other merchants were designed to have lived in england , but were discouraged by a letter sent from london , by a french man that was removeing from thence to amsterdam , for these following reason which i coppied out of his letter ; first because the reformed religion is persecuted in england as it is in france , the which i tould him was a great untruth , for it is apparent that they have been all along graciously admitted , and received into his majesties dominions , without interruption , & allowed the free exercise of their owne forme of worship , according to the doctrine & discipline of the churches of france , nor can they who converse with the french ministers either in france or holland be ignorant , that the chiefest part , if not all those ministers are willing to complye with the church of england , and it is evident that most of the dutch and french protestants ( so called ; ) in holland make use of organs in their churches ; a second thing was that both the bank of london and the bankers ▪ gouldsmiths were all broak , the which i tould this frenchman was not true altogether , for there are many able bankers whome i named as alderman fowles , alderman hornbey , alderman duncomb , alderman founs , mr. thomas cook , mr. rob : vyner , mr. childe , mr. endes , mr. evans and others well known to the world by their solid dealling : neyther was the bank ( as he called the chamber of london ) broak , only it had been under the management of a bad person whose designe was to bring it into disgrace ; besides there is the east-india company an unquestionable securitie for those as have money to dispose of , together with another undeniable securitie which is land. thirdly he saith , that in england there is no register , and therefore many frauds in purchases & morgages , which begett teadious suites , and renders both dangerous to trust ; fourtly that if a man would purchase land he cannot , being an alien , untill naturalized . fiftly that in england there are so many plots and confusions in goverment that the kingdome is hardly quiet twenty yeares together . sixtly that false wittnesses were so common in england and the crime of perjury so slightly punished , that no man could be safe in life or estate if he chanced to be in trouble . lastly he said that the english are so restless and quarrelesome , that they not only foment and cherish animosities amongst one another , but are every foot contriving and plotting against their lawfull soveraign and the goverment . by such surmises and insinuations as these the french and germans are scared from trusting themselves and fortunes in england and therefore settle in amsterdam , hamburg and other cittyes , where there are banks and registers ; this i say is one cause why there are now to be seene at amsterdam such vast numbers of french and germans who have much inriched that citty and raised the rents of the houses 20 percent , and the silkeweavers grow also verie rich keeping so many almes children to doe their work and having all their labour without any charge only for the teaching them their trades ; which hath lessened the revenues of the french crown , and will in tyme greately increase the number of the states subjects , and advance ther publick incomes . to say the truth the inconstancy and wantonnesse of the english nation , especially of late tymes , when no other cause could be given for it , but to much ease and plenty , is not only wondered at but reflected upon by foreigners ; yet i am morally certaine that could the people of england be once againe united in love and affection as they are bound to be in duty and intrest , and would they be as willing to contribute to their own hapines as heaven hath been kind and liberal in bestowing the meanes of it , with a good and gratious prince solicitous for preserveing the same to them , could wee be so blest as wee have great reason to expect wee may under the auspicious reigne of him whose royall virtues are dreaded by none either at home or a broad but such as are the disturbers of publick and lawfull authoritie . having made this digression , i return to berlin , it is a city lately enlarged with fair streets and palaces . the magistrates of the place are lutherans , which is the publick established religion in all the electors dominions ; though he himself and his children be calvinists . he is lookt upon to be so true to that persuasion , that he is reckoned the protector of the calvinists ; and indeed he sollicited the emperour very hard for a toleration of the protestants in hungary . his chaplains , as most of the lutheran ministers also , endeavour to imitate the english in their way of preaching : and his highness is so much taken with english divinity , that he entertains divines for translating english books into the german tongue , as the whole duty of man and severall others . he has a large and srately palace at berlin and therein a copious library enriched with many manuscripts , medalls , and rarities of antiquity . he may compare with most princes for handsome guards , being all of them proper well bodied men , and most part officers who ride in his guards of horse . as he is know'n in the world to be a valiant and warlick prince , so he maintains in pay an army of 36000 men ; besides five or six thousand horsmen , who in time of war are modelled into troopes ; with which body during the late war with sweden , his highness in person beat the swedes out of his countrey . hee keeps his forces in strickt discipline , obliging all the officers , if protestants , on sundays and holy days to march their severall companies in order to church , but if a superiour officer be of a contrary persuasion , then the next in commission supplies his place . this custome is religiously observed by all his highnesses garrisons ; whilest he himself with his children , being five sons , two daughters , and two daughters in law , goe constantly to the calvinist church adjoyning to the court. amongst other acts of publick pietie and charitie , this prince hath established and endowed some religious houses or nunneries for protestant young ladies , where they may live virtuously and spend their time in devotion as long as they please , or otherwise marry , if they think fit , but then they lose the benefit of the monastery . there is one of these at herford in westphalia , where i was and had the honour to wait upon the lady abbess the princess elisabeth , eldest sister of the elector palatine and prince rupert , who is since dead . nothwithstanding the late wars with sweden and that by the prevalency of france in that hasty treaty of peace concluded at nimwegen , his electorall highness was obliged to give back what he had justly taken from that crown ; yet his subjects flourish in wealth and trade , his highness having encouraged manufactures of all sorts , by inviting artizans into his dominions , and estalished a company of tradeing merchants to the west-indies , which will much advance navigation amongst his subjects . and in all humane probabilitie they are like to continue in a happy condition , seing by the alliances his highness hath made with the protestant princes of the empire , and especially the house of lunenbourg , they are in no danger of being disturbed by their neighbours . i told you before that the prince of brandenbourg was married to the daughter of the duke of hanover , so that so long as that alliance holds , the families of brandenbourg and lunenbourg will be in a condition to cast the ballance of the empire ; they both together being able to bring into the field 80000 as good men as any are in europe . when i parted from berlin i made a turn back to lunenbourg in my way to swedland , where i found severall of my countrey men officers in the garison , who shew'd mee what was most remarkeable in the city , as the saltworks ( which bring in considerable summes of money to the duke of lunenbourg ) the stathouse , and churches , in one of which i saw a communion table of pure ducat gold . from thence i went into the province of of holstein , and at a small sea port called termond , of which i spake , before , i embarked for sweden . he that hath read in the histories of this last age the great exploits of gustavus adolphus and his swedes , perhaps may have a fancy that it must be an excellent countrey which hath bredsuch warriours ; but if he approach it , he will soon find himself undeceived . entering into sweedland at a place called landsort , wee sailed forwards amongst high rocks having no other prospect from land but mountains till wee came to dollers , which is about four swedish , that is , twenty four english miles from stockholm , the capitall citie of the kingdome : upon my comeing a shore i confess i was a litle surprised to see the poverty of the people ; and the litle wooden houses they lived in , not unlike soldiers huts in a leaguer ; but much more , when i discovered litle else in the countrey but mountanous rocks and standing lakes of water . the reader will excuse mee , i hope , if i remarke not all that i may have taken notice of in this countrey , seing by what i have already written , he may perceive that my designe is rather to observe the manner of the inhabitants living , then to give a full description of every thing that may be seen in the countrey they live in . however i shall say somewhat of that too , having premised once for all that the ordinary people are wretchedly poor ; yet not so much occasioned by the publick taxes , as the barrenness of their countrey , and the oppression of the nobles their landlords , and immediate superiours , who till the present king put a stop to their violences , tyrannically domineered over the lives and fortunes of the poor peasants . from dollers i took waggon to stockholm , changing horses three times by the way , by reason of the badness of the rode , on all hands environed with rocks , that hardly open so much as here and there to leave a shred of plain ground . at two miles distance upon that rode the citie of stockholme looks great ; becaus of the kings palace , the houses of noblemen , and some churches which are seated upon rocks ; and indeed , the whole citie and suburbs stand upon rocks , unless it be some few houses built upon ground gained from the rivers that run throw the town . stockholme has its name from a stock or logg of wood which three brothers threw into the water five miles above the city , making a vow that where ever that stock should stop , they would build a castle to dwell in . the stock stopt at the holme or rock where the palace of the king now stands ; and the brothers to be as good as their word , there built their castle , which invited others to doe the like ; so that in process of time the other rocks or holmes were covered with buildings which at length became the capital citie of the kingdome . it is now embellished with a great many stately houses , and much emproved from what it was 400 yeares agoe , as indeed , most cities are ; for the stathouse then built , is so contemtible and low that in holland or england , it would not be suffered to stand to disgrace the nation . the council chamber where the burgemaster and raedt sit , is two rooms cast into one not above nine foot high ; and the two rooms where the sheriffs and the erve colledge ( which is a judicature like to the doctors commons in england ) sit are not above eight foot and a halfe high . the kings palace is a large square of stone building , in some places very high , but an old and irregular fabrick , without a sufficient quantitie of ground about it for gardens and walks . it was anciently surrounded with water ; but some yeares since part of it was filled up to make a way from the castlegate down into the old town . in this palace there are large rooms ; but the lodgings of the king , queen and royall familie are three pair of stairs high , the rooms in the first and second story 's being destin'd for the senat chamber and other courts of judicature . the kings library is four pair of stairs high , being a room about fourty six foot square , with a closet adjoyning to it not half the dimensions . when i considered the appartments and furniture of this court , i began to think that the french author wrote truth , who in his remarks upon swedland sayes , that when queen christina resigned the crown to carolus gustaphus the father of this present king , she disposed of the best of the furniture of the court , and gave away a large share of the crown lands to her favorites ; in so much that the king considering the poor condition she had left the kingdome in , and seeing the court so meanely furnished , said that had he know'n before he accepted the crown , what then he did , he would have taken other measures . there are many other stately palaces in stockholme belonging to the nobilitie ; but many of them for want of repairs , and not being inhabited run to ruine ; severall of the nobles who lived in them formerly , having lost the estates that maintained their ancient splendour , as wee shall see hereafter , being retired unto a countrey life . there are also some other magnificent structures begun , but not finished , as that stately building intended for a parliament house for the nobles , and two or three churches : but what i most wonder at is the vault wherein the late king lies buried , is not as yet covered but with boards , for it is to he observed that the kings of sweeden have no tombs and monuments as in england and other countries ; but are put into copper coffins with inscriptions on them , and placed one by another in vaults adjoyning to the gray friers church . these vaults are about eight in number , having turets over them with vains of copper gilt , carved into the ciphers of the severall kings who give them their names by being the first that are interred in them . the vault of the late king is not yet finished , no more then the fabricks above mentioned , which perhaps may be imputed to the late troubles of swedland . the number of the inhabitants of stockholme are also much decreased within these few yeares , partly by reason of the removal of the court of admiraltie and the kings ships from that citie to charles-crown , a new haven lately made about 200 english miles from thence , which hath draw'n many families belonging to the fleet and admiralitie from stockholme to live there : and partly becaus many of the nobilitie , gentry and those that depended on them , are , as i said before , withdraw'n from stockholme to a retired life in the countrey . nevertheless the ordinary sort of bourghers who still remain are extreamly poor ; seing the women are fain to worke like horses , drawing carts , and as labourers in england , serving masons and bricklayers with stone , bricks and mortar , and unloading vessells that bring those materials ; some of the poor creatures in the summertime toyling in their smocks without either shoes or stockings . they performe also the part of watermen , and for a small matter will row passengers 40 miles or more if they please . the court here is very thin and silent , the king living frugally & seldome dining in publick . he eats commonly with the two queens his mother and consort , who is a virtuous princess sister to the king of denmark . she is the mother of five children , three sons and two daughters , with whom she spends most of her time in retirement . the king is a goodly prince whom god hath blessed and endowed with accomplishments far beyond what might have been expected from his education , wherein he was extreamly abused , being taught litle more than his mother tongue . he is gracious , just and valiant , constant at his devotion , and utterly averse from all kind of debauchery , and the unfashionable vanities of other courts in playes , and danceing . his sports are hunting and exerciseing of his guards , and he rarely appeares publickly or gives audience to strangers , which is imputed to his sense of the neglect of his education . he is a prince that hath had a very hard beginning in the world , which hath many times proved fortunate to great men ; and indeed , if wee consider all the circumstances of his early misfortunes , how he was slighted and neglected by his nobles who would hardly vouchsase to pay him a visit when he was among them in the countrey , or to doe him homage for the lands they held of the crown ; and how by the pernicious councels of the french and the weakeness or treachery of his governours he was misled into a war that almost cost him his crown , having lost the best of his territories in germany and schonen , and most of his forces both by sea and land : if i say , these things be considered , it will probably appeare that hardly any prince before him hath in a shorter time or more fully setled the authority and prerogative of the crown , then he hath done in sweden ; for which he stands no wayes obliged to france , as he was for the restauration of what he lost during the war. he is now as absolute as the french king , and makes edicts which have the force of laws with out the concurrence of the estates of the kingdome . he hath erected two iudicatures the one called the colledge of reduction , and the other of inspections ; the first of which hath put his majesty in possession again of all lands alienated from the crown , and the other called to account all persons even the heires and executors of those who had cheated the crown , and made them refound what they or their predeceslors had appropriated to their own use of the publick revenue . these two necessary constitutions , as they have reduced many great families to a pinch , who formerly lived splendidly upon the crown lands and revenues , and obliged them to live at home upon their ancient and private patrimonie in the countrey , which is one great cause that the court of sweden is at present so unfrequented ; so have they enabled his majestie , without burdening of his subjects , to support the charges of the government , and to maintain 64000 men in pay . the truth is his other revenues are but small , seing queen christina enjoys the best of his territories , as her allowance , and that what arises from the copper and iron mines , one silver mine , the pitch and tar , the customes and excise amounts to no extraordinary summ of money , & the land tax in so barren a countrey scarcely deserving to be named . the customes and excise , i confess , are very high , and the rigorous manner of exacting them pernicious to trade ; as for instance . if a ship come to stockholme from london with a hundred severall sorts of goods , and those goods assigned to fifty several men more or less ; if any of those fifty doe not pay the custome of what belongs to him , though it be for a barrel of beer , the ship shall not be unladen , nor no man have his goods out , though he hath fully payed the customes for them , till this last man hath payed his . there are severall other silly customes in swedland that discourages men from tradeing there ; as if any stranger die there , a third of his estate must goe to the city or town where he traded . no forreigne merchant in stockholm can travell into any countrey where there is a faire without a passport : and at present seing there is no treaty of trade betwixt england and sweden , though the english bring as considerable a trade to that kingdome , as any other countrey whatsoever , yet they are very unkindly used by the officers of the custome house ; whereas the dutch , in lubeck , and other cities have new and greater priviledges allowed them . nor would i counsel an englishman to goe to law with a swedish burgher in sweden , especially if he be a whiggish scot who hath got his freedome in stockholme , for those are a kind of skrapers , whom i have observed to be more inveterate against the english then the native sweeds . of all the swedish army of 64000 men , the king keeps but 12 companies of 200 men a peece , with some few horse guards in stockholme , who are not upon duty as sentinels at the court gates , as at the courts of other princes . the rest are dispersed into quarters and garrisons upon the fronteers which are so far distant in that large compass of land which his territories take up , that it would require a hard and tedious worck to bring them together to a generall muster . they are however kept under very strick discipline , and those that lye neare often viewed by the king. they have od sorts of punishments for the souldiers and officers of all degrees : for example if a serjeant or corporall be drunk or negligent on duty , they are put into armour , and with three muskets tied under each arm , made to walke two hours before the court of guard : yet for all the severitie of discipline used against the soldiers , they commit many abuses in the night time , robbing and sometimes killing men upon the streets in stockholme , where they have no lights nor guards as in coppenhaguen . informer times there have been at one time thirty five collonels besides generall officers in the swedish army all the subjects of the king of great britain , but at present there are few or none , unless it be the sons of some scottish officers deceased ; nor did i ever see an englishman in the kings guards horse or foot but one , and the son of sr. eduard wood , who hath since quitted the service . the king hath exceedingly won the hearts of the common people , not onely by exempting them from the tyrannical jurisdiction of the nobilitie and gentry , who formerly would by their own private authority punish and put to death the peasants at their pleasure ; which makes the countries very willing to quarter the kings soldiers , but by his exactness in punishing duels , murder and robberies . perjury is death here also as in holland : which makes the magistrates in some ports of this kings territories enjoyne strange kinds of oaths to deter men from being forsworn . as for instance , in some places , the witness is set , with a staff in his hand , upon some peeble stones and charcoale , where he is to imprecate and pray , that if what he sweareth be not true , his land may become as barren as those stones , and his substance be consumed to ashes like the coals he stands on , which as soon as he steps down are set on fire . this manner of swearing so terrifies the people , that they commonly tremble when they come to take their oath . the religion of the dominions of the king of sweden , as of those of the king of denmark , and of other princes and states whom wee have named is lutheran ; who are more rigid to roman catholicks and calvinists than the protestanrs of germany . there is no tolleration allowed here to calvinist ministers ; and they take an effectuall course to keep the countrey clear of priests and jesuits , by guelding them whether they be young or old . in commemoration of the great losses and desolation instained in the late war , the swedes strictly keep four fasting days in the months of april , may , june and july ; on which days all men are prohibited by authority to kindle fire in their houses , or to eat till after evening service is don , which in the winter time could not be endured . they delight much in singing in their churches , which they constantly performe twice every day , morning and evening . in their maryings , christenings and buryings they are so prodigally extravagant , that if all three happen in one yeare to a man of a competent estate , it is enough to breake him , the clergy of sweden are neither so rich nor learned as those of germany , wanting both the opportunities of study , and of conversing with learned men , that those of other countreys enjoy ; though there be some learned men amongst them . a bishoprick in sweden is no great benefice , if compared with some personages in england ; for the archbishop and metropolitan hath not above 400 l. per ann . and some of the rest are not worth above 150 or 200 l. a yeare . the inferiour clergy are not so regular in their lives and conversation in the countries distant from stockholme , as they are neare the court , and the reason is , partly becaus they entertain travellers that pass the countrey , there being no ins in most places for the accommodation of persons of any qualitie , and so are obliged to drink with their guests : and partly becaus at buryings and christenings , where there is commonly high drinking , the pape or parson is master of the ceremonies ; and here give mee leave , to tell a short story of one of them . a pape comeing to christen a child in a church , and finding a scottish man to be godfather , was so transported either with zeal or his cups , that when he came to exorcise the child which is a rite used in their office of administring that sacrament , he neglected the forme prescribed by the liturgie , and in an extemporary prayer begg'd that the devill might depart out of the child , and enter into that scottish heretick ; for so they call the presbyterians of that nation . the prayer of the pape so incensed the scot that he vowed revenge , and watched the pape with a good cudgell next day as he crossed the church yard , where he beat him and left him all in blood lying on the ground and crying out murder . for this fact the scot was had before the justice , who asking him how he durst be so bold as to lay his profane hands upon the man of god , he , who knew very well what use to make of the devill he had got , foaming at the mouth and cunningly acting the demoniack , made answer that the pape might thank himself for what he had met with ; for since he had conjured the devill into him he spared no body , neither wife nor children , nor would he spare the justice himself , and with that sell a mangling and tearing the magistrat , that he was fain to betake himself to his heeles , crying out o! the devill , save mee ; and so the scot marched home no man daring to lay hold on him , for fear of being torn to peeces by the devill . but the justice recollecting himself sent for the pape , told him that the scot was a cunning rogue , and bid him goe home , get a plaister for his head and be silent ; least if the matter came to the bishops ears , he might be censured for goeing against the rubrick of the liturgie . the famous universitie where their clergy are bred is vpsall eight swedish miles from stockholme . there are commonly 150 or 200 students there , but no endowed colledges as in other counrries . the library is so meane and contemptible that the libraries of many grammar schools and of privat men in england or holland are far better stored with books then it is . upon viewing of it , and that of the kings palace , i called to mind the saying of a french man , upon the like occasion ; that swedland came behind france and england in the knowledge of men and things at least 800 yeares ; yet some swedes have been so conceited of the antiquity of their countrey , as to bragg that paradice was seated in sweden , that the countrey was turned into such heaps of rocks for the rebellion of our first parents , and that adam and eve had cain and abel in a countrey three swedish miles distant from vpsall . a french man standing by and hearing this romantick story , as i was told , fitted him with the like , telling him that when the world was made in six days , at the end of the creation all the rubbish that remained was throw'n together into a corner , which made up sweden and norway . and indeed the french seeme to have no great likeing to the countrey , what ever kindness they may have for the people , for a french ambassadour , as an author of that countrey relates , being by order of queen christina treated in a countrey house 4 swedish miles from stockholme , and upon the rode goeing and comeing , with all the varieties and pleasures that the countrey could affoard , on purpose to make him have a good opinion of the same ; made answere to the queen ( who asked him upon his return what he thought of sweden ) that were he master of the whole countrey , he would presently sell it & buy a farme in france or england ; which , under favour , i think was a litle tart and sawcy . having stayed a considerable time in swedland , and most part at stockholme , i set out from thence to goe to elsenbourg by land , and went a litle out of my way to see a small city called eubrone famous for a coat of arms which it got in this manner . a certain masculine queen of denmark who had conquered a great part of sweden , comeing to this city , asked the magistrates , what was the arms of their city ; who having told her that they had none , she plucked up her coats and squatting upon the snow , bid them take the marke she left there for their arms : it 's pity she did not give them a suitable motto to it also . what that figure is called in blazonerie i know not , but to this day the city uses it in their armes , and for marking their commodities . this queen came purposely into sweden to pay a visit to a brave woman that opposed a king of swedland , who in a time of famine would have put to death all the men and women in his countrey above sixty years of age . the countrey all the way i travelled in swedland is much of the same qualitie of the land about stockholme , untill i came neare the province of schonen which is called the store house and kitchin of sweden , where the countrey is far better . it was formerly very dangerous to travell in this province of schonen , becaus of the snaphances who were a kind of bloody robbers , now utterly destroyed by the king ; so that it is safe enough travelling there . entering into schonen i saw twenty nine of these rogues upon wheeles , and elsewhere in the countrey , ten and twenty at severall places . the king used great severitie in destroying of them ; some he caused to be broken upon the wheele , others spceted in at the fundament and out at the shoulders , many had the flesh pinched off of there breasts , and so were fastened to stakes till they died , and others again had their noses and both hands cut off , and being seared with a hot iron were let goe to acquaint their camerades how they had been served . the king is very severe against highway-men and duellers . in above a hundred miles travelling , wee found not a house where there was either french wine or brandie , which made mee tell a swede of our company who was travelling to denmark , that i would undertake to shew any man 500 houses wherein a traveller might have wine and other good accommodation in the space of an hundred miles upon any rode from london . there are severall small towns and fertile land in this countrey of schonen , lying upon the sound ; at the narrowest part whereof lies elsenbourg burnt down by the danes in the last war : here i crost over to elsenore , the passage being but a league broad . the king of denmark has a cas●le at elsenore which commands the narrow passage of the sound , where all ships that enter into or come out of the baltick sea must pay toll . having visited this cas●le and stai'd about a fortnight with the english consul , and s● . john paul late resident at the court of swedland , i went to the danish court at coppenhaguen . copenhaguen is the capitall city of zeeland , jutland or denmark and place of residence of the king it stands on a flat , encompassed with a pleasant and delightfull countrey much resembling england . the streets of the city are kept very neat and cleane , with lights in the night time for the convenience and safetie of those who are then abroad ; a custome not as yet introduced into stockholme where it is dangerous to be abroad when it is dark . the kings men of war lye here very conveniently , being orderly ranged betwixt booms after the manner of amsterdam , and neare the admiralty house , which is a large pile of building well furnished with stores and magazines , secured by a citadell , that not onely commands the city , but also the haven , and entrey into it . the court of denmark is splendid , and makes a far greater figure in the world then that of sweden , tho not many yeares agoe in the time of carolus gustaphus the father of the present king of swedland , it was almost reduced to its last , when the walls of copenhagen saved that crown and kingdome . that siege was famous , caried on with great vigour by the swede , and as bravely maintained by the danes : the monuments whereof are to be seen in the canon bullets gilt that still remain in the walls of some houses and in the steeple of the great church of the town . the royall palace in copenhaguen is but small and a very ancient building , but his majesties house fredenburg is a stately fabrick of modern architecture , and very richly furnished . denmark is at present a flourishing kingdome and the king who hath now made it hereditary , surpasses most of his predecessours in power and wealth : he hath much enlarged his dominions , aswell as authority , and by his personall and royall virtues , no less then the eminent qualities of a great many able ministers of state , he hath gained the universall love of his subjects , and the esteeme of all forreigne princes and states . the court it much frequented every day , but especially on sundays where about eleven of the clock in the morning , the nobility , forreigne ministers , and officers of the army assemble and make a glorious appeareance . there one may see many knights of the order of the elephant of malto but i never saw any order of the like nature as that of sweden , that king rarely appearing in his george and garter , but on days of publick audience i have observed at one time above 150 coaches attending at the court of denmark , which are ten times more than ever i saw together at that of sweden . the king is affable and of easy access to strangers , seen often abroad by his subjects in his gardens and stables , which are very large and well furnished with all sorts of horses . he is a great lover of english horses and dogs , and delights much in hunting , as his eldest son the prince with his brothers doe in cockfighting ; in so much that the english merchants can not make a more acceptable present to those princes , then of english game-cocks . the standing forces of denmark are well disciplined men , and commanded by good officers both natives and strangers , both french and scots , as major general duncan , and major general veld●n both scottishmen , whom i saw at copenhaguen . the soldiers , aswell as courtiers are quartered upon the citizens , a custome which is likewise practised in sweden , and tho somewhat uneasy , yet not repined at by the people who by the care and good government of the king find trade much advanced . for his majestie by encouraging strangers of all religions to live in his dominions , and allowing the french and dutch calvinists , to have publick churches , hath brought many tradeing families to coppenhaguen , and by the measure he hath taken for settling trade in prohibiting the importation of forreigne manufactures , and reforming and new modelling the east and west india companies , hath much encreased commerce and thereby the wealth of his subjects ; so that notwithstanding the new taxes imposed upon all coaches , waggons , ploughs , and all reall and personall estates , which amount to considerable summs of money , the people live very well and contented . there are commonly about eight thousand men in garison in coppenhaguen , and his majesties regiment of foot guards who are all cloathed in red , with cloaks to keep them warm in the winter time , is a very handsome body of men , and with the horse guards who are bravely mounted , and have their granadeers and hoboyes , make a very fine shew . his majestie hath caused severall new fortifications to be built upon the elb , and other rivers , and hath now in his possession that strong castle called hilgueland , at present commanded by a scottishman . the queen of denmark is a most virtuous princess , sister to the present landgrave of hessel-cassel , and in persuasion a calvinist , having a chappell allowed her within the court ; though the publick religion of the king and kingdome be lutheran . the clergie here are learned , many of them having studied at oxford and cambridge where they learnt the english language , and amongst the bishops there is one doctor king the son of a scottishman . but seing it is my designe rather to observe the condition of the people , then to be punctuall in describing all the rarities that are remarkeable in the countries i have been in , i shall conclude what i have to say of denmark , by acquainting the reader that the people of that countrey live far better then the swedes , and aswell as most of their adjoyning neighbours ; and that there are severall places , both there and in norway which have the names of english towns , as arundale , totness , london &c. when i fist began to write this treatise , i had some thoughts of making observations upon the severall governments of other states and dominions , where i had travelled some years before i was in the countries i have been speaking of , as of the rest of germany , hungary , switzerland , italy and france ; but that was a subject so large , and the usefulness of it to my present designe so inconsiderable , that by doeing so , i found i could neither satisfie the curious , by adding any thing materiall to those many who have already obliged the publick by the remarks of their travells in those places ; or make my discontented countrey men more averse then they are already from removing into those countries , where i think few of them will chuse to transport themselves for the sake of liberty and propertie , tho england were even worse , than they themselves fancy it can be . all that remains to be done then , is to conclude this treatise with an obvious and popular remark , that those countries where cities are greatest and most frequented by voluntary inhabitants , are alwayes the best to live in ; and by comparing the city of london with all other cities of europe , and demonstrating by the surveys i have made ( which i think will hardly be contradicted or confuted , ) that of all the capitall cities of europe it is the biggest and most populous , & so prove consequentially that england , for the generality of people , is the best countrey in the world especially for its natives to live in . now this being an observation , ( for what i know ) not hitherto made good by induction and instance , ( as i intend to doe it ) i hope it will please the reader as much , as if i gave him a particular account of other countreys and governments , and leave it to his own reflexion to state the comparison . though london within the walls cannot vie for bigness with many cities of europe ; yet take the city and suburbs together , according as it hath been surveyed by mr. morgan , in breadth from st. georges church in southwarke to shore ditch , and in length from limehouse to petty france in westminster and it is in a vast proportion larger in compass of ground and number of houses then any city whatsoever in europe . this i shall demonstrate first by compareing it with some cities of holland , and then with the most considerable cities of the other countries of europe , which i shall set down in an alphabeticall order with the number of the houses they severally contain . when london and suburbs was surveyed some years agoe by mr. morgan , there were reckoned to be in it 84000 houses besides hospitalls , almeshouses , and other buildings that payed no chimney money to the king : now if those were added , and the vast number of new houses that have been built since that survey , upon modest computation london may be reckoned to countain 100000 houses ; i know the french doe vapour and would perswade the world that paris is much bigger then london . and the hollanders will scarce believe that london hath more houses then the 18 cittyes in holland that have voyces in the states , for say they amsterdam stands upon a 1000 morgens land , and london stands but upon 1800 ; to both which i answer , that it is very true that paris takes up a great spot of ground , but then you must consider , that in paris there are severall hundreds of monasteries , churches , coledges , and cloysters , some of them haveing large gardens , and that in paris there are 7500 palaces and ports for coaches , which have likewise great gardens , whereas london is very thick built , and in the citty the houses have scarce a yard big enough to sett a pump , or house of conveniency in ; but the weekely bills of mortality will decide this question and plainely give it to london , and so doth mons : la cour , and sir. william pette in his last essayes dedicated lately to our king , makeing it appeare that london is bigger then paris , rhoan , and rochell altogether ; and as for amflerdam i doe appeale to all knowing men that have seen it , that although it be true that it stands upon 1000 morgens land ; yet there is not above 400 morgens built , and this i prove thus , that the large gardens , on the heeregraft , kysersgraft , and princegraft , and the burgwalls of amsterdam take up more then a third part of the citty , then reckon the bastions , and the space of ground betweene the wall , and the houses , and all the ground unbuilt from the vtricks-port , to the wesoper-port , muyer-port , and so to the seaside , and you will find it to be near 300 morgens land : there are 2 parishes in the suburbs of london , viz stepney , and st. martins in the feilds , ( the later being so big that the last parlement divided it into 4 parishes , ) either of them have more houses then rotterdam , or harlem , and there are severall other great parishes as st. margrets westminster , st. giles in the feilds , toolyes , and st. mary overs , the which if they stood apart in the country would make great cittyes , wee reckon in london and the suburbs thereof to be at least 130 parishes , which containe 100000 houses , now if you reckon 8 persons to everie house then there are neare 800000 soules in london , but there are some that say there is a million of soules in it ; i shall now set downe the cittyes alphabetically and their number of houses as they were given to me not only from the surveyours and citty carpenters , but from the bookes of the herthmoney , and bookes of the verpoundings , where such taxes are payd ; and first i shall begin with the 18 cittyes that have voyces in the states of holland . cittyes houses . dort . 5500 harlem . 7250 delph . 2300 leyden . 13800 amsterdam . 25460 rotterdam . 8400 tergoe . 3540 gorcom . 2460 schiedam . 1550 brill . 1250 schonehoven . 2200 alckmaar . 1540 horn. 3400 enckhuysen . 5200 edam . 2000 monekendam . 1500 medenblick . 850 purmerent . 709 cittyes in germany and in the 17 provinces . cittyes houses . antwerp . 18550 aix la chapell . 2250 arford . 8440 berlin . 5200 bonn. 410 bresack . 1200 breme . 9200 breda . 3420 bolduke . 6240 bergen op zome . 2120 brussels . 19200 cologne 12000 cleave . 640 coblins . 420 castells . 1520 dresden . 6420 disseldorpe . 620 dunkirk . 2440 emden . 2400 francford . 10200 groningen . 8400 guant . 18200 harford , 1420 hanover . 1850 heidelberg . 7520 hamburg . 12500 lubeck , 6500 louain . 8420 lypsick . 3240 lunenburg , 3100 cittyes in france . cittyes houses . avinion . 12400 amiens . 5200 bullion . 1400 bomont . 800 burdeaux . 8420 calis . 1324 cane . 2147 chalon . 1850 diepe . 1920 lyons 16840 montruill . 820 monpiller . 5240 marsellis . 9100 nantes . 4420 nemes . 3120 orlians . 10200 orange . 354 paris . 72400 rochell . 4200 roan . 11200 tolonze . 13200 valance . 458 lewardin . 5860 mayance . 2420 malin . 8000 middelburg . 6200 madelburg . 1120 mastricht . 5600 munster . 1240 nurenberg . 18240 osenburg . 2200 osburg . 8420 oldenburg . 620 praag . 18640 passaw . 560 ratisbone . 6540 strasburg . 8560 spire . 540 stockholme . 6480 solsburg . 12460 vtrick ▪ 8240 viana . 4520 vean . 340 wormes . 1200 westburg . 2420 cittyes in italy . cittyes houses . bolonie . 12400 florance . 8520 janua . 17200 luca. 1650 legorne . 3560 milan . 18500 napells . 17840 pesa . 2290 padua . 8550 rome . 31200 sena . 1820 venetia . 24870 veterba . 620 valentia . 1520 cittyes in savoy . cittyes houses . chambray . 852 salé . 320 turin . 8540 nece . 500 st. john de latteran . 420 remes . 340 moloy . 270 cittyes in switserland . cittyes houses . berne . 4270 ball. 5120 geneve . 4540 losana 2100 solure . 500 zurick 6200 morge . 210 vina . 320 st. morrice . 300 cittyes in denmark . cittyes houses . copenhagen . 8220 elsenore .   cittyes in sweedland . cittyes houses . northoanen . 600 stockholme , 7500 vpsall . 8200 finis . the true travels, adventures, and observations of captaine iohn smith, in europe, asia, affrica, and america, from anno domini 1593. to 1629 his accidents and sea-fights in the straights; his service and stratagems of warre in hungaria, transilvania, wallachia, and moldavia, against the turks, and tartars ... after how he was taken prisoner by the turks, sold for a slave ... and escaped ... together with a continuation of his generall history of virginia, summer-iles, new england, and their proceedings, since 1624. to this present 1629; as also of the new plantations of the great river of the amazons, the iles of st. christopher, mevis, and barbados in the west indies. all written by actuall authours, whose names you shall finde along the history. smith, john, 1580-1631. 1630 approx. 221 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 40 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a12471 stc 22796 estc s111906 99847166 99847166 12189 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a12471) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 12189) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 2343:2b, 939:15) the true travels, adventures, and observations of captaine iohn smith, in europe, asia, affrica, and america, from anno domini 1593. to 1629 his accidents and sea-fights in the straights; his service and stratagems of warre in hungaria, transilvania, wallachia, and moldavia, against the turks, and tartars ... after how he was taken prisoner by the turks, sold for a slave ... and escaped ... together with a continuation of his generall history of virginia, summer-iles, new england, and their proceedings, since 1624. to this present 1629; as also of the new plantations of the great river of the amazons, the iles of st. christopher, mevis, and barbados in the west indies. all written by actuall authours, whose names you shall finde along the history. smith, john, 1580-1631. cecil, thomas, fl. 1630, engraver. [12], 60 p., [1] folded plate : b ill., coats of arms. ill. (metal cut), coat of arms. printed by i[ohn] h[aviland] for thomas slater, and are to bee sold [by michael sparke] at the blew bible in greene arbour, london : 1630. printer's and publisher's names from stc. with a coat of arms on title page verso signed "t cecill scul". a variant has this illustration printed on a separate leaf. the plate has imprint: london printed by james reeue. headand taipieces, initials. signatures: a6, b-g4, h6. reproductions of the originals in: henry e. huntington library and art gallery (reel 939:15) and folger shakespeare library (reel 2343:2b). bound and filmed with, at reel 2343:2b: stc (2nd ed.) 22790c.5, smith, j. the generall historie of virginia [etc.]. london, 1631. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to 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characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels -early works to 1800. 2005-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-06 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-07 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2005-07 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the true travels , adventvres , and observations of captaine iohn smith , in europe , asia , affrica , and america , from anno domini 1593. to 1629. his accidents and sea-fights in the straights ; his service and stratagems of warre in hungaria , transilvania , wallachia , and moldavia , against the turks , and tartars ; his three single combats betwixt the christian armie and the turkes . after how he was taken prisoner by the turks , sold for a slave , sent into tartaria ; his description of the tartars , their strange manners and customes of religions , diets , buildings , warres , feasts , ceremonies , and living ; how hee slew the bashaw of nalbrits in cambia , and escaped from the turkes and tartars . together with a continuation of his generall history of virginia , summer-iles , new england , and their proceedings , since 1624. to this present 1629 ; as also of the new plantations of the great river of the amazons , the iles of st. christopher , mevis , and barbados in the west indies . all written by actuall authours , whose names you shall finde along the history . london , printed by j. h. for thomas slater , and are to bee sold at the blew bible in greene arbour . 1630. to the right honovrable , william earle of pembroke , lord steward of his majesties most honourable houshold . robert earle of lindsey , great chamberlaine of england . henrie lord hunsdon , vicount rochford , earle of dover . and all your honourable friends and well-willers . my lords : sir robert cotton , that most learned treasurer of antiquitie , having by perusall of my generall historie , and others , found that i had likewise undergone divers other as hard hazards in the other parts of the world , requested me to fix the whole course of my passages in a booke by it selfe , whose noble desire i could not but in part satisfie ; the rather , because they have acted my fatall tragedies upon the stage , and racked my relations at their pleasure . to prevent therefore all future misprisions , i have compiled this true discourse . envie hath taxed me to have writ too much , and done too little ; but that such should know , how little i esteeme them , i have writ this , more for the satisfaction of my friends , and all generous and well disposed readers : to speake only of my selfe were intolerable ingratitude ; because , having had so many co-partners with me ; i cannot make a monument for my selfe , and leave them unburied in the fields , whose lives begot me the title of a souldier ; for as they were companions with me in my dangers , so shall they be partakers with me in this tombe . for my sea grammar ( caused to bee printed by my worthy friend , sir samuel saltonstall ) hath found such good entertainment abroad , that i have beene importuned by many noble persons , to let this also passe the presse . many of the most eminent warriers , and others , what their swords did , their penns writ : though i bee never so much their inferiour , yet i hold it no great errour , to follow good examples ; nor repine at them , will doe the like . and now my most honourable good lords , i know not to whom i may better present it , than to your lordships , whose friendships , as i conceive , are as much to each others , as my duty is to you all ; and because you are acquainted both with my endevours , and writings , i doubt not , but your honours will as well accept of this , as of the rest , and patronize it under the shadow of your most noble vertues , which i am ever bound in all duty to reverence , and under which i hope to have shelter , against all stormes that dare threaten . your honours to be commanded , iohn smith . the contents of the severall chapters . chap. i. his birth ; apprentiship ; going into france ; his beginning with ten shillings and three pence , his service in netherlands ; his bad passage into scotland ; his returne to willoughby ; and how he lived in the woods . page 1. chap. 2. the notable villany of foure french gallants , and his revenge ; smith throwne over-boord , captaine la roche of saint malo releeves him . 3. chap. 3. a desperate sea-sight in the straights ; his passage to rome , naples , and the view of italy . 5. chap. 4. the siege of olumpagh ; an excellent stratagem by smith ; another not much worse . 6. chap. 5. the siege of stowlle-wesenburg ; the effects of smiths fire-workers ; a worthy exploit of the earle rosworme ; earle meldritch takes the bashaw prisoner . 8. chap. 6. a brave encounter of the turks armie with the christians ; duke mercury overthroweth assan bashaw ; he divides the christian armie ; his noblenesse and death . 9. chap. 7. the unhappy siege of caniza ; earle meldritch serveth prince sigismundus ; prince moyses besiegeth regall ; smiths three single combats . 11. chap. 8. georgio busca an albane his ingratitude to prince sigismundus ; prince moyses his lieutenant , is overthrowne by busca , generall for the emperour rodulphus ; smiths patent from sigismundus , and reward . 14. chap. 9. sigismundus sends ambassadours unto the emperour ; the conditions re-assured ; he yeeldeth up all to busca , and returneth to prague . 18. chap. 10. the battell of rottenton ; a pretty stratagem of fire-workes by smith . 20. chap. 11. the names of the english that were slaine in the battle of rottenton ; and how captaine smith was taken prisoner ; and sold for a slave . 21. chap. 12. how captaine smith was sent prisoner thorow the blacke and dissabacca sea in tartaria ; the description of those seas , and his usage . 23. chap. 13. the turks diet ; the slaves diet ; the attire of the tartars ; and manner of warres and religions , &c. 24. chap. 14. the description of the crym-tartars ; their houses and carts ; their idolatry in their lodgings . 26. chap. 15. their feasts ; common diet ; princes estate ; buildings ; lawes ; slaves ; entertainment of ambassadours . 27. chap. 16. how be levieth an armie ; their armes and provision ; how he divideth the spoile ; and his service to the great turke . 29. chap. 17. how captaine smith escaped his captivity ; slew the bashaw of nalbrits in cambia ; his passage to russia , transilvania , and the middest of europe to affrica . 31. chap. 18. the observations of captaine smith ; mr. henry archer , and others in barbary . 34. chap. 19. the strange discoveries and observations of the portugals in affrica . 37. chap. 20. a brave sea-fight betwixt two spanish men of warre , and captaine merham , with smith . 39. chap. 21. the continuation of the generall history of virginia ; the summer iles ; and new england ; with their present estate from 1624. to this present 1629. 41. chap. 22. the proceedings and present estate of the summer iles , from an. dom. 1624. to this present 1629. 45. chap. 23. the proceedings and present estate of new england , since 1624. to this present 1629. 46. chap. 24. a briefe discourse of divers voyages made unto the goodly country of guiana , and the great river of the amazons ; relating also the present plantation there . 48. chap. 25. the beginning and proceedings of the new plantation of st. christopher by captaine warner . 51. chap. 26. the first planting of the barbados . 55. chap. 27. the first plantation of the i le of mevis . 56. chap. 28. the bad life , qualities and conditions of pyrats ; and how they taught the turks and moores to become men of warre . 58. to my worthy friend , captaine iohn smith . two greatest shires of england did thee beare , renowned yorkshire , gaunt-stild lancashire ; but what 's all this ? even earth , sea , heaven above , callamata's love , deare pocahontas , madam shano●'s too , who did what love with modesty could doe : record thy worth , thy birth , which as i live , even in thy reading such choice solace give , as i could wish ( such wishes would doe well ) many such smiths in this our israel . r. brathwait . to my noble brother and friend , captaine iohn smith . thou hast a course so full of honour runne , envy may snarle , as dogges against the sunne may barke , not bite : for what deservedly with thy lifes danger , valour , pollicy , quaint warlike stratagems , abillity and judgement , thou hast got , fame sets so high detraction cannot reach : thy worth shall stand a patterne to succeeding ages , and cloth'd in thy owne lines , ever shall adde grace , vnto thy native country and thy race ; and when dissolv'd , laid in thy mothers wombe ; these , caesar-like , smiths epitaph and tombe . anthony fireby . to his valiant and deserving friend , captaine iohn smith . mongst frenchmen , spanyards , hungars , tartars , turks , and wilde virginians too , this tells thy works : now some will aske , what benefit ? what gaine ? is added to thy store for all this paine ? th' art then content to say , content is all , th' ast got content for perils , paine and thrall ; t is lost to looke for more : for few men now regard wit , learning , valour ; but allow the quintessence of praise to him that can number his owne got gold , and riches , than th' art valiant , learned , wise ; pauls counsell will , admire thy merits , magnifie thy skill . the last of thine to which i set my hand was a sea grammar ; this by sea and land , serves us for imitation : i know none , that like thy selfe hast come , and runne , and gone , to such praise-worthy actions : bee 't approu'd , th' ast well deserv'd of best men to be lou'd : if france , or spaine , or any forren soile could claime thee theirs , for these thy paines and toile , th'adst got reward and honour : now adayes , what our owne natives doe , we seldome praise . good men will yeeld thee praise ; then sleight the rest ; t is best praise-worthy to have pleas'd the best . tuissimus ed. iorden . to my worthy friend , captaine iohn smith . deare noble captaine , who by sea and land , to act the earnest of thy name hast hand and heart ; who canst with skill designe the fort , the leaguer , harbour , city , shore , and port : whose sword and pen in bold , ruffe , martiall wise , put forth to try and beare away the prize , from caelar and blaize monluc : can it be , that men alone in gonnels fortune see thy worth advanc'd ? no wonder since our age , is now at large a bedlem or a stage . rich. iames . to his worthy friend , captaine iohn smith . thou that hast had a spirit to flie like thunder , without thy countries charge through those strange dangers ▪ doth make my muse amaz'd , and more to wonder , that thy deserts should shared be by strangers , and thou neglected ; ( ah miracle ! ) most lamented , at thy great patience thus to rest contented . for none can truly say thou didst deceive , thy souldiers , sailers , merchants , nor thy friends , but all from thee a true account receive , yet nought to thee all these thy vertues brings ; is none so noble to advance thy merit , if any be , let him thy praise inherit . ma. hawkins . to my worthy friend , captaine iohn smith . to combate with three turks in single du'le , before two armies , who the like hath done ? slaine thy great iailor ; found a common weale in faire america where ; thou hast wonne no lesse renowne amongst their savage kings , than turkish warres , that thus thy honour sings . could not those tyrants daunt thy matchlesse spirit , nor all the cruelty of envies spight : will not thy country yet reward thy merit , nor in thy acts and writings take delight ? which here in so few sheets doth more expresse than volumes great , this is thy happinesse . richard meade . to my well deserving friend , captaine iohn smith . thou hast no need to covet new applause , nor doe i thinke vaine-glory moves thee to it ; but since it is thy will ( though without cause ) to move a needlesse thing , yet will i doe it : doe it in briefe i will , or else i doe the wrong , and say , read or'e captaine smiths former song ; his first then will invite thee to his latter : reader 't is true ; i am not brib'd to flatter . edw. ingham . to his approved friend , the authour ; captaine iohn smith . the old greeke beard , counts him the onely man , who knowes strange countries , like his ithacan , and wise , as valiant , by his observation , can tell the severall customes of each nation : all these are met in thee , who will not then repute thee in the ranke of worthiest men ? to th' westerne world to former times unknowne , thy active spirit hath thy valour showne : the turks and tartars both can testifie , thee t' have deserv'd a captaines dignity ; but verse , thou need'st not to expresse thy worth , thy acts , this booke doe plainly set it forth . m. cartner . to the valourous and truly vertuous souldier , captaine iohn smith . no * faith in campe ? t is false : see pious smith hath brought stragling astraea backe , and with an all-outdaring spirit made valour stand vpheld by vertue in bold mars his land : if valourous , be praise ; how great 's his name ? whose valour joynd with vertue laud's his fame . t' was homers boast of wise laertes sonne , * well-read in men and cities : than thou none ( great smith ) of these can more true tales rehearse ; what want thy praises then , but homers verse ? jn smithum distichon . quisque suae sortis * faber : an faber exstitit unquam t● ( smithe ) fortunae verior usque suae ? i. c. c. p. to his noble friend , captaine iohn smith . to see bright honour sparkled all in gore , would steele a spirit that ne're fought before : and that 's the height of fame , when our best bloud , is nobly spilt in actions great and good : so thou hast taught the world to purchase fame , rearing thy story on a glorious frame , and such foundation doth thy merits make it , as all detractions rage shall never shake it ; thy actions crowne themselves , and thy owne pen , gives them the best and truest epiphonem . brian o rovrke . to his truly deserving friend , captaine iohn smith . can one please all ? there 's none from censure free , to looke for 't then it were absurd in thee ; it 's easie worke to censure sweetest layes , where ignorance is iudge thou'd have no praise : wisdome i know will mildly judge of all , envious hearts , tongues , pennes , are dippt in gall. proud malignant times will you now bring forth monsters at least to snarle at others worth ; o doe not so , but wisely looke on him that wrought such honours for his countries king ▪ of turks and tartars thou hast wonne the field , the great bashaw his courage thou hast quel'd ; in the hungarian warre thou 'st shewd thy arts , prou'd thy selfe a souldier true in all parts : thy armes are deckt with that thy sword hath wonne , which mallice can't out-weare till day be done : for three proud turks in single fight thou 'st slue , their heads adorne thy armes , for witnesse true ; let mars and neptune both with pregnant wit , extoll thy due deserts , he pray for it . salo . tanner . the trve travels , adventvres , and observations of captaine iohn smith , in europe , asia , africke , and america : beginning about the yeere 1593. and continued to this present 1629. chap. i. his birth ; apprentiship ; going into france ; his beginning with ten shillings and three pence ; his service in netherlands ; his bad passage into scotland ; his returne to willoughby ; and how he lived in the woods . he was borne in willoughby in lincolne-shire , and a scholler in the two free-schooles of alford and louth . his father anciently descended from the ancient smiths of crudley in lancashire ; his mother from the rickands at great heck in york-shire . his parents dying when he was about thirteene yeeres of age , left him a competent meanes , which hee not being capable to manage , little regarded ; his minde being even then set upon brave adventures , sould his satchell , bookes , and all he had , intending secretly to get to sea , but that his fathers death stayed him . but now the ●uardians of his estate more regarding it than him , he had libertie enough , though no meanes , to get beyond the sea. about the age of fifteene yeares hee was bound an apprentice to mr. thomas sendall of linne , the greatest merchant of all those parts ; but because hee would not presently send him to sea , he never saw his master in eight yeeres after . at last he ●ound meanes to attend mr. perigrine barty into france , second sonne to the right honourable perigrine , that generous lord willoughby , and famous souldier ; where comming to his brother robert , then at orleans , now earle of linsey , and lord great chamberlaine of england ; being then but little youths under tuto●age : his service being needlesse , within a moneth or six weekes they sent him backe againe to his friends ; who when he came from london they liberally gave him ( but out of his owne estate ) ten shillings to be rid of him ; such oft is the share of fatherlesse children : but those two honourable brethren gave him sufficient to returne for england . but it was the least thought of his determination , for now being freely at libertie in paris , growing acquainted with one master david hume , who making some use of his purse , gave him letters to his friends in scotland to preferre him to king iames. arriving at roane , he better bethinkes himselfe , seeing his money neere spent , downe the river he went to haver de grace , where he first began to learne the life of a souldier : peace being concluded in france , he went with captaine ioseph duxbury into the low-countries , under whose colours having served three or foure yeeres , he tooke his journey for scotland , to deliver his letters . at ancusan he imbarked himselfe for lethe , but as much danger , as shipwracke and sicknesse could endure , hee had at the holy i le in northumberland neere barwicke : ( being recovered ) into scotland he went to deliver his letters . after much kinde usage amongst those honest scots at ripweth and broxmoth , but neither money nor meanes to make him a courtier , he returned to willoughby in lincolne-shire ; where within a short time being glutted with too much company , wherein he took small delight , he retired himselfe into a little wooddie pasture , a good way from any towne , invironed with many hundred acres of other woods : here by a faire brook he built a pavillion of boughes , where only in his cloaths he lay . his studie was machiavills art of warre , and marcus aurelius ; his exercise a good horse , with his lance and ring ; his food was thought to be more of venison than any thing else ; what he wanted his man brought him . the countrey wondering at such an hermite ; his friends perswaded one seignior theadora polaloga , rider to henry earle of lincolne , an excellent horse-man , and a noble italian gentleman , to insinuate into his wooddish acquaintances , whose languages and good discourse , and exercise of riding drew him to stay with him at tattersall . long these pleasures could not content him , but hee returned againe to the low-countreyes . chap ii. the notable villany of foure french gallants , and his revenge ; smith throwne over-board ; captaine la roche of saint malo releeves him . thus when france and netherlands had taught him to ride a horse and use his armes , with such rudiments of warre , as his tender yeeres in those martiall schooles could attaine unto ; he was desirous to see more of the world , and trie his fortune against the turkes , both lamenting and repenting to have seene so many christians slaughter one another . opportunitie casting him into the company of foure french gallants well attended , faining to him the one to be a great lord , the rest his gentlemen , and that they were all devoted that way ; over-perswaded him to goe with them into france , to the dutchesse of mercury , from whom they should not only have meanes , but also letters of favour to her noble duke , then generall for the emperour rodolphus in hungary ; which he did , with such ill weather as winter affordeth , in the darke night they arrived in the broad shallow in-let of saint va●leries sur some in picardie ; his french lord knowing he had good apparell , and better furnished with money than themselves , so plotted with the master of the ship to set his and their owne trunckes a shore leaving smith aboard till the boat could returne , which was the next day after towards evening ; the reason hee alleaged was the sea went so high hee could come no sooner , and that his lord was gone to amiens where they would stay his comming ; which treacherous villany , when divers other souldiers , and passengers understood , they had like to have slaine the master , and had they knowne how , would have runne away with the ship . comming on shore hee had but one carralue , was forced to sell his cloake to pay for his passage . one of the souldiers , called curzianvere , compassionating his injury , assured him this great lord depreau was only the sonne of a lawyer of mortaigne in base britany , and his attendants cursell , la nelie , and monferrat , three young citizens , as arrant cheats as himselfe ; but if he would accompany him , he would bring him to their friends , but in the interim supplied his wants : thus travelling by deepe , codebeck , humphla , pount-demer in normandie , they came to cane in base normandie ; where both this noble curzianvere , and the great prior of the great abbey of s. steven ( where is the ruinous tombe of william the conquerour , ) and many other of his friends kindly welcomed him , and brought him to mortaigne , where hee found depreau and the rest , but to small purpose ; for mr. curzianvere was a banished man , and durst not be seene , but to his friends : yet the bruit of their cosenage occasioned the lady collumber , the baron larshan , the lord shasghe , and divers other honourable persons , to supply his wants , and with them to recreate himselfe so long as hee would : but such pleasant pleasures suited little with his poore estate , and his restlesse spirit , that could never finde content , to receive such noble favours , as he could neither deserve nor requite : but wandring from port to port to finde some man of war , spent that he had , and in a forest , neere dead with griefe and cold , a rich farmer found him by a faire fountaine under a tree : this kinde pesant releeved him againe to his content , to follow his intent . not long after , as he passed thorow a great grove of trees , betweene pounterson and dina in britaine , it was has chance to meet cursell , more miserable than himselfe : his piercing injuries had so small patience , as without any word they both drew , and in a short time cursell fell to the ground , where from an old ruinated tower the inhabitants seeing them , were satisfied , when they heard cursell confesse what had formerly passed ; and that how in the dividing that they had stolne from him , they fell by the ears amongst themselves , that were actors in it ; but for his part , he excused himselfe to be innocent as well of the one , as of the other . in regard of his hurt , smith was glad to be so rid of him , directing his course to an honourable lord , the earle of ployer , who during the warre in france , with his two brethren , viscount poomory , and baron d' mercy , who had beene brought up in england ; by him he was better refurnished than ever . when they had shewed him saint malo mount , saint michael , lambal , simbreack , lanion , and their owne faire castle of tuncadeck , gingan , and divers other places in britanny , ( and their brittish cornwaile ) taking his leave , he tooke his way to raynes , the britaines chiefe citie , and so to nantes , poyters , rochell , and burdeaux . the ●umour of the strength of bayon in biskay , caused him to see it ; and from thence tooke his way from leskar in biearne , & paw in the kingdom of navar to tolouz 〈◊〉 gascoigne , bezers and carcassone , narbone , montpellier , nimes in languedock , and thorow the country of avignion , by arles to marcellos in province , there imbarking himselfe for italy , the ship was enforced to tolonne , and putting againe to sea , ill weather so grew upon them , they anchored close aboard the shore , under the little isle of s. mary , against neice in savoy . here the inhumane provincialls , with a rabble of pilgrimes of divers nations going to rome , hourely cursing him , not only for a hugonoit , but his nation they swore were all pyrats , and so vildly railed on his dread soveraigne queene elizabeth , and that they never should have faire weather so long as hee was aboard them ; their disputations grew to that passion , that they threw him over-board , yet god brought him to that little isle , where was no inhabitants , but a few kine and goats . the next morning he espied two ships more riding by them , put in by the storme , that fetched him aboard , well refreshed him , and so kindly used him , that he was well contented to trie the rest of his fortune with them . after he had related unto them his former discourse , what for pitie , and the love of the honourable earle of ployer , this noble britaine his neighbour , captaine la roche of saint malo , regarded and entertained him for his well respected friend . with the next faire wind they failed along by the coast of corsica and sardinia , and crossing the gulfe of tunis , passed by cape bona to the isle of lampadosa , leaving the coast of barbary till they came at cape rosata , and so along the african shore , for alexandria in aegypt . there delivering their fraught , they went to scandaroone ; rather to view what ships was in the roade , than any thing else : keeping their course by cypres and the coast of asia , sayling by rhodes , the archipellagans , candia , and the coast of grecia , and the isle of zaffalonia . they lay to and againe a few dayes betwixt the isle of corfue and the cape of otranto in the kingdome of naples , in the entrance of the adriatike sea . chap. iii. a desperate sea-fight in the straights ; his passage to rome , naples , and the view of italy . betwixt the two capes they meet with an argosie of venice , it seemed the captaine desired to speake with them , whose untoward answer was such , as slew them a man ; whereupon the britaine presently gave them the broad-side , then his sterne , and his other broad-side also , and continued the chase , with his chase peeces , till he gave them so many broad-sides one after another , that the argosies sayles and tackling was so torne , she stood to her defence , and made shot for shot ; twice in one houre and a halfe the britaine boarded her , yet they cleared themselves , but clapping her aboard againe , the argosie fired him , which with much danger to them both was presently quenched . this rather augmented the britaines rage , than abated his courage ; for having reaccommodated himselfe againe , shot her so oft betweene wind and water , shee was readie to sinke , then they yeelded ; the britaine lost fifteene men , she twentie , besides divers were hurt , the rest went to worke on all hands ; some to stop the leakes , others to guard the prisoners that were chained , the rest to rifle her . the silkes , velvets , cloth of gold , and tissue , pyasters , chicqueenes and sultanies , which is gold and silver , they unloaded in foure and twentie houres , was wonderfull , where of having sufficient , and tired with toile , they cast her off with her company , with as much good merchandize as would have fraughted such another britaine , that was but two hundred tunnes , she foure or five hundred . to repaire his defects , hee stood for the coast of calabria , but hearing there was six or seven galleyes at mesina hee departed thence for malta , but the wind comming faire , he kept his course along the coast of the kingdome of sicilia by sardinia and corsica , till he came to the road of antibo in peamon , where he set smith on shore with fiue hundred chicqueenes , and a little box god sent him worth neere as much more . here he left this noble britaine , and embarked himselfe for lygorne , being glad to have such opportunitie and meanes to better his experience by the view of italy ; and having passed tuskany , and the countrey of sieana , where hee found his deare friends , the two honourable brethren , the lord willoughby and his brother cruelly wounded , in a desperate fray , yet to their exceeding great honour . then to viterbo and many other cities he came to rome , where it was his chance to see pope clement the eight , with many cardinalls , creepe up the holy stayres , which they say are those our saviour christ went up to pontius pilate , where bloud falling from his head , being pricked with his crowne of thornes , the drops are marked with nailes of steele , upon them none dare goe but in that manner , saying so many ave-maries and pater-nosters , as is their devoton , and to kisse the nailes of steele : but on each side is a paire of such like staires , up which you may goe , stand , or kneele , but divided from the holy staires by two walls : right against them is a chappell , where hangs a great silver lampe , which burneth continually , yet they say the oyle neither increaseth nor diminisheth . a little distant is the ancient church of saint iohn de laterane , where he saw him say masse , which commonly he doth upon some friday once a moneth . having saluted father parsons , that famous english iesuite , and satisfied himselfe with the rarities of rome , he went downe the river of tiber to civita vechia , where he embarked himselfe to satisfie his eye with the faire citie of naples , and her kingdomes nobilitie ; returning by capua , rome and seana , he passed by that admired c●tie of florence , the cities and countries of bolonia , ferrara , mantua , padu , and venice , whose gulfe he passed from malamoco and the adriatike sea for ragouza , spending some time to see that barren broken coast of albania and dalmatia , to capo de islria , travelling the maine of poore slavonia by lubbiano , till he came to grates in steria , the seat of ferdinando arch-duke of austria , now emperour of almania : where he met an english man , and an irish iesuite , who acquainted him with many brave gentlemen of good qualitie , especially with the lord ebersbaught , with whom trying such conclusions , as he projected to undertake , preferred him to baron kisell , generall of the ar●llery , and he to a worthy collonell , the earle of meldritch , with whom going to vienne in austria , under whose regiment , in what service , and how he spent his time , this ensuing discourse will declare . chap. iv. the siege of olumpagh ; an excellent stratagem by smith ; another not much worse . after the losse of caniza , the turkes with twentie thousand besieged the strong towne of olumpagh so straightly , as they were cut off from all intelligence and hope of succour ; till iohn smith , this english gentleman , acquainted baron kisell , generall of the arch-dukes artillery , he had taught the governour , his worthy friend , such a rule , that he would undertake to make him know any thing he intended , and have his answer , would they bring him but to some place where he might make the flame of a torch seene to the towne ; kisell inflamed with this strange invention ; smith made it so plaine , that forthwith hee gave him guides , who in the darke night brought him to a mountaine , where he shewed three torches equidistant from other , which plainly appearing to the towne , the governour presently apprehended , and answered againe with three other fires in like manner ; each knowing the others being and intent ; smith , though distant seven miles , signified to him these words : on thursday at night i will charge on the east , at the alarum , salley you ; ebersbaught answered he would , and thus it was done : first he writ his message as briefe , you see , as could be , then divided the alphabet in two parts thus ; a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. k. l. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t. v. w. x. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. y. z. 2. 2. the first part from a. to l. is signified by shewing and hiding one link● , so oft as there is letters from a. to that letter you meane ; the other part from m. to z. is mentioned by two lights in like manner . the end of a word is signified by shewing of three lights , ever staying your light at that letter you meane , till the other may write it in a paper , and answer by his signall , which is one light , it is done , beginning to count the letters by the lights , every time from a. to m. by this meanes also the other returned his answer , whereby each did understand other . the guides all this time having well viewed the campe , returned to kisell , who , doubting of his power being but ten thousand , was animated by the guides , how the turkes were so divided by the river in two parts , they could not easily second each other . to which smith added this conclusion ; that two or three thousand pieces of match fastened to divers small lines of an hundred fathome in length being armed with powder , might all be fired and stretched at an instant before the alarum , upon the plaine of hysnaburg , supported by two staves , at each lines end , in that manner would seeme like so many musketteers ; which was put in practice ; and being discovered by the turkes , they prepared to encounter these false fires , thinking there had beene some great armie : whilest kisell with his ten thousand being entred the turks quarter , who ranne up and downe as men amazed . it was not long ere ebersbaught was pell-mell with them in their trenches ; in which distracted confusion , a third part of the turkes , that besieged that side towards knousbruck , were slaine ; many of the rest drowned , but all fled . the other part of the armie was so busied to resist the false fires , that kisell before the morning put two thousand good souldiers in the towne , and with small losse was retired ; the garrison was well releeved with that they found in the turkes quarter , which caused the turkes to raise their siege and returne to caniza : and kisell with much honour was received at kerment , and occasioned the author a good reward and preferment , to be captaine of two hundred and fiftie horse-men , under the conduct of colonell voldo , earle of meldritch . chap. v. the siege of stowlle-wesenburg ; the effects of smiths fire-workes ; a worthy exploit of earle rosworme ; earle meldritch takes the bashaw prisoner . a generall rumour of a generall peace , now spred it selfe over all the face of those tormented countries : but the turke intended no such matter , but levied souldiers from all parts he could . the emperour also , by the assistance of the christian princes , provided three armies , the one led by the arch-duke mathias , the emperours brother , and his lieutenant duke mercury to defend low hungary , the second , by ferdinando the arch-duke of steria , and the duke of mantua his lieutenant to regaine caniza ; the third by gonzago , governour of high hungary , to joyne with georgio busca , to make an absolute conquest of transilvania . duke mercury with an armie of thirtie thousand , whereof neere ten thousand were french , besieged stowlle-wesenburg , otherwise called alba regalis , a place so strong by art and nature , that it was thought impregnable . at his first comming , the turkes sallied upon the germane quarter , slew neere five hundred , and returned before they were thought on . the next night in like manner they did neere as much to the bemers , and hungarians ; of which fortune still presuming , thinking to have found the french quarter as carelesse , eight or nine hundred of them were cut in pieces and taken prisoners . in this encounter mousieur grandvile , a brave french colonell , received seven or eight cruell wounds , yet followed the enemie to the ports ; he came off alive , but within three or foure dayes died . earle meldritch , by the information of three or foure christians , ( escaped out of the towne ) upon every alarum , where there was greatest assemblies and throng of people , caused captaine smith to put in practice his fiery dragons , hee had demonstrated unto him , and the earle von sulch at comora , which hee thus performed : having prepared fortie or fiftie round-bellied earthen pots , and filled them with hand gunpowder , then covered them with pitch , mingled with brimstone and turpentine ; and quartering as many musket-bullets , that hung together but only at the center of the division , stucke them round in the mixture about the pots , and covered them againe with the same mixture , over that a strong searcloth , then over all a good thicknesse of towze-match well tempered with oyle of lin-seed , campheer , and powder of brimstone , these he fitly placed in slings , graduated so neere as they could to the places of these assemblies . at midnight upon the alarum , it was a fearfull sight to see the short flaming course of their flight in the aire , but presently after their fall , the lamentable noise of the miserable slaughtered turkes was most wonderfull to heare : besides , they had fired that suburbe at the port of buda in two or three places , which so troubled the turkes to quench , that had there beene any meanes to have assaulted them , they could hardly have resisted the fire , and their enemies . the earle rosworme , contrary to the opinion of all men , would needs undertake to finde meanes to surprize the segeth and suburbe of the citie , strongly defended by a muddie lake , which was thought unpassable . the duke having planted his ordnance , battered the other side , whilest rosworme , in the darke night , with every man a bundle of sedge and bavins still throwne before them , so laded up the lake , as they surprized that unregarded suburbe before they were discovered : upon which unexpected alarum , the turkes fled into the citie , and the other suburbe not knowing the matter , got into the citie also , leaving their suburbe for the duke , who , with no great resistance , tooke it , with many peeces of ordnance ; the citie , being of no such strength as the suburbs , with their owne ordnance was so battered , that it was taken perforce , with such a mercilesse execution , as was most pitifull to behold . the bashaw notwithstanding drew together a partie of five hundred before his owne pallace , where he intended to die ; but seeing most of his men slaine before him , by the valiant captaine earle meldritch , who tooke him prisoner with his owne hands ; and with the hazard of himselfe saved him from the fury of other troopes , that did pull downe his pallace , and would have rent him in peeces ; had he not beene thus preserved . the duke thought his victory much honoured with such a prisoner ; tooke order hee should bee used like a prince , and with all expedition gave charge presently to repaire the breaches , and the ruines of this famous citie , that had beene in the possession of the turkes neere threescore yeares . chap. vi. a brave encounter of the turkes armie with the christians ; duke mercury overthroweth assan bashaw ; hee divides the christian armie ; his noblenesse and death . mahomet , the great turke , during the siege , had raised an armie of sixtie thousand men to have releeved it ; but hearing it was lost , he sent assan bashaw generall of his armie , the bashaw of buda , bashaw amaro● , to see if it were possible to regaine it ; the duke understanding there could be no great experience in such a new levied armie as assan had ; having put a strong garrison into it : and with the brave colonell rosworme , culnits , meldritch , the rhine-grave , vahan and many others ; with twenty thousand good souldiers , set forward to meet the turke in the plaines of girke . those two armies encountred as they marehed , where began a hot and bloudy skirmish betwixt them , regiment against regiment , as they came in order , till the night parted them : here earle meldritch was so invironed amongst those halfe circuler regiments of turkes , they supposed him their prisoner , and his regiment lost ; but his two most couragious friends , vihan and culnits , made such a passage amongst them , that it was a terror to see how horse and man lay sprawling and tumbling , some one way , some another on the ground . the earle there at that time made his valo● shine more bright than his armour , which seemed then painted with turkish bloud , he slew the brave zanzack bugola , and made his passage to his friends , but neere halfe his regiment was slaine . captain smith had his horse sl●●e under him , and himselfe sore wounded ; but he was not long unmounted , for there was choice enough of horses , that wanted masters . the turke thinking the victory sure against the duke , whose armie , by the siege and the garrison , he had left behind him , was much weakned , would not be content with one , but he would have all ; and left the duke should returne to alba regalis , he sent that night twenty thousand to besiege the citie , assuring them he would keepe the duke or any other from releeving them . two or three dayes they lay each by other , entrenching themselves ; the turkes daring the duke daily to a sett battell , who at length drew out his army , led by the rhine-grave , culnits and meldritch , who upon their first encounter , charged with that resolute and valiant courage , as disordered not only the formost squadrons of the turkes , but enforced all the whole armie to retire to the campe , with the losse of five or six thousand , with the bashaw of buda , and foure or five zanzacks , with divers other great commanders , two hundred prisoners , and nine pecces of ordnance . at that instant appeared , as it were , another armie comming out of a valley over a plaine hill , that caused the duke at that time to be contented , and to retire to his trenches ; which gave time to assan to reorder his disordered squadrons : here they lay nine or ten dayes , and more supplies repaired to them , expecting to try the event in a sett battell ; but the souldiers on both parties , by reason of their great wants and approach of winter , grew so discontented , that they were ready of themselves to breake up the leager ; the bashaw , retiring himselfe to buda , had some of the reare troopes cut off . amaroz bashaw hearing of this , found such bad welcome at alba regalis , and the towne so strongly repaired , with so brave a garrison , raised his siege , and retired to zigetum . the duke understanding that the arch-duke ferdinando had so resolutely besieged caniza , as what by the losse of alba regalis , and the turks retreat to buda , being void of hope of any reliefe , doubted not but it would become againe the christians . to the furtherance whereof , the duke divided his armie into three parts . the earle of rosworme went with seven thousand to caniza ; the earle of meldritch with six thousand he sent to assist georgio busca against the transilvanians , the rest went with himselfe to the garrisons of strigonium and komara ; having thus worthily behaved himselfe , he arrived at vienne , where the arch-dukes and the nobilitie with as much honour received him , as if he had conquered all hungaria ; his very picture they esteemed would make them fortunate , which thousands kept as curiously as a precious relique . to requite this honour , preparing himselfe to returne into france , to raise new forces against the next yeare , with the two arch-dukes , mathias and maximilian , and divers others of the nobilitie , was with great magnificence conducted to nurenburg , there by them royally feasted , ( how it chanced is not knowne ; ) but the next morning he was found dead , and his brother in law died two dayes after ; whose hearts , after this great triumph , with much sorrow were carried into france . chap. vii . the unhappie siege of caniza ; earle meldritch serveth prince sigismundus ; prince moyses besiegeth regall ; smiths three single combats ; his patent from sigismundus , and reward . the worthy lord rosworme had not a worse journey to the miserable seige of caniza , ( where by the extremitie of an extraordinary continuing tempest of haile , wind , frost and snow , in so much that the christians were forced to leave their tents and artillery , and what they had ; it being so cold that three or foure hundred of them were frozen to death in a night , and two or three thousand lost in that miserable flight in the snowie tempest , though they did know no enemie at all to follow them : ) than the noble earle of meldritch had to transilvania , where hearing of the death of michael and the brave duke mercury , and knowing the policie of busca , and the prince his roialtie , being now beyond all beleefe of men , in possession of the best part of transilvania , perswaded his troopes , in so honest a cause , to assist the prince against the turke , rather than busca against the prince . the souldiers being worne out with those hard payes and travells , upon hope to have free libertie to make bootie upon what they could get possession of from the turkes , was easily perswaded to follow him whithersoever . now this noble earle was a transilvanian borne , and his fathers countrey yet inhabited by the turkes ; for transilvania was yet in three divisions , though the prince had the hearts both of country and people ; yet the frontiers had a garrison amongst the unpassable mountaines , some for the emperour , some for the prince , and some for the turke : to regaine which small estate , hee desired leave of the prince to trie his fortunes , and to make use of that experience , the time of twentie yeares had taught him in the emperours service , promising to spend the rest of his dayes for his countries defence in his excellencies service . the prince glad of so brave a commander , and so many expert and ancient souldiers , made him campe-master of his armie , gave him all necessary releefe for his troopes and what freedome they desired to plunder the turkes . the earle having made many incursions into the land of zarkam among those rockie mountains , where were some turks , some tartars , but most bandittoes , rennegadoes , and such like , which sometimes hee forced into the plaines of regall , where is a citie not only of men and fortifications , strong of it selfe , but so environed with mountaines , that made the passages so difficult , that in all these warres no attempt had beene made upon it to any purpose : having satisfied himselfe with the situation and the most convenient passages to bring his armie unto it : the earth no sooner put on her greene habit , than the earle overspread her with his armed troopes . to possesse himselfe first of the most convenient passage , which was a narrow valley betwixt two high mountaines ; he sent colonell veltus with his regiment , dispersed in companies to lye in ambuscado , as he had directed them , and in the morning to driue all the cattell they could finde before a fort in that passage , whom he supposed would sally , seeing but some small partie , to recover their prey ; which tooke such good successe , that the garrison was cut off by the ambuscado , and veltus seized on the skonces , which was abandoned . meldritch glad of so fortunate a beginning , it was six dayes ere he could with six thousand pioners make passage for his ordnance : the turkes having such warning , strengthned the towne so with men and provision , that they made a scorne of so small a number as meldritch brought with him before the citie , which was but eight thousand . before they had pitched their tents , the turkes sallied in such abundance , as for an houre they had rather a bloudy battell than a skirmish , but with the losse of neere fifteene hundred on both sides . the turkes were chased till the cities ordnance caused the earle to retire . the next day zachel moyses , generall of the armie , pitched also his tents with nine thousand foot and horse , and six and twenty peeces of ordnance ; but in regard of the situation of this strong fortresse , they did neither feare them nor hurt them , being upon the point of a faire promontory , environed on the one side within halfe a mile with an un-usefull mountaine , and on the other side with a faire plaine , where the christians encamped , but so commanded by their ordnance , they spent neere a month in entrenching themselves , and raising their mounts to plant their batteries ; which slow proceedings the turkes oft derided , that their ordnance were at pawne , and how they grew fat for want of exercise , and fearing lest they should depart ere they could assault their citie , sent this challenge to any captaine in the armie . that to delight the ladies , who did long to see some court-like pastime , the lord turbashaw did defie any captaine , that had the command of a company , who durst combate with him for his head : the matter being discussed , it was accepted , but so many questions grew for the undertaking , it was decided by lots , which fell upon captaine smith , before spoken of . truce being made for that time , the rampiers all beset with faire dames , and men in armes , the christians in battalio ; turbashaw with a noise of howboyes entred the fields well mounted and armed ; on his shoulders were fixed a paire of great wings , compacted of eagles feathers within a ridge of silver , richly garnished with gold and precious stones , a ianizary before him , bearing his lance , on each side another leading his horse ; where long hee stayed nor , ere smith with a noise of trumpets , only a page bearing his lance , passing by him with a courteous salute , tooke his ground with such good successe , that at the sound of the charge , he passed the turke thorow the sight of his beaver , face , head and all , that he fell dead to the ground , where alighting and unbracing his helmet , cut off his head , and the turkes tooke his body ; and so returned without any hurt at all . the head hee presented to the lord moses , the generall , who kindly accepted it , and with joy to the whole armie he was generally welcomed . the death of this captaine so swelled in the heart of one grualgo , his vowed friend , as rather inraged with madnesse than choller , he directed a particular challenge to the conquerour , to regaine his friends head , or lose his owne , with his horse and armour for advantage , which according to his desire , was the next day undertaken : as before upon the sound of the trumpets , their lances flew in peeces upon a cleare passage , but the turke was neere unhorsed . their pistolls was the next , which marked smith upon the placard ; but the next shot the turke was so wounded in the left arme , that being not able to rule his horse , and defend himselfe , he was throwne to the ground , and so bruised with the fall , that he lost his head , as his friend before him ; with his horse and armour ; but his body and his rich apparell was sent backe to the towne . every day the turkes made some sallies , but few skirmishes would they endure to any purpose . our workes and approaches being not yet advanced to that height and effect which was of necessitie to be performed ; to delude time , smith with so many incontradictible perswading reasons , obtained leave that the ladies might know he was not so much enamoured of their servants heads , but if any turke of their ranke would come to the place of combate to redeeme them , should have his also upon the like conditions , if he could winne it . the challenge presently was accepted by bonny mulgro . the next day both the champions entring the field as before , each discharging their pistoll , having no lances , but such martiall weapons as the defendant appointed , no hurt was done ; their battle-axes was the next , whose piercing bils made sometime the one , sometime the other to have scarce sense to keepe their saddles , specially the christian received such a blow that he lost his battle-axe , and failed not much to have fallen after it , wherat the supposing conquering turk , had a great shout from the rampiers . the turk prosecuted his advantage to the uttermost of his power ; yet the other , what by the readinesse of his horse , and his judgement and dexterity in such a businesse , beyond all mens expectation , by gods assistance , not onely avoided the turkes violence , but having drawne his faulchion , pierced the turke so under the culets thorow backe and body , that although he alighted from his horse , he stood not long ere hee lost his head , as the rest had done . chap. viii . georgio busca an albane his ingratitude to prince sigismundus ; prince moyses his lieutenant , is overthrowne by busca , generall for the emperour rodolphus ; sigismundus yeeldeth his countrey to rodolphus ; busca assisteth prince rodoll in wallachia . this good successe gave such great encouragement to the whole armie , that with a guard of six thousand , three spare horses , before each a turkes head upon a lance , he was conducted to the generalls pavillion with his presents . moyses received both him and them with as much respect as the occasion deserved , embracing him in his armes , gave him a faire horse richly furnished , a s●mitere and belt worth three hundred ducats ; and meldritch made him sergeant major of his regiment . but now to the siege , having mounted six and twenty peeces of ordnance fifty or sixty foot above the plaine , made them so plainly tell his meaning , that within fifteene dayes two breaches were made , which the turkes as valiantly defended as men could ; that day was made a darksome night , but by the light that proceeded from the murdering muskets , and peace-making canon , whilest their slothfull governour lay in a castle on the top of a high mountaine , and like a valiant prince asketh what 's the matter , when horrour and death stood amazed each at other , to see who should prevaile to make him victorious : moyses commanding a generall assault upon the sloping front of the high promontory , where the barons of budendorfe and oberwin lost neere halfe their regiments , by logs , bags of powder , and such like , tumbling downe the hill , they were to mount ere they could come to the breach ; notwithstanding with an incredible courage they advanced to the push of the pike with the defendāts , that with the like courage repulsed , till the earle meldritch , becklefield and zarvana , with their fresh regiments seconded them with that fury , that the turks retired and fled into the castle , from whence by a flag of truce they desired composition . the earle remembring his fathers death , battered it with all the ordnance in the towne , and the next day tooke it ; all he found could beare armes he put to the sword , and set their heads upon stakes round about the walles , in the same manner they had used the christians , when they tooke it . moyses having repaired the rampiers , and throwne downe the worke in his campe , he put in it a strong garrison , though the pillage he had gotten in the towne was much , having beene for a long time an impregnable den of theeves ; yet the losse of the armie so intermingled the sowre with the sweet , as forced moyses to seek a further revenge , that he sacked veratio , solmos , and kupronka , and with two thousand prisoners , most women and children , came to esenberg , not farre from the princes palace , where he there encamped . sigismundus comming to view his armie , was presented with the prisoners , and six and thirtie ensignes ; where celebrating thankes to almightie god in triumph of those victories , hee was made acquainted with the service smith had done at olumpagh , stowle-wesenburg and regall , for which with great honour hee gave him three turkes heads in a shield for his armes , by patent , under his hand and seale , with an oath ever to weare them in his colours , his picture in gould , and three hundred ducats , yearely for a pension . sigismvndvs bathori , dei gratia dux transilvaniae , wallachiae , & vandalorum ; comes anchard , salford , growenda ; cunctis his literis significansus qui eas lecturi aut audituri sunt , concessam licentiam aut facultatem iohanni smith , natione anglo generoso , 250. militum capitan●o sub illustrissimi & gravissimi henrici volda , comitis de meldri , salmariae , & peldoiae primario , ex 1000. equitibus & 1500. peditibus bello vngarico conductione in provincias suprascriptas sub authoritate nostra : cui servituti omni laude , perpetuaque memoria dignum praebuit sese erga nos , ut virum strenuum pugnantem pro aris & focis decet . quare è favore nostro militario ipsumordine condonavimus , & in sigillum illius tria turcica capita designare & deprimere concessimus , quae ipse gladio suo ad vrbem regalem in singulari praelio vicit , mactavit , atque decollavit in transilvaniae provincia : sed fortuna cum variabilis ancepsque sit idem forte fortuito in wallachia provincia anno domini 1602. die mensis novembris 18. cum multis aliis etian nobilibus & aliis quibusdam militibus captus est à domino bascha electo ex cambia regionis tartariae , cujus severitate adductus salutem quantam potuit quaesivit , tantumque effecit , deo omnipotente adjuvante , ut deliberavit se , & ad suos commilitones revertit ; ex quibus ipsum liberavimus , & haec nobis testimonia habuit ut majori licentia frueretur qua dignus esset , jam tendet in patriam suam dulcissimam : rogamus ergo omnes nostros charissimos , confinitimos , duces , principes , comites , barones , gubernatores vrbium & navium in eadem regione & caeterarum provinciarum in quibus ille residere conatiu fuerit ut idem permittatur capitancus libere sine obstaculo omni versari . haec ●cientes pergra●um nobis feceritis . signatum lesprizia in misnia die mensis decembris 9. anno domini 1603. cum privilegio propriae majestatis . sigismvndvs bathori . universis , & singulis , cujuscunque loci , status , gradus ordinis , ac conditionis ad quos hoc praesens scriptum pervenerit , guilielmus segar eques auratus aliàs dictus garterus principalis rex armorum anglicorum , salutem . sciatis , quod ego praedictus garterus , notum , testatumque facio , quod patentem suprascripium , cum manu propriapraedicti ducis transilvaniae subsignatum , & sigillo suo affixum , vidi : & copiam veram ejusdem ( in perpetuam rei memoriam ) transcripsi , & recordavi in archivis , & registris officii armorum . datum londini 19. die augusti , anno domini 1625. annoque regni domini nostri caroli dei gratia magnae britanniae , franciae , & hiberniae regis , fidei defensoris , &c. primo . gvilielmvs segar , garterus . sigismvndvs bathor , by the grace of god , duke of transilvania , wallachia , and moldavia , earle of anchard , salford and growenda ; to whom this writing may come or appeare . know that we have given leave and licence to iohn smith an english gentleman , captaine of 250. souldiers , under the most generous and honourable henry volda , earle of meldritch , salmaria , and peldoia , colonell of a thousand horse , and fifteene hundred foot , in the warres of hungary , and in the provinces aforesaid under our authority ; whose service doth deserve all praise and perpetuall memory towards us , as a man that did for god and his country overcome his enemies : wherefore out of our love and favour , according to the law of armes , we have ordained and given him in his shield of armes , the figure and description of three turks heads , which with his sword before the towne of regall , in single combat he did overcome , kill , and cut off , in the province of transilvania . but fortune , as she is very variable , so it chanced and happened to him in the province of wallachia , in the yeare our lord , 1602. the 18. day of november , with many others , as well noble men , as also divers other souldiers , were taken prisoners by the lord bashaw of cambia , a country of tartaria ; whose cruelty brought him such good fortune , by the helpe and power of almighty god , that hee delivered himselfe , and returned againe to his company and fellow souldiers , of whom we doe discharge him , and this hee hath in witnesse thereof , being much more worthy of a better reward ; and now intends to returne to his owne sweet country . we desire therefore all our loving and kinde kinsmen , dukes , princes , earles , barons , governours of townes , cities , or ships , in this kingdome , or any other provinces he shall come in , that you freely let passe this the aforesaid captaine , without any hinderance or molestation , and this doing , with all kindnesse we are alwayes ready to doe the like for you . sealed at lipswick in misenland , the ninth of december , in the yeare of our lord , 1603. with the proper privilege of his majestie . sigismvndvs bathor . to all and singular , in what place , state , degree , order , or condition whatsoever , to whom this present writing shall come : [ william segar knight , otherwise garter , and principall king of armes of england , wish health . know that i the aforesaid garter , do witnesse and approve , that this aforesaid patent , i have seene , signed , & sealed , under the proper hand and seale manual of the said duke of transilvania , and a true coppy of the same , as a thing for perpetuall memory , i have subscribed and recorded in the register and office of the heralds of armes . dated at london the nineteenth day of august , in the yeare of our lord , 1625. and in the first yeare of our soueraigne lord charles by the grace of god , king of great britaine , france , and ireland ; defender of the faith , &c. william segar . chap. ix . sigismundus sends ambassadours vnto the emperour ; the conditions re-assured ; he yeeldeth up all to busca , and returneth to prague . bvsca having all this time beene raising new forces , was commanded from the emperour againe to invade transilvania , which being one of the fruitfullest and strongest countries in those parts , was now rather a desart , or the very spectacle of desolation ; their fruits and fields overgrowne with weeds , their churches and battered palaces and best buildings , as for feare , hid with mosse and ivy ; being the very bulwarke and rampire of a great part of europe , most fit by all christians to have beene supplyed and maintained , was thus brought to ruine by them it most concerned to support it . but alas , what is it , when the power of majestie pampered in all delights of pleasant vanity , neither knowing nor considering the labour of the ploughman , the hazard of the merchant , the oppression of statesmen ; nor feeling the piercing tormēts of broken limbes , & inveterated wounds , the toilsome marches , the bad lodging , the hungry diet , and the extreme misery that souldiers endure to secure all those estates , and yet by the spight of malicious detraction , starves for want of their reward and recompences ; whilest the politique courtier , that cōmonly aimes more at his owne honors & ends , than his countries good , or his princes glory , honour , or security , as this worthy prince too well could testifie . but the emperor being certified how weak and desperate his estate was , sent busca againe with a great army , to trie his fortune once more in transilvania . the prince considering how his country & subjects were consumed , the small means he had any longer to defend his estate , both against the cruelty of the turke , & the power of the emperor , & the small care the polanders had in supplying him , as they had promised , sent to busca to haue truce , till messengers might be sent to the emperour for some better agreement , wherewith busca was contented . the ambassadours so prevailed , that the emperour re-assured vnto them the conditions he had promised the prince at their confederacie for the lands in silesia , with 60000. ducats presently in hand , and 50000. ducats yearely as a pension . when this conclusion was knowne to moyses his liestenant then in the field with the army , that would doe any thing rather than come in subjection to the germans , he encouraged his souldiers , and without any more adoe marched to encounter busca , whom he found much better provided than he expected ; so that betwixt them in six or seven houres , more than five or six thousand on both sides lay dead in the field . moyses thus overthrowne , 〈◊〉 to the turks at temesware , and his scattered troopes some one way , some another . the prince vnderstanding of this so sudden and unexpected accident , onely accompanied with an hundred of his gentry and nobility , went into the campe to busca , to let him know , how ignorant he was of his liestenants errour , that had done it without his direction or knowledge , freely offering to performe what was concluded by his ambassadours with the emperour ; and so causing all his garrisons to come out of their strong holds , he delivered all to busca for the emperour , and so went to prague , where he was honourably receiued , and established in his possessions , as his emperiall majestie had promised . busca assembling all the nobility , tooke their oaths of allegeance and fidelity , and thus their prince being gone , trasilvania became againe subject to the emperour . now after the death of michael , vavoyd of wallachia , the turke sent one ieremie to be their vavoyd or prince ; whose insulting tyranny caused the people to take armes against him , so that he was forced to flie into the confines of moldavia ; and busca in the behalfe of the emperour , proclaimed the lord rodoll in his stead . but ieremy having assembled an army of forty thousand turks , tartars , and moldavians , returned into wallachia . rodoll not yet able to raise such a power , fled into transilvania to busca , his ancient friend ; who considering well of the matter , and how good it would be for his owne security to have wallachia subject to the emperour , or at least such an employment for the remainders of the old regiments of sigismundus , ( of whose greatnesse and true affection hee was very suspitious , ) sent them with rodoll to recover wallachia , conducted by the valiant captaines , the earle meldritch , earle veltus , earle nederspolt , earle zarvana , the lord bechlefield , the lord budendorfe , with their regiments , and divers others of great ranke and quality , the greatest friends and alliances the prince had ; who with thirty thousand , marched along by the river altus , to the streights of rebrinke , where they entred wallachia , encamping at raza ; ieremie lying at argish , drew his army into his old campe , in the plaines of peteske , and with his best diligence fortified it , intending to defend himselfe till more power came to him from the crym-tartar . many small parties that came to his campe , rodoll cut off , and in the nights would cause their heads to be throwne vp and downe before the trenches . seven of their porters were taken , whom ieremie commanded to be stayed quicke , and after hung their skinnes vpon poles , and their carkasses and heads on stakes by them . chap. x. the battell of rotenton ; a pretty stratagem of fire-workes by smith . rodoll not knowing how to draw the enemie to battell , raised his armie , burning and spoyling all where he came , and returned againe towards rebrinke in the night , as if he had fled vpon the generall rumour of the crym-tartars comming , which so inflamed the turkes of a happy victory , they vrged ieremy against his will to follow them . rodoll seeing his plot fell out as he desired , so ordered the matter , that having regained the streights , he put his army in order , that had beene neere two dayes pursued , with continuall skirmishes in his reare , which now making head against the enemie , that followed with their whole armie in the best manner they could , was furiously charged with six thousand hydukes , wallachians , and moldavians , led by three colonells , oversall , dubras , and calab , to entertaine the time till the rest came up ; veltus and nederspolt with their regiments , entertained them with the like courage , till the zanzacke hamesbeg , with six thousand more , came with a fresh charge , which meldritch and budendorfe , rather like enraged lions , than men , so bravely encountred , as if in them only had consisted the victory ; meldritchs horse being slaine vnder him , the turks pressed what they could to have taken him prisoner , but being remounted , it was thought with his owne hand he slew the valiant zanzacke , whereupon his troopes retyring , the two proud bashawes , aladin , and zizimmus , brought up the front of the body of their battell . veltus and nederspolt having breathed , and joyning their troopes with becklefield and zarvana , with such an incredible courage charged the left flancke of zizimmus , as put them all in disorder , where zizimmus the bashaw was taken prisoner , but died presently upon his wounds . ieremie seeing now the maine battell of rodoll advance , being thus constrained , like a valiant prince in his front of the vantgard , by his example so brauely encouraged his souldiers , that rodoll found no great assurance of the victorie . thus being joyned in this bloudy massacre , that there was scarce ground to stand upon , but upon the dead carkasses , which in lesse than an hower were so mingled , as if each regiment had singled out other . the admired aladin that day did leave behinde him a glorious name for his valour , whose death many of his enemies did lament after the victory , which at that instant sell to rodoll . it was reported ieremie was also slaine , but it was not so , but fled with the remainder of his armie to moldavia , leaving five and twenty thousand dead in the field , of both armies . and thus rodoll was seated againe in his soueraignty , and wallachia became subject to the emperour . but long he rested not to settle his new estate , but there came newes , that certaine regiments of stragling tartars , were forraging those parts towards moldavia . meldritch with thirteene thousand men was sent against them , but when they heard it was the crym-tartar and his two sonnes , with an armie of thirty thousand ; and ieremie , that had escaped with fourteene or fifteene thousand , lay in ambush for them about langanaw , he retired towards rottenton , a strong garrison for rodoll ; but they were so invironed with these hellish numbers , they could make no great haste for skirmishing with their scouts , forragers , and small parties that still encountred them . but one night amongst the rest , having made a passage through a wood , with an incredible expedition , cutting trees thwart each other to hinder their passage , in a thicke fogge early in the morning , unexpectedly they met two thousand loaded with pillage , and two or three hundred horse and cattell ; the most of them were slaine and taken prisoners , who told them where ieremie lay in the passage , expecting the crym-tartar that was not farre from him . meldritch intending to make his passage perforce , was advised of a pretty stratagem by the english smith , which presently he thus accomplished ; for having accommodated two or three hundred truncks with wilde fire , vpon the heads of lances , and charging the enemie in the night , gave fire to the truncks , which blazed forth such flames and sparkles , that it so amazed not onely their horses , but their foot also ; that by the meanes of this fl●ming encounter , their owne horses turned tailes with such fury , as by their violence overthrew ieremy & his army , without any losse at all to speake of to meldritch . but of this victory long they triumphed not ; for being within three leagues of rottenton , the tartar with neere forty thousand so beset them , that they must either fight , or be cut in peeces flying . here busca and the emperour had their desire ; for the sunne no sooner displayed his beames , than the tartar his colours ; where at midday he stayed a while , to see the passage of a tyrannicall and treacherous imposture , till the earth did blush with the bloud of honesty , that the sunne for shame did hide himselfe , from so monstrous sight of a cowardly calamity . it was a most brave sight to see the banners and ensignes streaming in the aire , the glittering of armour , the variety of colours , the motion of plumes , the forrests of lances , and the thicknesse of shorter weapons , till the silent expedition of the bloudy blast from the murdering ordnance , whose roaring voice is not so soone heard , as felt by the aymed at object , which made among them a most lamentable slaughter . chap. xi . the names of the english that were slaine in the battell of rottenton ; and how captaine smith is taken prisoner ; and sold for a slave . in the valley of veristhorne , betwixt the riuer of altus , and the mountaine of rottenton , was this bloudy encounter , where the most of the dearest friends of the noble prince sigismundus perished . meldritch having ordered his eleuen thousand in the best manner he could , at the ●oot of the mountaine upon his flancks , and before his front , he had pitched sharpe stakes , their heads hardned in the fire , and bent against the enemie , as three battalion of pikes , amongst the which also there was digged many small holes . amongst those stakes was ranged his footmen , that upon the charge was to retire , as there was occasion . the tartar having ordered his 40000. for his best advantage , appointed mustapha bashaw to beginne the battell , with a generall shout , all their ensignes displaying , drummes beating , trumpets and howboyes sounding . nederspolt and mavazo with their regiments of horse most valiantly encountred , and forced them to retire ; the tartar begolgi with his squadrons , darkening the skies with their flights of numberles arrowes , who was as bravely encountred by veltus and oberwin , which bloudie slaughter continued more than an houre , till the matchlesse multitude of the tartars so increased , that they retired within their squadrons of stakes , as was directed . the bloudy tartar , as scorning he should st●y so long for the victorie , with his massie troopes prosecuted the charge : but it was a wonder to see how horse and man came to the ground among the stakes , whose disordered troopes were there so mangled , that the christians with a loud shout cryed victoria ; and with five or six field peeces , planted vpon the rising of the mountaine , did much hurt to the enemy that still continued the battell with that furie , that meldritch seeing there was no possibilitie long to preuaile , ioyned his small troopes in one body , resolued directly to make his passage or die in the conclusion ; and thus in grosse gaue a generall charge , and for more than halfe an houre made his way plaine before him , till the maine battel of the crym-tartar with two regiments of turkes and ianizaries so overmatched them , that they were overthrowen . the night approaching , the earle with some thirteene or foureteene hundred horse , swamme the river , some were drowned , all the rest slaine or taken prisoners : and thus in this bloudy field , neere 30000. lay , some headlesse , armelesse and leglesse , all cut and mangled ; where breathing their last , they gaue this knowledge to the world , that for the liues of so few , the crym-tartar neuer paid dearer . but now the countreyes of transilvania and wallachia , ( subjected to the emperour ) and sigismundus that brave prince his subject and pensioner , the most of his nobilitie , brave captaines and souldiers , became a prey to the cruell devouring turke : where had the emperor been as ready to have assisted him , and those three armies led by three such worthy captaines , as michael , busca , and himselfe , and had those three armies joyned together against the turke , let all men judge , how happie it might have beene for all christendome : and have either regained bulgaria , or at least have beat him out of hungaria , where hee hath taken much more from the emperour , than hath the emperour from transilvania . in this dismall battell , where nederspolt , veltus , zarvana , mavazo , bavell , and many other earles , barons , colonels , captaines , brave gentlemen , and souldiers were slaine . give mee leave to remember the names of our owne country-men with him in those exploits , that as resolutely as the best in the defence of christ and his gospell , ended their dayes , as bask●rfield , hardwicke , thomas milemer , robert mullineux , thomas bishop , francis compton , george davison , nicholas williams , and one iohn a scot , did what men could doe , and when they could doe no more , left there their bodies in testimonie of their mindes ; only ensigne carleton and sergeant robinson escaped : but smith among the slaughtered dead bodies , and many a gasping soule , with toile and wounds lay groaning among the rest , till being found by the pillagers hee was able to live , and perceiving by his armor & habit , his ransome might be better to them , than his death , they led him prisoner with many others ; well they used him till his wounds were cured , and at axopolis they were all sold for slaves , like beasts in a market-place , where everie merchant , viewing their limbs and wounds , caused other slaves to struggle with them , to trie their strength , hee fell to the share of bashaw bogall , who sent him forthwith to adrinopolis , so for constantinople to his faire mistresse for a slave . by twentie and twentie chained by the neckes , they marched in file to this great citie , where they were delivered to their severall masters , and he to the young charatza tragabig zanda . chap. xii . how captaine smith was sent prisoner thorow the blacke and dissabacca sea in tartaria ; the description of those seas , and his usage . this noble gentlewoman tooke sometime occasion to shew him to some friends , or rather to speake with him , because shee could speake italian , would feigne her selfe sick when she should goe to the banians , or weepe over the graves , to know how bogall tooke him prisoner ; and if he were as the bashaw writ to her , a bohemian lord conquered by his hand , as hee had many others , which ere long hee would present her , whose ransomes should adorne her with the glorie of his conquests . but when she heard him protest he knew no such matter , nor ever saw bogall till he bought him at axopolis , and that hee was an english-man , onely by his adventures made a captaine in those countreyes . to trie the truth , shee found meanes to finde out many could speake english , french , dutch , and italian , to whom relating most part of these former passages he thought necessarie , which they so honestly reported to her , she tooke ( as it seemed ) much compassion on him ; but having no use for him , left her mother should sell him , she sent him to her brother , the tymor bashaw of nalbrits , in the countrey of cambia , a province in tartaria . here now let us remember his passing in this speculative course from constantinople by sander , screwe , panassa , musa , lastilla , to varna , an ancient citie upon the blacke sea. in all which journey , having little more libertie , than his eyes judgement since his captivitie , he might see the townes with their short towers , and a most plaine , fertile , and delicate countrey , especially that most admired place of greece , now called romania , but from varna , nothing but the blacke sea water , 〈◊〉 he came to the two capes of taur and pergilos , where hee passed the straight of niger , which ( as he conjectured ) is some ten leagues long , and three broad , betwixt two low lands , the channell is deepe , but at the entrance of the sea dissabacca , their are many great osie-shou●ds , and many great blacke ro●kes , which the turkes said were trees , weeds , and mud , throwen from the in-land countryes , by the inundations and violence of the current , and cast there by the eddy . they sayled by many low iles , and saw many more of those muddy ro●kes , and nothing else , but salt water , till they came betwixt susax and curuske , only two white townes at the entrance of the river bruapo appeared : in six or seven dayes saile , he saw foure or five seeming strong castles of stone , with flat tops and battlements about them , but arriving at cambia , he was ( according to their custome ) well used . the river was there more than halfe a mile broad . the castle was of a large circumference , foure●●ene or fifteene foot thicke , in the foundation some six foot from the wall , is a paliizado , and then a ditch of about fortie foot broad full of water . on the west side of it , is a towne all of low flat houses , which as be conceived could bee of no great strength , yet it keepes all them barbarous countreyes about it in admiration and subjection . after he had stayed there three dayes ; it was two dayes more before his guides brought him to nalbrits , where the tymor then was resident , in a great vast stonie castle with many great courts about it , invironed with high stone wals , where was quartered their armes , when they first subjected those countreyes , which only live to labour for those tyrannicall turkes . to her unkinde brother , this kinde ladie writ so much for his good usage , that hee halfe suspected , as much as she intended ; for shee told him , he should there but sojourne to learne the language , and what it was to be a turke , till time made her master of her selfe . but the tymor her brother , diverted all this to the worst of crueltie , for within an hour● after his arrivall , he caused his drub-man to strip him naked , and shave his head and beard so bare as his hand , a great ring of iron , with a long stalke bowed like a sickle , rivetted about his necke , and a coat made of vlgries haire , guarded about with a peece of an undrest skinne . there were many more christian slaves , and neere an hundred forsados of turkes and moores , and he being the last , was slave of slaves to them all . among these slavish fortunes there was no great choice ; for the best was so bad , a dog could hardly have lived to endure , and yet for all their paines and labours no more regarded than a beast . chap. xiii . the turkes diet ; the slaves diet ; the attire of the tartars ; and manner of warres and religions , &c. the tymor and his friends fed upon pillaw , which is boiled rice and garnances , with little bits of mutton or buckones , which is rosted peeces of horse , bull , vlgrie , or any beasts . samboyses and muselbit ▪ are great dainties , and yet but round pies , full of all sorts of flesh they can get chopped with varietie of herbs . their best drinke is coffa , of a graine they call coava , boiled with water ; and sherbecke , which is only honey and water ; m●res milke , or the milke of any beast , they hold restorative : but all the comminaltie drinke pure water . their bread is made of this coava , which is a kinde of blacke whea● , and cuskus a small white seed like millya in biskay : but our common victuall , the entrailes of horse and vlgries ; of this cut in small peeces , they will fill a great cauldron , and being boiled with cuskus , and put in great bowles in the forme of chaffing-dishes , they sit round about it on the ground , after they haue raked it thorow so oft as they please with their soule fists , the remainder was for the christian slaves . some of this broth they would temper with cuskus pounded , and putting the fire off from the hearth , powre there a bowle full , then cover it with co●les till it be baked , which stewed with the remainder of the broth , and some small peeces of flesh , was an extraordinarie daintie . the better sort are attired like turkes , but the plaine tartar hath a blacke sheepe skinne over his backe , and two of the legs tied about his necke ; the other two about his middle , with another over his belly , and the legs tied in the like manner behinde him : then two more made like a paire of b●ses , serveth him for breeches ; with a little close cap to his skull of blacke felt , and they use exceeding much of this felt , for carpets , for bedding , for coats , and idols . their houses are much worse than your irish , but the in-land countreyes have none but carts and tents , which they ever remove from countrey to countrey , as they see occasion , driving with them infinite troopes of blacke sheepe , cattell and vlgries , eating all vp before them , as they goe . for the tartars of nagi , they have neither towne , nor house , corne , nor drinke ; but flesh and milke . the milke they keepe in great skinnes like burracho's , which though it be never so sower , it agreeth well with their strong stomackes . they live all in hordias , as doth the crim-tartars , three or foure hundred in a company , in great carts fifteene or sixteene foot broad , which is covered with small rods , wattled together in the forme of a birds nest turned vpwards , and with the ashes of bones tempered with oile , camels haire , and a clay they have : they lome them so well , that no weather will pierce them , and yet verie light . each hordia hath a murse , which they obey as their king. their gods are infinite . one or two thousand of those glittering white carts drawen with camels , deere , buls , and vlgries , they bring round in a ring , where they pitch their campe ; and the murse , with his chiefe alliances , are placed in the midst . they doe much hurt when they can get any stroggs , which are great boats used upon the river volga , ( which they call edle ) to them that dwell in the countrey of perolog , and would doe much more , were it not for the muscovites garrisons that there inhabit . chap. xiiii . the description of the crym-tartars ; their houses and carts ; their idolatry in their lodgings . now you are to understand , tartary and scythia are all one , but so large and spacious , few or none could ever perfectly describe it , nor all the severall kinds of those most barbarous people that inhabit it . those we call the crym-tartars , border upon moldavia , podolia , lituania , and russia , are much more regular than the interior parts of scythia . this great tartarian prince , that hath so troubled all his neighbours , they alwayes call chan , which signifieth emperour ; but we , the crym-tartar . he liveth for most part in the best champion plaines of many provinces ; and his removing court is like a great citie of houses and tents , drawne on carts , all so orderly placed east and west , on the right and left hand of the prince his house , which is alwayes in the midst towards the south , before which none may pitch their houses , every one knowing their order and quarter , as in an armie . the princes houses are very artificially wrought , both the foundation , sides , and roofe of wickers , ascending round to the top like a dove-coat ; this they cover with white felt , or white earth tempered with the powder of bones , that it may shine the whiter ; sometimes with blacke felt , curiously painted with vines , trees , birds , and beasts ; the breadth of the carts are eighteene or twenty foot , but the house stretcheth foure or five foot over each side , and is drawne with ten or twelve , or for more state , twenty camels and oxen. they have also great baskets , made of smaller wickers like great chests , with a covering or the same , all covered over with blacke felt , rubbed over with tallow and sheeps milke , to keepe out the raine ; prettily bedecked with painting or feathers ; in those they put their houshold stuffe and treasure , drawne upon other carts for that purpose . when they take downe their houses , they set the doore alwayes towards the south , and their carts thirtie or fortie foot distant on each side , east and west , as if they were two walls : the women also have most curious carts ; every one of his wives hath a great one for herselfe , and so many other for her attendants , that they seeme as many courts , as he hath wives . one great tartar or nobleman , will have for his particular , more than an hundred of those houses and carts , for his severall offices and uses , but set so farre from each other , they will seeme like a great village . having taken their houses from the carts , they place the master alwayes towards the north ; over whose head is alwayes an image like a puppet , made of felt , which they call his brother ; the women on his left hand , and over the chiefe mistris her head , such another brother , and betweene them a little one , which is the keeper of the house ; at the good wives beds-feet is a kids skinne , stuffed with wooll , and neere it a puppet looking towards the maids ; next the doore another , with a dried cowes udder , for the women that milke the kine , because only the men milke mares ; every morning those images in their orders they besprinkle with that they drinke , bee it cossmos , or whatsoever , but all the white mares milke is reserved for the prince . then without the doore , thrice to the south , every one bowing his knee in honour of the fire ; then the like to the east , in honour of the aire ; then to the west , in honour of the water ; and lastly to the north , in behalfe of the dead . after the servant hath done this duty to the foure quarters of the world , he returnes into the house , where his fellowes stand waiting , ready with two cups and two basons to give their master , and his wife that lay with him 〈◊〉 night , to wash and drinke , who must keepe him company all the day following ; and all his other wives come thither to drinke , where hee keepes his house that day ; and all the gifts presented him till night , are laid vp in her chests ; and at the doore a bench full of cups , and drinke for any of them to make merry . chap. xv. their feasts ; common diet ; princes estate ; buildings ; tributes ; lawes ; slaves ; entertainment of ambassadours . for their feasts they have all sorts of beasts , birds , fish , fruits , and hearbs they can get , but the more variety of wilde ones is the best ; to which they have excellent drinke made of rice , millit , and honey , like wine ; they have also wine , but in summer they drinke most cossmos , that standeth ready alwayes at the entrance of the doore , and by it a fidler ; when the master of the house beginneth to drinke , they all cry , ha , ha , and the fidler playes , then they all clap their hands and dance , the men before their masters , the women before their mistresses ; and ever when he drinks , they cry as before ; then the fidler stayeth till they drinke all round ; sometimes they will drinke for the victory ; and to provoke one to drinke , they will pull him by the ears , and lugge and draw him , to stretch and heat him , clapping their hands , stamping with their feet , and dancing before the champions , offering them cups , then draw them backe againe to increase their appetite ; and thus continue till they be drunke , or their drinke done , which they hold an honour , and no infirmity . though the ground be fertile , they sow little corne , yet the gentlemen have bread and hony-wine ; grapes they have plenty , and wine privately , and good flesh & fish ; but the common sort stamped millit , mingled with milke and water . they call cassa for meat , and drinke any thing ; also any beast unprofitable for service they kill , when they are like to die , or however they die ; they will eat them , guts liver and all ; but the most fleshy parts they cut in thinne slices , and hang it up in the sunne and wind wihout salting , where it will drie so hard , it will not putrifie in a long time . a ramme they esteeme a great feast among forty or fiftie , which they cut in peeces boiled or roast , puts it in a great bowle with salt and water , for other sauce they have none ; the master of the feast giveth every one a peece , which he eateth by himselfe , or carrieth away with him . thus their hard fare makes them so infinite in cattell , and their great number of captived women to breed vpon , makes them so populous . but neere the christian frontiers , the baser sort make little cottages of wood , called vlusi , daubed over with durt , and beasts dung covered with sedge ; yet in summer they leave them , beginning their progresse in aprill , with their wives , children , and slaves , in their carted houses , scarce convenient for foure or five persons ; driving their flocks towards perecopya , and sometimes into taurica , or osow , a towne upon the river tanais , which is great and swift , where the turke hath a garrison ; and in october returne againe to their cottages . their clothes are the skinnes of dogges , goats , and sheepe , lined with cotten cloath , made of their finest wooll , for of their worst they make their felt , which they use in aboundance , as well for shooes and caps , as houses , beds , and idolls ; also of the coarse wooll mingled with horse haire , they make all their cordage . notwithstanding this wandring life , their princes sit in great state upon beds , or carpits , and with great reverence are attended both by men and women , and richly served in plate , and great silver cups , delivered upon the knee , attired in rich furres , lined with plush , or taffity , or robes of tissue . these tartars possesse many large and goodly plaines , wherein feed innumerable herds of horse and cattell , as well wilde as tame ; which are elkes , bisones , horses , deere , sheepe , goates , swine , beares , and divers others . in those countries are the ruines of many faire monasteries , castles , and cities , as bacasaray , salutium , almassary , perecopya , cremum , sedacom , capha , and divers others by the sea , but all kept with strong garrisons for the great turke , who yearely by trade or trafficke , receiveth the chiefe commodities those fertile countries afford , as bezer , rice , furres , hides , butter , salt , cattell , and slaves , yet by the spoiles they get from the secure and idle christians , they maintaine themselves in this pompe . also their wives , of whom they have as many as they will , very costly , yet in a constant custome with decency . they are mahometans , as are the turks , from whom also they have their lawes , but no lawyers , nor attournies , onely iudges , and iustices in every village , or hordia ; but capitall criminalls , or matters of moment , before the chan himselfe , or priuie counsells , of whom they are alwayes heard , and speedily discharged ; for any may have accesse at any time to them , before whom they appeare with great reverence , adoring their princes as gods , and their spirituall iudges as saints ; for iustice is with such integrity and expedition executed , without covetousnesse , bribery , partiality , and brawling , that in six moneths they have sometimes scarce six causes to heare . about the princes court none but his guard weares any weapon , but abroad they goe very strong , because there are many bandytos , and theeves . they use the hungarians , russians , wallachians , and moldavian slaves ( whereof they have plenty ) as beasts to every worke ; and those tartars that serve the chan , or noblemen , have only victuall and apparell , the rest are generally nasty , and idle , naturally miserable , and in their warres better theeves than souldiers , th●s chan hath yeerely a donative from the king of poland , the dukes of lituania , moldavia , and nagagon tartars ; their messengers commonly he useth bountifully , and verie nobly , but sometimes most cruelly ; when any of them doth bring their presents , by his houshold officers they are entertained in a plaine field , with a moderate proportion of flesh , bread and wine , for once ; but when they come before him , the sultaines , tuians , vlans , marhies , his chiefe officers and councellors attend , one man only bringeth the ambassadour to the court gate , but to the chan he is led betweene two councellors ; where s●luting him upon their bended knees , declaring their message , are admitted to eat with him , and presented with a great silver cup full of mead from his owne hand , but they drinke it upon their knees : when they aredispatched , he invites them againe , the feast ended , they go backe a little from the palace doore , and rewarded with silke vestures wrought with gold downe to their anckles , with an horse or two , and sometimes a slave of their owne nation ; in them robes presently they come to him againe , to give him thankes , take their leave , and so depart . chap. xvi . how he levieth an armie ; their armes and provision ; how he divideth the spoile ; and his service to the great turke . when he intends any warres , he must first have leave of the great turke , whom hee is bound to assist when hee commandeth , receiving daily for himselfe and chiefe of his nobilitie , pensions from the turke , that holds all kings but slaves , that pay tribute or are subject to any : signifying his intent to all his subjects , within a moneth commonly he raiseth his armie , and everie man is to furnish himselfe for three moneths victuals , which is parched millit , or grownd to meale , which they ordinarily mingle with water ( as is said ) hard cheese or cruds dried , and beaten to powder , a little will make much water like milke , and dried flesh , this they put also up in sackes : the chan and his nobles have some bread and aquavitae , and quicke cattell to kill when they please , wherewith verie sparingly they are contented . being provided with expert guides , and got into the countrey he intends to invade , he sends forth his scouts to bring in what prisoners they can , from whom he will wrest the utmost of their knowledge fit for his purpose : having advised with his councell , what is most fit to be done , the nobilitie , according to their antiquitie , doth march ; then moves he with his whole armie : if hee finde there is no enemie to oppose him , he adviseth how farre they shall invade , commanding everie man ( upon paine of his life ) to kill all the obvious rusticks ; but not to hurt any women , or children . ten , or fifteene thousand , he commonly placeth , where hee findeth most convenient for his standing campe ; the rest of his armie hee divides in severall troops , bearing ten or twelve miles s●uare before them , and ever within three or foure dayes returne to their campe , putting all to fire and sword , but that they carrie with them backe to their campe ; and in this scattering manner he will invade a countrey , and be gone with his prey , with an incredible expedition . but if he understand of an enemie , he will either fight in ambuscado , or flie ; for he will never fight any battell if he can chuse , but upon treble advantage ; yet by his innumerable flights of arrowes , i have seene flie from his flying troopes , we could not well judge , whether his fighting or flying was most dangerous , so good is h●s horse , and so expert his bowmen ; but if they be so intangled they must fight , there is none can bee more hardy , or resolute in their defences . regaining his owne borders , he takes the tenth of the principall captives , man , woman , childe , or beast ( but his captaines that t●ke them , will accept of some particular person they best like for themselves ) the rest are divided amongst the whole armie , according to every mans desert , and quality ; that they keepe them , or sell them to who will give most ; but they will not forget to use all the meanes they can , to know their estates , friends , and quality , and the better they finde you , the worse they will use you , till you doe agree to pay such a ransome , as they will impose upon you ; therefore many great persons have ●ndured much misery to conceale themselves , because their ransomes areso intolerable : their best hope is of some christian agent , that many times commeth to redeeme slaves , either with mony , or man for man ; those agents knowing so well the extreme covetousnesse of the tartars , doe use to bribe some iew or merchant , that feigning they will sell them againe to some other nation , are oft redeemed for a very small ransome . but to this tartarian armie , when the turke commands , he goeth with some small artillery ; and the nagagians , perecopens , crimes , osovens , and cersessians , are his tributaries ; but the petigorves , oczaconians , byalogordens , and dobrucen tartars , the turke by covenant commands to follow him , so that from all those tartars he hath had an army of an hundred and twenty thousand excellent , swift , stomackfull tartarian horse , for foot they have none . now the chan , his sultaines and nobility , use turkish , caramanian , arabian , parthian , and other strange tartarian horses ; the swiftest they esteeme the best ; seldome they feede any more at home , than they have present use for ; but upon their plaines is a short wodde like heath , in some countries like gaile , full of berries , farre much better than any grasse . their armes are such as they have surprised or got from the christians or persians , both brest-plates , swords , semiteres , and helmets ; bowes and arrowes they make most themselves , also their bridles and saddles are indifferent , but the nobility are very handsome , and well armed like the turkes , in whom consisteth their greatest glory ; the ordinary sort have little armor , some a plaine young pole unshaven , headed with a peece of iron for a lance ; some an old christian pike , or a turks cavatine ; yet those tattertimallions will have two or three horses , some foure or five , as well for service , as for to eat ; which makes their armies seem thrice so many as there are souldiers . the chan himselfe hath about his person ten thousand chosen tartars and ianizaries , some small ordnance , and a white mares taile , with a peece of greene taffity on a great pike , is carried before him for a standard ; because they hold no beast so precious as a white mare , whose milke is onely for the king & nobility , and to sacrifice to their idolls ; but the rest have ensignes of dive●s colours . for all this miserable knowledge , furniture , and equipage , th● mischiefe they doe in christendome is wonderfull , by reason of their hardnesse of life and constitution , obedience , agilitie , and their emperours bountie , honours , grace , and dignities he ever bestoweth upon those , that have done him any memorable service in the face of his enemies . the caspian sea , most men agree that have passed it , to be in length about 200. leagues , and in breadth an hundred & fifty , environed to the east , with the great desarts of the tartars of turkamane ; to the west , by the circasses , and the mountaine caucasus ; to the north , by the river volga , and the land of nagay ; and to the south , by media , and persia : this sea is fresh water in many places , in others as salt as the great ocean ; it hath many great rivers which fall into it , as the mighty river of volga , which is like a sea , running neere two thousand miles , through many great and large countries , that send into it many other great rivers ; also out of saberya , yaick , and yem , out of the great mountaine caucasus , the river sirus , arash , and divers others , yet no sea neerer it than the blacke sea , which is at least an hundred leagues distant : in which country live the georgians , now part armenians , part nestorians ; it is neither found to increase or diminish , or empty it selfe any way , except it be under ground , and in some places they can finde no ground at two hundred fadome . many other most strange and wonderfull things are in the land of cathay towards the north-east , and chyna towards the south-east , where are many of the most famous kingdomes in the world ; where most arts , plenty , and curiosities are in such abundance , as might seeme incredible , which hereafter i will relate , as i have briefly gathered from such authors as have lived there . chap. xvii . how captaine smith escaped his captivity ; slew the bashaw of nalbrits in cambia ; his passage to russia , transilvania , and the middest of europe to affrica . all the hope he had ever to be delivered from this thraldome , was only the love of tragabigzanda , who surely was ignorant of his bad usage ; for although he had often debated the matter with some christians , that had beene there a long time slaves , they could not finde how to make an escape , by any reason or possibility ; but god beyond mans expectation or imagination helpeth his servants when they least thinke of helpe , as it hapned to him . so long he lived in this miserable estate , as he became a thresher at a grange in a great field , more than a league from the tymors house ; the bashaw as he ost used to visit his granges , visited him , and rocke occasion so to beat , spurne , and revile him , that forgetting all reason , he beat out the tymors braines with his threshing bat , for they have no flailes ; and seeing his estate could be no worse than it was , clothed himselfe in his clothes , hid his body under the straw , filled his knapsacke with corne , shut the doores , mounted his horse , and ranne into the desart at all adventure ; two or three dayes thus fearfully wandring he knew not whither , and well it was he met not any to aske the way ; being even as taking l●ave of this miserable world , god did direct him to the great way or castragan , as they call it , which doth crosse these large territories , and generally knowne among them by these markes . in every crossing of this great way is planted a post , and in it so many bobs with broad ends , as there be wayes , and every bob the figure painted on it , that demonstrateth to what part that way lead●th ; as that which pointeth towards the cryms country , is marked with a halfe monne , if towards the georgians and persia , a blacke man , full of white spots , if towards china , the picture of the sunne , if towards muscovia , the signe of a crosse , if towards the habitation of any other prince , the figure whereby his standard is knowne . to his dying spirits thus god added some comfort in this melancholy journey , wherein if he had met any of that vilde generation , they had made him their slave , or knowing the figure engraven in the iron about his necke , ( as all slaves have ) he had beene sent backe againe to his master ; sixteene dayes he travelled in this feare and torment , after the crosse , till he arrived at aecopolis , upon the river don , a garrison of the muscovites . the governour after due examination of those his hard events , tooke off his irons , and so kindly used him , he thought himselfe new risen from death , and the good lady callamata , largely supplied all his wants . that the country of cambia is two dayes journy from the head of the great river bruapo , which springeth from many places of the mountaines of innagachi , that joyne themselves together in the poole kerkas ; which they account for the head , and falleth into the sea dissabacca , called by some the lake meotis , which receiveth also the river tanais , and all the rivers that fall from the great countries of the circassi , the cartaches , and many from the tauricaes , precopes , cummani , cossunka , and the cryme ; through which sea he sailed , and up the river bruapo to nalbrits , and thence through the desarts of circassi to aecoplis , as is related ; where he stayed with the governour , till the convoy went to coraguaw ; then with his certificate how hee found him , and had examined with his friendly letters sent him by zumalacke to caragnaw , whose governour in like manner so kindly use him , that by this meanes he went with a safe conduct to letch , and donka , in cologoske , and thence to berniske , and newgrod in seberia , by rezechica , upon the river niper , in the confines of littuania ; from whence with as much kindnesse he was convoyed in like manner by coroski , duberesko , duzihell , drohobus , and ostroge in volonis ; saslaw and lasco in podolia ; halico and collonia in polonia ; and so to hermonstat in transilvania . in all his life he seldome met with more resp●ct , mirth , content , and entertainment ; and not any governour where he came , but gave him somewhat as a present , besides his charges ; seeing themselves as subject to the like calamity . through those poore continually forraged countries there is no passage , but with the carravans or convoyes ; for they are countries rather to be pitied , than envied ; and it is a wonder any should make warres for them . the villages are onely here and there a few houses of straight firre trees , laid heads and points above one another , made fast by notches at the ends more than a mans height , and with broad split boards , pinned together with woodden pinnes , as thatched for coverture . in ten villages you shall scarce finde ten iron nailes , except it be in some extraordinary mans house . for their townes , aecopolis , letch , and d●nko , have rampiers made of that woodden walled fashion , double , and betwixt them earth and stones , but so latched with crosse timber , they are very strong against any thing but fire ; and about them a deepe ditch , and a palizado of young firre trees : but most of the rest have only a great ditch cast about them , and the ditches earth is all their rampier ; but round well environed with palizadoes . some have some few small peeces of small ordnance , and slings , calievers , and muskets , but their generallest weapons are the russe bowes and arrowes ; you shall find pavements over bogges , onely of young firre trees laid crosse one over another , for two or three houres journey , or as the passage requires , and yet in two dayes travell you shall scarce see six habitations . notwithstanding to see how their lords , governours , and captaines are civilized , well attired and acoutred with iewells , sables , and horses , and after their manner with curious furniture , it is wonderfull ; but they are all lords or slaves , which makes them so subject to every invasion . in transilvania he found so many good friends , that but to see , and rejoyce himselfe ( after all those encounters ) in his native country , he would ever hardly have left them , though the mirrour of vertue their prince was absent . being thus glutted with content , and neere drowned with joy , he passed high hungaria by fileck , tocka , cassovia , and vnderoroway , by vlmicht in moravia , to prague in bohemia ; at last he found the most gracious prince sigismundus , with his colonell at lipswick in misenland , who gave him his passe , intimating the service he had done , and the honours he had received , with fifteene hundred ducats of gold to repaire his losses : with this he spent some time to visit the faire cities and countries of drasdon in saxonie , magdaburgh and brunswicke ; cassell in hessen ; wittenberg , vilum , and minikin in bavaria ; aughsbrough , and her vniversities ; hama , franckford , mentz , the palatinate ; wormes , speyre , and strausborough ; passing nancie in loraine , and france by paris to orleans , hee went downe the river of loyer , to angiers , and imbarked himselfe at nantz in britanny , for bilbao in biskay , to see burgos-valiadolid , the admired monasterie of the escuriall , madrill , teledo , cordua , cuedyriall , civill , cheryes , cales , and saint lucas in spaine . chap. xviii . the observations of captaine smith ; mr. henrie archer and others in barbarie . being thus satisfied with europe and asia , understanding of the wa●res in barbarie , hee went from gibralter to guta and tanger , thence to saffee , where growing into acquaintance with a french man of warre , the captaine and some twelve more went to morocco , to see the ancient monuments of that large renowned citie : it was once the principall citie in barbarie , situated in a goodly plaine countrey , 14. miles from the great mount atlas , and sixtie miles from the atlanticke sea ; but now little remaining , but the kings palace , which is like a citie of it selfe , and the christian church , on whose flat square steeple is a great brouch of iron , whereon is placed the three golden bals of affrica : the first is neere three ells in circumference , the next above it somewhat lesse , the uppermost the least over them , at it were an halfe ball , and over all a prettie guilded pyramides . against those golden bals hath been shot many a shot , their weight is recorded 700. weight of pure gold , hollow within , yet no shot did ever hit them , nor could ever any conspirator attaine that honor as to get them downe . they report the prince of morocco betrothed himselfe to the kings daughter of aethiopia , he dying before their mariage , she caused those three golden balls to be set up for his monument , and vowed virginitie all her life . the alfantica is also a place of note , because it is invironed with a great wall , wherein lye the goods of all the merchants securely guarded . the iuderea is also ( as it were ) a citie of it selfe , where dwell the iewes : the rest for the most part is defaced : but by the many pinnacles and towers , with balls on their tops , hath much appearance of much sumptuousness and curiositie . there have been many famous universities , which are now but stables for fowles & beasts , & the houses in most parts lye tumbled one above another ; the walls of earth are with the great fresh flouds washed to the ground ; nor is there any village in it , but tents for strangers , larbes & moores . strange tales they will tell of a great garden , wherein were all sorts of bi●ds , fishes , beasts , fruits & fountaines , which for beautie , art and pleasure , exceeded any place knowne in the world , though now nothing but dung-hils , pigeon-houses , shrubs and bushes . there are yet many excellent fountaines adorned with marble , and many arches , pillers , towers , ports and temples , but most only reliques of lamentable ruines and sad desolation . when mully hamet reigned in barbarie , hee had three sonnes , mully shecke , mully sidan , and mully befferres , be a most good and noble king , that governed well with peace and plentie , till his empresse , more cruell than any beast in affrica , poysoned him , her owne daughter , mully shecke his eldest sonne borne of a portugall ladie , and his daughter , to bring mully sidan to the crowne now reigning , which was the cause of all those brawles and warres that followed betwixt those brothers , their children , and a saint that start up , but he played the devill . king mully hamet was not blacke , as many suppose , but molata , or tawnie , as are the most of his subjects ; everie way noble , kinde and friendly , verie rich and pompous in sta●e and majestie , though hee sitteth not upon a throne nor chaire of estate , but crosse legged upon a rich carpet , as doth the turke , whose religion of mahomet , with an incredible miserable curiositie they observe . his ordinarie guard is at least 5000 but in progresse he goeth not with lesse than 20000. horsemen , himselfe as rich in all his equipage , as any prince in christendome , and yet a contributor to the turke . in all his kingdome were so few good artificers , that hee entertained from england , gold-smiths , plummers , carvers , and polishers of stone , and watch-makers , so much hee delighted in the reformation of workmanship , hee allowed each of them ten shillings a day standing fee , linnen , woollen , silkes ; and what they would for diet and apparell , and custome-free to transport , or import what they would ; for there were scarce any of those qualities in his kingdomes , but those , of which there are divers of them living at this present in london . amongst the rest , one m● . henry archer , a watch-maker , walking in morocco , from the alfantica to the iuredea , the way being verie foule , met a great priest , or a sante ( as they call all great clergy-men ) who would have thrust him into the durt for the way ; but archer , not knowing what he was , gave him a box on the eare , presently he was apprehended and condemned to have his tongue cut out , and his hand cut off : but no sooner it was knowen at the kings court , but 300. of his guard came , and broke open the prison , and delivered him , although the fact was next degree to treason . concerning this archer , there is one thing more worth noting : not farre from mount atlas , a great lionesse in the heat of the day , did use to bathe her selfe , and teach her young puppies to swimme in the river cauzeff , of a good bredth ; yet she would carrie them one after another over the river ; which some moores perceiving watched their opportunitie , and when the river was betweene her and them , stole foure of her whelps , which she perceiving , with all the speed shee could passed the river , and comming neere them they let fall a whelpe ( and fled with the rest ) which she tooke in her mouth , and so returned to the rest : a male and a female of those they gave mr. archer , who kept them in the kings garden , till the male killed the female , then he brought , it up as a puppy-dog lying upon his bed , till it grew so great as a mastiffe , and no dog more tame or gentle to them hee knew : but being to returne for england , at saffee he gave him to a merchant of marsellis , that presented him to the french k●ng , who sent him to king iames , where it was kept in the tower seven yeeres : after one mr. iohn bull , then servant to mr. archer , with divers of his friends , went to see the lyons , not knowing any thing at all of him ; yet this rare beast smelled him before hee saw him , whining , groaning , and tumbling , with such an expression of acquaintance , that being informed by the keepers how-hee came thither ; mr. bull so prevailed , the keeper opened the grate , and bull went in : but no dogge could fawne more on his master , than the lyon on him , licking his feet , hands , and face , skipping and tumbling to and fro , to the wonder of all the beholders ; being satisfied with his acquaintance , he made shift to get out of the grate . but when the lyon saw his friend gone , no beast by bellowing , roaring , scratching , and howling , could expresse more rage and sorrow , nor in foure dayes after would he either eat or drinke . in morocco , the kings lyons are all together in a court , invironed with a great high wall ; to those they put a young puppy-dogge : the greatest lyon had a sore upon his necke , which this dogge so licked that he was healed : the lyon defended him from the furie of all the rest , nor durst they eat till the dogge and he had fed ; this dog grew great , and lived amongst them many yeeres after . fez also is a most large and plentifull countrey , the chiefe citie is called fez , divided into two parts ; old fez , containing about 80. thousand housholds , the other 4000. pleasantly situated vpon a river in the heart of barbarie , part upon hils , part upon plaines , full of people , and all sorts of merchandise . the great temple is called carucen , in bredth seventeene arches , in length 120. borne up with 2500. white marble pillars : under the chiefe arch , where the tribunall is kept , hangeth a most huge lampe , compassed with 110. lesser , under the other also hang great lamps , and about some are burning fifteene hundred lights . they say they were all made of the bels the arabians brought from spaine . it hath three gates of notable height , priests and officers so many , that the circuit of the church , the yard , and other houses , is little lesse than a mile and an halfe in compasse ; there are in this citie 200. schooles , 200. innes , 400. water-mils , 600. water-conduits , 700. temples and oratories ; but fiftie of them most stately and richly furnished . their alcazer or burse is walled about , it hath twelve gates , and fifteen walks covered with tents , to keepe the sun from the merchants , and them that come there . the kings palace , both for strength and beautie is excellent , and the citizens have many great privileges . those two countreyes of fez and morocco , are the best part of all barbarie , abounding with people , cattell , and all good necessaries for mans use . for the rest , as the larbes , or mountainers , the kingdomes of cocow , algier , tripoly , tunis , and aegypt ; there are many large histories of them in divers languages , especially that writ by that most excellent statesman , iohn de leo , who afterward turned christian. the unknowen countries of ginny and binne , this six and twentie yeeres have beene frequented with a few english ships only to trade , especially the river of senaga , by captaine brimstead , captaine brockit , mr. crump ▪ and divers others . also the great river of gambra , by captaine iobson , who is returned in thither againe in the yeere 1626. with mr. william grent , and thirteene or fourteene others , to stay in the countrey , to discover some way to those rich mines of gago or tumbatu , from whence is supposed the moores of barbarie have their gold , and the certaintie of those supposed descriptions and relations of those interiour parts , which daily the more they are sought into , the more they are corrected . for surely , those interiour parts of affrica are little knowen to either english , french , or dutch , though they use much the coast ; therefore wee will make a little bold with the observations of the portugalls . chap. xix . the strange discoveries and observations of the portugalls in affrica . the portugalls on those pars have the glorie , who first coasting along this westerne shore of affrica , to finde passage to the east indies , within this hundred and fiftie yeeres , even from the streights of gibralter , about the cape of bone esperance to the persian gulfe , and thence all along the asian coast to the moluccas , have subjected many great kingdomes , erected many common-wealths , built many great and strong cities ; and where is it they have not beene by trade or force ? no not so much as cape de verd , and sermleone ; but most bayes or rivers , where there is any trade to bee had , especially gold , or conveniencie for refreshment , but they are scattered ; living so amongst those blacks , by time and cunning they seeme to bee naturalized amongst them . as for the isles of the canaries , they have faire townes , many villages , and many thousands of people rich in commodities . ordoardo lopez , a noble portugall , anno dom. 1578. imbarquing himselfe for congo to trade , where he found such entertainment , finding the king much oppressed with enemies , hee found meanes to bring in the portugalls to assist him , whereby he planted there christian religion , and spent m●st of his life to bring those countreyes to the crowne of portugall , which he describeth in this manner . the kingdome of congo is about 600. miles diameter any way , the chiefe citie called st. savadore , seated upon an exceeding high mountaine , 150. miles from the sea , verie fertile , and inhabited with more than 100000. persons , where is an excellent prospect over all the plaine countreyes about it , well watered , lying ( as it were ) in the center of this kingdome , over all which the portugalls now command , though but an handfull in comparison of negroes . they have flesh and fruits verie plentifull of divers sorts . this kingdom is divided into five provinces , viz. bamba , sundi pango , batta and pembo ; but bamba is the principall , and can affoord 400000. men of warre . elephants are bred over all those provinces , and of wonderfull greatnesse ; though some report they cannot kneele , nor lye downe , they can doe both , and have their joynts as other creatures for use : with their fore-seet they will leape upon trees to pull downe the boughes , and are of that strength , they will shake a great cocar tree for the nuts , and pull downe a good tree with their ruskes , to get the leaves to eat , as well as sedge and long grasse , cocar nuts and berries , &c. which with their trunke they put in their mouth , and chew it with their smaller teeth ; in most of those provinces , are many rich mines , but the negars opposed the portugalls for working in them . the kingdome of angola is wonderfull populous , and rich in mines of silver , copper , and most other mettalls ; fruitfull in all manner of food , and sundry sorts of cattell , but dogges fl●sh they love better than any other meat ; they use few clothes , and no armour ; bowes , arrowes , and clubs , are their weapons . but the portugalls are well armed against those engines , and doe buy yearely of those blacks more than five thousand sl●ves , and many are people exceeding well proportioned . the anchicos are a most valiant nation , but most strange to all about them . their armes are bowes , short and small , wrapped about with serpents skinnes , of divers colours , but so smooth you would thinke them all one with the wood , and it makes them very strong ; their strings little twigs , but exceeding tough and flexible ; their arrow●s short , which they shoot with an incredible quic●nesse . they have short axes of brasse and copper for swords ; wonderfull loyall and faithfull , and exceeding simple , yet so active , they skip amongst the rockes like goats . they trade with them of nubea , and congo , for lamache , which is a small kinde of shell fish , of an excellent azure colour , male and female , but the female they hold most pure ; they value them at divers prices , because they are of divers sorts , and those they use for coine , to buy and sell , as we doe gold and silver ; nor will they have any other money in all those countries , for which they give elephants teeth ; and slaves for salt , silke , linnen cloth , glasse-beads , and such like portugall commodities . they circumcise themselves , and marke their faces with sundry flashes from their infancie . they keepe a shambles of mans flesh , as if it were beefe , or other victuall ; for when they cannot have a good market for their slaves ; or their enemies they take , they kill , and sell them in this manner ; some are so resolute , in shewing how much they scorne death , they will offer themselves and slaves , to this butchery to their prince and friends ; and though there be many nations will eat their enemies , in america and asia , yet none but those are knowne to be so mad , as to cat their slaves and friends also . religions and idolls they have as many , as nations and humours ; but the devill hath the greatest part of their devotions , whom all those blacks doe say is white ; for there are no saints but blacks . but besides those great kingdomes of congo , angola , and azichi , in those unfrequented parts are the kingdomes of lango , matania , buttua , ●ofola , mozambeche , quivola , the isle of saint lawrence , mombaza , meli●da , the empires of monomatopa , monemugi , and presbiter iohn , with whom they have a kinde of trade , and their rites , customes , climates , temperatures , and commodities by relation . also of great lakes , that deserve the names of seas , and huge mountaines of divers sorts , as some scorched with heat , some covered with snow ; the mountaines of the sunne also of the moone , some of crystall , some of iron , some of silver , and mountaines of gold , with the originall of nilus ; likewise sundry forts of cattell , fishes , fowles , strange beasts , and monstrous serpents ; for affrica was alwayes noted to be a fruitfull mother of such terrible creatures ; who meeting at their watering places , which are but ponds in desart places , in regard of the heat of the country , and their extremities of nature , make strange copulations , and so ingender those extraordinary monsters . of all these you may reade in the history of this edward lopez , translated into english by abraham hartwell , and dedicated to iohn lord archbishop of canterbury , 1597. but because the particul●rs are most concerning the conversion of those pagans , by a good poore priest , that first converted a noble man , to convert the king , and the rest of the nobility ; sent for so many priests and ornaments into portugall , to solemnize their baptismes with such magnificence , which was performed with such strange curiosities , that those poore negros adored them as gods , till the p●iests grew to that wealth , a bishop was sent to rule over them , which they would not endure , which endangered to spoile all before they could bee reconciled . but not to trouble you too long with those rarities of uncertainties ; let us returne againe to barbary , where the warres being ended , and befferres possessed of morocco , and his fathers treasure , a new bruit arose amongst them , that muly sidan , was raising an armie against him , who after tooke his brother befferres prisoner ; but by reason of the uncertainty , and the perfidious , treacherous , bloudy murthers rather than warre , amongst those perfidious , barbarous moores , smith returned with merham , and the rest to saffe , and so aboard his ship , to try some other conclusions at sea. chap. xx. a brave sea fight betwixt two spanish men of warre , and captaine merham , with smith . merham a captaine of a man of war then in the road , invited captaine smith , and two or three more of them aboord with him , where he spared not any thing he had to expresse his kindnesse , to bid them welcome , till it was too late to goe on shore , so that necessitie constrained them to stay aboord ; a fairer evening could not bee , yet ere midnight such a storme did arise , they were forced to let slip cable , and anchor , and put to sea ; spooning before the wind , till they were driven to the canaries ; in the calmes they accommodated themselves , hoping this strange accident might yet produce some good event ; not long it was before they tooke a small barke comming from teneryf , loaded with wine ; three or foure more they chased , two they tooke , but found little in them , save a few passengers , that told them of five dutch men of warre , about the isles , so that they stood for boyadora , upon the affrican shore , betwixt which and cape noa , they descried to saile . merham intending to know what they were , hailed them ; very civilly they dansed their topsailes , and desired the man of warre to come aboord them , and take what he would , for they were buttwo poore distressed bi●kiners . but merham the old fox , seeing himselfe in the lions pawes , sprung his loufe , the other tacked after him , and came close up to his nether quarter , gave his broad side , and so loufed up to windward ; the vice-admirall did the like , and at the next bout , the admirall with a noise of trumpets , and all his ordnance , murtherers , and muskets , boorded him on his broad side ; the other in like manner on his ley quarter , that it was so darke , there was little light , but fire and smoake ; long he stayed not , before he fell off , leaving 4. or 5. of his men sprawling over the grating ; after they had battered merham about an houre , they boorded him againe as before ; and threw foure kedgers or grapnalls in iron chaines , then shearing off they thought so to have torne downe the grating ; but the admiralls yard was so intangled in their shrouds , merham had time to discharge two crosse barre shot amongst them , and divers bolts of iron made for that purpose , against his bow , that made such a breach , he feared they both should have sunke for company ; so that the spaniard was as yare in slipping his chained grapnalls , as merham was in cutting the tackling , kept fast their yards in his shrouds ; the vice-admirall presently cleared himselfe , but spared neither his ordnance nor muskets to keepe merham from getting away , till the admirall had repaired his leake ; from twelve at noone , till six at night , they thus interchanged one volly for another ; then the vice-admirall fell on starne , staying for the admirall that came up againe to him , and all that night stood after merham , that shaped his course for mamora , but such small way they made , the next morning they were not three leagues off from cape noa . the two spanish men of warre , for so they were , and well appointed , taking it in scorne as it seemed , with their chase , broad side , and starne , the one after the other , within musket shot , plying their ordnance ; and after an houres worke commanded , merham a maine for the king of spaine upon faire quarter ; merham dranke to them , and so discharged his quarter peeces : which pride the spaniard to revenge , boorded him againe , and many of them were got to the top to unsling the maine saile , which the master and some others from the round house , caused to their cost to come tumbling downe ; about the round house the spaniards so pestered , that they were forced to the great cablen and blew it up ; the smoake and fire was so vehement , as they thought the ship on fire ; they in the fore castle were no lesse assaulted , that blew up a peece of the grating , with a great many of spaniards more ; then they cleared themselves with all speed , and merham with as much expedition to quench the fire with w●t clothes and water , which beganne to grow too fast . the spaniard still playing upon him with all the shot they could ; the open places presently they covered with old sailes , and prepared themselves to fight to the last man. the angry spaniard seeing the fire quenched , hung out a flagge of truce to have but a parley ; but that desperate merham knew there was but one way with him , and would have none , but the report of his ordnance , which hee did know well how to use for his best advantage . thus they spent the next after-noone , and halfe that night , when the spanyards either lost them , or left them . seven and twentie men merham had slaine , and sixteene wounded , and could finde they had received 140. great shot . a wounded spanyard they kept alive confessed , they had lost 100. men in the admirall , which they did feare would sinke , ere she could recover a port. thus reaccommodating their sailes , they sailed for sancta cruse , cape goa , and magadore , ti●l they came againe to saffee , and then he returned into england . chap. xxi . the continuation of the generall historie of virginia ; the summer iles ; and new england ; with their present estate from 1624. to this present 1629. concerning these countreyes , i would be sorrie to trouble you with repeating one thing twice , as with their maps , commodities , people , government & religion yet knowen , the beginning of those plantations , their numbers and names , with the names of the adventurers , the yeerely proceedings of everie governour both here and there . as for them misprisions , neglect , grievances , and the causes of all those rumours , losses and crosses that have happened ; i referre you to the generall historie , where you shall finde all this at large ; especially to those pages , where you may read my letter of advice to the councell and company , what of necessitie must be done , or lose all and leave the countrey , pag. 70. what commodities i sent home , pag. 163. my opinion and offer to the company , to feed and defend the colonies , pag. 150. my account to them here of my actions there , pag. 163. my seven answers to his majesties commissioners : seven questions what hath hindered virginia , and the remedie , pag. 165. how those noble gentlemen spent neere two yeares in perusing all letters came from thence ; and the differences betwixt many factions , both here and there , with their complaints ; especially about the sallerie , which should have beene a new office in london , for the well ordering the sale of tobacco , that 2500. pounds should yearely have beene raised out of it , to pay foure or five hundred pounds yearly to the governor of that companie ; two or three hundred to his deputie ; the rest into stipends of thirtie or fiftie pounds yearely for their clerks and under officers which were never there , pag. 153. but not one hundred pounds for all them in virginia , nor any thing for the most part of the adventurers in england , except the undertakers for the lotteries , setters out of ships , adventurers of commodities , also their factors and many other officers , there imployed only by friendship to raise their fortunes out of the labours of the true industrious planters by the title of their office , who under the colour of sinceritie , did pillage and deceive all the rest most cunningly : for more than 150000. pounds have beene spent out of the common stocke , besides many thousands have beene there consumed , and neere 7000. people that there died , only for want of good order and government , otherwise long ere this there would have beene more than 20000. people , wh●re after twentie yeeres spent onely in complement , and trying new conclusions , was remaining scarce 1500. with some few cattell . then the company dissolved , but no account of any thing ; so that his majestie appointed commissioners to oversee , and give order for their proceedings . being thus in a manner left to themselves , since then within these foure yeeres , you shall see how wonderfully they have increased beyond expectation ; but so exactly as i desired , i cannot relate unto you : for although i have tired my selfe in seeking and discoursing with those returned thence , more than would a voyage to virginia ; few can tell me any thing , but of that place or places they have inhabited , and he is a great traveller that hath gone up & downe the river of iames towne , been at pamaunke , smiths iles , or accomack ; wherein for the most part they keepe one tune of their now particular abundance , and their former wants , having beene there , some sixteene yeeres , some twelve , some six , some neere twentie , &c. but of their generall estate , or any thing of worth , the most of them doth know verie little to any purpose . now the most i could understand in generall , was from the relation of mr. nathaniel cawsey , that lived there with mee , and returned anno dom. 1627. and some others affirme ; sir george yerley was governour , captaine francis west , doctor iohn poot , captain roger smith , captaine matthewes , captaine tucker , mr. clabourne , and mr. farrer of the councell : their habitations many . the governour , with two or three of the councell , are for most part at iames towne , the rest repaire thither as there is occasion ; but everie three moneths they have a generall meeting , to consider of their publike affaires . their numbers then were about 1500. some say rather 2000. divided into seventeene or eighteene severall plantations ; the greatest part thereof towards the falls , are so inclosed with pallizadoes they regard not the salvages ; and amongst those plantations above iames towne , they have now found meanes to take plentie of fish , as well with lines , as nets , and where the waters are the largest , having meanes , they need not want . upon this river they seldome see any salvages , but in the woods , many times their fires : yet some few there are , that upon their opportunitie have slaine some few stragglers , which have beene revenged with the death of so many of themselves ; but no other attempt hath beene made upon them this two or three yeares . their cattle , namely oxen , kine , buls , they imagine to be about 2000. goats great store and great increase ; the wilde hogs , which were infinite , are destroyed and eaten by the salvages : but no family is so poore , that hath not tame swine sufficient ; and for poultrie , he is a verie bad husband breedeth not an hundred in a yeere , and the richer sort doth daily feed on them . for bread they have plentie , and so good , that those that make it well , better cannot be : divers have much english corne , especially mr. abraham perce , which prepared this yeere to sow two hundred acres of english wheat , and as much with barley , feeding daily about the number of sixtie persons at his owne charges . for drinke , some malt the indian corne , others barley , of which they make good ale , both strong and small , and such plentie thereof , few of the upper planters drinke any water : but the better sort are well furnished with sacke , aquavitae , and good english beere . their servants commonly feed upon milke homini , which is bruized indian corne pounded , and boiled thicke , and milke for the sauce ; but boiled with milke , the best of all will oft feed on it , and leave their fl●sh ; with milke , butter and cheese ; with fish , bulls flesh , for they seldome kill any other , &c. and everie one is so applyed to his labour about tobacco and corne , which doth yeeld them them such profit , they never regard any food from the salvages , nor have they any trade or conference with them , but upon meere accidents and defiances : and now the merchants have left it , there have gone so many voluntarie ships within this two yeeres , as have furnished them with apparell , sacke , aquavitae , and all necessaries , much better than ever before . for armes , there is scarce any man but he is furnished with a peece , a iacke , a coat of maile , a sword , or rapier ; and euerie holy-day , everie plantation doth exercise their men in armes , by which meanes , hunting and fowling , the most part of them are most excellent mark-men . for discoveries they have made none , nor any other commoditie than tobacco doe they apply themselves unto , though never any was planted at first . and whereas the countrey was heretofore held most intemperate and contagious by many , now they have houses , lodgings and victuall , and the sunne hath power to exhale up the moyst vapours of the earth , where they have cut downe the wood , which before it could not , being covered with spreading tops of high trees ; they finde it much more healthfull than before ; nor for their numbers , few countreyes are lesse troubled with death , sicknesse , or any other disease , nor where overgrowne women become more fruitfull . since this , sir george yerley died 1628. captaine west succeeded him ; but about a yeere after returned for england : now doctor poot is governour , and the rest of the councell as before : iames towne is yet their chiefe seat , most of the wood destroyed , little corne there planted , but all converted into pasture and gardens , wherein doth grow all manner of herbs and roots we have in england in abundance , and as good grasse as can be . here most of their cattle doe feed , their owners being most some one way , some another , about their plantations , and returne againe when they please , or any shipping comes in to trade . here in winter they have hay for their cattell , but in other places they browze upon wood , and the great huskes of their corne , with some corne in them , doth keepe them well mr. hutchins sa●th , the● h●ve 2000. c●●●le , and about 5000. people ; but master flond , iohn davis , william emerson , and divers others , say , about five thousand people , and five t●ousand kine , calves , ox●n , and bull● ; for goa●s , hogs , a●d poult●y ; corne , fish , deere , and many sorts of other wilde be●sts ; and fowle in their season , they have so much more than they spend , they are able to feed thr●e or foure hundred men more than they have ; and doe oft much releeve many ships , both there , and for their returne ; and this last yeare was there at least two or th●ee and twenty saile . they have oft much salt fi●h from new england , but fresh fish enough , when they will take it ; peaches in abundance at kecoughtan ; apples , peares , apricocks , vines , figges , and other fruits some have planted , that prosper●d ●xceedin●ly , but their diligence about tobacco , left them to be spoiled by the c●ttell , yet now they beginne to revive ; mistresse pearce , an honest indus●rious woman , hath beene there neere twentie yeares , and now returned , sait● , shee hath a garden at iames towne , containing three ●r s●me a●●e● , where in one yeare shee hath gathered neere an hundred b●shels of ●x●ellent figges ; and that of her owne provision she can keepe a b●tter house in virginia , than here in london for 3. or 400. pounds a yeare , yet went thither with little or nothing . they have some tame geese , ducks , and turkies . the masters now do so traine up their servants and youth in shooting deere , and fowle , that the youths will kill them as well as their mast●●s . they have two brew-houses , but they finde the indian corne so much better than ours , they beginne to leave sow●●g it . their cities and townes are onely scattered houses , they call plantations , as are our country villages , but no ordnance mounted . the forts captaine smith left a building , so ruined , there is scarce mention where they were ; no discoveries of any thing more , than the curing of tobacco , by which hitherto , being so present a commodity of gaine , it hath brought them to this abundance ; but that they are so disjoynted , and every one commander of himselfe , to plant what he will : they are now so well provided , that they are able to subsist ; and if they would joyne together , now to worke upon sope-ashes , iron , r●pe-oile , mader , pitch and tarre , flax and hempe ; as for their tobacco , there comes from many places such abundance , and the charge so great , it is not worth the bringing home . there is gone , and now a going , divers ships , as captaine perse , captaine prine , with sir iohn harvy to be their governour , with two or three hundred people ; there is also some bristow , and other parts of the west country a preparing , which i heartily pray to god to blesse , and send them a happy and prosperous , voyage . nathaniel causie , master hutchins , master floud , iohn davis , william emerson , master william barnet , master cooper , and others , chap. xxii . the proceedings and present estate of the summer iles , from an. dom. 1624 to this present 1629. from the summer iles , master ireland , and divers others report , their forts , o●dnance , and proceedings , are much as they were in the yeare 1622. as you may read in the generall history , page 199. captaine woodhouse governour . there are few sorts of any fruits in the west indies , but they grow there in abundance ; yet the fertility of the soile in many places decayeth , being planted every yeare ; for their plantaines , which is a most delicate fruit , they have lately found a way , by pickling , or drying them , to bring them over into england , there beinq no such fruit in europe , & wonderfull for increase . for fish , flesh , figs , wine , and all sorts of most excellent hearbs , fruits , and rootes they have in abundance . in this governours time , a kinde of whale , or rather a iubarta , was driven on shore in southampton tr●be from the west , over an infinite number of rocks , so bruised , that the water in the bay where she lay ; was all oily , and the rocks about it all bedasht with parmacitty , congealed like ice , a good quantity we gathered , with which we commonly cured any byle , hurt , or bruise ; some burnt it in their lamps , which blowing out , the very snuffe will burne , so long as there is any of the oile remaining , for two or three dayes together . the next governour , was captaine philip bell , whose time being expired , captaine roger wodd possessed his place , a worthy gentleman of good desert , and hath lived a long time in the country ; their numbers are about two or three thousand , men , women , and children , who increase there exceedingly ; their greatest complaint , is want of apparell , and too much custome , and too many officers ; the pity is , there , are more men than women , yet no great mischiefe , because there is so much lesse pride : the cattell they have increase exceedingly ; their forts are well maintained by the merchants here , and planters there ; to be briefe , this i le is an excellent bit , to rule great horse . all the cohow birds and egbirds are gone ; seldome any wilde cats seene ; no rats to speake of ; but the wormes are yet very troublesome ; the people very healthfull ; and the ravens gone ; fish enough , but not so neere , the shore as it used , by the much beating it ; it is an i le that hath such a rampire and a ditch , and for the quantity so manned , victualled , and fortified , as few in the world doe exceed it , or is like it . the 22. of march , two ships came from thence ; the peter-bonaventure , neere two hundred tunnes , and sixteene peeces of ordnance ; the captaine , thomas sherwin ; the master , master edward some , like him in condition , a goodly , lusty , proper valiant man : the lydia , wherein was master anthony thorne , a smaller ship ; were chased by eleuen ships of dunkerk ; being thus overmatched , captaine sherwin was taken by them in turbay , only his valiant master was slaine ; the ship with about seventy english men , they carried betwixt dover and callis , to dunk●rk ; but the lydia safely recovered dartmouth . these noble adventurers for all those losses , patiently doe beare them ; but they hope the king and state will understand it is worth keeping , though it afford nothing but tobacco , and that now worth little or nothing , custome and fraught payed , yet it is worth keeping , and not supplanting ; though great men feele not those losses , yet gardiners , carpenters , and smiths doe pay for it . from the relation of robert chesteven , and others . chap. xxiii . the proceedings and present estate of new england , since 1614. to this present 1629. when i went first to the north part of virginia , where the westerly colony had beene planted , it had dissolved it selfe within a yeare , and there was not one christian in all the land . i was set forth at the sole charge of foure merchants of london ; the country being then reputed by your westerlings , a most rockie , barren , desolate desart ; but the good returne i brought from thence , with the maps and relations i made of the country , which i made so manifest , some of them did beleeve me , and they were well embraced , both by the londoners , and westerlings , for whom i had promised to undertake it , thinking to have joyned them all together , but that might well have become a worke for hercules . betwixt them long there was much contention ; the londoners indeed went bravely forward ; but in three or foure yeares , i and my friends consumed many hundred pounds amongst the plimothians , who only sed me but with delayes , promises , and excuses , but no performance of any thing to any purpose . in the interim , many particular ships went thither , and finding my relations true , and that i had not taken that i brought home from the french men , as had beene reported ; yet further for my paines to discredit me , and my calling it new england , they obscured it , and shadowed it , with the title of cannada , till at my humble suit , it pleased our most royall king charles , whom god long keepe , blesse , and preserve , then prince of wales , to confirme it with my map and booke , by the the title of new england ; the gaine thence returning did make the same thereof so increase , that thirty , forty , or fifty saile , went yearly only to trade and fish ; but nothing would bee done for a plantation , till about some hundred , of your brownists of england , amsterdam , and leyden , went to new plimouth , whose humorous ignorances , caused them for more than a yeare , to endure a wonderfull deale of misery , with an infinite patience ; saying my books and maps were much better cheape to teach them , than my selfe ; many other have used the like good husbandry , that have payed soundly in trying their selfewilled conclusions ; but those in time doing well , divers others have in small handfulls undertaken to goe there , to be severall lords and kings of themselves , but most vanished to nothing ; notwithstanding the fishing ships , made such good returnes , at last it was ingrossed by twenty pattenties , that divided my map into twenty parts , and cast lots for their shares ; but mony not comming in as they expected , procured a proclamation , none should goe thither without their licences to fish ; but for every thirty tunnes of shipping , to pay them five pounds ; besides , upon great penalties , neither to trade with the natives , cut downe wood for their stages , without giving satisfaction , though all the country is nothing but wood , and none to make use of it , with many such other pretences , for to make this country plant it selfe , by its owne wealth : hereupon most men grew so discontented , that few or none would goe ; so that the pattenties , who never one of them had beene there , seeing those projects would not prevaile , have since not hindred any to goe that would , that within these few last yeares , more have gone thither than ever . now this yeare 1629. a great company of people of good ranke , zeal , meanes , and quality , have made a great stocke , and with six good ships in the moneths of aprill and may , they set saile from thames , for the bay of the massachuselts , otherwise called charles river ; viz. the george bonaventure , of twenty peeces of ordnance , the talbot nineteene , the lions-whelpe eight , the may-flower fourteene , the foure sisters , foureteene , the pilgrim foure , with three hundred and fifty men , women , and children ; also an hundred and fifteene head of cattell , as horse , mares , and neat beast ; one and forty goats , some conies , with all provision for houshold , and apparell ; six peeces of great ordnance for a fort , with muskets , pikes , corselets , drums , colours , with all provisions necessary for a plantation , for the good of man ; other particulars i understand of no more , than is writ in the generall historie of those countries . but you are to understand that the noble lord chiefe iustice popham , iudge doderege ; the right honourable earles of pembroke , southampton , salesbury , and the rest , as i take it , they did all thinke , as i and them went with me , did ; that had those two countries beene planted , as it was intended , that no other nation should come plant betwixt us . if ever the king of spaine and we should fall foule , those countries being so capable of all materialls for shipping , by this might have beene owners of a good fleet of ships , and to have releeved a whole navy from england upon occasion ; yea , and to have furnished england with the most easterly commodities ; and now since , seeing how conveniently the summer iles fell to our shares , so neere the west indies , wee might with much more facility than the dutchmen hav● invaded the west indies , that doth now put in practice , what so long hath beene advised on , by many an honest english states-man . those countries ca●taine smith oft times used to call his children that never had mother ; & well he might , for few fathers ever payed dearer for so little consent ; and for those that would truly understand , how many strange accidents hath befallen them and him ; how oft up , how oft downe , sometimes neere desperate , and ere long flourishing , cannot but conceive gods infinite mercies and favours towards them . had his designes beene to have perswaded men to a mine of gold , though few doth conceive either the charge or paines in refining it , nor the power nor care to defend it ; or some new invention to passe to the south sea ; or some strange plot to invade some strange monastery : or some portable countrie ; or some chargeable fleet to take some rich carocks in the east indies ; or letters of mart to rob some poore merchants ; what multitudes of both people and mony , would contend to be first imployed : but in those noble endevours ( now ) how few of quality , unlesse it be to beg some monopolie ; and those seldome seeke the common good , but the commons goods ; as you may reade at large in his generall history , page 217 , 218 , 219. his generall observations and reasons for this plantation ; for yet those countries are not so forward but they may become as miserable as ever , if better courses be not taken than is ; as this smith will plainly demonstrate to his majesty ; or any other noble person of ability , liable generously to undertake it ; how within a short time to make virginia able to resist any enemy , that as yet lieth open to all ; and yeeld the king more custome within these few yeares , in certaine staple commodities , than ever it did in tobacco ; which now not being worth bringing home , the custome will bee as uncertaine to the king , as dangerous to the plantations . chap. xxiiii . a briefe discourse of divers voyages made unto the goodly countrey of guiana , and the great river of the amazons ; relating also the present plantation there . it is not unknowen how that most industrious & honourable knight sir walter rauleigh , in the yeare of our lord 1595. taking the i le of trinidado , fell with the coast of guiana northward of the line ten degrees , and coasted the coast ; and searched up the river oranoca : where understanding that twentie severall voyages had beene made by the spanyards , in discovering this coast and river ; to finde a passage to the great citie of mano , called by them the eldorado , or the golden citie : he did his utmost to have found some better satisfaction than relations : but meanes failing him , hee left his trustie servant francis sparrow to seeke it , who wandring up and downe those countreyes , some foureteene or fifteene yeares , unexpectedly returned : i have heard him say , he was led blinded into this citie by indians ; but little , discourse of any purpose touching the largenesse of the report of it ; his body seeming as a man of an uncurable consumption , short●● dyed here after in england . there are above thirtie faire rivers that fall into the sea , betweene the river of amazons and oranoca , which are some nine degrees asunder . in the yeare 1605. captaine ley , brother to that noble knight s●r oliver ley , with divers others , planted himselfe in the river weapoco , wherein i should have beene a partie ; but hee dyed , and there lyes ●urie● , and the supply miscarrying , the rest escaped as they could . s●r thomas roe , well k●ow●n to be a most noble gentleman , before he went lord ambassadour to the great mogoll , or the great turke . spent a yeare or two upon this coast , and about the river of the amazones , wherein he most imployed captaine matthew morton , an expert sea-man in the discoverie of this famous river , a gentleman that was the first shot and mortally supposed wounded to death , with me in virginia , yet si●ce h●th beene twice with command in the east indies ; also captaine william white , and divers others worthy and industrious gentlemen , both before and since , hath spent much time and charge to discover it more perfitly , but nothing more effected for a plantation , t●●●ic was undertaken by captaine robert harcote , 1609. this worthy gentleman , after he had by commission made a discoverie to his minde , left his brother michael harcote , with some fiftie or sixtie m●n in the river weapoco , and so presently returned to england , where he obtained by the favour of prince henrie , a large patent for all that coast called guiana , together with the famous river of amazones , to him and his heires : but so many troubles here surprized him , though he did his best to supply them , he was not able , only some few hee sent over as passengers with certaine du●ch-men , but to small purpose . thus this businesse lay dead for divers yeeres , till sir walter rauleigh , accompanied with many valiant souldiers and brave gentlemen , went his last voyage to guiana , amongst the which was captaine roger north , brother to the right honourable the lord dudley north , who upon this voyage having stayed and seene divers rivers upon this coast , tooke such a liking to those countreyes , having had before this voyage more perf●ct and particular information of the excellencie of the great river of the amazones , above any of the rest , by certaine englishmen returned so rich from thence in good commodities , they would not goe with sir walter rauleigh in search of gold ; that after his returne for england , he end●voured by his best abilities to interest his countrey and st●te in those f●re regions , which by the way of lette●s patents unto divers noblemen and gentlemen of qualitie , erected into a company and perpetu●tie for trade and plantation , not knowing of the interest of captaine harcote . where upon accompanied with 120. gentlemen and others , with a ship , a pi●nace and two sh●llops , to remaine in the countrey , hee set saile from plimouth the last of april 1620 , and within seven weekes after hee arrived well in the amazones , only with the losse of one old man : some hundred leagues they ran up the river to settle his men , where the sight of the countrey and people so contented them , that never men thought themselves , more happie : some english and irish that had lived there some eight yeeres , on●y supplyed by the dutch , hee reduced to his company and to leave the dutch : having made a good voyage , to the value of more than the charge , he returned to englangd with divers good commodities besides tobacco : so that it may well be conceived , that if this action had not beene thus crossed , the ge●eralitie of england had by this time beene wonne and encouraged therein . but the time was not yet come , that god would have this great businesse effected , by reason of the great power the lord gundamore , amb●ssadour for the king of spaine , had in england , to crosse and ruine those proceedings , and so unfortunate captaine north was in this businesse , hee was twice committed prisoner to the tower , and the goods detained , till they were spoiled , who beyond all others was by much the greatest adventurer and loser . notwithstanding all this , those that he had left in the amazons would not abandon the countrey . captaine thomas painton , a worthy gentleman , his lieutenant dead . captaine charles parker , brother to the right honourable the lord morley , lived there six yeares after ; mr. iohn christmas , five yeares , so well , they would not returne , although they might , with divers ether gentle-men of qualitie and others : all thus destitute of any supplyes from england . but all authoritie being d●ssolved , want of government did more wrong their proceedings , than all other crosses whatsoever . some releefe they had sometime from the dutch , who knowing their estates , gave what they pleased and tooke what they list . two brothers gentlemen , thomas and william hixon , who stayed three yeares there , are now gone to stay in the amazons , in the ships lately sent thither . the businesse thus remaining in this sort , three private men left of that company , named mr thomas warriner , iohn rhodes , and robert bims , having lived there about two yeares , came for england , and to be free from the disorders that did grow in the amazons for want of government amongst their countrey-men , and to be quiet amongst themselves , made meanes to set themselves out for st. christophers ; their whole number being but fifteene persons , that payed for their passage in a ship going for virginia , where they remained a yeare before they were supplyed , and then that was but foure or five men . thus this i le , by this small beginning , having no interruption by their owne countrey , hath now got the start of the continent and maine land of guiana , which hath beene layd apart and let alone untill that captaine north , ever watching his best opportunitie and advantage of time in the state , hath now againe pursued and set on foot his former designe . captaine harco●e being now willing to surrender his grant , and to joyne with captaine north , in passing a new patent , and to erect a company for trade and plantation in the amazons , and all the coast and countrey of guiana for ever . whereupon , they have sent this present yeare in ianuarie , and since 1628. foure ships with neere two hundred persons ; the first ship with 112. men , not one miscarried ; that rest went since , not yet heard of , and are preparing another with their best expedition : and since ianuarie is gone from holland , 100. english and irish , conducted by the old planters . this great river lieth under the line , the two chiefe head lands north and south , are about three degrees asunder , the mouth of it is so full of many great and small iles , it is an easie matter for an unexperienced pilot to lose his way . it is held one of the greatest rivers in america , and as most men thinke , in the world : and commeth downe with such a fresh , it maketh the sea fresh more than thirtie miles from the shore . captaine north having seated his men about an hundred leagues in the maine , sent captaine william white , with th●rtie gentlemen and others , in a pinuace of thirtie tun , to discover further , which they did some two hundred leagues , where they found the river to divide it selfe in two parts , till then all full of ilands , and a countrey most healthfull , pleasant and fruitfull ; for they found food enough , and all returned safe & in good health : in this discoverie they saw many townes well inhabited , some with three hundred people , some with five , six , or seven hundred ; and of some they understood to be of so many thousands , most differing verie much , especially in their languages : whereof they suppose by those indians , they understand are many hundreds more , unfrequented till then by any christian , most of them starke naked , both men , women and children , but they saw not any such giant-like women as the rivers name importeth . but for those where captaine north hath feated his company , it is not knowen where indians were ever so kinde to any nation , not sparing any paines , danger or labour , to feed and maintaine them . the english following their buildings , fortifications and sugar-workes ; for which they have sent most expert men , and with them all things necessarie for that purpose ; to effect which , they want not the helpe of those kinde indians to produce ; and many other good commodities , which ( god willing ) will ere long make plaine and apparent to this kingdome , and all the adventurers and well-willers to this plantation , to bee well worthy the cherishing and following with all alacritie . chap. xxv . the beginning and proceedings of the new plantation of st. christopher by captaine warner . master ralfe merifield and others , having furnished this worhty industrious gentleman , hee arrived at st. christophers , as is said , with fifteene men , the 28. of ianuarie , 1623. viz. william tested , iohn rhodes , robert bims , mr. benifield , sergeant iones , mr. ware , william royle , rowland grascocke , mr. bond , mr. langley , mr. weaver , edward warner their captaines sonne , and now deputy-governour till his fathers returne , sergeant aplon , one sailor and a cooke : at their arrivall they found three french-men , who sought to oppose captaine warner , and to set the indians upon us ; but at last we all became friends , and lived with the indians a moneth , then we built a fort , and a house , and planting fruits , by september we made a crop of tobacco ; but upon the nineteenth of september came a hericano and blew it away , all this while wee lived upon cassada bread , potatoes , plantines , pines , turtels , guanes , and fish plentie ; for drinke wee h●d nicnobbie . the 18. of march 1624. arrived captaine iefferson with three men passengers in the hope-well of london , with some trade for the indians , and then we had another crop of tobacco , in the meane time the french had planted thems●lves in the other end of the i le ; with this crop captaine warner returned for england in september , 1625. in his absence came in a french pinnace , under the command of monsieur de nombe , that told us , the indians had slaine some frenchmen in other of the charybes iles , and that there were six peryagoes , which are huge great trees formed as your canowes , but so laid out on the sides with boords , they will seeme like a little gally : six of those , with about soure or five hundred strange indians came unto us , we bade them be gone , but they would not ; whereupon we and the french joyned together , and upon the fifth of november set upon them , and put them to flight : upon new-yeares even they came againe , found three english going about the i le , whom they slue . vntill the fourth of august , we stood upon our guard , living upon the spoile and did nothing . but now captaine warner arriving againe with neere an hundred people , then we fell to worke and planting as before ; but upon the fourth of september , came such a hericano , as blew downe all our houses , tobacco , and two drums into the aire we know not whither , drove two ships on shore that were both split ; all our provision thus lost , we were very miserable , living onely on what we could get in the wilde woods , we made a small party of french and english to goe aboord for provision , but in their returning home , eight french men were slaine in the harbour . thus wee continued till neere iune that the tortels came in , 1627. but the french being like to starve , sought to surprize us , and all the cassado , potatos , and tobacco we had planted , but we did prevent them . the 26. of october , came in captaine william smith , in the hope-well , with some ordnance , shot and powder , from the earle of carlile ; with captaine pelham and thirty men , about that time also came the plow ; also a small ship of bristow , with captaine warners wife , and six or seven women more . vpon the 25. of november , the indians set upon the french , for some injury about their women , and slew six and twentie french men , five english , and three indians . their weapons are bowes and arrowes ; their bowes are never bent , but the string lies flat to the bow ; their arrowes a small reed , foure or five foot long , headed some with the poysoned sting of the taile of a stingray , some with iron , some with wood , but all so poysoned , that if they draw but bloud , the hurt is incurable . the next day came in captaine charles saltonstall , a young gentleman , son of sir samuell saltonstall , who brought with him good store of all commodities to releeve the plantation ; but by reason some hollanders , and others , had bin there lately before him , who carried away with them all the tobacco , he was forced to put away all his commodities upon trust till the next crop ; in the meane time hee resolved there to stay , and imploy himselfe & his company in planting tobacco , hoping thereby to make a voyage , but before he cou●d be ready to returne for england , a hericano h●pu●●g , his ship was split , to his great losse , being sol● merc●ant and owner himselfe , notwithstand●ng forced to pay to the governour , the fi lt part of his tobacco , and for fraught to england , three pence a pound , and nine pence a pound custome , wh●ch amounts together to more than thre●score pound in the hundred pound , to the great d●scouragement of him and many others , that intended well to those plantations . neverthelesse he is gone againe this present yeare 1629. with a ship of about three hundred tunnes , and very neere two hundred people , with sir william tuffton govenour for the barbados , and divers gentlemen , and all manner of commodities fit for a plantation . captaine prinne , captaine stone , and divers others , came in about christmas ; so that this last yeare there hath beene about thirtie saile of english , french , and dutch ships , and all the indians forced out of the i le , for they had done much mischiefe amongst the french , in cutting their throats , burning their houses , and spoyling their tobacco ; amongst : the rest tegramund , a little childe the kings sonne , his parents being slaine , or fled , was by great chance saved , and carefully brought to england by master merifield , who brought him from thence and bringeth him up as his owne children . it lyeth seventeene degrees northward of the line , about an hundred and twenty leagues from the cape de tres puntas , the neerest maine land in america , it is about eight leagues in length , and foure in bredth ; an iland amongst 100. iles in the west indies , called the caribes , where ordinarily all them that frequent the west indies , refresh themselves ; those most of them are rocky , little , and mountainous , yet frequented with the canibals ; many of them inhabited , as saint domingo , saint mattalin , saint lucia , saint vincent , granada , and margarita , to the southward ; northward , none but saint christophers , and it but lat●ly , yet they will be ranging marigalanta , guardalupo , deceado , monserat , antigua , mevis , bernardo , saint martin , and saint bartholomew , but the worst of the foure iles possessed by the spanyard , as portorico or iamica , is better than them all ; as for hispaniola , and cuba , they are worthy the title of two rich kingdomes , the rest not respected by the spanyards , for want of harbors , and their better choice of good land , and profit in the maine . but captaine warner , having beene very familiar with captaine painton , in the amazon , hearing his information of this st. christophers ; and having made a yeares tryall , as it is said , returned for england , ioyning with master merifield , and his friends , got letters pattents , from king iames , to plant and possesse it . since then , the right honourable the earle of carlile , hath got letters pattents also , not only of that , but all the caribes iles about it , who is now chiefe lord of them , and the english his tenants , that doe possesse them ; over whom he appointeth such governours and officers , as their affaires require ; and although there be a great custome imposed upon them , considering their other charges , both to feed and maintaine themselves ; yet there is there , and now a going , neere upon the number of three thousand people ; where by reason of the rockinesse and thicknesse of the woods in the i le , it is difficult to passe , and such a snuffe of the sea goeth on the shore , ten m●y better defend , than fifty assault . in this i le are many springs , but yet water is scarce againe in many places ; the valleyes and sides of the hills very fertile , but the mountaines harsh , and of a sulphurous composition ; all overgrowne with palmetas , cotten trees , lignum vitae , and divers other sorts , but none like any in christendome , except those carried thither ; the aire very pleasant and healthfull , but exceeding ●ot , yet so tempered with coole breaths , it seemes very temperate to them , that are a little used to it ; the trees being alwaies greene , the daies and nights alwayes very neere equall in length , alwayes summer ; only they have in their seasons great gusts and raines , and somtimes a hericano , which is an overgrowne , and a most violent storme . in some of those iles , are cattell , goats , and hogges , but here none but what they must carry ; gwanes they have , which is a little harmelesse beast , like a crokadell , or aligator , very fat and good meat , she layes egges in the sand , as doth the land crabs , which live here in abundance , like conies in boroughs , unlesse about may , when they come downe to the sea side , to lay in the sand , as the other ; and all their egges are hatched by the heat of the sunne . from may to september they have good store of tortasses , that come out of the sea to lay their egges in the sand , and are hatched as the other ; they will lay halfe a pecke at a time , and neere a bushell ere they have done ; and are round like tenis-balls : this fish is like veale in taste , the fat of a brownish colour , very good and wholsome . we seeke them in the nights , where we finde them on shore , we turne them upon their backs , till the next day we fetch them home , for they can never returne themselves , being so hard a cart may goe over them ; and so bigge , one will suffice forty or fifty men to dinner . divers sorts of other fish they have in abundance , and prawnes most great and excellent , but none will keepe sweet scarce twelve houres . the best and greatest is a passer flaminga , which walking at her length is as tall as a man ; pigeons , and turtle doves in abundance ; some parrots , wilde hawkes , but divers other sorts of good sea fowle , whose names we know not . cassado is a root planted in the ground , of a wonderfull increase , and will make very good white bread , but the iuyce ranke poyson , yet boyled , better than wine ; potatos , cabbages and radish plenty . mayes , like the virginia wheat ; we have pine-apples , neere so bigge as an hartichocke , but the most daintiest taste of any fruit ; plantnais , an excellent , and a most increasing fruit ; apples , prickell peares , and pease , but differing all from ours . there is pepper that groweth in a little red huske , as bigge as a walnut , about foure inches in length , but the long cods are small , and much stronger , and better for use , than that from the east indies . there is two sorts of cotten , the silke cotten as in the east indies , groweth upon a small stalke , as good for beds as downe ; the other upon a shrub , and beareth a cod bigger than a walnut , full of cotten wooll : anotto also groweth upon a shrub , with a cod like the other , and nine or ten on a bunch , full of anotto , very good for dyers , though wilde ; sugar canes , not tame , 4. or 5. foot high ; also mast●cke , and locus trees ; g●eat and hard timber , gourds , muske melons , water melons , lettice , p●rsly ; all places naturally beare pursl●ine of it selfe ; sope-berries like a musket bullet , that washeth as white as sope ; in the middle of the root is a thing like a sedge , a very good f●uit , we call pengromes ; a pappaw is as great as an apple , coloured like an orange , and good to eat ; a small hard nut , like a hazell nut , growes close to the ground , and like this growes on the palmetas , which we call a mucca nut ; mustard-seed will grow to a great tree , but beares no seed , yet the leaves will make good mustard ; the mancinell tree the fruit is poyson ; good figs in abundance ; but the palmeta serveth to build forts and houses , the leaves to cover them , and many other uses ; the iuyce we draw from them , till we sucke them to death , ( is held restorative ) and the top for meat doth serve us as cabbage ; but oft we want poudered beefe , and bacon , and many other needfull necessaries . by thomas simons , rowland grascocke , nicholas burgh , and others . chap. xxvi . the first planting of the barbados . the barbados lies south-west and by south , an hundred leagues from saint christophers , threescore leagues west and south from trinidado , and some fourescore leagues from cape de salinos , the next part of the maine . the first planters brought thither by captaine henry powel , were forty english , with seven or eight negros ; then he went to disacuba in the maine , where he got thirty indians , men , women , and children , of the arawacos , enemies both to the caribes , and the spaniards . the i le is most like a triangle , each side forty or fifty miles square , some exceeding great rocks , but the most part exceeding good ground ; abounding with an infinite number of swine , some turtles , and many sorts of excellent fish ; many great ponds wherein is ducke and mallard ; excellent clay for pots , wood and stone for building , and a spring neere the middest of the i le of bitume , which is a liquid mixture like tarre , that by the great raines falls from the tops of the mountaines , it floats upon the water in such abundance , that drying up , it remaines like great rocks of pitch , and as good as pitch for any use . the mancinell apple , is of a most pleasant sweet smell , of the bignesse of a crab , but ranke poyson , yet the swine and birds have wit to shun it ; great store of exceeding great locus trees , two or three fadome about , of a great height , that beareth a cod full of meale , will m●ke bread in time of necessity . a tree like a pine , beareth a fruit so great as a muske melon , which hath alwayes ripe fruit , flowers , or greene fruit , which will refresh two or three men , and very comfortable ; plumb trees many , the fruit great and yellow , which but strained into water in foure and twenty houres will be very good drinke ; wilde figge trees there are many ; all those fruits doe fat the hogges , yet at some times of the yeare they are so leane , as carrion ; gwane trees beare a fruit so bigge as a peare , good and wholsome ; palmetaes of three severall f●rrs ; papawes , prickle peares good to eat or make drinke ; cedar trees very tall and great ; fusticke trees are very great and the wood yellow , good for dying ; sope berries , the kernell so bigge as a sloe , and good to eat ; pumpeons in abundance ; goads so great as will make good great bottles , and cut in two peeces good dishes and platters ; many small brooks of very good water ; ginni wheat , cassado , pines and plantaines ; all things we there plant doe grow exceedingly , so well as tobacco ; the corne , pease , and beanes , cut but away the stalke , young sprigs will grow , and so beare fruit for many yeares together , without any more planting ; the i le is overgrowne with wod or great reeds , those wods w●ich are soft are exceeding light and full of pitch , and those that are hard , are so hard and great , they are as hard to cut as stone . master iohn powell came thither the fourth of august 1627. with forty five men , where we stayed three weeks , and then returning , left behind us about an hundred people , and his sonne iohn powell for his deputy , as governour ; but there have beene so many factions amongst them , i cannot from so many variable relations give you any certainty for their orderly government : for all those plenties , much misery they have endured , in regard of their weaknesse at their landing , and long st●y without supplies ; therefore those that goe thither , it were good they carry good provision with them ; but the i le is most healthfull , and all things planted doe increase abundantly : and by this time there is , and now a going , about the number of fifteene or sixteene hundred people . sir william curtine , and captaine iohn powell , were the first and chiefe adventurers to the planting this fortunate i le ; which had beene oft frequented by men of warre to refresh themselves , and set up their shallops ; being so farre remote from the rest of the iles , they never were troubled with any of the indies . harbours they have none , but exceeding good rodes , which with a small charge might bee very well fortified ; it doth ebbe and flow foure or five foot , and they cannot perceive there hath ever beene any hericano in that i le . from the relations of captaine iohn white , and captaine wolverstone . chap. xxvii . the first plantation of the i le of mevis . because i have ranged and lived amongst those ilands , what my authours cannot tell me , i thinke it no great errour in helping them to tell it my selfe . in this little i le of mevis , more than twenty yeares agoe , i have remained a good time together , to wod , and water and refresh my men ; it is all woddy , but by the sea side southward there are sands like downes , where a thousand men may quarter themselves conveniently ; but in most places the wod groweth close to the water side , at a high water marke , and in some places so thicke of a soft spungy wood like a wilde figge tree , you cannot get through it , but by m●king your w●y with hatchets , or fauchions : whether it was the dew of those trees , or of some others , i am not certaine , but many of our men became so to●mented with a burning sw●lling all over their bodies , they seemed like se●ld●d men , and neere mad with paine ; here we found a great poole , wherein bathing themselves , they found much ease ; and fi●ding it fed with a pleasant small streame that came out of the woods , we found the head halfe a m●le within the land , distilling from a many of rocks , by which they were well cured in two or three dayes . such factions here we had , as commonly attend such voyages , that a paire of gallowes was m●de , but captaine smith , for whom they were intended , could not be perswaded to use them ; but not any one of the inventers , but their lives by iustice fell into his power , to determine of at his pleasure , whom with much mercy he favoured , that most basely and u●justly would have betrayed him . the last yeare , 1628. master littleton , with some others got a pattent of the earle of carlile , to plant the i le called the barbados , thirty leagues northward of saint christophers ; which by report of their informers , and undertakers , for the excellencie and pleasantnesse thereof , they called dulcina , but when they came there , they found it such a ba●ren rocke , they left it ; although they were told as much before , they would not beleeve it , perswading themselves , those contradicters would get it for themselves , was thus by their cunning opinion , the deceiver of themselves ; for seeing it lie conveniently for their purpose in a map , they had not patience to know the goodnesse or badnesse , the inconvenience nor probabilities of the quality , nor quantity ; which errour doth predominate in most of our home-bred adventurers , that will have all things as they conceit and would have it ; and the more they are contradicted , the more hot they are ; but you may see by many examples in the generall history , how difficult a matter it is , to gather the t●uth from amongst so many forren and severall relations , except you have exceeding good experience both of the countries , people , and their conditions ; and those ignorant undertakings , have beene the great●st hind●rance of all those plantations . at last because they would be absolute , they came to mevis , a little i le by saint christophers ; where they seated themselv●s , well furnished with all necessaries , being about the number of an hundred , and since increased to an hundred and fifty persons , whereof many were old planters of saint christophers , especially master anthony hinton , and master edward tompson . but because all those iles for most part are so capable to produce , and in nature like each other , let this discourse serve for the description of them all . thus much concerning those plantations , which now after all this time , losse , and charge , should they be abandoned , suppressed , and dissolved , were most lamentable ; and surely seeing they all strive so much about this tobacco , and that the fraught thereof , and other charges are so great , and so open to any enemie , by that commodity they cannot long subsist . and it is a wonder to me to see such miracles of mischiefes in men ; how greedily they pursue to dispossesse the planters of the name of christ iesus , yet say they are christians , when so much of the world is unpossessed ; yea , and better land than they so much strive for , murthering so many christians , burning and spoiling so many cities , villages , and countries , and subverting so many kingdomes , when so much lieth vast , or only possessed by a few poore savages , that more serve the devill for feare , than god for love ; whose ignorance we pretend to reforme , but couetousnesse , humours , ambition , faction , and pride , hath so many instruments , we performe very little to any purpose ; nor is there either honour or profit to be got by any that are so vile , to undertake the subversion , or hinderance of any honest intended christian plantation . now to conclude the travels and adventures of captaine smith ; how first he planted virginia , and was set ashore with about an hundred men in the wilde woods ; how he was taken prisoner by the savages , by the king of pamaunke tied to a tree to be shot to death , led up and downe their country to be shewed for a wonder ; fatted as he thought , for a sacrifice for their idoll , before whom they conjured him three dayes , with strange dances and invocations then brought him before their emperor powhatan , that commanded him to be slaine ; how his daughter pocahontas saved his life , returned him to iames towne , releeved him and his famished company , which was but eight and thirty to possesse those large dominions ; how he discovered all the severall nations , upon the rivers falling into the bay of chisapeacke ; stung neere to death with a most poysoned taile of a fish called stingray : how powhatan out of his country tooke the kings of pamaunke and paspahegh prisoners , forced thirty nine of those kings to pay him contribution , subjected all the savages : how smith was blowne up with gunpowder , and returned for england to be cured . also how hee brought our new england to the subjection of the kingdome of great britaine ; his fights with the pirats , left alone amongst a many french men of warre , and his ship ran from him ; his sea-fights for the french against the spaniards ; their bad usage of him ; how in france in a little boat he escaped them ; was adrift all such a stormy night at sea by himselfe , when thirteene french ships were split , or driven on shore by the i le of ree , the generall and most of his men drowned , when god to whom be all honour and praise , brought him safe on shore to all their admirations that escaped ; you may read at large in his generall history of virginia , the summer iles , and new england . chap. xxviii . the bad life , qualities and conditions of pyrats ; and how they taught the turks and moores to become men of warre . as in all lands where there are many people , there are some theeves , so in all seas much frequented , there are some pyrats ; the most ancient within the memory of threescore yeares was one callis , who most refreshed himselfe upon the coast of wales ; clinton and pursser his companions , who grew famous , till queene elizabeth of blessed memory , hanged them at wapping ; flemming was as expert and as much sought for as they , yet such a friend to his country , that discovering the spanish armado , he voluntarily came to plimouth , yeelded himselfe freely to my lord admirall , and gave him notice of the spaniards comming ; which good warning came so happily and unexpectedly , that he had his pardon , & a good reward ; some few pirats there then remained ; notwithstanding it is incredible how many great and rich pr●zes the little barques of the west country daily brought home , in regard of their small charge ; for there are so many difficulties in a great n●vy , by wind and weather , victuall , sicknesse , losing and finding one another , they seldome defray halfe the charge : but for the grace , state , and defence of the coast and narrow seas , a great navy is most necessary , but not to attempt any farre voyage , except there be such a competent stocke , they want not wherewith to furnish and supply all things with expedition ; but to the purpose . after the death of our most gracious queene elizabeth , of blessed memory , our royall king iames , who from his infancy had reigned in peace with all nations ; had no imployment for those men of warre , so that those that were rich rested with that they had ; those that were poore and had nothing but from hand to mouth , turned pirats ; some , because they became sleighted of those for whom they had got much wealth ; some , for that they could nor get their due ; some , that had lived bravely , would not abase themselves to poverty ; some vainly , only to get a name ; others for revenge , covetousnesse , or as ill ; and as they found themselves more and more oppressed , their passions increasing with discontent , made them turne pirats . now because they grew hatefull to all christian princes , they retired to barbary , where although there be not many good harbours , but tunis , argier , sally , mamora , and tituane , there are many convenient rodes , or the open sea , which is their chiefe lordship : for their best harbours massalqueber , the townes of oran , mellila , tanger , and cuta , within the streights , are possessed by the spaniards ; without the streights they have also arzella , and mazagan ; mamora likewise they have lately taken , and fortified . ward a poore english sailer , and dansker a dutchman , made first here their marts , when the moores knew scarce how to saile a ship ; bishop was ancient , and did little hurt ; but easton got so much , as made himselfe a marquesse in savoy ; and ward lived like a bashaw in barbary ; those were the first that taught the moores to be men of warre . gennings , harris , tompson , and divers others , were taken in ireland , a coast they much frequented , and died at wapping . hewes , bough , smith , walsingam , ellis , collins , sawkwell , wollistone , barrow , wilson , sayres , and divers others , all these were captaines amongst the pirats , whom king iames mercifully pardoned ; and was it not strange , a few of these should command the seas . notwithstanding the malteses , the pope , florentines , genoeses , french , dutch , and english , gallies , and men of warre , they would rob before their faces , and even at their owne ports , yet seldome more than three , foure , five or six in a fleet : many times they had very good ships , and well manned , but commonly in such factions amongst themselves , and so riotous , quarrellous , treacherous , blasphemous , and villanous , it is more than a wonder they could so long continue , to doe so much mischiefe ; and all they got , they basely consumed it amongst iewes , turks , moores , and whores . the best was , they would seldome goe to sea , so long as they could possibly live on shore , being comp●led of english , french , dutch , and moores , ( but very few spanyards , or italians ) commonly running one from another , till they became so disjoynted , disordered , debawched , and miserable , that the turks and moores beganne to command them as slaves , and force them to instruct them in their best skill , which many an accursed runnagado , or christian turned turke did , till they have made those sally men , or moores of barbary so powerfull as they be , to the terror of all the straights , and many times they take purchase in the maine ocean , yea sometimes even in the narrow seas in england , and those are the most cruell villaines in turkie , or barbarie ; whose natives are very noble , and of good natures , in comparison of them . to conclude , the misery of a pirate ( although many are as sufficient seamen as any ) yet in regard of his superflu●ty , you shall finde it such , that any wise man would rather live amongst wilde beasts , than them ; therefore let all unadvised persons take heed , how they entertaine that quality ; and i could wish merchants , gentlemen , and all setters forth of ships , not to bee sparing of a competent pay , nor true payment ; for neither sould●ers nor sea-men can live without meanes , but necessity will force them to steale ; and when they are once entered into that trade , they are hardly reclaimed . those titles of sea-men and souldiers , have beene most worthily honoured and esteemed , but now regarded for most part , but as the scumme of the world ; regaine therefore your wonted reputations , and endevour rather to adventure to those faire plantations of our english nation ; which however in the beginning were scorned and contemned , yet now you see how many rich and gallant people come from thence , who went thither as poore as any souldier or sailer , and gets more in one yeare , than you by piracie in seven . i intreat you therefore to consider , how many thousands yearely goe thither ; also how many ships and sailers are imployed to transport them , and what custome they yearely pay to our most royall king charles , whose prosperity and his kingdomes good , i humbly beseech the immortall god ever to preserve and increase . finis . part of the trauels of cap t iohn smith amongst tvrkes , tartars and others extracted out of the history by iohn payn capt. smith throwne into the sea , gott safe to shoree , and was releeued chap 2 how hee releeued olvmpagh by a stratagem of lights chap. 4 the siege of regall in transiluania chap. 7 his three single combats chap. 7. his encounter with tvrbashaw chap. 7. his combat with grvalgo . cap t of three hundred horsmen . chap. 7. how he slew bonny : mvlgro . chap. 7. cap t smith led captiue to the bashaw of nalbrits in tartaria . chap. 12. three tvrks heads in a banner giuen him for armes . chap. ● . how he was presented to prince sigismvndvs . chap. 8. cap t smith killeth the bashaw of nalbrits and on his horse escapeth . chap. 17. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a12471-e3690 * nulla fides pietasque viris , qui castra sequuntur . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hom. odyst . ●c . notes for div a12471-e4020 * appius . notes for div a12471-e5340 a notable villan● of foure ●rench gallants . a carralue is in value a penny . ●ere he incounned one of the theeves . the noblenesle of the earle of ployer . an inhumane act of the provin●ialls in casting 〈◊〉 over-board . capt. la roche releeves him . notes for div a12471-e6570 a desperate sea-fight . the popes holy staires brought from ierusalem , whereon ( they say ) christ went up to pontious pilate . notes for div a12471-e7320 the siege of olumpagh . an excellent stratagem . another stratagem . notes for div a12471-e7870 the siege of alba regalis . the effect of good 〈◊〉 work● . a worthy exploit of earle rosworme . earle meldritch takes the bashaw prisoner . notes for div a12471-e8460 a brave encounter of the turkes armie with the christians . duke mercury overthroweth assan rassa duke mercury divideth his armie . duke 〈◊〉 and his brother in law ere suddenly . notes for div a12471-e9180 the unhappie siege of caniza . earle meldritch serveth prince sigismundus . earle meldritch maketh incursions to discover regall . moyses besiegeth regall . three single combates . notes for div a12471-e10070 regall assaulted and taken . the patent . the same in english. notes for div a12471-e11330 busca in transilvania overthroweth moyses . sigismundus yeeldeth his country to e●s●a . busca assisteth rodoll in wallachia . notes for div a12471-e12060 a battell betwixt rodoll and ieremie . wallachia subjected to the emperour . notes for div a12471-e12710 the battell of rottenton . ex●racted out of a booke intituled , the w●r●es of hungaria , wall●●hia , and moldavia , written by francisco f●rneza , a lea●ned italian , the princes secretarie , and translated by mr. ●urchas . the english men in this battell . notes for div a12471-e13310 how he was sent into tartaria . the description of the dissabacca sea. smith his usage in tar●●ria . notes for div a12471-e13840 the tymors diet of cambia is as the turkes . the slaves diet . the attire o● those tartars . the tartars of nagi and their manners . notes for div a12471-e14330 the description of the crym-tartars court. his houses and carts . baskets . their idolatrie in their lodgings . cossmos is m●●e● m●●ke . notes for div a12471-e14540 their feasts . their common diet . how they become populous . their princes state . ancient buildings . commodities for tribute to the turke . go●d lawes , yet no lawyers . their slaves . 〈…〉 . notes for div a12471-e14950 how he levieth an armie . the manner of his warres . how he divides the spoile . how the chan doth serve the great turke . their armes . a description of the caspian sea. notes for div a12471-e15620 how smith es●● ▪ his captivity . their guides in those countries . the description of ca●bia , this is as much as he could learne of those wilde countries , and his passage to r●ssia . his observations in his journey to transilvania , through the midst of europ● . notes for div a12471-e16730 the three golden bals of affr●ca . the description of morocco . a bloudie ●mpresle . king mully ha●et , ●t the great ze●ss of barbar●e . his great love to english m●n . the strange love of a lyon. another kinde lyon in morocco . the description of fez. a briefe description of the most unknowen parts of affrica . notes for div a12471-e17970 how the portugalls coasted to the east ind●es . or edward . the kingdom : of congo . wilde elephants . the kingdome of angola . the kingdome of anchicos . a st●ange mony . a snambles of mans flesh . their religions and idols . divers nations yet unknowne , and the wonders of affrica . notes for div a12471-e19370 their estate 1●27 . their numbers . their condition with the salvages . their increase of cattle and poultrie . plenty of corne. their drinke . their servants diet . their armes and exercise . their health and discoveries . the present estate of virginia , 1629. mas●●r hat●hins . five ●ho●s●nd p●●●le . ●ive thou●●nd ca●e●● . g●a●s , ho●●and poult●y ●is●●ce . good hospitality . commod●ties worth making , bla●ke walnut ash for p●●es , oke for planks , knees for ships , cip●esse for chests , &c. notes for div a12471-e20290 the present estate of the summer iler . 1629. an evill mischance . notes for div a12471-e20710 considerations ●bout the losse of ●ime . the effect of niggardlinesse . a new plan●a●●on 1629 notes of inconvenience . notes for div a12471-e21240 sparrow left to seeke the great citie of mano . c●p●●ine 〈◊〉 l●y . sir th●m●● r●e cap●a●n m●●●●● capta●ne wh●●e . cap●ain h●ne● . captain roger north. nota ben● . notes for div a12471-e22420 1623. a hericano ●●24 . ●●●5 . 〈◊〉 ●●●●●h ●●e 〈◊〉 ind●●●● . 1625 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●●en●h ●●●●ne . 162● t●●ce 〈…〉 the arrivall of many english ●●●p● . the description of the lie . the springs , temper , and seasons . a strange hat●hung of eg●es ●or b●●sts . fish . ●●●ds . roots . fruits notes for div a12471-e24060 a ●eseripu●n●● the l●● . fruits and tree . their numbers . notes for div a12471-e24380 the description of the i le . t●e ma● . a gr●●t mispr●●●●● their numbers . 〈…〉 . notes for div a12471-e24890 the d●s●cul●es of a great navie . what ocasioneth pirats . their chiefe randevouz . their conditions . r●nna●●d● . advertisement for wilde heads . the description of a new world, called the blazing-world written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princesse, the duchess of newcastle. newcastle, margaret cavendish, duchess of, 1624?-1674. 1668 approx. 237 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 84 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a53044 wing n850 estc r13228 12254826 ocm 12254826 57346 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a53044) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57346) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 156:5) the description of a new world, called the blazing-world written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princesse, the duchess of newcastle. newcastle, margaret cavendish, duchess of, 1624?-1674. newcastle, william cavendish, duke of, 1592-1676. [7], 158, [2] p. : port. printed by a. maxwell ..., london : 1668. first separate ed., published 1666, with: observations upon experimental philosophy. commendatory poem by william, duke of newcastle: 2nd prelim. leaf. reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages, imaginary. 2000-00 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2001-07 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2001-08 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2001-08 tcp staff (michigan) text and markup reviewed and edited 2001-11 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion margaret , dutchess of newcastle publishd 10 augt. 1799 by . s. harding . 127 pall mall . the description of a new world , called the blazing-world . written by the thrice noble , illustrious , and excellent princesse , the duchess of newcastle . london , printed by a. maxwell , in the year m. dc.lx.viii . to the duchesse of newcastle , on her new blazing-world . our elder world , with all their skill and arts , could but divide the world into three parts : columbus , then for navigation sam'd , found a new world , america 't is nam'd ; now this new world was found , it was not made , onely discovered , lying in time's shade . then what are you , having no chaos found to make a world , or any such least ground ? but your creating fancy , thought it fit to make your world of nothing , but pure wit. your blazing-world , beyond the stars mounts higher , enlightens all with a coelestial fier . william newcastle . to all noble and vvorthy ladies . this present description of a new vvorld ; was made as an appendix to my observations upon experimental philosophy ; and , having some sympathy and coherence with each other , were joyned together as two several worlds , at their two poles . but , by reason most ladies take no delight in philosophical arguments , i separated some from the mentioned observations , and caused them to go out by themselves , that i might express my respects , in presenting to them such fancies as my contemplations did afford . the first part is romancical ; the second , philosophical ; and the third is meerly fancy ; or , ( as i may call it ) fantastical . and if ( noble ladies ) you should chance to take pleasure in reading these fancies , i shall account my self a happy creatoress : if not , i must be content to live a melancholly life in my own world ; which i cannot call a poor vvorld , if poverty be only want of gold , and jewels : for , there is more gold in it , than all the chymists ever made ; or , ( as i verily believe ) will ever be able to make . as for the rocks of diamonds , i wish , with all my soul , they might be shared amongst my noble female friends ; upon which condition , i would willingly quit my part : and of the gold , i should desire only so much as might suffice to repair my noble lord and husband's losses : for , i am not covetous , but as ambitious as ever any of my sex was , is , or can be ; which is the cause , that though i cannot be henry the fifth , or charles the second ; yet , i will endeavour to be , margaret the first : and , though i have neither power , time , nor occasion , to be a great conqueror , like alexander , or cesar ; yet , rather than not be mistress of a world , since fortune and the fates would give me none , i have made one of my own . and thus , believing , or , at least , hoping , that no creature can , or will , envy me for this world of mine , i remain , noble ladies , your humble servant , m. newcastle . the description of a new world , called the blazing-world . a merchant travelling into a foreign country , fell extreamly in love with a young lady ; but being a stranger in that nation , and beneath her , both in birth and wealth , he could have but little hopes of obtaining his desire ; however his love growing more and more vehement upon him , even to the slighting of all difficulties , he resolved at last to steal her away ; which he had the better opportunity to do , because her father's house was not far from the sea , and she often using to gather shells upon the shore , accompanied not with above two or three of her servants , it encouraged him the more to execute his design . thus coming one time with a little leight vessel , not unlike a packet-boat , mann'd with some few sea-men , and well victualled , for fear of some accidents , which might perhaps retard their journey , to the place where she used to repair ; he forced her away : but when he fancied himself the happiest man of the world , he proved to be the most unfortunate ; for heaven frowning at his theft , raised such a tempest , as they knew not what to do , or whither to steer their course ; so that the vessel , both by its own leightness , and the violent motion of the wind , was carried as swift as an arrow out of a bow , towards the north-pole , and in a short time reached the icy sea , where the wind forced it amongst huge pieces of ice ; but being little , and leight , it did by the assistance and favour of the gods to this virtuous lady , so turn and wind through those precipices , as if it had been guided by some experienced pilot , and skilful mariner : but alas ! those few men which were in it , not knowing whither they went , nor what was to be done in so strange an adventure , and not being provided for so cold a voyage , were all frozen to death ; the young lady onely , by the light of her beauty , the heat of her youth , and protection of the gods , remaining alive : neither was it a wonder that the men did freeze to death ; for they were not onely driven to the very end or point of the pole of that world , but even to another pole of another world , which joined close to it ; so that the cold having a double strength at the conjunction of those two poles , was insupportable : at last , the boat still passing on , was forced into another world ; for it is impossible to round this worlds globe from pole to pole , so as we do from east to west ; because the poles of the other world , joining to the poles of this , do not allow any further passage to surround the world that way ; but if any one arrives to either of these poles , he is either forced to return , or to enter into another world : and lest you should scruple at it , and think , if it were thus , those that live at the poles would either see two suns at one time , or else they would never want the sun 's light for six months together , as it is commonly believed : you must know , that each of these worlds having its own sun to enlighten it , they move each one in their peculiar circles ; which motion is so just and exact , that neither can hinder or obstruct the other ; for they do not exceed their tropicks : and although they should meet , yet we in this world cannot so well perceive them , by reason of the brightness of our sun , which being nearer to us , obstructs the splendor of the sun of the other world , they being too far off to be discerned by our optick perception , except we use very good telescopes ; by which , skilful astronomers have often observed two or three suns at once . but to return to the wandering boat , and the distresed lady ; she seeing all the men dead , found small comfort in life ; their bodies which were preserved all that while from putrefaction and stench , by the extremity of cold , began now to thaw , and corrupt ; whereupon she having not strength enough to fling them over-board , was forced to remove out of her small cabine , upon the deck , to avoid that nauseous smell ; and finding the boat swim between two plains of ice , as a stream that runs betwixt two shores , at last perceived land , but covered all with snow : from which came , walking upon the ice , strange creatures , in shape like bears , only they went upright as men ; those creatures coming near the boat , catched hold of it with their paws , that served them instead of hands ; some two or three of them entred first ; and when they came out , the rest went in one after another ; at last having viewed and observed all that was in the boat , they spake to each other in a language which the lady did not understand ; and having carried her out of the boat , sunk it , together with the dead men . the lady now finding her self in so strange a place , and amongst such wonderful kind of creatures , was extreamly strucken with fear , and could entertain no other thoughts , but that every moment her life was to be a sacrifice to their cruelty ; but those bear-like creatures , how terrible soever they appear'd to her sight , yet were they so far from exercising any cruelty upon her , that rather they shewed her all civility and kindness imaginable ; for she being not able to go upon the ice , by reason of its slipperiness , they took her up in their rough arms , and carried her into their city , where instead of houses , they had caves under ground ; and as soon as they enter'd the city , both males and females , young and old , flockt together to see this lady , holding up their paws in admiration ; at last having brought her into a certain large and spacious cave , which they intended for her reception , they left her to the custody of the females , who entertained her with all kindness and respect , and gave her such victuals as they used to eat ; but seeing her constitution neither agreed with the temper of that climate , nor their diet , they were resolved to carry her into another island of a warmer temper ; in which were men like foxes , onely walking in an upright shape , who received their neighbours the bear-men with great civility and courtship , very much admiring this beauteous lady ; and having discoursed some while together , agreed at last to make her a present to the emperor of their world ; to which end , after she had made some short stay in the same place , they brought her cross that island to a large river , whose stream run smooth and clear , like chrystal ; in which were numerous boats , much like our fox-traps ; in one whereof she was carried , some of the bear and fox-men waiting on her ; and as soon as they had crossed the river , they came into an island where there were men which had heads , beaks , and feathers , like wild-geese , onely they went in an upright shape , like the bear-men and fox-men : their rumps they carried between their legs , their wings were of the same length with their bodies , and their tails of an indifferent size , trailing after them like a ladie 's garment ; and after the bear and fox-men had declared their intention and design to their neighbours , the geese-or bird-men , some of them joined to the rest , and attended the lady through that island , till they came to another great and large river , where there was a preparation made of many boats , much like birds nests , onely of a bigger size ; and having crost that river , they arrived into another island , which was of a pleasant and mild temper , full of woods and the inhabitants thereof were satyrs , who received both the bear fox and bird-men , with all respect and civility ; and after some conferences ( for they all understood each others language ) some chief of the satyrs joining to them , accompanied the lady out of that island to another river , wherein were many handsome and commodious barges ; and having crost that river , they entered into a large and spacious kingdom , the men whereof were of a grass-green complexion , who entertained them very kindly , and provided all conveniences for their further voyage : hitherto they had onely crost rivers , but now they could not avoid the open seas any longer ; wherefore they made their ships and tacklings ready to sail over into the island , where the emperor of the blazing-world ( for so it was call'd ) kept his residence . very good navigators they were ; and though they had no knowledg of the load-stone , or needle , or pendulous watches , yet ( which was as serviceable to them ) they had subtile observations , and great practice ; in so much that they could not onely tell the depth of the sea in every place , but where there were shelves of sand , rocks , and other obstructions to be avoided by skilful and experienced sea-men : besides , they were excellent augurers , which skill they counted more necessary and beneficial then the use of compasses , cards , watches , and the like ; but , above the rest , they had an extraordinary art , much to be taken notice of by experimental philosophers , and that was a certain engin , which would draw in a great quantity of air , and shoot forth wind with a great force ; this engine in a calm , they placed behind their ships , and in a storm , before ; for it served against the raging waves , like cannons against an hostile army , or besieged town ; it would batter and beat the waves in pieces , were they as high as steeples ; and as soon as a breach was made , they forced their passage through , in spight even of the most furious wind , using two of those engins at every ship , one before , to beat off the waves , and another behind to drive it on ; so that the artificial wind had the better of the natural ; for , it had a greater advantage of the waves , then the natural of the ships : the natural being above the face of the water , could not without a down right motion enter or press into the ships ; whereas the artificial with a sideward-motion , did pierce into the bowels of the waves : moreover , it is to be observed , that in a great tempest they would join their ships in battel-aray : and when they feared wind and waves would be too strong for them , if they divided their ships ; they joined as many together as the compass or advantage of the places of the liquid element would give them leave . for , their ships were so ingeniously contrived , that they could fasten them together as close as a honey-comb , without waste of place ; and being thus united , no wind nor waves were able to separate them . the emperor's ships , were all of gold ; but the merchants and skippers , of leather ; the golden ships were not much heavier then ours of wood , by reason they were neatly made , and required not such thickness , neither were they troubled with pitch , tar , pumps , guns , and the like , which make our woodden-ships very heavy ; for though they were not all of a piece , yet they were so well sodder'd , that there was no fear of leaks , chinks , or clefts ; and as for guns , there was no use of them , because they had no other enemies but the winds : but the leather ships were not altogether so sure , although much leighter ; besides , they were pitched to keep out water . having thus prepar'd , and order'd their navy , they went on in despight of calm or storm : and though the lady at first fancied her self in a very sad condition , and her mind was much tormented with doubts and fears , not knowing whether this strange adventure would tend to her safety or destruction ; yet she being withal of a generous spirit , and ready wit , considering what dangers she had past , and finding those sorts of men civil and diligent attendants to her , took courage , and endeavoured to learn their language ; which after she had obtained so far , that partly by some words and signs she was able to apprehend their meaning , she was so far from being afraid of them , that she thought her self not onely safe , but very happy in their company : by which we may see , that novelty discomposes the mind , but acquaintance settles it in peace and tranquillity . at last , having passed by several rich islands and kingdoms , they went towards paradise , which was the seat of the emperor ; and coming in sight of it , rejoiced very much ; the lady at first could perceive nothing but high rocks , which seemed to touch the skies ; and although they appear'd not of an equal heigth , yet they seemed to be all one piece , without partitions : but at last drawing nearer , she perceived a clift , which was a part of those rocks , out of which she spied coming forth a great number of boats , which afar off shewed like a company of ants , marching one after another ; the boats appeared like the holes or partitions in a honey-comb , and when joined together , stood as close ; the men were of several complexions , but none like any of our world ; and when both the boats and ships met , they saluted and spake to each other very courteously ; for there was but one language in all that world : nor no more but one emperor , to whom they all submitted with the greatest duty and obedience , which made them live in a continued peace and happiness ; not acquainted with foreign wars , or home-bred insurrections . the lady now being arrived at this place , was carried out of her ship into one of those boats , and conveighed through the same passage ( for there was no other ) into that part of the world where the emperor did reside ; which part was very pleasant , and of a mild temper : within it self it was divided by a great number of vast and large rivers , all ebbing and flowing , into several islands of unequal distance from each other , which in most parts were as pleasant , healthful , rich , and fruitful , as nature could make them ; and , as i mentioned before , secure from all foreign invasions , by reason there was but one way to enter , and that like a labyrinth , so winding and turning among the rocks , that no other vessels but small boats , could pass , carrying not above three passengers at a time : on each side all along this narrow and winding river , there were several cities , some of marble , some of alabaster , some of agat , some of amber , some of coral , and some of other precious materials not known in our world ; all which after the lady had passed , she came to the imperial city , named paradise , which appeared in form like several islands ; for , rivers did run betwixt every street , which together with the bridges , whereof there was a great number , were all paved . the city it self was built of gold ; and their architectures were noble , stately , and magnificent , not like our modern , but like those in the romans time ; for , our modern buildings are like those houses which children use to make of cards , one story above another , fitter for birds , then men ; but theirs were more large , and broad , then high ; the highest of them did not exceed two stories , besides those rooms that were under-ground , as cellars , and other offices . the emperor's palace stood upon an indifferent ascent from the imperial city ; at the top of which ascent was a broad arch , supported by several pillars , which went round the palace , and contained four of our english miles in compass : within the arch stood the emperor's guard , which consisted of several sorts of men ; at every half mile , was a gate to enter , and every gate was of a different fashion ; the first , which allowed a passage from the imperial city into the palace , had on either hand a cloyster , the outward part whereof stood upon arches sustained by pillars , but the inner part was close : being entred through the gate , the palace it self appear'd in its middle like the isle of a church , a mile and a half long , and half a mile broad ; the roof of it was all arched , and rested upon pillars , so artificially placed that a stranger would lose himself therein without a guide ; at the extream sides , that is , between the outward and inward part of the cloyster , were lodgings for attendants ; and in the midst of the palace , the emperor 's own rooms ; whose lights were placed at the top of every one , because of the heat of the sun : the emperor's appartment for state was no more inclosed then the rest ; onely an imperial throne was in every appartment , of which the several adornments could not be perceived until one entered , because the pillars were so just opposite to one another , that all the adornments could not be seen at one . the first part of the palace was , as the imperial city , all of gold ; and when it came to the emperors appartment , it was so rich with diamonds , pearls , rubies , and the like precious stones , that it surpasses my skill to enumerate them all . amongst the rest , the imperial room of state appear'd most magnificent ; it was paved with green diamonds ( for there are in that world diamonds of all colours ) so artificially , as it seemed but of one piece ; the pillars were set with diamonds so close , and in such a manner , that they appear'd most glorious to the sight ; between every pillar was a bow or arch of a certain sort of diamonds , the like whereof our world does not afford ; which being placed in every one of the arches in several rows , seemed just like so many rainbows of several different colours . the roof of the arches was of blew diamonds , and in the midst thereof was a carbuncle , which represented the sun ; and the rising and setting-sun at the east and west-side of the room were made of rubies . out of this room there was a passage into the emperor's bed-chamber , the walls whereof were of jet , and the floor of black marble ; the roof was of mother of pearl , where the moon and blazing-stars were represented by white diamonds , and his bed was made of diamonds and carbuncles . no sooner was the lady brought before the emperor , but he conceived her to be some goddess , and offered to worship her ; which she refused , telling him , ( for by that time she had pretty well learned their language ) that although she came out of another world , yet was she but a mortal . at which the emperor rejoycing , made her his wife , and gave her an absolute power to rule and govern all that world as she pleased . but her subjects , who could hardly be perswaded to believe her mortal , tender'd her all the veneration and worship due to a deity . her accoustrement after she was made empress , was as followeth : on her head she wore a cap of pearl , and a half-moon of diamonds just before it ; on the top of her crown came spreading over a broad carbuncle , cut in the form of the sun ; her coat was of pearl , mixt with blew diamonds , and frindged with red ●●●●● her buskins and sandals were of green diamond 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 left hand she held a buckler , to sig●●● the ●●●ence of her dominions ; which buckler was made of that sort of diamond as has several different colours ; and being cut and made in the form of an arch , shewed like a rain-bow ; in her right hand she carried a spear made of a white diamond , cut like the tail of a blazing-star , which signified that she was ready to assault those that proved her enemies . none was allowed to use or wear gold but those of the imperial race , which were the onely nobles of the state ; nor durst any one wear jewels but the emperor , the emrpess , and their eldest son ; notwithstanding that they had an infinite quantity both of gold and precious stones in that world ; for they had larger extents of gold , then our arabian sands ; their precious stones were rocks , and their diamonds of several colours ; they used no coyn , but all their traffick was by exchange of several commodities . their priests and governors were princes of the imperial blood , and made eunuches for that purpose ; and as for the ordinary sort of men in that part of the world where the emperor resided , they were of several complexions ; not white , black , tawny , olive or ash-coloured ; but some appear'd of an azure , some of a deep purple , some of a grass-green , some of a scarlet , some of an orange-colour , &c. which colours and complexions , whether they were made by the bare reflection of light , without the assistance of small particles ; or by the help of well-ranged and order'd atoms ; or by a continual agitation of little globules ; or by some pressing and re-acting motion , i am not able to determine . the rest of the inhabitants of that world , were men of several different sorts , shapes , figures , dispositions , and humors , as i have already made mention , heretofore ; some were bear-men , some worm-men , some fish-or mear-men , otherwise called syrens ; some bird-men , some fly-men , some ant-men , some geese-men , some spider-men , some lice-men , some fox-men , some ape-men , some jack-daw-men , some magpie-men , some parrot-men , some satyrs , some gyants , and many more , which i cannot all remember ; and of these several sorts of men , each followed such a profession as was most proper for the nature of their species , which the empress encouraged them in , especially those that had applied themselves to the study of several arts and sciences ; for they were as ingenious and witty in the invention of profitable and useful arts , as we are in our world , nay , more ; and to that end she erected schools , and founded several societies . the bear-men were to be her experimental philosophers , the bird-men her astronomers , the fly worm and fish-men her natural philosophers , the ape-men her chymists , the satyrs her galenick physicians , the fox-men her politicians , the spider-and lice-men her mathematicians , the jackdaw magpie and parrot-men her orators and logicians , the gyants her architects , &c. but before all things , she having got a soveraign power from the emperor over all the world , desired to be informed both of the manner of their religion and government ; and to that end , she called the priests and states-men , to give her an account of either . of the states-men she enquired , first , why they had so few laws ? to which they answered , that many laws made many divisions , which most commonly did breed factions , and at last brake out into open wars . next , she asked , why they preferred the monarchical form of government before any other ? they answered , that as it was natural for one body to have but one head , so it was also natural for a politick body to have but one governor ; and that a common-wealth , which had many governors was like a monster with many heads . besides , said they , a monarchy is a divine form of government , and agrees most with our religion : for as there is but one god , whom we all unanimously worship and adore with one faith ; so we are resolved to have but one emperor , to whom we all submit with one obedience . then the empress seeing that the several sorts of her subjects had each their churches apart , asked the priests , whether they were of several religions ? they answered her majesty , that there was no more but one religion in all that world , nor no diversity of opinions in that same religion ; for though there were several sorts of men , yet had they all but one opinion concerning the worship and adoration of god. the empress asked them , whether they were jews , turks , or christians ? we do not know , said they , what religions those are ; but we do all unanimously acknowledg , worship and adore the onely , omnipotenr , and eternal god , with all reverence , submission , and duty . again , the empress enquired , whether they had several forms of worship ? they answered , no : for our devotion and worship consists onely in prayers , which we frame according to our several necessities , in petitions , humiliations , thanksgiving , &c. truly , replied the empress , i thought you had been either jews , or turks , because i never perceived any women in your congregations : but what is the reason , you bar them from your religious assemblies ? it is not fit , said they , that men and women should be promiscuously together in time of religious worship ; for their company hinders devotion , and makes many , instead of praying to god , direct their devotion to their mistresses . but , asked the empress , have they no congregation of their own , to perform the duties of divine worship , as well as men ? no , answered they : but they stay at home , and say their prayers by themselves in their closets . then the empress desir'd to know the reason why the priests and governors of their world were made eunuchs ? they answer'd , to keep them from marriage : for women and children most commonly make disturbance both in church and state. but , said she , women and children have no employment in church or state. 't is true , answer'd they ; but , although they are not admitted to publick employments , yet are they so prevalent with their husbands and parents , that many times by their importunate perswasions , they cause as much , nay , more mischief secretly , then if they had the management of publick affairs . the empress having received an information of what concerned both church and state , passed some time in viewing the imperial palace , where she admired much the skil and ingenuity of the architects , and enquired of them , first , why they built their houses no higher then two stories from the ground ? they answered her majesty , that the lower their buildings were , the less were they subject either to the heat of the sun , or wind , tempest , decay , &c. then she desired to know the reason , why they made them so thick ? they answered , that , the thicker the walls were , the warmer were they in winter , and cooler in summer ; for their thickness kept out both cold and heat . lastly , she asked , why they arched their roofs , and made so many pillars ? they replied , that arches and pillars , did not onely grace a building very much , and caused it to appear magnificent , but made it also firm and lasting . the empress was very well satisfied with their answers ; and after some time , when she thought that her new founded societies of the vertuoso's had made a good progress in the several employments she had put them upon , she caused a convocation first of the bird-men , and commanded them to give her a true relation of the two coelestial bodies , viz. the sun and moon , which they did with all the obedience and faithfulness befitting their duty . the sun , as much as they could observe , they related to be a firm or solid stone , of a vast bigness ; of colour yellowish , and of an extraordinary splendor : but the moon , they said , was of a whitish colour ; and although she looked dim in the presence of the sun , yet had she her own light , and was a shining body of her self , as might be perceived by her vigorous appearance in moon-shiny-nights ; the difference onely betwixt her own and the sun's light was , that the sun did strike his beams in a direct line ; but the moon never respected the centre of their world in a right line , but her centre was always excentrical . the spots both in the sun and moon , as far as they were able to perceive , they affirmed to be nothing else but flaws and stains of their stony bodies . concerning the heat of the sun , they were not of one opinion ; some would have the sun hot in it self , alledging an old tradition , that it should at some time break asunder , and burn the heavens , and consume this world into hot embers , which , said they , could not be done , if the sun were not fiery of it self . others again said , this opinion could not stand with reason ; for fire being a destroyer of all things , the sun-stone after this manner would burn up all the near adjoining bodies : besides , said they , fire cannot subsist without fuel ; and the sun-stone having nothing to feed on , would in a short time consume it self ; wherefore they thought it more probable that the sun was not actually hot , but onely by the reflection of its light ; so that its heat was an effect of its light , both being immaterial . but this opinion again was laught at by others , and rejected as ridiculous , who thought it impossible that one immaterial should produce another ; and believed that both the light and heat of the sun proceeded from a swift circular motion of the aethereal globules , which by their striking upon the optick nerve , caused light , and their motion produced heat : but neither would this opinion hold ; for , said some , then it would follow , that the sight of animals is the cause of light ; and that , were there no eyes , there would be no light ; which was against all sense and reason . thus they argued concerning the heat and light of the sun ; but , which is remarkable , none did say , that the sun was a globous fluid body , and had a swift circular motion ; but all agreed , it was fixt and firm like a center , and therefore they generally called it the sun-stone . then the empress asked them the reason , why the sun and moon did often appear in different postures or shapes , as sometimes magnified , sometimes diminished ; sometimes elevated , otherwhiles depressed ; now thrown to the right , and then to the left ? to which some of the bird-men answered , that it proceeded from the various degrees of heat and cold , which are found in the air , from whence did follow a differing density and rarity ; and likewise from the vapours that are interposed , whereof those that ascend are higher and less dense then the ambient air , but those which descend are heavier and more dense . but others did with more probability affirm , that it was nothing else but the various patterns of the air ; for like as painters do not copy out one and the same original just alike at all times ; so , said they , do several parts of the air make different patterns of the luminous bodies of the sun and moon : which patterns , as several copies , the sensitive motions do figure out in the substance of our eyes . this answer the empress liked much better then the former , and enquired further , what opinion they had of those creatures that are called the motes of the sun ? to which they answered , that they were nothing else but streams of very small , rare and transparent particles , through which the sun was represented as through a glass : for if they were not transparent , said they , they would eclipse the light of the sun ; and if not rare and of an airy substance , they would hinder flies from flying in the air , at least retard their flying motion : nevertheless , although they were thinner then the thinnest vapour , yet were they not so thin as the body of air , or else they would not be perceptible by animal sight . then the empress asked , whether they were living creatures ? they answered , yes : because they did encrease and decrease , and were nourished by the presence , and starved by the absence of the sun. having thus finished their discourse of the sun and moon , the empress desired to know what stars there were besides ? but they answer'd , that they could perceive in that world none other but blazing stars , and from thence it had the name that it was called the blazing-world ; and these blazing-stars , said they , were such solid , firm and shining bodies as the sun and moon , not of a globular , but of several sorts of figures : some had tails ; and some , other kinds of shapes . after this , the empress asked them , what kind of substance or creature the air was ? the bird-men answered , that they could have no other perception of the air , but by their own respiration : for , said they , some bodies are onely subject to touch , others onely to sight , and others onely to smell ; but some are subject to none of our exterior senses : for nature is so full of variety , that our weak senses cannot perceive all the various sorts of her creatures ; neither is there any one object perceptible by all our senses , no more then several objects are by one sense . i believe you , replied the empress ; but if you can give no account of the air , said she , you will hardly be able to inform me how wind is made ; for they say , that wind is nothing but motion of the air. the bird-men answer'd , that they observed wind to be more dense then air , and therefore subject to the sense of touch ; but what properly wind was , and the manner how it was made , they could not exactly tell ; some said , it was caused by the clouds falling on each other ; and others , that it was produced of a hot and dry exhalation : which ascending , was driven down again by the coldness of the air that is in the middle region , and by reason of its leightness , could not go directly to the bottom , but was carried by the air up and down : some would have it a flowing water of the air ; and others again , a flowing air moved by the blaz of the stars . but the empress , seeing they could not agree concerning the cause of wind , asked , whether they could tell how snow was made ? to which they answered , that according to their observation , snow was made by a commixture of vvater , and some certain extract of the element of fire that is under the moon ; a small portion of which extract , being mixed with water , and beaten by air or wind , made a white froth called snow ; which being after some while dissolved by the heat of the same spirit , turned to vvater again . this observation amazed the emperess very much ; for she had hitherto believed , that snow was made by cold motions , and not by such an agitation or beating of a fiery extract upon water : nor could she be perswaded to believe it until the fish or mear-men had delivered their observation upon the making of ice , which , they said , was not produced , as some had hitherto conceived , by the motion of the air , raking the superficies of the earth , but by some strong saline vapour arising out of the seas , which condensed water into ice ; and the more quantity there was of that vapour , the greater were the mountains or precipices of ice ; but the reason that it did not so much freeze in the torrid zone , or under the ecliptick , as near or under the poles , was , that this vapour in those places being drawn up by the sun-beams into the middle region of the air , was onely condensed into water , and fell down in showres of rain ; when as , under the poles , the heat of the sun being not so vehement , the same vapour had no force or power to rise so high , and therefore caused so much ice , by ascending and acting onely upon the surface of water . this relation confirmed partly the observation of the bird-men concerning the cause of snow ; but since they had made mention that that same extract , which by its commixture with water made snow , proceeded from the element of fire , that is under the moon : the emperess asked them , of what nature that elementary fire was ; whether it was like ordinary fire here upon earth , or such a fire as is within the bowels of the earth , and as the famous mountains vesuvius and aetna do burn withal ; or whether it was such a sort of fire , as is found in flints , &c. they answered , that the elementary fire , which is underneath the sun , was not so solid as any of those mentioned fires ; because it had no solid fuel to feed on ; but yet it was much like the flame of ordinary fire , onely somewhat more thin and fluid ; for flame , said they , is nothing else but the airy part of a fired body . lastly , the empress asked the bird-men of the nature of thunder and lightning ? and whether it was not caused by roves of ice falling upon each other ? to which they answered , that it was not made that way , but by an encounter of cold and heat ; so that an exhalation being kindled in the clouds , did dash forth lightning , and that there were so many rentings of clouds as there were sounds and cracking noises : but this opinion was contradicted by others , who affirmed that thunder was a sudden and monstrous blaz , stirred up in the air , and did not always require a cloud ; but the empress not knowing what they meant by blaz ( for even they themselves were not able to explain the seuse of this word ) liked the former better ; and , to avoid hereafter tedious disputes , and have the truth of the phaenomena's of coelestial bodies more exactly known , commanded the bear-men , which were her experimental philosophers , to observe them through such instruments as are called telescopes , which they did according to her majesties command ; but these telescopes caused more differences and divisions amongst them , then ever they had before ; for some said , they perceived that the sun stood still , and the earth did move about it ; others were of opinion , that they both did move ; and others said again , that the earth stood still , and the sun did move ; some counted more stars then others ; some discovered new stars never seen before ; some fell into a great dispute with others concerning the bigness of the stars ; some said , the moon was another world like their terrestrial globe , and the spots therein were hills and vallies ; but others would have the spots to be the terrestrial parts , and the smooth and glossie parts , the sea : at last , the empress commanded them to go with their telescopes to the very end of the pole that was joined to the world she came from , and try whether they could perceive any stars in it : which they did ; and , being returned to her majesty , reported that they had seen three blazing-stars appear there , one after another in a short time , whereof two were bright , and one dim ; but they could not agree neither in this observation : for some said , it was but one star which appeared at three several times , in several places ; and others would have them to be three several stars ; for they thought it impossible , that those three several appearances should have been but one star , because every star did rise at a certain time , and appear'd in a certain place , and did disappear in the same place : next , it is altogether improbable , said they , that one star should fly from place to place , especially at such a vast distance , without a visible motion ; in so short a time , and appear in such different places , whereof two were quite opposite , and the third side-ways : lastly , if it had been hut one star , said they , it would always have kept the same splendor , which it did not ; for , as above mentioned , two were bright , and one was dim . after they had thus argued , the empress began to grow angry at their telescopes , that they could give no better intelligence ; for , said she , now i do plainly perceive , that your glasses are false informers , and instead of discovering the truth , delude your senses ; wherefore i command you to break them , and let the bird-men trust onely to their natural eyes , and examine coelestial objects by the motions of their own sense and reason . the bear-men replied , that it was not the fault of their glasses , which caused such differences in their opinions , but the sensitive motions in their optick organs did not move alike , nor were their rational judgments always regular : to which the empress answered , that if their glasses were true informers , they would rectifie their irregular sense and reason ; but , said she , nature has made your sense and reason more regular then art has your glasses ; for they are meer deluders , and will never lead you to the knowledg of truth ; wherefore i command you again to break them ; for you may observe the progressive motions of coelestial bodies with your natural eyes better then through artificial glasses . the bear-men being exceedingly troubled at her majesties displeasure concerning their telescopes , kneel'd down , and in the humblest manner petitioned , that they might not be broken ; for , said they , we take more delight in artificial delusions , then in natural truths . besides , we shall want imployments for our senses , and subjects for arguments ; for , were there nothing but truth , and no falshood , there would be no occasion to dispute , and by this means we should want the aim and pleasure of our endeavours in confuting and contradicting each other ; neither would one man be thought wiser then another , but all would either be alike knowing and wise , or all would be fools ; wherefore we most humbly beseech your imperial majesty to spare our glasses , which are our onely delight , and as dear to us as our lives . the empress at last consented to their request , but upon condition , that their disputes and quarrels should remain within their schools , and cause no factions or disturbances in state , or government . the bear-men , full of joy , returned their most humble thanks to the empress ; and to make her amends for the displeasure which their telescopes had occasioned , told her majesty , that they had several other artificial optick-glasses , which they were sure would give her majesty a great deal more satisfaction . amongst the rest , they brought forth several microscopes , by the means of which they could enlarge the shapes of little bodies , and make a lowse appear as big as an elephant , and a mite as big as a whale . first of all they shewed the emperess a gray drone-flye , wherein they observed that the greatest part of her face , nay , of her head , consisted of two large bunches all cover'd over with a multitude of small pearls or hemispheres in a trigonal order : which pearls were of two degrees , smaller and bigger ; the smaller degree was lowermost , and looked towards the ground ; the other was upward , and looked sideward , forward and backward : they were all so smooth and polished , that they were able to represent the image of any object , the number of them was in all 14000. after the view of this strange and miraculous creature , and their several observations upon it , the empress asked them , what they judged those little hemispheres might be ? they answered , that each of them was a perfect eye , by reason they perceived that each was covered with a transparent cornea , containing a liquor within them , which resembled the watery or glassie humor of the eye . to which the emperess replied , that they might be glassie pearls , and yet not eyes ; and that perhaps their microscopes did not truly inform them . but they smilingly answered her majesty , that she did not know the vertue of those microscopes ; for they never delude , but rectifie and inform the senses ; nay , the world , said they , would be but blind without them , as it has been in former ages before those microscopes were invented . after this , they took a charcoal , and viewing it with one of their best microscopes , discovered in it an infinite multitude of pores , some bigger , some less ; so close and thick , that they left but very little space betwixt them to be filled with a solid body ; and to give her imperial majesty a better assurance thereof , they counted in a line of them an inch long , no less then 2700 pores ; from which observation they drew this following conclusion , to wit , that this multitude of pores was the cause of the blackness of the coal ; for , said they , a body that has so many pores , from each of which no light is reflected , must necessarily look black , since black is nothing else but a privation of light , or a want of reflection . but the empress replied , that if all colours were made by reflection of light , and that black was as much a colour as any other colour ; then certainly they contradicted themselves in saying that black was made by want of reflection . however , not to interrupt your microscopical inspections , said she , let us see how vegetables appear through your glasses ; whereupon they took a nettle , and by the vertue of the microscope , discovered that underneath the points of the nettle there were certain little bags or bladders , containing a poysonous liquor , and when the points had made way into the interior parts of the skin , they like syringe-pipes served to conveigh that same liquor into them . to which observation the empress replied , that if there were such poyson in nettles , then certainly in eating of them , they would hurt us inwardly , as much as they do outwardly ? but they answered , that it belonged to physicians more then to experimental philosophers , to give reasons hereof ; for they only made microscopical inspections , and related the figures of the natural parts of creatures acording to the representation of their glasses . lastly , they shewed the empress a flea , and a lowse ; which creatures through the microscope appear'd so terrible to her sight , that they had almost put her into a swoon ; the description of all their parts would be very tedious to relate , and therefore i 'le forbear it at this present . the empress , after the view of those strangely-shaped creatures , pitied much those that are molested with them , especially poor beggars , which although rhey have nothing to live on themselves , are yet necessitated to maintain and feed of their own flesh and blood , a company of such terrible creatures called lice ; who , instead of thanks , do reward them with pains , and torment them for giving them nourishment and food . but after the empress had seen the shapes of these monstrous creatures , she desir'd to know , whether their microscopes could hinder their biting , or at least shew some means how to avoid them ? to which they answered , that such arts were mechanical and below that noble study of microscopical observations . then the empress asked them , whether they had not such sorts of glasses that could enlarge and magnifie the shapes of great bodies as well as they had done of little ones ? whereupon they took one of their best and largest microscopes , and endeavoured to view a whale thorow it ; but alas ! the shape of the whale was so big , that its circumference went beyond the magnifying quality of the glass ; whether the error proceeded from the glass , or from a wrong position of the whale against the reflection of light , i cannot certainly tell . the empress seeing the insufficiency of those magnifying-glasses , that they were not able to enlarge all sorts of objects , asked the bear-men , whether they could not make glasses of a contrary nature to those they had shewed her , to wit , such as instead of enlarging or magnifying the shape or figure of an object , could contract it beneath its natural proportion : which , in obedience to her majesties commands , they did ; and viewing through one of the best of them , a huge and mighty whale appear'd no bigger then a sprat ; nay , through some no bigger then a vinegar-eele ; and through their ordinary ones , an elephant seemed no bigger then a flea ; a camel no bigger then a lowse ; and an ostrich no bigger then a mite . to relate all their optick observations through the several sorts of their glasses , would be a tedious work , and tire even the most patient reader , wherefore i 'le pass them by ; onely this was very remakable and worthy to be taken notice of , that notwithstanding their great skil , industry and ingenuity in experimental philosophy , they could yet by no means contrive such glasses , by the help of which they could spy out a vacuum , with all its dimensions , nor immaterial substances , non-beings , and mixt-beings , or such as are between something and nothing ; which they were very much troubled at , hoping that yet , in time , by long study and practice , they might perhaps attain to it . the bird and bear-men being dismissed , the empress called both the syrens-or fish-men , and the worm-men , to deliver their observations which they had made , both within the seas , and the earth . first , she enquired of the fish-men whence the saltness of the sea did proceed ? to which they answered , that there was a volatile salt in those parts of the earth , which as a bosom contain the waters of the sea , which salt being imbibed by the sea , became fixt ; and this imbibing motion was that they call'd the ebbing and flowing of the sea ; for , said they , the rising and swelling of the water , is caused by those parts of the volatile salt as are not so easily imbibed , which striving to ascend above the water , bear it up with such a motion , as man , or some other animal creature , in a violent exercise uses to take breath . this they affirmed to be the true eause both of the saltness , and the ebbing and flowing-motion of the sea , and not the jogging of the earth , or the secret influence of the moon , as some others had made the world believe . after this , the empress enquired , whether they had observed , that all animal creatures within the seas and other waters , had blood ? they answered , that some had blood , more or less , but some had none . in crea-fishes and lobsters , said they , we perceive but little blood ; but in crabs , oysters , cockles , &c. none at all . then the empress asked them , in what part of their bodies that little blood did reside ? they answered , in a small vein , which in lobsters went through the middle of their tails , but in crea-fishes was found in their backs : as for other sorts of fishes , some , said they , had onely blood about their gills , and others in some other places of their bodies ; but they had not as yet observed any whose veins did spread all over their bodies . the empress wondring that there could be living animals without blood , to be better satisfied , desired the worm-men to inform her , whether they had observed blood in all sorts of worms ? they answered , that , as much as they could perceive , some had blood , and some not ; a moth , said they , had no blood at all , and a lowse had , but like a lobster , a little vein along her back : also nits , snails , and maggots , as well as those that are generated out of cheese and fruits , as those that are produced out of flesh , had no blood : but , replied the empress , if those mentioned creatures have no blood , how is it possible they can live ? for it is commonly said , that the life of an animal consists in the blood , which is the seat of the animal spirits . they answered , that blood was not a necessary propriety to the life of an animal ; and that that which was commonly called animal spirits , was nothing else but corporeal motions proper to the nature and figure of an animal . then she asked both the fish-and worm-men , whether all those creatures that have blood , had a circulation of blood in their veins and arteries ? but they answered , that it was impossible to give her majesty an exact account thereof , by reason the circulation of blood was an interior motion , which their senses , neither of themselves , nor by the help of any optick instrument could perceive ; but as soon as they had dissected an animal creature , to find out the truth thereof , the interior corporeal motions proper to that particular figure or creature , were altered . then said the empress , if all animal creatures have not blood , it is certain , they all have neither muscles , tendons , nerves , &c. but , said she , have you ever observed animal creatures that are neither flesh , nor fish , but of an intermediate degree between both ? truly , answered both the fish and worm-men , we have observed several animal creatures that live both in water , and on the earth , indifferently , and if any , certainly those may be said to be of such a mixt nature , that is , partly flesh , and partly fish : but how is it possible , replied the empress , that they should live both in water , and on the earth , since those animals that live by the respiration of air , cannot live within water ; and those that live in water , cannot live by the respiration of air , as experience doth sufficiently witness . they answered her majesty , that as there were different sorts of creatures , so they had also different ways of respirations ; for respiration , said they , is nothing else but a composition and division of parts , and the motions of nature being infinitely various , it is impossible that all creatures should have the like motions ; wherefore it was not necessary , that all animal creatures should be bound to live either by the air , or by water onely , but according as nature had ordered it convenient to their species . the empress seem'd very well satisfied with their answer , and desired to be further informed , whether all animal creatures did continue their species by a successive propagation of particulars , and whether in every species the off-springs did always resemble their generator or producer , both in their interior and exterior figures ? they answered , her majesty , that some species or sorts of creatures , were kept up by a successive propagation of an off-spring that was like the producer , but some were not . of the first rank , said they , are all those animals that are of different sexes , besides several others ; but of the second rank are for the most part those we call insects , whose production proceds from such causes as have no conformity or likeness with their produced effects ; as for example , maggots bred out of cheese , and several others generated out of earth , water , and the like . but said the empress , there is some likeness between maggots and cheese , for cheese has no blood , nor maggots neither ; besides , they have almost the same taste which cheese has . this proves nothing , answered they ; for maggots have a visible , local . progressive motion , which cheese hath not . the empress replied , that when all the cheese was turned into maggots , it might be said to have local , progressive motion . they answered , that when the cheese by its own figurative motions was changed into maggots , it was no more cheese . the empress confessed that she observed nature was infinitely various in her works , and that though the species of creatures did continue , yet their particulars were subject to infinite changes . but since you have informed me , said she , of the various sorts and productions of animal creatures , i desire you to tell me what you have observed of their sensitive perceptions ? truly , answered they , your majesty puts a very hard question to us , and we shall hardly be able to give a satisfactory answer to it ; for there are many different sorts of creatures , which as they have all different perceptions , so they have also different organs , which our senses are not able to discover , onely in an oyster-shell we have with admiration observed , that the common sensorium of the oyster lies just at the closing of the shells , where the pressure and reaction may be perceived by the opening and shutting of the shells every tide . after all this , the empress desired the worm men to give her a true relation how frost was made upon the earth ? to which they answered , that it was made much after the manner and description of the fish and bird-men , concerning the congelation of water into ice and snow , by a commixture of saline and acid particles ; which relation added a great light to the ape-men , who were the chymists , concerning their chymical principles , salt , sulphur and mercury . but , said the empress , if it be so , it will require an infinite multitude of saline particles to produce such a great quantity of ice , frost and snow : besides , said she , when snow , ice and frost , turn again into their former principle , i would fain know what becomes of those saline particles ? but neither the worm-men , nor the fish and bird-men , could give her an answer to it . then the empress enquired of them the reason , why springs were not as salt as the sea is ? also , why some did ebb and flow ? to which it was answered , that the ebbing and flowing of some springs , was caused by hollow caverns within the earth , where the sea-water crowding thorow , did thrust forward , and drew backward the spring-water , according to its own way of ebbing and flowing ; but others said , that it proceeded from a small proportion of saline and acid particles , which the spring-water imbibed from the earth ; and although it was not so much as to be perceived by the sense of taste ; yet was it enough to cause an ebbing and flowing-motion . and as for the spring-water being fresh , they gave , according to their observation , this following reason : there is , said they , a certain heat within the bowels of the earth , proceeding from its swift circular motion , upon its own axe , which heat distills the rarest parts of the earth into a fresh and insipid water , which water being through the pores of the earth , conveighed into a place where it may break forth without resistance or obstruction , causes springs and fountains ; and these distilled waters within the earth , do nourish and refresh the grosser and drier parts thereof . this relation confirmed the empress in the opinion concerning the motion of the earth , and the fixedness of the sun , as the bird-men , had informed her ; and then she asked the worm-men , whether minerals and vegetables were generated by the same heat that is within the bowels of the earth ? to which they could give her no positive answer ; onely this they affirmed , that heat and cold were not the primary producing causes of either vegetables or minerals , or other sorts of creatures , but onely effects ; and to prove this our assertion , said they , we have observed , that by change of some sorts of corporeal motions , that which is now hot , will become cold ; and what is now cold , will grow hot ; but the hottest place of all , we find to be the center of the earth : neither do we observe , that the torrid zone does contain so much gold and silver as the temperate ; nor is there great store of iron and lead wheresoever there is gold ; for these metals are most found in colder climates towards either of the poles . this observation , the empress commanded them to confer with her chymists , the ape-men ; to let them know that gold was not produced by a violent , but a temperate degree of heat . she asked further , whether gold could not be made by art ? they answered , that they could not certainly tell her majesty , but if it was possible to be done , they thought tin , lead , brass , iron and silver , to be the fittest metals for such an artificial transmutation . then she asked them , whether art could produce iron , tin , lead , or silver ? they answered , not , in their opinion . then i perceive , replyed the empress , that your judgments are very irregular , since you believe that gold , which is so fixt a metal , that nothing has been found as yet which could occasion a dissolution of its interior figure , may be made by art , and not tin , lead , iron , copper or silver , which yet are so far weaker , and meaner metals then gold is . but the worm-men excused themselves , that they were ignorant in that art , and that such questions belonged more properly to the ape-men , which were her majesties chymists . then the empress asked them , whether by their sensitive perceptions they could observe the interior corporeal , figurative motions both of vegetables and minerals ? they answer'd , that their senses could perceive them after they were produced , but not before ; nevertheless , said they , although the interior , figurative motions of natural creatures are not subject to the exterior , animal , sensitive perceptions , yet by their rational perception they may judg of them , and of their productions if they be regular : whereupon the empress commanded the bear-men to lend them some of their best microscopes . at which the bear-men smilingly answered her majesty , that their glasses would do them but little service in the bowels of the earth , because there was no light ; for , said they , our glasses do onely represent exterior objects , according to the various reflections and positions of light ; and wheresoever light is wanting , the glasses wil do no good . to which the worm-men replied , that although they could not say much of refractions , reflections , inflections , and the like ; yet were they not blind , even in the bowels of the earth : for they could see the several sorts of minerals , as also minute animals , that lived there ; which minute animal creatures were not blind neither , but had some kind of sensitive perception that was as serviceable to them , as sight , taste , smell , touch , hearing , &c. was to other animal creatures : by which it is evident , that nature has been as bountiful to those creatures that live under ground , or in the bowels of the earth , as to those that live upon the surface of the earth , or in the air , or in water . but howsoever , proceeded the worm-men , although there is light in the bowels of the earth , yet your microscopes will do but little good there , by reason those creatures that live under ground have not such an optick sense as those that live on the surface of the earth : wherefore , unless you had such glasses as are proper for their perception , your microscopes will not be any ways advantagious to them . the empress seem'd well pleased with this answer of the worm-men ; and asked them further , whether minerals and all other creatures within the earth were colourless ? at which question they could not forbear laughing ; and when the empress asked the reason why they laught ? we most humbly beg your majesties pardon , replied they ; for we could not chuse but laugh , when we heard of a colourless body . why , said the empress , colour is onely an accident , which is an immaterial thing , and has no being of it self , but in another body . those , replied they , that informed your majesty thus , surely their rational motions were very irregular ; for how is it possible , that a natural nothing can have a being in nature ? if it be no substance , it cannot have a being , and if no being , it is nothing ; wherefore the distinction between subsisting of it self , and subsisting in another body , is a meer nicety , and non-sense ; for there is nothing in nature that can subsist of , or by it self , ( i mean singly ) by reason all parts of nature are composed in one body , and though they may be infinitely divided , commixed , and changed in their particulars , yet in general , parts cannot be separated from parts as long as nature lasts ; nay , we might as probably affirm , that infinite nature would be as soon destroyed , as that one atom could perish ; and therefore your majesty may firmly believe , that there is no body without colour , nor no colour without body ; for colour , figure , place , magnitude , and body , are all but one thing , without any separation or abstraction from each other . the empress was so wonderfully taken with this discourse of the worm-men , that she not only pardoned the rudeness they committed in laughing at first at her question , but yielded a full assent to their opinion , which she thought the most rational that ever she had heard yet ; and then proceeding in her questions , enquired further , whether they had observed any seminal principles within the earth free from all dimensions and qualities , which produced vegetables , minerals , and the like ? to which they answered , that concerning the seeds of minerals , their sensitive perceptions had never observed any ; but vegetables had certain seeds out of which they were produced . then she asked , whether those seeds of vegetables lost their species , that is , were annihilated in the production of their off-spring ? to which they answered , that by an annihilation , nothing could be produced , and that the seeds of vegetables were so far from being annihilated in their productions , that they did rather numerously increase and multiply ; for the division of one seed , said they , does produce numbers of seeds out of it self . but repli'd the empress , a particular part cannot increase of it self . 't is true , answer'd they : but they increase not barely of themselves , but by joining and commixing with other parts , which do assist them in their productions , and by way of imitation form or figure their own parts into such or such particulars . then , i pray inform me , said the empress , what disguise those seeds put on , and how they do conceal themselves in their transmutations ? they answered , that seeds did no ways disguise or conceal , but rather divulge themselves in the multiplication of their off-spring ; onely they did hide and conceal themselves from their sensitive perceptions so , that their figurative and productive motions were not perceptible by animal creatures . again , the empress asked them , whether there were any non beings within the earth ? to which they answered , that they never heard of any such thing ; and that , if her majesty would know the truth thereof , she must ask those creatures that are called immaterial spirits , which had a great affinity with non-beings , and perhaps could give her a satisfactory answer to this question . then she desired to be informed , what opinion they had of the beginning of forms ? they told her majesty , that they did not understand what she meant by this expression ; for , said they , there is no beginning in nature , no not of particulars ; by reason nature is eternal and infinite , and her particulars are subject to infinite changes and transmutations by vertue of their own corporeal , figurative self-motions ; so that there 's nothing new in nature , nor properly a beginning of any thing . the empress seem'd well satisfied with all those answers , and enquired further , whether there was no art used by those crearures that live within the earth ? yes , answered they : for the several parts of the earth do join and assist each other in composition or framing of such or such particulars ; and many times , there are factions and divisions ; which cause productions of mixt species ; as , for example , weeds , instead of sweet flowres and useful fruits ; but gardeners and husbandmen use often to decide their quarrels , and cause them to agree ; which though it shews a kindness to the differing parties , yet 't is a great prejudice to the worms , and other animal-creatures that live under ground ; for it most commonly causes their dissolution and ruine , at best they are driven out of their habitations . what , said the empress , are not worms produced out of the earth ? their production in general , answered they , is like the production of all other natural creatures , proceeding from the corporeal figurative motions of nature ; but as for their particular productions , they are according to the nature of their species ; some are produced out of flowers , some out of roots , some out of fruits , some out of ordinary earth . then they are very ungrateful children , replied the empress , that they feed on their own parents which gave them life . their life , answered they , is their own , and not their parents ; for no part or creature of nature can either give or take away life ; but parts do onely assist and join with parts , either in the dissolution or production of other parts and creatures . after this , and several other conferences , which the empress held with the worm-men , she dismissed them ; and having taken much satisfaction in several of their answers , encouraged them in their studies and observations . then she made a convocation of her chymists , the ape-men ; and commanded them to give her an account of the several transmutations which their art was able to produce . they begun first with a long and tedious discourse concerning the primitive ingredients of natural bodies ; and how , by their art , they had found out the principles out of which they consist . but they did not all agree in their opinions ; for some said , that the principles of all natural bodies were the four elements , fire , air , water , earth , out of which they were composed : others rejected this elementary commixture , and said , there were many bodies out of which none of the four elements could be extracted by any degree of fire whatsoever ; and that , on the other side , there were divers bodies , whose resolution by fire reduced them into more then four different ingredients ; and these affirmed , that the only principles of natural bodies were salt , sulphur , and mercury : others again declared , that none of the forementioned could be called the true principles of natural bodies ; but that by their industry and pains which they had taken in the art of chymistry , they had discovered , that all natural bodies were produced but from one principle , which was water ; for all vegetables , minerals , and animals , said they , are nothing else , but simple water distinguished into various figures by the vertue of their seeds . but after a great many debates and contentions about this subject , the empress being so much tired that she was not able to hear them any longer , imposed a general silence upon them , and then declared her self in this following discourse . i am too sensible of the pains you have taken in the art of chymistry , to discover the principles of natural bodies , and wish they had been more profitably bestowed upon some other , then such experiments ; for both by my own contemplation , and the observations which i have made by rational & sensitive perception upon nature , and her works , i find , that nature is but one infinite self-moving body , which by the vertue of its self-motion , is divided into infinite parts , which parts being restless , undergo perpetual changes and transmutations by their infinite compositions and divisions . now , if this be so , as surely , according to regular sense and reason , it appears no otherwise ; it is in vain to look for primary ingredients , or constitutive principles of natural bodies , since there is no more but one universal principle of nature , to wit , self-moving matter , which is the onely cause of all natural effects . next , i desire you to consider , that fire is but a particular creature , or effect of nature , and occasions not onely different effects in several bodies , but on some bodies has no power at all ; witness gold , which never could be brought yet to change its interior figure by the art of fire ; and if this be so , why should you be so simple as to believe that fire can shew you the principles of nature ? and that either the four elements , or water onely , or salt sulphur and mercury , all which are no more but particular effects and creatures of nature , should be the primitive ingredients or principles of all natural bodies ? wherefore , i will not have you to take more pains , and waste your time in such fruitless attempts , but be wiser hereafter , and busie your selves with such experiments as may be beneficial to the publick . the empress having thus declared her mind to the ape-men , and given them better instructions then perhaps they expected , not knowing that her majesty had such great and able judgment in natural philosophy , had several conferences with them concerning chymical preperations , which for brevities sake , i 'le forbear to reherse : amongst the rest , she asked , how it came that the imperial race appear'd so young , and yet was reported to have lived so long ; some of them two , some three , and some four hundred years ? and whether it was by nature , or a special divine blessing ? to which they answered , that there was a certain rock in the parts of that world , which contained the golden sands , which rock was hallow within , and did produce a gum that was a hundred years before it came to its full strength and perfection ; this gum , said they , if it be held in a warm hand , will dissolve into an oyl , the effects whereof are following : it being given every day for some certain time , to an old decayed man , in the bigness of a little pea , will first make him spit for a week , or more ; after this , it will cause vomits of flegm ; and after that it will bring forth by vomits , humors of several colours ; first of a pale yellow , then of a deep yellow , then of a green , and lastly of a black colour ; and each of these humors have a several taste , some are fresh , some salt , some sower , some bitter , and so forth ; neither do all these vomits make them sick , but they come out on a sudden , and unawares , without any pain or trouble to the patient : and after it hath done all these mentioned effects , and clear'd both the stomack and several other parts of the body , then it works upon the brain , and brings forth of the nose such kinds of humors as it did out of the mouth , and much after the same manner ; then it will purge by stool , then by urine , then by sweat , and lastly by bleeding at the nose , and the emeroids ; all which effects it will perform within the space of six weeks , or a little more ; for it does not work very strongly , but gently , and by degrees : lastly , when it has done all this , it will make the body break out into a thick scab , and cause both hair , teeth , and nails to come off ; which scab being arrived to its full maturity , opens first along the back , and comes off all in a piece like an armour , and all this is done within the space of four months . after this the patient is wrapt into a cerecloth , prepared of certain gums and juices , wherein he continues until the time of nine months be expired from the first beginning of the cure , which is the time of a childs formation in the womb. in the mean while , his diet is nothing else but eagles-eggs , and hinds-milk ; and after the cere-cloth is taken away , he will appear of the age of twenty , both in shape , and strength . the weaker sort of this gum is soveraign in healing of wounds , and curing of slight distempers . but this is also to be observed , that none of the imperial race does use any other drink but lime-water , or water in which lime-stone is immerged ; their meat is nothing else but fowl of several sorts , their recreations are many , but chiefly hunting . this relation amazed the empress very much ; for though in the world she came from , she had heard great reports of the philosophers-stone , yet had she not heard of any that had ever found it out , which made her believe that it was but a chymera ; she called also to mind , that there had been in the same world a man who had a little stone which cured all kinds of diseases outward and inward , according as it was applied ; and that a famous chymist had found out a certain liquor called alkahest , which by the vertue of its own fire , consumed all diseases ; but she had never heard of a medicine that could renew old age , and render it beautiful , vigorous and strong : nor would she have so easily believed it , had it been a medicine prepared by art ; for she knew that art , being natures changeling , was not able to produce such a powerful effect ; but being that the gum did grow naturally , she did not so much scruple at it ; for she knew that nature's works are so various and wonderful , that no particular creature is able to trace her ways . the conferences of the chymists being finished , the empress made an assembly of her galenical physicians , her herbalists and anatomists ; and first she enquired of her herbalists the particular effects of several herbs and drugs , and whence they proceeded ? to which they answered , that they could , for the most part , tell her majesty the vertues and operations of them , but the particular causes of their effects were unknown ; onely thus much they could say , that their operations and vertues were generally caused by their proper inherent , corporeal , figurative motions , which being infinitely various in infinite nature , did produce infinite several effects . and it is observed , said they , that herbs and drugs are as wise in their operations , as men in their words and actions ; nay , wiser ; and their effects are more certain then men in their opinions ; for though they cannot discourse like men , yet have they sense and reason , as well as men ; for the discursive faculty is but a particular effect of sense and reason in some particular creatures , to wit , men , and not a principle of nature , and argues often more folly than wisdom . the empress asked , whether they could not by a composition and commixture of other drugs make them work other effects then they did , used by themselves ? they answered , that they could make them produce artificial effects , but not alter their inherent , proper and particular natures . then the empress commanded her anatomists to dissect such kinds of creatures as are called monsters . but they answered her majesty , that it would be but an unprofitable and useless work , and hinder their better imployments ; for when we dissect dead animals , said they , it is for no other end , but to observe what defects or distempers they had , that we may cure the like in living ones , so that all our care and industry concerns onely the preservation of mankind ; but we hope your majesty will not preserve monsters , which are most commonly destroyed , except it be for novelty : neither will the dissection of monsters prevent the errors of nature's irregular actions ; for by dissecting some , we cannot prevent the production of others ; so that our pains and labour will be to no purpose , unless to satisfie the vain curiosities of inquisitive men . the empress replied , that such dissections would be very beneficial to experimental philosophers . if experimental philosophers , answer'd they , do spend their time in such useless inspections , they waste it in vain , and have nothing but their labour for their pains . lastly , her majesty had some conferences with the galenick physicians about several diseases , and amongst the rest , desired to know the cause and nature of apoplexies , and the spotted plague . they answered , that a deadly apoplexy was a dead palsie of the brain ; and the spotted plague was a gangrene of the vital parts : and as the gangrene of outward parts did strike inwardly ; so the gangrene of inward parts , did break forth outwardly : which is the cause , said they , that as soon as the spots appear , death follows ; for then it is an infallible sign , that the body is throughout infected with a gangrene , which is a spreading evil ; but some gangrenes do spread more suddenly than others , and of all sorts of gangrenes , the plaguygangrene is the most infectious ; for other gangrenes infect but the next adjoining parts of one particular body , and having killed that same creature , go no further , but cease ; when as , the gangrene of the plague , infects not onely the adjoining parts of one particular creature , but also those that are distant ; that is , one particular body infects another , and so breeds a universal contagion . but the empress being very desirous to know in what manner the plague was propagated , and became so contagious , asked , whether it went actually out of one body into another ? to which they answered , that it was a great dispute amongst the learned of their profession , whether it came by a division and composition of parts ; that is , by expiration and inspiration ; or whether it was caused by imitation : some experimental philosophers , said they , will make us believe , that by the help of their microscopes , they have observed the plague to be a body of little flies like atoms , which go out of one body into another , through the sensitive passages ; but the most experienced and wisest of our society , have rejected this opinion as a ridiculous fancy , and do , for the most part , believe , that it is caused by an imitation of parts ; so that the motions of some parts which are sound , do imitate the motions of those that are infected and that by this means , the plague becomes contagions , and spreading . the empress having hitherto spent her time in the examination of the bird fish worm and ape-men , &c. and received several intelligences from their several imployments ; at last had a mind to divert her self after her serious discourses , and therefore she sent for the spider-men , which were her mathematicians , the lice-men which were here geometricians , and the magpie parrot and jackdaw-men , which were her orators and logicians . the spider-men came first , and presented her majesty with a table full of mathematical points , lines , and figures of all sorts , of squares , circles , triangles , and the like ; which the empress , notwithstanding that she had a very ready wit , and quick apprehension , could not understand ; but the more she endeavoured to learn , the more was she confounded : whether they did ever square the circle , i cannot exactly tell , nor whether they could make imaginary points and lines ; but this i dare say , that their points and lines were so slender , small and thin , that they seem'd next to imaginary . the mathematicians were in great esteem with the empress , as being not onely the chief tutors and instructors in many arts , but some of them excellent magicians and informers of spirits , which was the reason their characters were so abstruse and intricate , that the emperess knew not what to make of them . there is so much to learn in your art , said she , that i can neither spare time from other affairs to busie my self in your profession ; nor , if i could , do i think i should ever be able to understand your imaginary points , lines and figures , because they are non-beings . then came the lice-men , and endeavoured to measure all things to a hairs-breadth , and weigh them to an atom ; but their weights would seldom agree , especially in the weighing of air , which they found a task impossible to be done ; at which the fmpress began to be displeased , and told them , that there was neither truth nor justice in their profession ; and so dissolved their society . after this , the empress was resolved to hear the magpie-parrot-and jackdaw-men , which were her professed orators and logicians ; whereupon one of the parrot-men rose with great formality , and endeavoured to make an eloquent speech before her majesty ; but before he had half ended , his arguments and divisions being so many , that they caused a great confusion in his brain , he could not go forward , but was forced to retire backward , with great disgrace both to himself , and the whole society ; and although one of his brethren endeavoured to second him by another speech , yet was he as far to seek , as the former . at which the empress appear'd not a little troubled , and told them , that they followed too much the rules of art , and confounded themselves with too nice formalities and distinctions ; but since i know , said she , that you are a people who have naturally voluble tongues , and good memories ; i desire you to consider more the subject you speak of , then your artificial periods , connexions and parts of speech , and leave the rest to your natural eloquence ; which they did , and so became very eminent orators . lastly , her imperial majesty being desirous to know what progress her logicians had made in the art of disputing , commanded them to argue upon several themes or subjects ; which they did ; and having made a very nice discourse of logistical terms and propositions , entred into a dispute by way of syllogistical arguments , through all the figures and modes : one began with an argument of the first mode of the first figure , thus : every politician is wise : every knave is a politician , therefore every knave is wise . another contradicted him with a syllogism of the second mode of the same figure , thus : no politician is wise : every knave is a politician , therefore no knave is wise . the third made an argument in the third mode of the same figure , after this manner : every politician is wise : some knaves are politicians , therefore some knaves are wise . the fourth concluded with a syllogism in the fourth mode of the same figure , thus ; no politican is wise : some knaves are politicians , therefore some knaves are not wise . after this they took another subject , and one propounded this syllogism : every philosopher is wise : every beast is wise , therefore every beast is a philosopher . but another said that this argument was false , therefore he contradicted him with a syllogism of the second figure of the fourth mode , thus : every philosopher is wise : some beasts are not wise , therefore some beasts are not philosophers . thus they argued , and intended to go on , but the empress interrupted them : i have enough , said she , of your chopt logick , and will hear no more of your syllogisms ; for it disorders my reason , and puts my brain on the rack ; your formal argumentations are able to spoil all natural wit ; and i 'le have you to consider , that art does not make reason , but reason makes art ; and therefore as much as reason is above art , so much is a natural rational discourse to be preferred before an artificial : for art is , for the most part irregular , and disorders men's understandings more then it rectifies them , and leads them into a labyrinth whence they 'l never get out , and makes them dull and unfit for useful employments ; especially your art of logick , which consists onely in contradicting each other , in making sophismes , and obscuring truth , instead of clearing it . but they replied to her majesty , that the knowledg of nature , that is , natural philosophy , would be imperfect without the art of logick ; and that there was an improbable truth which could no otherwise be found out then by the art of disputing . truly , said the empress , i do believe that it is with natural philosophy , as it is with all other effects of nature ; for no particular knowledg can be perfect , by reason knowledg is dividable , as well as composable ; nay , to speak properly , nature her self cannot boast of any perfection , but god himself ; because there are so many irregular motions in nature , and 't is but a folly to think that art should be able to regulate them , since art it self is , for the most part , irregular . but as for improbable truth i know not what your meaning is ; for truth is more then improbability : nay , there is so much difference between truth and improbability , that i cannot conceive it possible how they can be joined together . in short , said she , i do no ways approve of your profession ; and though i will not dissolve your society , yet i shall never take delight in hearing you any more ; wherefore confine your disputations to your schools , lest besides the commonwealth of learning , they disturb also divinity and policy , religion and laws , and by that means draw an utter ruine and destruction both upon church and state. after the empress had thus finish'd the discourses and conferences with the mentioned societies of her vertuoso's , she considered by her self the manner of their religion , and finding it very defective , was troubled , that so wise and knowing a people should have no more knowledg of the divine truth ; wherefore she consulted with her own thoughts , whether it was possible to convert them all to her own religion , and to that end she resolved to build churches , and make also up a congregation of women , whereof she intended to be the head her self , and to instruct them in the several points of her religion . this she had no sooner begun , but the women , which generally had quick wits , subtile conceptions , clear understandings , and solid judgments , became , in a short time , very devout and zealous sisters ; for the empress had an excellent gift of preaching , and instructing them in the articles of faith ; and by that means , she converted them not onely soon , but gained an extraordinary love of all her subjects throughout that world. but at last , pondering with her self the inconstant nature of mankind , and fearing that in time they would grow weary , and desert the divine truth , following their own fancies , and living according to their own desires ; she began to be troubled that her labours and pains should prove of so little effect , and therefore studied all manner of ways to prevent it . amongst the rest , she call'd to mind a relation which the bird-men made her once , of a mountain that did burn in flames of fire ; and thereupon did immediately send for a wisest and subtilest of her worm-men , commanding them to discover the cause of the eruption of that same fire ; which they did ; and having dived to the very bottom of the mountain , informed her majesty , that there was a certain sort of stone , whose nature was such , that being wetted , it would grow excessively hot , and break forth into a flaming-fire , until it became dry , and then it ceased from burning . the empress was glad to hear this news , and forthwith desired the worm men to bring her some of that stone , but be sure to keep it secret : she sent also for the bird-men , and asked them whether they could not get her a piece of the sun-stone ? they answered , that it was impossible , unless they did spoil or lessen the light of the world : but , said they , if it please your majesty , we can demolish one of the numerous stars of the sky , which the world will never miss . the empress was very well satisfied with this proposal , and having thus imployed these two sorts of men , in the mean while builded two chappels one above another ; the one she lined throughout with diamonds , both roof , walls and pillars ; but the other she resolved to line with the star-stone ; the fire-stone she placed upon the diamond-lining , by reason fire has no power on diamonds ; and when she would have that chappel where the fire-stone was , appear all in a flame , she had by the means of artificial pipes , water conveighed into it , which by turning the cock , did , as out of a fountain , spring over all the room , and as long as the fire-stone was wet , the chappel seemed to be all in a flaming-fire . the other chappel , which was lined with the star-stone , did onely cast a splendorous and comfortable light ; both the chappels stood upon pillars , just in the middle of a round cloyster , which was dark as night ; neither was there any other light within them , but what came from the fire-and star-stone ; and being every where open , allowed to all that were within the compass of the cloyster , a free prospect into them ; besides , they were so artificially contrived , that they did both move in a circle about their own centres , without intermission , contrary ways . in the chappel which was lined with the fire-stone , the empress preached sermons of terror to the wicked , and told them of the punishments for their sins , to wit , that after this life they should be tormented in an everlasting fire . but in the other chappel lined with the star-stone , she preached sermons of comfort to those that repented of their sins , and were troubled at their own wickedness : neither did the heat of the flame in the least hinder her ; for the fire-stone did not cast so great a heat but the empress was able to endure it , by reason the water which was poured on the stone , by its own self-motion turned into a flaming-fire , occasioned by the natural motions of the stone , which made the flame weaker then if it had been fed by some other kind of fuel ; the other chappel where the star-stone was , although it did cast a great light , yet was it without all heat , and the empress appear'd like an angel in it ; and as that chappel was an embleme of hell , so this was an embleme of heaven . and thus the empress , by art , and her own ingenuity , did not onely convert the blazing-world to her own religion , but kept them in a constant belief , without inforcement or blood-shed ; for she knew well , that belief was a thing not to be forced or pressed upon the people , but to be instilled into their minds by gentle perswasions ; and after this manner she encouraged them also in all other duties and employments : for fear , though it makes people obey , yet does it not last so long , nor is it so sure a means to keep them to their duties , as love. last of all , when she saw that both church and state was now in a well-ordered and setled condition , her thoughts reflected upon the world she came from ; and though she had a great desire to know the condition of the same , yet could she advise no manner of way how to gain any knowledg thereof ; at last , after many serious considerations , she conceived that it was impossible to be done by any other means , then by the help of imm●terial spirits ; wherefore she made a convocation of the most learned , witty and ingenious of all the forementioned sorts of men , and desired to know of them , whether there were any immaterial spirits in their world. first , she enquired of the worm-men , whether they had perceived some within the earth ? they answered her majesty , that they never knew of any such creatures ; for whatsoever did dwell within the earth , said they , was imbodied and material . then she asked the fly-men , whether they had observed any in the air ? for you having numerous eyes , said she , will be more able to perceive them , than any other creatures . to which they answered her majesty , that although spirits , being immaterial , could not be perceived by the worm-men in the earth , yet they perceived that such creatures did lodg in the vehicles of the air. then the empress asked , whether they could speak to them , and whether they did understand each other ? the fly-men answered , that those spirits were always cloth'd in some sort or other of material garments ; which garments were their bodies , made , for the most part , of air ; and when occasion served , they could put on any other sort of substances ; but yet they could not put these substances into any form or shape , as they pleased . the empress asked the fly-men , whether it was possible that she could be acquainted , and have some conferences with them ? they answered , they did verily believe she might . hereupon the empress commanded the fly-men to ask some of the spirits , whether they would be pleased to give her a visit ? this they did ; and after the spirits had presented themselves to the empress , ( in what shapes or forms , i cannot exactly tell ) after some few complements that passed between them , the empress told the spirits that she questioned not , but they did know how she was a stranger in that world , and by what miraculous means she was arrived there ; and since she had a great desire to know the condition of the world she came from , her request to the spirits was , to give her some information thereof , especially of those parts of the world where she was born , bred , and educated ; as also of her particular friends and acquaintance : all which , the spirits did according to her desire . at last , after a great many conferences and particular intelligences , which the spirits gave the empress , to her great satisfaction and content ; she enquired after the most famous students , writers , and experimental philosophers in that world , which they gave her a full relation of : amongst the rest she enquired , whether there were none that had found out yet the jews cabbala ? several have endeavoured it , answered the spirits , but those that came nearest ( although themselves denied it ) were one dr. dee , and one edward kelly , the one representing moses , and the other aaron ; for kelly was to dr. d ee , as aaron to moses ; but yet they proved at last but meer cheats ; and were described by one of their own country-men , a famous poet , named ben. johnson , in a play call'd , the alchymist , where he expressed kelly by capt. face , and d ee by dr. subtle , and their two wives by doll common , and the widow ; by the spaniard in the play , he meant the spanish ambassador , and by sir epicure mammon , a polish lord. the empress remembred that she had seen the play , and asked the spirits , whom he meant by the name of ananias ? some zealous brethren , answered they , in holland , germany , and several other places . then she asked them , who was meant by the druggist ? truly , answered the spirits , we have forgot , it being so long since it was made and acted . what , replied the empress , can spirits forget ? yes , said the spirits ; for what is past , is onely kept in memory , if it be not recorded . i did believe , said the empress , that spirits had no need of memory , or remembrance , and could not be subject to forgetfulness . how can we , answered they , give an account of things present , if we had no memory , but especially of things past , unrecorded , if we had no remembrance ? said the empress , by present knowledg and understanding . the spirits answered , that present knowledg and understanding was of actions or things present , not of past . but , said the empress , you know what is to come , without memory or remembrance ; and therefore you may know what is past without memory and remembrance . they answered , that their foreknowledg was onely a prudent and subtile observation made by comparing of things or actions past , with those that are present ; and that remembrance was nothing else but a repetition of things or actions past . then the empress asked the spirits , whether there was a threefold cabbala ? they answered , d ee and kelly made but a two-fold cabbala , to wit , of the old and new testament , but others might not onely make two or three , but threescore cabbala's , if they pleased . the empress asked , whether it was a traditional , or meerly a scriptural , or whether it was a literal , philosophical , or moral cabbala ? some , answered they , did believe it meerly traditional , others scriptural , some literal , and some metaphorical : but the truth is , said they , 't was partly one , and partly the other ; as partly a traditional , partly a scriptural , partly literal , partly metaphorical . the empress asked further , whether the cabbala was a work onely of natural reason , or of divine inspiration ? many , said the spirits , that write cabbala's pretend to divine inspirations ; but whether it be so , or not , it does not belong to us to judg ; onely this we must needs confess , that it is a work which requires a good wit , and a strong faith , but not natural reason ; for though natural reason is most perswasive , yet faith is the chief that is required in cabbalists . but , said the empress , is there not divine reason , as well as there is natural ? no , answered they : for there is but a divine faith , and as for reason it is onely natural ; but you mortals are so puzled about this divine faith , and natural reason , that you do not know well how to distinguish them , but confound them both , which is the cause you have so many divine philosophers who make a gallimafry both of reason and faith. then she asked , whether pure natural philosophers were cabbalists ? they answered , no ; but onely your mystical or divine philosophers , such as study beyond sense and reason . she enquired further , whether there was any cabbala in god , or whether god was full of idea's ? they answered , there could be nothing in god , nor could god be full of any thing , either forms or figures , but of himself ; for god is the perfection of all things , and an unexpressible being , beyond the conception of any creature , either natural or supernatural . then i pray inform me , said the empress , whether the jews cabbala or any other , consist in numbers ? the spirits answered , no : for numbers are odd , and different , and would make a disagreement in the cabbala . but , said she again , is it a sin then not to know or understand the cabbala ? god is so merciful , answered they , and so just , that he will never damn the ignorant , and save onely those that pretend to know him and his secret counsels by their cabbala's ; but he loves those that adore and worship him with fear and reverence , and with a pure heart . she asked further , which of these two cabbala's was most approved , the natural , or theological ? the theological , answered they , is mystical , and belongs onely to faith ; but the natural belongs to reason . then she asked them , whether divine faith was made out of reason ? no answered they , for faith proceeds onely from a divine saving grace , which is a peculiar gift of god. how comes it then , replied she , that men , even those that are of several opinions , have faith more or less ? a natural belief , answered they , is not a divine faith. but , proceeded the empress , how are you sure that god cannot be known ? the several opinions you mortals have of god , answered they , are sufficient witnesses thereof . well then , replied the empress , leaving this inquisitive knowledg of god , i pray inform me , whether you spirits give motion to natural bodies ? no , answered they ; but , on the contrary , natural material bodies give spirits motion ; for we spirits , being incorporeal , have no motion but from our corporeal vehicles , so that we move by the help of our bodies , and not the bodies by our help ; for pure spirits are immovable . if this be so , replied the empress , how comes it then that you can move so suddenly at a vast distance ? they answered , that some sorts of matter were more pure , rare , and consequently more light and agil then others ; and this was the reason of their quick and sudden motions . then the empress asked them , whether they could speak without a body , or bodily organs ? no , said they ; nor could we have any bodily sense , but onely knowledg . she asked , whether they could have knowledg without body ? not a natural , answered they , but a supernatural knowledg , which is a far better knowledg then a natural . then she asked them , whether they had a general or universal knowledg ? they answered , single or particular created spirits , have not ; for not any creature , but god himself , can have an absolute and perfect knowledg of all things . the empress asked them further , whether spirits had inward and outward parts ? no , answered they ; for parts onely belong to bodies , not to spirits . again , she asked them , whether their vehicles were living bodies ? they are self-moving bodies , answered they , and therefore they must needs be living ; for nothing can move it self , without it hath life . then , said she , it must necessarily follow , that this living , self-moving body gives motion to the spirit , and not the spirit motion to the body , as its vehicle . you say very true , answered they , and we told you this before . then the empress asked them , of what forms of matter those vehicles were ? they said they were of several different forms ; some gross and dense , and others more pure , rare , and subtil . if you be not material , said the empress , how can you be generators of all creatures ? we are no more , answered they , the generators of material creatures , then they are the generators of us spirits . then she asked , whether they did leave their vehicles ? no , answered they ; for we being incorporeal , cannot leave or quit them : but our vehicles do change into several forms and figures , according as occasion requires . then the empress desired the spirits to tell her , whether man was a little world ? they answered , that if a fly or worm was a little world , then man was so too . she asked again , whether our fore-fathers had been as wise , as men were at present , and had understood sense and reason , as well as they did now ? they answered . that in former ages they had been as wise as they are in this present , nay , wiser ; for , said they , many in this age do think their fore-fathers have been fools , by which they prove themselves to be such . the empress asked further , whether there was any plastick power in nature ? truly , said the spirits , plastick power is a hard word , & signifies no more then the power of the corporeal , figurative motions of nature . after this , the empress desired the spirits to inform her where the paradise was , whether it was in the midst of the world as a centre of pleasure ? or , whether it was the whole world ; or a peculiar world by it self , as a world of life , and not of matter ; or whether it was mixt , as a world of living animal creatures ? they answered , that paradise was not in the world she came from , but in that world she lived in at present ; and that it was the very same place where she kept her court , and where her palace stood , in the midst of the imperial city . the empress asked further , whether in the beginning and creation of the world , all beasts could speak ? they answered , that no beasts could speak , but onely those sorts of creatures which were fish-men , bear-men , worm-men , and the like , which could speak in the first age , as well as they do now . she asked again , whether they were none of those spirits that frighted adam out of the paradise , at least caused him not to return thither again ? they answered they were not . then she desired to be informed , whither adam fled when he was driven out of the paradise ? out of this world , said they , you are now empress of , into the world you came from . if this be so , replied the empress , then surely those cabbalists are much out of their story , who believe the paradise to be a world of life onely , without matter ; for this world , though it be most pleasant and fruitful , yet it is not a world of meer immaterial life , but a world of living , material creatures . vvithout question , they are , answered the spirits ; for not all cabbala's are true . then the empress asked , that since it is mentioned in the story of the creation of the world , that eve was tempted by the serpent , whether the devil was within the serpent , or whether the serpent tempted her without the devil ? they answered , that the devil was within the serpent . but how came it then , replied she , that the serpent was cursed ? they answered , because the devil was in him ; for are not those men in danger of damnation which have the devil within them , who perswades them to believe and act wickedly ? the empress asked further , whether light and the heavens were all one ? they answered , that that region which contains the lucid natural orbs , was by mortals named heaven ; but the beatifical heaven , which is the habitation of the blessed angels and souls , was so far beyond it , that it could not be compared to any natural creature . then the empress asked them , whether all matter was fluid at first ? they answered , that matter was always as it is ; and that some parts of matter were rare , some dense , some fluid , some solid , &c. neither was god bound to make all matter fluid at first . she asked further , whether matter was immovable in it self ? we have answered you before , said they , that there is no motion but in matter ; and were it not for the motion of matter , we spirits , could not move , nor give you any answer to your several questions . after this , the empress asked the spirits , whether the universe was made within the space of six days , or , whether by those six days , were meant so many decrees or commands of god ? they answered her , that the world was made by the all-powerful decree and command of god ; but whether there were six decrees or commands , or fewer , or more , no creature was able to tell . then she inquired , whether there was no mystery in numbers ? no other mystery , answered the spirits , but reckoning or counting ; for numbers are onely marks of remembrance . but what do you think of the number of four , said she , which cabbalists make such ado withal , and of the number of ten , when they say that ten is all , and that all numbers are virtually comprehended in four ? we think , answered they , that cabbalists have nothing else to do but to trouble their heads with such useless fancies ; for naturally there is no such thing as prime or all in numbers ; nor is there any other mystery in numbers , but what man's fancy makes ; but what men call prime , or all , we do not know , because they do not agree in the number of their opinion . then the empress asked , whether the number of six was a symbole of matrimony , as being made up of male and femal , for two into three is six . if any number can be a symbole of matrimony , answered the spirits , it is not six , but two ; if two may be allowed to be a number : for the act of matrimony is made up of two joined in one . she asked again , what they said to the number of seven ? whether it was not an embleme of god , because cabbalists say , that it is neither begotten , nor begets any other number ? there can be no embleme of god , answered the spirits ; for if we do not know what god is , how can we make an embleme of him ? nor is there any number in god , for god is the perfection himself ; but numbers are imperfect ; and as for the begetting of numbers , it is done by multiplication and addition ; but substraction is as a kind of death to numbers . if there be no mystery in numbers , replied the empress , then it is in vain to refer the creation of the world to certain numbers , as cabbalists do . the onely mystery of numbers , answered they , concerning the creation of the world , is , that as numbers do multiply , so does the world. the empress asked , how far numbers did multiply ? the spirits answered , to infinite . why , said she , infinite cannot be reckoned , nor numbred , no more , answered they , can the parts of the universe ; for god's creation , being an infinite action , as proceeding from an infinite power , could not rest upon a finite number of creatures , were it never so great . but leaving the mystery of numbers , proceeded the empress , let me now desire you to inform me , whether the suns and planets were generated by the heavens , or aethereal matter ? the spirits answered , that the stars and planets were of the same matter which the heavens , the aether , and all other natural creatures did consist of ; but whether they were generated by the heavens or aether , they could not tell : if they be , said they , they are not like their parents ; for the sun , stars , and planets , are more splendorous then the aether , as also more solid and constant in their motions : but put the case , the stars and planets were generated by the heavens , and the aethereal matter ; the question then would be , out of what these are generated or produced ? if these be created out of nothing , and not generated out of something , then it is probable the sun , stars and planets are so too ; nay , it is more probable of the stars and planets , then of the heavens , or the fluid aether , by reason the stars and planets seem to be further off from mortality , then the particular parts of the aether ; for no doubt but the parts of the aethereal matter , alter into several forms , which we do not perceive of the stars and planets . the empress asked further , whether they could give her information of the three principles of man , according to the doctrine of the platonists ; as first of the intellect , spirit , or divine light. 2. of the soul of man her self : and 3. of the image of the soul , that is , her vital operation on the body ? the spirits answered , that they did not understand these three distinctions , but that they seem'd to corporeal sense and reason , as if they were three several bodies , or three several corporeal actions ; however , said they , they are intricate conceptions of irregular fancies . if you do not understand them , replied the empress , how shall human creatures do then ? many , both of your modern and ancient philosophers , answered the spirits , endeavour to go beyond sense and reason , which makes them commit absurdities ; for no corporeal creature can go beyond sense and reason ; no not we spirits , as long as we are in our corporeal vehicles . then the empress asked them , whether there were any atheists in the world ? the spirits answered , that there were no more atheists then what cabbalists make . she asked them further , whether spirits were of a globous or round figure ? they answered , that figure belonged to body , but they being immaterial , had no figure . she asked again , whether spirits were not like water or fire ? they answered , that water and fire was material , were it the purest and most refined that ever could be ; nay , were it above the heavens : but we are no more like water or fire , said they , then we are like earth ; but our vehicles are of several forms , figures and degrees of substances . then she desired to know , whether their vehicles were made of air ? yes , answered the spirits , some of our vehicles are of thin air. then i suppose , replied the empress , that those airy vehicles , are your corporeal summer-suits . she asked further , whether the spirits had not ascending and descending-motions , as well as other creatures ? they answered , that properly there was no ascension or descension in infinite nature , but onely in relation to particular parts ; and as for us spirits , said they , we can neither ascend nor descend without corporeal vehicles ; nor can our vehicles ascend or descend , but according to their several shapes and figures , for there can be no motion without body . the empress asked them further , whether there was not a world of spirits , as well as there is of material creatures ? no , answered they ; for the word world implies a quantity or multitude of corporeal creatures , but we being immaterial , can make no world of spirits . then she desired to be informed when spirits were made ? we do not know , answered they , how and when we were made , nor are we much inquisitive after it ; nay , if we did , it would be no benefit , neither for us , nor for you mortals to know it . the empress replied , that cabbalists and divine philosophers said , mens rational souls were immaterial , and stood as much in need of corporeal vehicles , as spirits did . if this be so , answered the spirits , then you are hermaphrodites of nature ; but your cabbalists are mistaken , for they take the purest and subtilest parts of matter , for immaterial spirits . then the empress asked , when the souls of mortals went out of their bodies , whether they went to heaven or hell ; or whether they remained in airy vehicles ? god's justice and mercy , answered they , is perfect , and not imperfect ; but if you mortals will have vehicles for your souls , and a place that is between heaven and hell , it must be purgatory , which is a place of purification , for which action fire is more proper then air ; and so the vehicles of those souls that are in purgatory , cannot be airy , but fiery ; and after this rate there can be but four places for human souls to be in , viz. heaven , hell , purgatory , and this world ; but as for vehicles , they are but fancies , not real truths . then the empress asked them , where heaven and hell was ? your saviour christ , answered the spirits , has informed you , that there is heaven and hell , but he did not tell you what , nor where they are ; wherefore it is too great a presumption for you mortals to inquire after it . if you do but strive to get into heaven , it is enough , though you do not know where or what it is ; for it is beyond your knowledg and understanding . i am satisfied , replied the empress ; and asked further , whether there were any figures or characters in the soul ? they answered , where there was no body , there could be no figure . then she asked them , whether spirits could be naked ? and whether they were of a dark , or a light colour ? as for our nakedness , it is a very odd question , answered the spirits ; and we do not know what you mean by a naked spirit ; for you judg of us as of corporeal creatures ; and as for colour , said they , it is according to our vehicles ; for colour belongs to body , and as there is no body that is colourless , so there is no colour that is bodiless . then the empress desired to be informed , whether all souls were made at the first creation of the world ? we know no more , answered the spirits , of the origin of humane souls , then we know of our selves . she asked further , whether humane bodies were not burthensome to humane souls ? they answered , that bodies made souls active , as giving them motion ; and if action was troublesome to souls , then bodies were so too . she asked again , whether souls did chuse bodies ? they answered , that platonicks believed , the souls of lovers lived in the bodies of their beloved ; but surely , said they , if there be a multitude of souls in a world of matter , they cannot miss bodies ; for as soon as a soul is parted from one body , it enters into another ; and souls having no motion of themselves , must of necessity be clothed or imbodied with the next parts of matter . if this be so , replied the empress , then i pray inform me , whether all matter be soulified ? the spirits answered , they could not exactly tell that ; but if it was true , that matter had no other motion but what came from a spiritual power , and that all matter was moving , then no soul could quit a body , but she must of necessity enter into another soulified body , and then there would be two immaterial substances in one body . the empress asked , whether it was not possible that there could be two souls in one body ? as for immaterial souls , answered the spirits , it is impossible ; for there cannot be two immaterials in one inanimate body , by reason they want parts , and place , being bodiless ; but there maybe numerous materials souls in one composed body , by reason every material part has a material natural soul ; for nature is but one infinite self-moving , living and self-knowing body , consisting of the three degrees of inanimate , sensitive and rational matter , so intermixt together , that no part of nature , were it an atom , can be without any of these three degrees ; the sensitive is the life , the rational the soul , and the inanimate part , the body of infinite nature . the empress was very well satisfied with this answer , and asked further , whether souls did not give life to bodies ? no , answered they ; but spirits and divine souls have a life of their own , which is not to be divided , being purer then a natural life ; for spirits are incorporeal , and consequently indivisible . but when the soul is in its vehicle , said the empress , then methinks she is like the sun , and the vehicle like the moon . no , answered they ; but the vehicle is like the sun , and the soul like the moon ; for the soul hath motion from the body , as the moon has light from the sun . then the empress asked the spirits , whether it was an evil spirit that tempted eve , and brought all the mischiefs upon mankind : or , whether it was the serpent ? they answered , that spirits could not commit actual evils . the empress said , they might do it by perswasions . they answered , that perswasions were actions ; but the empress not being contented with this answer , asked , whether there was not a supernatural evil ? the spirits answered , that there was a supernatural good , which was god ; but they knew of no supernatural evil that was equal to god. then she desired to know , whether evil spirits were reckoned amongst the beasts of the field ? they answer'd , that many beasts of the field were harmless creatures , and very serviceable for man's use ; and though some were accounted fierce and cruel , yet did they exercise their cruelty upon other creatures , for the most part , to no other end , but to get themselves food , and to satisfie their natural appetite ; but certainly , said they , you men are more cruel to one another , then evil spirits are to you ; and as for their habitations in desolate places , we having no communion with them , can give you no certain account thereof . but what do you think , said the empress , of good spirits ? may not they be compared to the fowls of the air ? they answered , there were many cruel and ravenous fowls as well in the air , as there were fierce and cruel beasts on earth ; so that the good are always mixt with the bad . she asked further , whether the fiery vehicles were a heaven , or a hell , or at least a purgatory to the souls ? they answered , that if the souls were immaterial , they could not burn , and then fire would do them no harm ; and though hell was believed to be an undecaying and unquenchable fire , yet heaven was no fire . the empress replied , that heaven was a light. yes , said they , but not a fiery light. then she asked , whether the different shapes and sorts of vehicles , made the souls and other immaterial spirits , miserable , or blessed ? the vehicles , answered they , make them neither better , nor worse ; for though some vehicles sometimes may have power over others , yet these by turns may get some power again over them , according to the several advantages and disadvantages of particular natural parts . the empress asked further , whether animal life came out of the spiritual world , and did return thither again ? the spirits answered , they could not exactly tell ; but if it were so , then certainly animal lives must leave their bodies behind them , otherwise the bodies would make the spiritual world a mixt world , that is , partly material , and partly immaterial ; but the truth is , said they , spirits being immaterial , cannot properly make a world ; for a world belongs to material , not to immaterial creatures . if this be so , replied the empress , then certainly there can be no world of lives and forms without matter ? no , answered the spirits ; nor a world of matter without lives and forms ; for natural lives and forms cannot be immaterial , no more then matter can be immovable . and therefore natural lives , forms and matter , are inseparable . then the empress asked , whether the first man did feed on the best sorts of the fruits of the earth , and the beasts on the worst ? the spirits answered , that unless the beasts of the field were barred out of manured fields and gardens , they would pick and chuse the best fruits as well as men ; and you may plainly observe it , said they , in squirrels and monkies , how they are the best chusers of nuts and apples ; and how birds do pick and feed on the most delicious fruits , and worms on the best roots , and most savoury herbs ; by which you may see , that those creatures live and feed better then men do , except you will say , that artificial cookery is better and more wholsome then the natural . again , the empress asked , whether the first man gave names to all the several sorts of fishes in the sea , and fresh waters ? no , answered the spirits , for he was an earthly , and not a watery creature ; and therefore could not know the several sorts of fishes . why , replied the empress , he was no more an airy creature then he was a watery one , and yet he gave names to the several sorts of fowls and birds of the air. fowls , answered they , are partly airy , and partly earthly creatures , not onely because they resemble beasts and men in their flesh , but because their rest and dwelling places are on earth ; for they build their nests , lay their eggs , and hatch their young , not in the air , but on the earth . then she asked , whether the first man did give names to all the various sorts of creatures that live on the earth ? yes , answered they , to all those that were presented to him , or he had knowledg of , that is , to all the prime sorts ; but not to every particular : for of mankind , said they , there were but two at first ; and as they did encrease , so did their names . but , said the empress , who gave the names to the several sorts of fish ? the posterity of mankind , answered they . then she enquired , whether there were no more kinds of creatures now , then at the first creation ? they answered , that there were no more nor fewer kinds of creatures then there are now ; but there are , without question , more particular sorts of creatures now , then there were then . she asked again , whether all those creatures that were in paradise , were also in noah's ark ? they answered , that the principal kinds had been there , but not all the particulars . then she would fain know , how it came , that both spirits and men did fall from a blessed into so miserable a state and condition as they are now in . the spirits answered , by disobedience . the empress asked , whence this disobedient sin did proceed ? but the spirits desired the empress not to ask them any such questions , because they went beyond their knowledg . then she begg'd the spirits to pardon her presumption ; for , said she , it is the nature of mankind to be inquisitive . natural desire of knowledg , answered the spirits , is not blameable , so you do not go beyond what your natural reason can comprehend . then i 'le ask no more , said the empress , for fear i should commit some error ; but one thing i cannot but acquaint you withal : what is that , said the spirits ? i have a great desire , answered the empress , to make a cabbala . what kind of cabbala , asked the spirits ? the empress answered , the jews cabbala . no sooner had the empress declared her mind , but the spirits immediately disappeared out of her sight ; which startled the empress so much , that she fell into a trance , wherein she lay for some while ; at last being come to her self again , she grew very studious , and considering with her self what might be the cause of this strange dysaster , conceived at first , that perhaps the spirits were tired with hearing and giving answers to her questions ; but thinking by her self , that spirits could not be tired , she imagined that this was not the true cause of their disappearing , till , after divers debates with her own thoughts , she did verily believe that the spirits had committed some fault in their answers , and that for their punishment they were condemned to the lowest and darkest vehicles . this belief was so fixt in her mind , that it put her into a very melancholick humor ; and then she sent both for her fly and worm-men , and declared to them the cause of her sadness . 't is not so much , said she , the vanishing of those spirits that makes me melancholick , but that i should be the cause of their miserable condition , and that those harmless spirits should , for my sake , sink down into the black and dark abyss of the earth . the worm-men comforted the empress , telling her , that the earth was not so horrid a dwelling , as she did imagine ; for , said they , not onely all minerals and vegetables , but several sorts of animals can witness , that the earth is a warm , fruitful , quiet , safe , and happy habitation ; and though they want the light of the sun , yet are they not in the dark , but there is light even within the earth , by which those creatures do see that dwell therein . this relation setled her majesties mind a little ; but yet she being desirous to know the truth , where , and in what condition those spirits were , commanded both the fly and worm-men to use all labour and industry to find them out ; whereupon the worm-men straight descended into the earth , and the fly-men ascended into the air. after some short time , the worm-men returned , and told the empress , that when they went into the earth , they inquired of all the creatures they met withal , whether none of them had perceived such or such spirits ; until at last coming to the very center of the earth , they were truly informed , that those spirits had stayed some time there , but at last were gone to the antipodes on the other side of the terrestrial globe , diametrically opposite to theirs . the fly-men seconded the worm-men , assuring her majesty , that their relation was very true ; for , said they , we have rounded the earth , and just when we came to the antipodes , we met those spirits in a very good condition , and acquainted them that your majesty was very much troubled at their sudden departure , and fear'd they should be buried in the darkness of the earth : whereupon the spirits answered us , that they were sorry for having occasioned such sadness and trouble in your majesty ; and desired us to tell your majesty , that they feared no darkness ; for their vehicles were of such a sort of substance as cats-eyes , glow-worms tails , and rotten wood , carrying their light along with them ; and that they were ready to do your majesty what service they could , in making your cabbala . at which relation the empress was exceedingly glad , and rewarded both her fly and worm-men bountifully . after some time , when the spirits had refreshed themselves in their own vehicles , they sent one of their nimblest spirits , to ask the empress , whether she would have a scribe , or , whether she would write the cabbala her self ? the empress received the proffer which they made her , with all civility ; and told them , that she desired a spiritual scribe . the spirits answer'd , that they could dictate , but not write , except they put on a hand or arm , or else the whole body of man. the empress replied , how can spirits arm themselves with gantlets of flesh ? as well , answered they , as man can arm himself with a gantlet of steel . if it be so , said the empress , then i will have a scribe . then the spirits asked her , whether she would have the soul of a living or a dead man ? why , said the empress , can the soul quit a living body , and wander or travel abroad ? yes , answered they , for according to plato's doctrine , there is a conversation of souls , and the souls of lovers live in the bodies of their beloved . then i will have , answered she , the soul of some ancient famous writer , either of aristotle , pythagoras , plato , epicurus , or the like . the spirits said , that those famous men were very learned , subtile , and ingenious writers ; but they were so wedded to their own opinions , that they would never have the patience to be scribes . then , said she , i 'le have the soul of one of the most famous modern writers , as either of galileo , gassendus , des cartes , helmont , hobbes , h. more , &c. the spirits answered , that they were fine ingenious writers , but yet so self-conceited , that they would scorn to be scribes to a woman . but , said they , there 's a lady , the duchess of newcastle ; which although she is not one of the most learned , eloquent , witty and ingenious , yet she is a plain and rational writer ; for the principle of her writings , is sense and reason , and she will without question , be ready to do you all the service she can . that lady then , said the empress , will i chuse for my scribe , neither will the emperor have reason to be jealous , she being one of my own sex . in truth , said the spirit , husbands have reason to be jealous of platonick lovers , for they are very dangerous , as being not onely very intimate and close , but subtil and insinuating . you say well , replied the empress ; wherefore i pray send me the newcastle's soul ; which the spirit did ; and after she came to wait on the empress , at her first arrival the empress imbraced and saluted her with a spiritual kiss ; then she asked her whether she could write ? yes , answered the duchess's soul , but not so intelligibly that any reader whatsoever may understand it , unless he be taught to know my characters ; for my letters are rather like characters , then well formed letters . said the empress , you were recommended to me by an honest and ingenious spirit . surely , answered the duchess , the spirit is ignorant of my hand-writing . the truth is , said the empress , he did not mention your hand-writing ; but he informed me , that you writ sense and reason , and if you can but write so , that any of my secretaries may learn your hand , they shall write it out fair and intelligible . the duchess answered , that she questioned not but it might easily be learned in a short time . but , said she to the empress , what is it that your majesty would have written ? she answered , the jews cabbala . then your onely way for that is , said the duchess , to have the soul of some famous jew ; nay , if your majesty please , i scruple not , but you may as easily have the soul of moses , as of any other . that cannot be , replied the empress , for no mortal knows where moses is . but , said the duchess , humane souls are immortal ; however , if this be too difficult to be obtained , you may have the soul of one of the chief rabbies or sages of the tribe of levi , who will truly instruct you in that mystery ; when as , otherwise , your majesty will be apt to mistake , and a thousand to one , will commit gross errors . no , said the empress , for i shall be instructed by spirits . alas ! said the duchess , spirits are as ignorant as mortals in many cases ; for no created spirits have a general or absolute knowledg , nor can they know the thoughts of men , much less the mysteries of the great creator , unless he be pleased to inspire into them the gift of divine knowledg . then , i pray , said the empress , let me have your counsel in this case . the duchess answered , if your majesty will be pleased to hearken to my advice , i would desire you to let that work alone ; for it will be of no advantage either to you , or your people , unless you were of the jews religion ; nay , if you were , the vulgar interpretation of the holy scripture would be more instructive , and more easily believed , then your mystical way of interpreting it ; for had it been better and more advantagious for the salvation of the jews , surely moses would have saved after-ages that labour by his own explanation , he being not onely a wise , but a very honest , zealous and religious man : wherefore the best way , said she , is to believe with the generality the literal sense of the scripture , and not to make interpretations every one according to his own fancy , but to leave that work for the learned , or those that have nothing else to do ; neither do i think , said she , that god will damn those that are ignorant therein , or suffer them to be lost for want of a mystical interpretation of the scripture . then , said the empress , i 'le leave the scripture , and make a philosophical cabbala . the duchess told her , that , sense and reason would instruct her of nature as much as could be known ; and as for numbers , they were infinite ; but to add non-sense to infinite , would breed a confusion , especially in humane understanding . then , replied the empress , i 'le make a moral cabbala . the onely thing , answered the duchess , in morality , is but , to fear god , and to love his neighbour , and this needs no further interpretation . but then i 'le make a political cabbala , said the empress . the duchess answered , that the chief and onely ground in government , was but reward and punishment , and required no further cabbala ; but , said she , if your majesty were resolved to make a cabbala , i would advise you , rather to make a poetical or romancical cabbala , wherein you may use metaphors , allegories , similitudes , &c. and interpret them as you please . with that the empress thank'd the duchess , and embracing her soul , told her she would take her counsel : she made her also her favourite , and kept her sometime in that world , and by this means the duchess came to know and give this relation of all that passed in that rich , populous , and happy world ; and after some time the empress gave her leave to return to her husband and kindred into her native world , but upon condition , that her soul should visit her now and then ; which she did : and truly their meeting did produce such an intimate friendship between them , that they became platonick lovers , although they were both femals . one time , when the duchess her soul was with the empress , she seem'd to be very sad and melancholy ; at which the empress was very much troubled , and asked her the reason of her melancholick humour ? truly , said the duchess to the empress , ( for between dear friends there 's no concealment , they being like several parts of one united body ) my melancholy proceeds from an extream ambition . the empress asked , what the height of her ambition was ? the duchess answered , that neither she her self , nor no creature in the world was able to know either the height , depth , or breadth of her ambition ; but said she , my present desire is , that i would be a great princess . the empress replied , so you are ; for you are a princess of the fourth or fifth degree ; for a duke or duchess is the highest title or honour that a subject can arrive to , as being the next to a king's title ; and as for the name of a prince or princess , it belongs to all that are adopted to the crown ; so that those that can add a crown to their arms , are princes , and therefore a duke is a title above a prince ; for example , the duke of savoy , the duke of florence , the duke of lorrain , as also kings brothers , are not called by the name of princes , but dukes , this being the higher title . 't is true , answered the duchess , unless it be kings eldest sons , and they are created princes . yes , replied the empress , but no soveraign does make a subject equal to himself , such as kings eldest sons partly are : and although some dukes be soveraigns , yet i never heard that a prince by his title is soveraign , by reason the title of a prince is more a title of honour , then of soveraignty ; for , as i said before , it belongs to all that are adopted to the crown . well , said the duchess , setting aside this dispute , my ambition is , that i would fain be as you are , that is , an empress of a world , and i shall never be at quiet until i be one . i love you so well , replied the empress , that i wish with all my soul , you had the fruition of your ambitious desire , and i shall not fail to give you my best advice how to accomplish it ; the best informers are the immaterial spirits , and they 'l soon tell you , whether it be possible to obtain your wish . but , said the duchess , i have little acquaintance with them , for i never knew any before the time you sent for me . they know you , replied the empress ; for they told me of you , and were the means and instrument of your coming hither : wherefore i 'le conferr with them , and enquire whether there be not another world , whereof you may be empress as well as i am of this ? no sooner had the empress said this , but some immaterial spirits came to visit her , of whom she inquired , whether there were but three worlds in all , to wit , the blazing world where she was in , the world which she came from , and the world where the duchess lived ? the spirits answered , that there were more numerous worlds then the stars which appeared in these three mentioned worlds . then the empress asked , whether it was not possible , that her dearest friend the duchess of newcastle , might be empress of one of them ? although there be numerous , nay , infinite worlds , answered the spirits , yet none is without government . but is none of these worlds so weak , said she , that it may be surprized or conquered ? the spirits answered , that lucian's world of lights , had been for some time in a snuff , but of late years one helmont had got it , who since he was emperour of it , had so strengthened the immortal parts thereof with mortal out-works , as it was for the present impregnable . said the empress , if there be such an infinite number of worlds , i am sure , not onely my friend , the duchess , but any other might obtain one . yes , answered the spirits , if those worlds were uninhabited ; but they are as populous as this your majesty governs . why , said the empress , it is not possible to conquer a world. no , answered the spirits , but , for the most part , conquerers seldom enjoy their conquest , for they being more feared then loved , most commonly come to an untimely end . if you will but direct me , said the duchess to the spirits , which world is easiest to be conquered , her majesty will assist me with means , and i will trust to fate and fortune ; for i had rather die in the adventure of noble atchievements , then live in obscure and sluggish security ; since the by one , i may live in a glorious fame ; and by the other i am buried in oblivion . the spirits answered , that the lives of fame were like other lives ; for some lasted long , and some died soon . 't is true , said the duchess ; but yet the shortest-liv'd fame lasts longer then the longest life of man. but , replied the spirits , if occasion does not serve you , you must content your self to live without such atchievements that may gain you a fame : but we wonder , proceeded the spirits , that you desire to be empress of a terrestrial world when as you can create your self a coelestial world if you please . what , said the empress , can any mortal be a creator ? yes , answered the spirits ; for every human creature can create an immaterial world fully inhabited by immaterial creatures , and populous of immaterial subjects , such as we are , and all this within the compass of the head or scull ; nay , not onely so , but he may create a world of what fashion and government he will , and give the creatures thereof such motions , figures , forms , colours , perceptions , &c. as he pleases , and make whirl-pools , lights , pressures and reactions , &c. as he thinks best ; nay , he may make a world full of veins , muscles , and nerves , and all these to move by one jolt or stroke : also he may alter that world as often as he pleases , or change it from a natural world , to an artificial ; he may make a world of ideas , a world of atoms , a world of lights , or whatsoever his fancy leads him to . and since it is in your power to create such a world , what need you to venture life , reputation and tranquility , to conquer a gross material world ? for you can enjoy no more of a material world then a particular creature is able to enjoy , which is but a small part , considering the compass of such a world ; and you may plainly observe it by your friend the empress here , which although she possesses a whole world , yet enjoys she but a part thereof ; neither is she so much acquainted with it , that she knows all the places , countries , and dominions she governs . the truth is , a soveraign monarch has the general trouble ; but the subjects enjoy all the delights and pleasures in parts ; for it is impossible , that a kingdom , nay , a country , should be injoyed by one person at once , except he take the pains to travel into every part , and endure the inconveniencies of going from one place to another ? wherefore , since glory , delight and pleasure lives but in other mens opinions , and can neither add tranquility to your mind nor give ease to your body , why should you desire to be empress of a material world , and be troubled with the cares that attend government ? when as by creating a world within your self , you may enjoy all both in whole and in parts , without controle or opposition ; and may make what world you please , and alter it when you please , and enjoy as much pleasure and delight as a world can afford you ? you have converted me , said the duchess to the spirits , from my ambitious desire ; wherefore , i 'le take your advice , reject and despise all the worlds without me , and create a world of my own . the empress said , if i do make such a world , then i shall be mistress of two worlds , one within , and the other without me . that your majesty may , said the spirits ; and so left these two ladies to create two worlds within themselves : who did also part from each other , until such time as they had brought their worlds to perfection . the duchess of newcastle was most earnest and industrious to make her world , because she had none at present ; and first she resolved to frame it according to the opinion of thales , but she found her self so much troubled with daemons , that they would not suffer her to take her own will , but forced her to obey their orders and commands ; which she being unwilling to do , left off from making a world that way , and began to frame one according to pythagoras's doctrine ; but in the creation thereof , she was so puzled with numbers , how to order and compose the several parts , that she having no skill in arithmetick , was forced also to desist from the making of that world. then she intended to create a world according to the opinion of plato ; but she found more trouble and difficulty in that , then in the two former ; for the numerous idea's having no other motion but what was derived from her mind , whence they did flow and issue out , made it a far harder business to her , to impart motion to them , then puppit-players have in giving motion to every several puppit ; in so much , that her patience was not able to endure the trouble which those ideas caused her ; wherefore she annihilated also that world , and was resolved to make one according to the opinion of epicurus ; which she had no sooner begun , but the infinite atoms made such a mist , that it quite blinded the perception of her mind ; neither was she able to make a vacuum as a receptacle for those atoms , or a place which they might retire into ; so that partly for the want of it , and of a good order and method , the confusion of those atoms produced such strange and monstrous figures , as did more affright then delight her , and caused such a chaos in her mind , as had almost dissolved it . at last , having with much ado cleansed and cleared her mind of these dusty and misty particles , she endeavoured to create a world according to aristotle's opinion ; but remembring that her mind , as most of the learned hold it , was immaterial , and that , according to aristotle's principle , out of nothing , nothing could be made ; she was forced also to desist from that work , and then she fully resolved , not to take any more patterns from the ancient philosophers , but to follow the opinions of the moderns ; and to that end , she endeavoured to make a world according to des cartes opinion ; but when she had made the aethereal globules , and set them a moving by a strong and lively imagination , her mind became so dizzie with their extraordinary swift turning round , that it almost put her into a swoon ; for her thoughts , by their constant tottering , did so stagger , as if they had all been drunk : wherefore she dissolved that world , and began to make another , according to hobbs's opinion ; but when all the parts of this imaginary world came to press and drive each other , they seemed like a company of wolves that worry sheep , or like so many dogs that hunt after hares ; and when she found a re-action equal to those pressures , her mind was so squeezed together , that her thoughts could neither move forward nor backward , which caused such an horrible pain in her head , that although she had dissolved that world , yet she could not , without much difficulty , settle her mind , and free it from that pain which those pressures and reactions had caused in it . at last , when the duchess saw that no patterns would do her any good in the framing of her world ; she was resolved to make a world of her own invention , and this world was composed of sensitive and rational self-moving matter ; indeed , it was composed onely of the rational , which is the subtilest and purest degree of matter ; for as the sensitive did move and act both to the perceptions and consistency of the body , so this degree of matter at the same point of time ( for though the degrees are mixt , yet the several parts may move several ways at one time ) did move to the creation of the imaginary world ; which world after it was made , appear'd so curious and full of variety , so well order'd and wisely govern'd , that it cannot possibly be expressed by words , nor the delight and pleasure which the duchess took in making this world-of-her-own . in the mean time the empress was also making and dissolving several worlds in her own mind , and was so puzled , that she could not settle in any of them ; wherefore she sent for the duchess , who being ready to wait on the empress , carried her beloved world along with her , and invited the empress's soul to observe the frame , order and government of it . her majesty was so ravished with the perception of it , that her soul desired to live in the duchess's world : but the duchess advised her to make such another world in her own mind ; for , said she , your majesty's mind is full of rational corporeal motions ; and the rational motions of my mind shall assist you by the help of sensitive expressions , with the best instructions they are able to give you . the empress being thus perswaded by the duchess to make an imaginary world of her own , followed her advice ; and after she had quite finished it , and framed all kinds of creatures proper and useful for it , strengthened it with good laws , and beautified it with arts and sciences ; having nothing else to do , unless she did dissolve her imaginary world , or made some alterations in the blazing-world , she lived in ; which yet she could hardly do , by reason it was so well ordered that it could not be mended ; for it was governed without secret and deceiving policy ; neither was there any ambitious , factions , malicious detractions , civil dissentions , or home-bred quarrels , divisions in religion , foreign wars , &c. but all the people lived in a peaceful society , united tranquillity , and religious conformity . she was desirous to see the world the duchess came from , and observe therein the several sovereign governments , laws and customs of several nations . the duchess used all the means she could , to divert her from that journey , telling her , that the world she came from , was very much disturbed with factions , divisions and wars ; but the empress would not be perswaded from her design ; and left the emperor , or any of his subjects should know of her travel , and obstruct her design , she sent for some of the spirits she had formerly conversed withal , and inquired whether none of them could supply the place of her soul in her body at such a time , when she was gone to travel into another world ? they answered , yes , they could ; for not onely one , said they , but many spirits may enter into your body , if you please . the empress replied , she desired but one spirit to be vice-roy of her body in the absence of her soul , but it must be an honest and ingenious spirit ; and if it was possible , a female spirit . the spirits told her , that there was no difference of sexes amongst them ; but , said they , we will chuse an honest and ingenious spirit , and such a one as shall so resemble your soul , that neither the emperor , nor any of his subjects , although the most divine , shall know whether it be your own soul , or not : which the empress was very glad at ; and after the spirits were gone , asked the duchess , how her body was supplied in the absence of her soul ? who answered her majesty , that her body , in the absence of her soul , was governed by her sensitive and rational corporeal motions . thus those two female souls travelled together as lightly as two thoughts into the duchess her native world ; and , which is remarkable , in a moment viewed all the parts of it , and all the actions of all the creatures therein , especially did the empress's soul take much notice of the several actions of humane creatures in all the several nations and parts of that world , and wonder'd that for all there were so many several nations , governments , laws , religions , opinions , &c. they should all yet so generally agree in being ambitious , proud , self-conceited , vain , prodigal , deceitful , envious , malicious , unjust , revengeful , irreligious , factious , &c. she did also admire , that not any particular state , kingdom or common-wealth , was contented with their own shares , but endeavoured to encroach upon their neighbours , and that their greatest glory was in plunder and slaughter , and yet their victory 's less then their expences , and their losses more than their gains ; but their being overcome , in a manner their utter ruine : but that she wonder'd most at , was , that they should prize or value dirt more then mens lives , and vanity more then tranquility ; for the emperor of a world , said she , injoys but a part , not the whole ; so that his pleasure consists in the opinions of others . it is strange to me , answered the duchess , that you should say thus , being your self , an empress of a world ; and not onely of a world , but of a peaceable , quiet , and obedient world . 't is true , replied the empress : but although it is a peaceable and obedient world , yet the government thereof is rather a trouble , then a pleasure ; for order cannot be without industry , contrivance , and direction : besides , the magnificent state , that great princes keep or ought to keep , is troublesome . then by your majestie 's discourse , said the duchess , i perceive that the greatest happiness in all worlds consist in moderation : no doubt of it , replied the empress ; and after these two souls had visited all the several places , congregations and assemblies both in religion and state , the several courts of judicature , and the like , in several nations , the empress said , that of all the monarchs of the several parts of that world , she had observed the grand-seignior was the greatest , for his word was a law , and his power absolute . but the duchess pray'd the empress to pardon her that she was of another mind ; for , said she , he cannot alter mahomets laws and religion ; so that the law and church do govern the emperor , and not the emperor them . but , replied the empress , he has power in some particulars ; as for example , to place and displace subjects in their particular governments of church and state ; and having that , he has the command both over church and state , and none dares oppose him . 't is true , said the duchess ; but if it pleases your majesty , we will go into that part of the world whence i came to wait on your majesty , and there you shall see as powerful a monarch as the grand signior ; for though his dominions are not of so large extent , yet they are much stronger , his laws are easie and safe , and he governs so justly and wisely , that his subjects are the happiest people of all the nations or parts of that world. this monarch , said the empress , i have a great mind to see . then they both went , and in a short time arrived into his dominions ; but coming into the metropolitan city , the empress's soul observed many gallants go into an house ; and enquiring of the duchess's soul , what house that was ? she told her , it was one of the theatres where comedies and tragedies were acted . the empress asked , whether they were real ? no , said the duchess , they are feigned . then the empress desired to enter into the theatre ; and when she had seen the play that was asked , the duchess asked her how she liked that recreation ? i like it very well , said the empress ; but i observe that the actors make a better show than the spectators ; and the scenes a better than the actors , and the musick and dancing is more pleasant and acceptable than the play it self ; for i see , the scenes stand for wit , the dancing for humour , and the musick is the chorus . i am sorry , replied the duchess , to hear your majesty say so ; for if the wits of this part of the world should hear you , they would condemn you . what , said the empress , would they condemn me for preferring a natural face before a sign-post ; or a natural humour before an artificial dance ; or musick before a true and profitable relation ? as for relation , replied the duchess , our poets defie and condemn it into a chimney-corner , fitter for old womens tales , than theatres . why , said the empress , do not your poets actions comply with their judgments ? for their plays are composed of old stories , either of greek or roman , or some new-found world. the duchess answered her majesty , that it was true , that all or most of their plays were taken out of old stories ; but yet they had new actions , which being joined to old stories , together with the addition of new prologues , scenes , musick and dancing , made new plays . after this , both the souls went to the court , where all the royal family was together , attended by the chief of the nobles of their dominions , which made a very magnificent show ; and when the soul of the empress viewed the king and queen , she seemed to be in a maze ; which the duchess's soul perceiving , asked the empress how she liked the king , the queen , and all the royal race ? she answered , that in all the monarchs she had seen in that world , she had not found so much majesty and affability mixt so exactly together , that none did overshadow or eclipse the other ; and as for the queen , she said , that vertue sate triumphant in her face , and piety was dwelling in her heart ; and that all the royal family seem'd to be endued with a divine splendor : but when she had heard the king discourse , she believ'd that mercury and apollo had been his coelestial instructors ; and , my dear lord and husband , added the duchess , has been his earthly governor . but after some short stay in the court , the duchess's soul grew very melancholy ; the empress asking the cause of her sadness ? she told her , that she had an extreme desire to converse with the soul of her noble lord and dear husband , and that she was impatient of a longer stay . the empress desired the duchess to have but patience so long , until the king , the queen , and the royal family were retired , and then she would bear her company to her lord and husband's soul , who at that time lived in the country some 112 miles off ; which she did : and thus these two souls went towards those parts of the kingdom where the duke of newcastle was . but one thing i forgot all this while , which is , that although thoughts are the natural language of souls ; yet by reason souls cannot travel without vehicles , they use such language as the nature and propriety of their vehicles require , and the vehicles of those two souls being made of the purest and finest sort of air , and of a human shape : this purity and fineness was the cause that they could neither be seen nor heard by any human creature ; when as , had they been of some grosser sort of air , the sound of that air 's language would have been as perceptible as the blowing of zephyrus . and now to return to my former story ; when the empress's and duchess's soul were travelling into nottinghamshire , ( for that was the place where the duke did reside ) passing through the forrest of sherewood , the empress's soul was very much delighted with it , as being a dry , plain and woody place , very pleasant to travel in , both in winter and summer ; for it is neither much dirty nor dusty at no time : at last they arrived at welbeck , a house where the duke dwell'd , surrounded all with wood , so close and full , that the empress took great pleasure and delight therein , and told the duchess she never had observed more wood in so little compass in any part of the kingdom she had passed through . the truth is , said she , there seems to be more wood on the seas ( she meaning the ships ) than on the land. the duchess told her , the reason was , that there had been a long civil warr in that kingdom , in which most of the best timber-trees and principal palaces were ruined and destroyed ; and my dear lord and husband , said she , has lost by it half his woods , besides many houses , land , and movable goods ; so that all the loss out of his particular estate , did amount to above half a million of pounds . i wish , said the empress , he had some of the gold that is in the blazing-world , to repair his losses . the duchess most humbly thank'd her imperial majesty for her kind wishes ; but , said she , wishes will not repair his ruins : however , god has given my noble lord and husband great patience , by which he bears all his losses and misfortunes . at last they enter'd into the duke's house , an habitation not so magnificent as useful ; and when the empress saw it , has the duke , said she , no other house but this ? yes , answered the duchess , some five miles from this place he has a very fine castle called bolesover . that place then , said the empress , i desire to see . alas , replied the duchess , it is but a naked house , and uncloath'd of all furniture . however , said the empress , i may see the manner of its structure and building . that you may , replied the duchess ; and as they were thus discoursing , the duke came out of the house into the court , to see his horses of manage ; whom when the duchess's soul perceived , she was so overjoyed , that her aereal vehicle became so splendorous , as if it had been enlightned by the sun ; by which we may perceive , that the passions of souls or spirits can alter their bodily vehicles . then these two ladies spirits went close to him , but he could not perceive them ; and after the empress had observed that art of mannage , she was much pleased with it , and commended it as a noble pastime , and an exercise fit and proper for noble and heroick persons . but when the duke was gone into the house again , those two souls followed him ; where the empress observing , that he went to the exercise of the sword , and was such an excellent and unparallel'd master thereof , she was as much pleased with that exercise , as she was with the former : but the duchess's soul being troubled , that her dear lord and husband used such a violent exercise before meat , for fear of overheating himself , without any consideration of the empress's soul , left her aereal vehicle , and entred into her lord. the empress's soul perceiving this , did the like : and then the duke had three souls in one body ; and had there been but some such souls more , the duke would have been like the grand-signior in his seraglio , onely it would have been a platonick seraglio . but the duke's soul being wise , honest , witty , complaisant and noble , afforded such delight and pleasure to the empress's soul by his conversation , that these two souls became enamoured of each other ; which the duchess's soul perceiving , grew jealous at first , but then considering that no adultery could be committed amongst platonick lovers , and that platonism was divine , as being derived from divine plato , cast forth of her mind that idea of jealousie . then the conversation of these three souls was so pleasant , that it cannot be expressed ; for the duke's soul entertained the empress's soul with scenes , songs , musick , witty discourses , pleasant recreations , and all kinds of harmless sports , so that the time passed away faster than they expected . at last a spirit came and told the empress , that although neither the emperor nor any of his subjects knew that her soul was absent ; yet the emperor's soul was so sad and melancholy for want of his own beloved soul , that all the imperial court took notice of it . wherefore he advised the empress's soul to return into the blazing-world , into her own body she left there ; which both the duke's and duchess's soul was very sorry for , and wished that , if it had been possible , the empress's soul might have stayed a longer time with them ; but seeing it could not be otherwise , they pacified themselves . but before the empress returned into the blazing-world , the duchess desired a favour of her , to wit , that she would be pleased to make an agreement between her noble lord , and fortune . why , said the empress , are they enemies ? yes , answered the duchess , and they have been so ever since i have been his wife : nay , i have heard my lord say , that she hath crossed him in all things , ever since he could remember . i am sorry for that , replied the empress ; but i cannot discourse with fortune , without the help of an immaterial spirit , and that cannot be done in this v vorld ; for i have no fly nor bird-men here , to send into the region of the air , where , for the most part , their habitations are . the duchess said , she would entreat her lord to send an attorney or lawyer to plead his cause . fortune will bribe them , replied the empress , and so the duke may chance to be cast : wherefore the best way will be , for the duke to chuse a friend on his side , and let fortune chuse another , and try whether by this means it be possible to compose the difference . the duchess said , they will never come to an agreement , unless there be a judg or umpire to decide the case . a judg , replied the empress , is easie to be had ; but to get an impartial judg , is a thing so difficult , that i doubt we shall hardly find one ; for there is none to be had , neither in nature , nor in hell , but onely from heaven ; and how to get such a divine and celestial judg , i cannot tell : nevertheless , if you will go along with me into the blazing-world , i 'le try what may be done . 't is my duty , said the duchess , to wait on your majesty , and i shall most willingly do it , for i have no other interest to consider . then the duchess spake to the duke concerning the difference between him and fortune , and how it was her desire that they might be friends . the duke answered , that for his part he had always with great industry sought her friendship , but as yet he could never obtain it , for she had always been his enemy . however , said he , i 'le try and send my two friends , prudence and honesty , to plead my cause . then these two friends went with the duchess and the empress into the blazing-world ; ( for it is to be observed , that they are somewhat like spirits , because they are immaterial , although their actions are corporeal : ) and after their arrival there , when the empress had refreshed her self , and rejoiced with the emperor , she sent her fly-men for some of the spirits , and desired their assistance , to compose the difference between fortune , and the duke of newcastle . but they told her majesty , that fortune was so inconstant , that although she would perhaps promise to hear their cause pleaded , yet it was a thousand to one , whether she would ever have the patience to do it : nevertheless , upon her majestie 's request , they tried their utmost , and at last prevailed with fortune so far , that she chose folly and rashness , for her friends , but they could not agree in chusing a judg ; until at last , with much ado , they concluded , that truth should hear , and decide the cause . thus all being prepared , and the time appointed , both the empress and duchess's soul went to hear them plead ; and when all the immaterial company was met , fortune standing upon a golden-globe , made this following speech : noble friends , we are met here to hear a cause pleaded concerning the difference between the duke of newcastle , and my self ; and though i am willing upon the perswasions of the ambassadors of the empress , the immaterial spirits , to yield to it , yet it had been fit , the duke's soul should be present also , to speak for her self ; but since she is not here , i shall declare my self to his wife , and his friends , as also to my friends , especially the empress , to whom i shall chiefly direct my speech . first , i desire your imperial majesty may know , that this duke who complains or exclaims so much against me , hath been always my enemy ; for he has preferred honesty and prudence before me , and slighted all my favours ; nay , not onely thus , but he did fight against me , and preferred his innocence before my power . his friends honesty and prudence , said he most scornfully , are more to be regarded , than inconstant fortune , who is onely a friend to fools and knaves ; for which neglect and scorn , whether i have not just reason to be his enemy , your majesty may judg your self . after fortune had thus ended her speech , the duchess's soul rose from her seat , and spake to the immaterial assembly in this manner : noble friends , i think it fit , by your leave , to answer lady fortune in the behalf of my noble lord and husband , since he is not here himself ; and since you have heard her complaint concerning the choice my lord made of his friends , and the neglect and disrespect he seemed to cast upon her ; give me leave to answer , that , first concerning the choice of his friends , he has proved himself a wise man in it ; and as for the disrespect and rudeness her ladiship accuses him of , i dare say he is so much a gentleman , that i am confident he would never slight , scorn or disrespect any of the female sex in all his life time ; but was such a servant and champion for them , that he ventured life and estate in their service ; but being of an honest , as well as an honourable nature , he could not trust fortune with that which he preferred above his life , which was his reputation , by reason fortune did not side with those that were honest and honourable , but renounced them ; and since he could not be of both sides , he chose to be of that which was agreeable both to his conscience , nature and education ; for which choice fortune did not onely declare her self his open enemy , but fought with him in several battles ; nay , many times , hand to hand ; at last , she being a powerful princess , and as some believe , a deity , overcame him , and cast him into a banishment , where she kept him in great misery , ruined his estate , and took away from him most of his friends ; nay , even when she favoured many that were against her , she still frowned on him ; all which he endured with the greatest patience , and with that respect to lady fortune , that he did never in the least endeavour to disoblige any of her favourites , but was onely sorry that he , an honest man , could find no favour in her court ; and since he did never injure any of those she favoured , he neither was an enemy to her ladiship , but gave her always that respect and worship which belonged to her power and dignity , and is still ready at any time honestly and prudently to serve her ; he onely begs , her ladiship would be his friend for the future , as she hath been his enemy in times past . as soon as the duchess's speech was ended , folly and rashness started up , and both spake so thick and fast at once , that not onely the assembly , but themselves were not able to understand each other : at which , fortune was somewhat out of countenance ; and commanded them either to speak singly , or be silent : but prudence told her ladiship , she should command them to speak wisely , as well as singly ; otherwise , said she , it were best for them not to speak at all : which fortune resented very ill , and told prudence , she was too bold ; and then commanded folly to declare what she would have made known : but her speech was so foolish , mixt with such non-sense , that none knew what to make of it ; besides , it was so tedious , that fortune bid her to be silent ; and commanded rashness to speak for her , who began after this manner : great fortune ; the duchess of newcastle has proved her self , according to report , a very proud and ambitious lady , in presuming to answer you her own self , in this noble assembly without your command , in a speech wherein she did not onely contradict you , but preferred honesty and prudence before you ; saying , that her lord was ready to serve you honestly and prudently ; which presumption is beyond all pardon ; and if you allow honesty and prudence to be above you , none will admire , worship or serve you ; but you 'l be forced to serve your self , and will be despised , neglected and scorned by all ; and from a deity , become a miserable , dirty , begging mortal in a church-yard-porch , or noble-man's gate : wherefore to prevent such disasters , fling as many misfortunes and neglects on the duke and duchess of newcastle , and their two friends , as your power is able to do ; otherwise prudence and honesty will be the chief and onely moral deities of mortals . rashness having thus ended her speech , prudence rose and declared her self in this manner : beautiful truth , great fortune , and you the rest of my noble friends ; i am come a great and long journey in the behalf of my dear friend the duke of newcastle ; not to make more wounds , but , if it be possible , to heal those that are made already . neither do i presume to be a deity ; but my onely request is , that you would be pleased to accept of my offering , i being an humble and devout supplicant ; and since no offering is more acceptable to the gods , then the offering of peace ; in order to that , i desire to make an agreement between fortune , and the duke of newcastle . thus she spake , and as she was going on , up started honesty ( for she has not always so much discretion as she ought to have ) and interrupted prudence . i came not here , said she , to hear fortune flattered , but to hear the cause decided between fortune and the duke ; neither came i hither to speak rhetorically and eloquently , but to propound the case plainly and truly ; and i 'le have you know , that the duke , whose cause we argue , was and is my foster-son ; for i honesty bred him from his childhood , and made a perpetual friendship betwixt him and gratitude , charity and generosity ; and put him to school to prudence , who taught him wisdom , and informed him in the rules of temperance , patience , justice , and the like ; then i put him into the university of honour , where he learned all honourable qualities , arts , and sciences ; afterward i sent him to travel through the world of actions , and made observation his governor ; and in those his travels , he contracted a friendship with experience ; all which , made him fit for heavens blessings , and fortunes favours : but she hating all those that have merit and desert , became his inveterate enemy , doing him all the mischief she could , until the god of justice opposed fortune's malice , and pull'd him out of those ruines she had cast upon him : for this god's favourites were the dukes champions ; wherefore to be an enemy to him , were to be an enemy to the god of justice : in short , the true cause of fortunes malice to this duke , is , that he would never flatter her ; for i honesty , did command him not to do it , or else he would be forced to follow all her inconstant ways , and obey all her unjust commands , which would cause a great reproach to him : but , on the other side , prudence advised him not to despise fortune's favours , for that would be an obstrustion and hinderance to his worth and merit ; and he to obey both our advice and counsels , did neither flatter nor despise her ; but was always humble and respectful to her so far as honour , honesty and conscience would permit : all which i refer to truth 's judgment , and expect her final sentence . fortune hearing thus honesty's plain speech , thought it very rude , and would not hearken to truth 's judgment , but went away in a passion : at which , both the empress and duchess were extreamly troubled , that their endeavours should have no better effect : but honesty chid the duchess , and said , she was to be punished for desiring so much fortune's favours ; for it appears , said she , that you mistrust the gods blessings : at which the duchess wept , answering honesty , that she did neither mistrust the gods blessings , nor relye upon fortune's favours ; but desired onely that her lord might have no potent enemies . the empress being much troubled to see her weep , told honesty in anger , she wanted the discretion of prudence ; for though you are commended , said she , yet you are apt to commit many indiscreet actions , unless prudence be your guide . at which reproof prudence smiled , and honesty was somewhat out of countenance ; but they soon became very good friends : and after the duchess's soul had stayed some time with the empress in the blazing-world , she begg'd leave of her to return to her lord and husband ; which the empress granted her , upon condition she should come and visit her as often as conveniently she could , promising that she would do the same to the duchess . thus the duchess's soul , after she had taken her leave of the empress , as also of the spirits , who with great civility , promised her , that they would endeavour in time to make a peace and agreement between fortune and the duke , returned with prudence and honesty , into her own world : but when she was just upon her departure , the empress sent to her , and desired that she might yet have some little conference with her before she went ; which the duchess most willingly granted her majesty ; and when she came to wait on her , the empress told the duchess , that she being her dear platonick friend , of whose just and impartial judgment , she had alwayes a very great esteem ; could not forbear , before she went from her , to ask her advice concerning the government of the blazing-world : for , said she , although this world was very well and wisely ordered and governed at first , when i came to be empress thereof ; yet the nature of women being much delighted with change and variety , after i had received an absolute power from the emperor , did somewhat alter the form of government from what i found it ; but now perceiving that the world is not so quiet as it was at first , i am much troubled at it ; especially there are such continual contentions and divisions between the worm-bear-and fly-men , the ape-men , the satyrs , the spider-men , and all others of such sorts , that i fear they 'l break out into an open rebellion , and cause a great disorder , and the ruin of the government ; and therefore i desire your advice and assistance , how i may order it to the best advantage , that this world may be rendred peaceable , quiet and happy , as it was before . whereupon the duchess answered , that since she heard by her imperial majesty , how well and happily the world had been governed when she first came to be empress thereof , she would advise her majesty to introduce the same form of government again , which had been before ; that is , to have but one soveraign , one religion , one law , and one language , so that all the world might be but as one united family , without divisions ; nay , like god , and his blessed saints and angels : otherwise , said she , it may in time prove as unhappy , nay , as miserable a world as that is from which i came , wherein are more soveraigns then worlds , and more pretended governours then government , more religions then gods , and more opinions in those religions then truths ; more laws then rights , and more bribes then justices ; more policies then necessities , and more fears then dangers ; more covetousness then riches , more ambitions then merits , more services then rewards , more languages then wit , more controversie then knowledg , more reports then noble actions , and more gifts by partiality then according to merit ; all which , said she , is a great misery , nay , a curse , which your blessed blazing-world never knew , nor 't is probable , will never know of , unless your imperial majesty alter the government thereof from what it was when you began to govern it : and since your majesty complains much of the factions of the bear fish fly ape and worm-men , the spider-men , and the like , and of their perpetual disputes and quarrels , i would advise your majesty to dissolve all their societies ; for 't is better to be without their intelligences , then to have an unquiet and disorderly government . the truth is , said she , wheresoever learning is , there is most commonly also controversie and quarelling ; for there be always some that will know more , and be wiser then others : some think their arguments come nearer to truth , and are more rational then others ; some are so wedded to their own opinions , that they 'l never yield to reason ; and others , though they find their opinions not firmly grounded upon reason , yet , for fear of receiving some disgrace by altering them , will nevertheless maintain them against all sense and reason , which must needs breed factions in their schools , which at last break out into open wars , and draw sometimes an utter ruin upon a state or government . the empress told the duchess , that she would willingly follow her advice ; but she thought it would be an eternal disgrace to her , to alter her own decrees , acts , and laws . to which the duchess answered , that it was so far from a disgrace , as it would rather be for her majesties eternal honour , to return from a worse to a better , and would express and declare her to be more then ordinary wise and good ; so wise , as to perceive her own errors , and so good , as not to persist in them , which few did : for which , said she , you will get a glorious fame in this world , and an eternal glory hereafter ; and i shall pray for it so long as i live . upon which advice , the empress's soul embrac'd and kiss'd the duchess's soul with an immaterial kiss , and shed immaterial tears , that she was forced to part from her , finding her not a flattering parasite , but a true friend ; and in truth , such was their platonick friendship , as these two loving souls did often meet and rejoice in each others conversation . the second part of the description of the new blazing-world . the empress having now ordered and setled her government to the best advantage and quiet of her blazing-world , lived and reigned most happily and blessedly , and received oftentimes visits from the immaterial spirits , who gave her intelligence of all such things as she desired to know , and they were able to inform her of : one time they told her , how the world she came from , was imbroiled in a great war , and that most parts or nations thereof made war against that kingdom which was her native country , where all her friends and relations did live ; at which the empress was extreamly troubled ; insomuch that the emperor perceived her grief by her tears , and examining the cause thereof , she told him that she had received intelligence from the spirits , that that part of the world she came from , which was her native country , was like to be destroyed by numerous enemies that made war against it . the emperor being very sensible of this ill news , especially of the trouble it caused to the empress , endeavoured to comfort her as much as possibly he could ; and told her , that she might have all the assistance which the blazing-world was able to afford . she answered , that if there were any possibility of transporting forces out of the blazing-world , into the world she came from , she would not fear so much the ruin thereof : but , said she , there being no probability of effecting any such thing , i know not how to shew my readiness to serve my native country . the emperor asked , whether those spirits that gave her intelligence of this war , could not with all their power and forces , assist her against those enemies ? she answered , that spirits could not arm themselves , nor make any use of artificial arms or weapons ; for their vehicles were natural bodies , not artificial : besides , said she , the violent and strong actions of war , will never agree with immaterial spirits ; for immaterial spirits cannot fight , nor make trenches , fortifications , and the like . but , said the emperor , their vehicles can ; especially if those vehicles be mens bodies , they may be serviceable in all the actions of war. alas , replied the empress , that will never do ; for first , said she , it will be difficult to get so many dead bodies for their vehicles , as to make up a whole army , much more to make many armies to fight with so many several nations ; nay , if this could be , yet it is not possible to get so many dead and undissolved bodies in one nation ; and for transporting them out of other nations , it would be a thing of great difficulty and improbability : but put the case , said she , all these difficulties could be overcome ; yet there is one obstruction or hindrance which can no ways be avoided : for although those dead and undissolved bodies did all die in one minute of time ; yet before they could rendezvouze , and be put into a posture of war , to make a great and formidable army , they would stink and dissolve ; and when they came to a fight , they would moulder into dust and ashes , and so leave the purer immaterial spirits naked : nay , were it also possible , that those dead bodies could be preserved from stinking and dissolving , yet the souls of such bodies would not suffer immaterial spirits to rule and order them , but they would enter and govern them themselves , as being the right owners thereof , which would produce a war between those immaterial souls , and the immaterial spirits in material bodies ; all which would hinder them from doing any service in the actions of war , against the enemies of my native countrey . you speak reason , said the emperor , and i wish with all my soul i could advise any manner or way , that you might be able to assist it ; but you having told me of your dear platonick friend the duchess of newcastle , and of her good and profitable counsels , i would desire you to send for her soul , and conferr with her about this business . the empress was very glad of this motion of the emperor , and immediately sent for the soul of the said duchess , which in a minute waited on her majesty . then the empress declared to her the grievance and sadness of her mind , and how much she was troubled and afflicted at the news brought her by the immaterial spirits , desiring the duchess , if possible , to assist her with the best counsels she could , that she might shew the greatness of her love and affection which she bore to her native countrey . whereupon the duchess promised her majesty to do what lay in her power ; and since it was a business of great importance , she desired some time to consider of it ; for , said she , great affairs require deep considerations ; which the empress willingly allowed her . and after the duchess had considered some little time , she desired the empress to send some of her syrens or mear-men , to see what passages they could find out of the blazing-world , into the world she came from ; for , said she , if there be a passage for a ship to come out of that world into this ; then certainly there may also a ship pass thorow the same passage out of this world into that . hereupon the mear-or fish-men were sent out ; who being many in number , employ'd all their industry , and did swim several ways ; at last having found out the passage , they returned to the empress , and told her , that as their blazing world had but one emperor , one government , one religion , and one language , so there was but one passage into that world , which was so little , that no vessel bigger than a packet-boat could go thorow ; neither was that passage always open , but sometimes quite frozen up . at which relation both the empress and duchess seemed somewhat troubled , fearing that this would perhaps be an hindrance or obstruction to their design . at last the duchess desired the empress to send for her ship-wrights , and all her architects , which were giants ; who being called , the duchess told them how some in her own world had been so ingenious , as to contrive ships that could swim under water , and asked , whether they could do the like ? the giants answered , they had never heard of that invention ; nevertheless , they would try what might be done by art , and spare no labour or industry to find it out . in the mean time , while both the empress and duchess were in a serious counsel , after many debates , the duchess desired but a few ships to transport some of the bird worm-and bear-men : alas ! said the empress , what can such sorts of men do in the other world ? especially so few ? they will be soon destroyed , for a musket will destroy numbers of birds at one shot . the duchess said , i desire your majesty will have but a little patience , and relie upon my advice , and you shall not fail to save your own native country , and in a manner become mistress of all that world you came from . the empress , who loved the duchess as her own soul , did so ; the giants returned soon after , and told her majesty , that they had found out the art which the duchess had mentioned , to make such ships as could swim under water ; which the empress and duchess were both very glad at , and when the ships were made ready , the duchess told the empress , that it was requisite that her majesty should go her self in body , as well as in soul ; but i , said she , can onely wait on your majesty after a spiritual manner , that is , with my soul. your soul , said the empress , shall live with my soul , in my body ; for i shall onely desire your counsel and advice . then said the duchess , your majesty must command a great number of your fish-men to wait on your ships ; for you know that your ships are not made for cannons , and therefore are no ways serviceable in war ; for though by the help of your engines , they can drive on , and your fish-men may by the help of chains or ropes , draw them which way they will , to make them go on , or flye back , yet not so as to fight : and though your ships be of gold , and cannot be shot thorow , but onely bruised and battered ; yet the enemy will assault and enter them , and take them as prizes ; wherefore your fish-men must do you service instead of cannons . but how , said the empress , can the fish-men do me service against an enemy , without cannons and all sorts of arms ? that is the reason , answered the duchess , that i would have numbers of fish-men , for they shall destroy all your enemies ships , before they can come near you . the empress asked in what manner that could be ? thus , answered the duchess : your majesty must send a number of worm-men to the burning-mountains ( for you have good store of them in the blazing-world ) which must get a great quantity of the fire-stone , whose property , you know , is , that it burns so long as it is wet ; and the ships in the other world being all made of wood , they may by that means set them all on fire ; and if you can but destroy their ships , and hinder their navigation , you will be mistress of all that world , by reason most parts thereof cannot live without navigation . besides , said she , the fire-stone will serve you instead of light or torches ; for you know , that the world you are going into , is dark at nights ( especially if there be no moon-shine , or if the moon be overshadowed by clouds ) and not so full of blazing-stars as this world is , which make as great a light in the absence of the sun , as the sun doth when it is present ; for that world hath but little blinking stars , which make more shadows then light , and are onely able to draw up vapours from the earth , but not to rarifie or clarifie them , or to convert them into serene air . this advice of the duchess was very much approved , and joyfully embraced by the empress , who forthwith sent her worm-men to get a good quantity of the mentioned fire-stone . she also commanded numbers of fish-men to wait on her under water , and bird-men to wait on her in the air ; and bear and worm-men to wait on her in ships , according to the duchess's advice ; and indeed the bear-men were as serviceable to her , as the north-star ; but the bird-men would often rest themselves upon the decks of the ships ; neither would the empress , being of a sweet and noble nature , suffer that they should tire or weary themselves by long flights ; for though by land they did often fly out of one countrey into another , yet they did rest in some woods , or on some grounds , especially at night , when it was their sleeping time : and therefore the empress was forced to take a great many ships along with her , both for transporting those several sorts of her loyal and serviceable subjects , and to carry provisions for them : besides , we was so wearied with the petitions of several others of her subjects who desired to wait on her majesty , that she could not possibly deny them all ; for some would rather chuse to be drowned , then not tender their duty to her . thus after all things were made fit and ready , the empress began her journey ; i cannot properly say , she set sail , by reasou in some part , as in the passage between the two worlds ( which yet was but short ) the ships were drawn under water by the fish-men with golden chains , so that they had no need of sails there , nor of any other arts , but onely to keep out water from entering into the ships , and to give or make so much air as would serve , for breath or respiration , those land-animals that were in the ships ; which the giants had so artificially contrived , that they which were therein , found no inconveniency at all : and after they had passed the icy sea , the golden ships appeared above water , and so went on until they came near the kingdom that was the empress's native countrey ; where the bear-men through their telescopes discovered a great number of ships which had beset all that kingdom , well rigg'd and mann'd . the empress before she came in sight of the enemy , sent some of her fish and bird-men to bring her intelligence of their fleet ; and hearing of their number , their station and posture , she gave order that when it was night , her bird-men should carry in their beeks some of the mentioned fire-stones , with the tops thereof wetted ; and the fish-men should carry them likewise , and hold them out of the water ; for they were cut in the form of torches or candles , and being many thousands , made a terrible shew ; for it appear'd as if all the air and sea had been of a flaming-fire ; and all that were upon the sea , or near it , did verily believe , the time of judgment , or the last day was come , which made them all fall down , and pray . at the break of day , the empress commanded those lights to be put out , and then the naval forces of the enemy perceived nothing but a number of ships without sails , guns , arms , and other instruments of war ; which ships seemed to swim of themselves , without any help or assistance : which sight put them into a great amaze ; neither could they perceive that those ships were of gold , by reason the empress had caused them all to be coloured black , or with a dark colour ; so that the natural colour of the gold could not be perceived through the artificial colour of the paint , no not by the best telescopes . all which put the enemies fleet into such a fright at night , and to such wonder in the morning , or at day-time , that they knew not what to judg or make of them ; for they knew neither what ships they were , nor what party they belonged to , insomuch that they had no power to stir . in the mean while , the empress knowing the colours of her own country , sent a letter to their general , and the rest of the chief commanders , to let them know , that she was a great and powerful princess , and came to assist them against their enemies ; wherefore she desired they should declare themselves , when they would have her help and assistance . hereupon a councel was called , and the business debated ; but there were so many cross and different opinions , that they could not suddenly resolve what answer to send the empress ; at which she grew angry , insomuch that she resolved to return into her blazing-world , without giving any assistance to her country-men : but the duchess of newcastle intreated her majesty to abate her passion ; for , said she , great councels are most commonly slow , because many men have many several opinions : besides , every councellor striving to be the wisest , makes long speeches , and raise many doubts , which cause retardments . if i had long-speeched councellors , replied the empress , i would hang them , by reason they give more words , then advice . the duchess answered , that her majesty should not be angry , but consider the differences of that and her blazing-world ; for , said she , they are not both alike ; but there are grosser and duller understandings in this , than in the blazing-world . at last a messenger came out , who returned the empress thanks for her kind proffer , but desired withal , to know from whence she came , and how , and in what manner her assistance could be serviceable to them ? the empress answered , that she was not bound to tell them whence she came ; but as for the manner of her assistance , i will appear , said she , to your navy in a splendorous light , surrounded with fire . the messenger asked at what time they should expect her coming ? i 'le be with you , answered the empress , about one of the clock at night . with this report the messenger returned ; which made both the poor councellors and sea-men much afraid ; but yet they longed for the time to behold this strange sight . the appointed hour being come , the empress appear'd with garments made of the star-stone , and was born or supported above the water , upon the fish-mens heads and backs , so that she seemed to walk upon the face of the water , and the bird and fish-men carried the fire-stone , lighted both in the air , and above the waters . which sight , when her country-men perceived at a distance , their hearts began to tremble ; but coming something nearer , she left her torches , and appeared onely in her garments of light , like an angel , or some deity , and all kneeled down before her , and worshipped her with all submission and reverence : but the empress would not come nearer than at such a distance where her voice might be generally heard , by reason she would not have that any of her accoustrements should be perceived , but the splendor thereof ; and when she was come so near that her voice could be heard and understood by all , she made this following speech : dear country-men , for so you are , although you know me not ; i being a native of this kingdom , and hearing that most part of this world had resolved to make warr against it , and sought to destroy it , at least to weaken its naval force and power , have made a voyage out of another world , to lend you my assistance against your enemies . i come not to make bargains with you , or to regard my own interest more than your safety ; but i intend to make you the most powerful nation of this world , and therefore i have chosen rather to quit my own tranquility , riches and pleasure , than suffer you to be ruined and destroyed . all the return i desire , is but your grateful acknowledgment , and to declare my power , love and loyalty to my native country : for , although i am now a great and absolute princess , and empress of a whole world , yet i acknowledg , that once i was a subject of this kingdom , which is but a small part of this world ; and therefore i will have you undoubtedly believe , that i shall destroy all your enemies before this following night , i mean those which trouble you by sea ; and if you have any by land , assure your self i shall also give you my assistance against them , and make you triumph over all that seek your ruine and destruction . upon this declaration of the empress , when both the general , and all the commanders in their several ships , had return'd their humble and hearty thanks to her majesty for so great a favour to them , she took her leave , and departed to her own ships . but , good lord ! what several opinions and judgments did this produce in the minds of her country-men ! some said she was an angel ; others , she was a sorceress ; some believed her a goddess ; others said the devil deluded them in the shape of a fine lady . the morning after , when the navies were to fight , the empress appear'd upon the face of the waters , dress'd in her imperial robes , which were all of diamonds and carbuncles ; in one hand she held a buckler , made of one intire carbuncle ; and in the other hand a spear of one intire diamond ; on her head she had a cap of diamonds , and just upon the top of the crown , was a starr made of the starr-stone , mentioned heretofore ; and a half-moon made of the same stone , was placed on her forehead ; all her other garments were of several sorts of precious jewels ; and having given her fish-men directions how to destroy the enemies of her native country , she proceeded to effect her design . the fish-men were to carry the fire-stones in cases of diamonds ( for the diamonds in the blazing-world , are in splendor so far beyond the diamonds of this world , as peble-stones are to the best sort of this worlds diamonds ) and to uncase or uncover those fire-stones no sooner but when they were just under the enemis ships , or close at their sides , and then to wet them , and set their ships on fire ; which was no sooner done , but all the enemie's fleet was of a flaming fire ; and coming to the place where the powder was , it streight blew them up ; so that all the several navies of the enemies , were destroyed in a short time : which when her country-men did see , they all cried out with one voice , that she was an angel sent from god to deliver them out of the hands of their enemies : neither would she return into the blazing-world , until she had forced all the rest of that world to submit to that same nation . in the mean time , the general of all their naval forces , sent to their soveraign to acquaint him with their miraculous delivery and conquest , and with the empress's design of making him the most powerful monarch of all that world. after a short time , the empress sent her self , to the soveraign of that nation to know in what she could be serviceable to him ; who returning her many thanks , both for her assistance against his enemies , and her kind proffer to do him further service for the good and benefit of his nations ( for he was king over several kingdoms ) sent her word , that although she did partly destroy his enemies by sea , yet , they were so powerful , that they did hinder the trade and traffick of his dominions . to which the empress returned this answer , that she would burn and sink all those ships that would not pay him tribute ; and forthwith sent to all the neighbouring nations , who had any traffick by sea , desiring them to pay tribute to the king and soveraign of that nation where she was born ; but they denied it with great scorn . whereupon , she immediately commanded her fish-men , to destroy all strangers ships that traffick'd on the seas ; which they did according to the empress's command ; and when the neighbouring nations and kingdoms perceived her power , they were so discomposed in their affairs and designs , that they knew not what to do : at last they sent to the empress , and desired to treat with her , but could get no other conditions then to submit and pay tribute to the said king and soveraign of her native country , otherwise , she was resolved to ruin all their trade and traffick by burning their ships . long was this treaty , but in fine , they could obtain nothing , so that at last they were inforced to submit ; by which the king of the mentioned nations became absolute master of the seas , and consequently of that world ; by reason , as i mentioned heretofore , the several nations of that world could not well live without traffick and commerce , by sea , as well as by land. but after a short time , those neighbouring nations finding themselves so much inslaved , that they were hardly able to peep out of their own dominions without a chargeable tribute , they all agreed to join again their forces against the king and soveraign of the said dominions ; which when the empress receiv'd notice of , she sent out her fish-men to destroy , as they had done before , the remainder of all their naval power , by which they were soon forced again to submit , except some nations which could live without foreign traffick , and some whose trade and traffick was meerly by land ; these would no ways be tributary to the mentioned king. the empress sent them word , that in case they did not submit to him , she intended to fire all their towns and cities , and reduce them by force , to what they would not yield with a good will. but they rejected and scorned her majesties message , which provoked her anger so much , that she resolved to send her bird-and worm men thither , with order to begin first with their smaller towns , and set them an fire ( for she was loath to make more spoil then she was forced to do ) and if they remain'd still obstinate in their resolutions , to destroy also their greater cities . the onely difficulty was , how to convey the worm-men conveniently to those places ; but they desired that her majesty would but set them upon any part of the earth of those nations , and they could travel within the earth as easily , and and as nimbly as men upon the face of the earth ; which the empress did according to their desire . but before both the bird-and worm-men began their journey , the empress commanded the bear-men to view through their telescopes what towns and cities those were that would not submit ; and having a full information thereof , she instructed the bird-and bear-men what towns they should begin withal ; in the mean while she sent to all the princes and soveraigns of those nations , to let them know that she would give them a proof of her power , and check their obstinacies by burning some of their smaller towns ; and if they continued still in their obstinate resolutions , that she would convert their smaller loss into a total ruin. she also commanded her bird-men to make their flight at night , lest they be perceived . at last when both the bird-and worm-men came to the designed places , the worm-men laid some fire-stones under the foundation of every house , and the bird-men placed some at the tops of them , so that both by rain , and by some other moisture within the earth , the stones could not fail of burning . the bird-men in the mean time having learned some few words of their language , told them , that the next time it did rain , their towns would be all on fire ; at which they were amaz'd to hear men speak in the air ; but withall they laughed when they heard them say that rain should fire their towns ; knowing , that the effect of water was to quench , not produce fire . at last a rain came , and upon a sudden all their houses appeared of a flaming fire ; and the more water there was poured on them , the more they did flame and burn ; which struck such a fright and terror into all the neighbouring cities , nations and kingdoms , that for fear the like should happen to them , they and all the rest of the parts of that world , granted the empress's desire , and submitted to the monarch and sovereign of her native countrey , the king of esfi ; save one , which having seldom or never any rain , but onely dews , which would soon be spent in a great fire , slighted her power : the empress being desirous to make it stoop as well as the rest , knew that every year it was watered by a flowing tide , which lasted some weeks ; and although their houses stood high from the ground , yet they were built upon supporters which were fixt into the ground . wherefore she commanded both her bird-and worm-men to lay some of the fire-stones at the bottom of those supporters , and when the tide came in , all their houses were of a fire , which did so rarifie the water , that the tide was soon turn'd into vapour , and this vapour again into air ; which caused not onely a destruction of their houses , but also a general barrenness over all their countrey that year , and forced them to submit , as well as the rest of the world had done . thus the empress did not onely save her native country , but made it the absolute monarchy of all that world ; and both the effects of her power and her beauty , did kindle a great desire in all the greatest princes to see her ; who hearing that she was resolved to return into her own blazing-world , they all entreated the favour , that they might wait on her majesty before she went. the empress sent word , that she should be glad to grant their requests ; but having no other place of reception for them , she desired that they would be pleased to come into the open seas with their ships , and make a circle of a pretty large compass , and then her own ships should meet them , and close up the circle , and she would present her self to the view of all those that came to see her : which answer was joyfully received by all the mentioned princes , who came , some sooner , and some later , each according to the distance of his countrey , and the length of the voyage . and being all met in the form and manner aforesaid , the empress appeared upon the face of the water in her imperial robes ; in some part of her hair , near her face , she had placed some of the starr-stone , which added such a luster and glory to it , that it caused a great admiration in all that were present , who believed her to be some celestial creature , or rather an uncreated goddess , and they all had a desire to worship her ; for surely , said they , no mortal creature can have such a splendid and transcendent beauty , nor can any have so great a power as she has , to walk upon the waters , and to destroy whatever she pleases , not onely whole nations , but a whole world. the empress expressed to her own country-men , who were also her interpreters to the rest of the princes that were present , that she would give them an entertainment at the darkest time of night : which being come , the fire-stones were lighted , which made both air and seas appear of a bright shining flame , insomuch that they put all spectators into an extream fright , who verily believed they should all be destroyed ; which the empress perceiving , caused all the lights of the fire-stones to be put out , and onely shewed her self in her garments of light. the bird-men carried her upon their backs into the air , and there she appear'd as glorious as the sun. then she was set down upon the seas again , and presently there was heard the most melodious and sweetest consort of voices , as ever was heard out of the seas , which was made by the fish-men ; this consort was answered by another , made by the bird-men in the air , so that it seem'd as if sea and air had spoke , and answered each other by way of singing-dialogues , or after the manner of those playes that are acted by singing-voices . but when it was upon break of day , the empress ended her entertainment , and at full day-light all the princes perceived that she went into the ship wherein the prince and monarch of her native country was , the king of esfi , with whom she had several conferences ; and having assured him of the readiness of her assistance whensoever he required it , telling him withal , that she wanted no intelligence , she went forth again upon the waters , and being in the midst of the circle made by those ships that were present , she desired them to draw somewhat nearer , that they might hear her speak ; which being done , she declared her self in this following manner : great , heroick , and famous monarchs , i come hither to assist the king of esfi against his enemies , he being unjustly assaulted by many several nations , which would fain take away his hereditary rights and prerogatives of the narrow seas ; at which unjustice , heaven was much displeased , and for the injuries he received from his enemies , rewarded him with an absolute power , so that now he is become the head-monarch of all this world ; which power , though you may envy , yet you can no wayes hinder him ; for all those that endeavour to resist his power , shall onely get loss for their labour , and no victory for their profit . vvherefore my advice to you all is , to pay him tribute justly and truly , that you may live peaceably and happily , and be rewarded with the blessings of heaven : which i wish you from my soul. after the empress had thus finished her speech to the princes of the several nations of that world , she desired that their ships might fall back ; which being done , her own fleet came into the circle , without any visible assistance of sails or tide ; and her self being entred into her own ship , the whole fleet sunk immediately into the bottom of the seas , and left all the spectators in a deep amazement ; neither would she suffer any of her ships to come above the waters , until she arrived into the blazing-world . in time of the voyage , both the empress's and duchess's soul , were very gay and merry ; and sometimes they would converse very seriously with each other . amongst the rest of their discourses , the duchess said , she wondred much at one thing , which was , that since her majesty had found out a passage out of the blazing-world , into the world she came from , she did not enrich that part of the world where she was born , at least her own family , though she had enough to enrich the whole world. the empress's soul answered , that she loved her native countrey , and her own family , as well as any creature could do ; and that this was the reason why she would not enrich them : for , said she , not only particular families or nations , but all the world , their natures are such , that much gold , and great store of riches , makes them mad ; insomuch as they endeavour to destroy each other for gold or riches sake . the reason thereof is , said the duchess , that they have too little gold and riches , which makes them so eager to have it . no , replied the empress's soul , their particular covetousness , is beyond all the wealth of the richest world ; and the more riches they have , the more covetous they are ; for their covetousness is infinite . but , said she , i would there could a passage be found out of the blazing-world , into the vvorld whence you came , and i would willingly give you as much riches as you desir'd . the duchess's soul gave her majesty humble thanks for her great favour ; and told her , that she was not covetous , nor desir'd any more wealth than what her lord and husband had before the civil-vvarrs . neither , said she , should i desire it for my own , but my lord's posterities sake . vvell , said the empress , i 'le command my fish-men to use all their skill and industry , to find out a passage into that vvorld which your lord and husband is in . i do verily believe , answered the duchess , that there will be no passage found into that vvorld ; but if there were any , i should not petition your majesty for gold and jewels , but only for the elixir that grows in the midst of the golden sands , for to preserve life and health ; but without a passage , it is impossible to carry away any of it : for , whatsoever is material , cannot travel like immaterial beings , such as souls and spirits are . neither do souls require any such thing that might revive them , or prolong their lives , by reason they are unalterable : for , were souls like bodies , then my soul might have had the benefit of that natural elixir that grows in your blazing-world . i wish earnestly , said the empress , that a passage might be found , and then both your lord and your self , should neither want wealth , nor long-life : nay , i love you so well , that i would make you as great and powerful a monarchess , as i am of the blazing-world . the duchess's soul humbly thank'd her majesty , and told her , that she acknowledged and esteemed her love beyond all things that are in nature . after this discourse , they had many other conferences , which for brevity's sake i 'le forbear to rehearse . at last , after several questions which the empress's soul asked the duchess , she desired to know the reason why she did take such delight , when she was joyned to her body , in being singular both in accoustrements , behaviour , and discourse ? the duchess's soul answered , she confessed that it was extravagant , and beyond what was usual and ordinary : but yet her ambition being such , that she would not be like others in any thing , if it were possible , i endeavour , said she , to be as singular as i can : for , it argues but a mean nature , to imitate others : and though i do not love to be imitated , if i can possibly avoid it ; yet , rather than imitate others , i should chuse to be imitated by others : for my nature is such , that i had rather appear worse in singularity , than better in the mode . if you were not a great lady , replied the empress , you would never pass in the world for a wise lady : for , the world would say , your singularities are vanities . the duchess's soul answered , she did not at all regard the censure of this , or any other age , concerning vanities : but , said she , neither this present , nor any of the future ages , can or will truly say , that i am not vertuous and chast : for i am confident , all that were , or are acquainted with me , and all the servants which ever i had , will or can upon their oaths declare my actions no otherwise than vertuous : and certainly , there 's none even of the meanest degree , which have not their spies and witnesses , much more those of the nobler sort , which seldom or never are without attendants ; so that their faults ( if they have any ) will easily be known , and as easily divulged . wherefore , happy are those natures that are honest , vertuous , and noble ; not only happy to themselves , but happy to their families . but , said the empress , if you glory so much in your honesty and vertue , how comes it that you plead for dishonest and wicked persons , in your writings ? the duchess answered , it was only to shew her wit , not her nature . at last the empress arrived into the blazing-world , and coming to her imperial palace , you may sooner imagine than expect that i should express the joy which the emperor had at her safe return ; for he loved her beyond his soul ; and there was no love lost , for the empress equal'd his affection with no less love to him . after the time of rejoicing with each other , the duchess's soul begg'd leave to return to her noble lord : but the emperor desired , that before she departed , she would see how he had employed his time in the empress's absence ; for he had built stables and riding-houses , and desired to have horses of manage , such as , according to the empress's relation , the duke of newcastle had : the emperor enquired of the duchess , the form and structure of her lord and husband's stables and riding-house . the duchess answer'd his majesty , that they were but plain and ordinary ; but , said she , had my lord wealth , i am sure he would not spare it , in rendring his buildings as noble as could be made . hereupon the emperor shewed the duchess the stables he had built , which were most stately and magnificent ; among the rest , there was one double stable that held a hundred horses on a side , the main building was of gold , lined with several sorts of precious materials ; the roof was arched with agats , the sides of the walls were lined with cornelian , the floor was paved with amber , the mangers were mother of pearl ; the pillars , as also the middle isle or walk of the stables , were of crystal ; the front and gate was of turquois , most neatly cut and carved . the riding-house was lined with saphirs , topases , and the like ; the floor was all of golden-sand so finely sifted , that it was extreamly soft , and not in the least hurtful to the horses feet , and the door and frontispiece was of emeralds curiously carved . after the view of these glorious and magnificent buildings , which the duchess's soul was much delighted withall , she resolved to take her leave ; but the emperor desired her to stay yet some short time more , for they both loved her company so well , that they were unwilling to have her depart so soon : several conferences and discourses pass'd between them ; amongst the rest , the emperor desir'd her advice how to set up a theatre for plays . the duchess confessed her ignorance in this art , telling his majesty that she knew nothing of erecting theatres or scenes , but what she had by an immaterial observation , when she was with the empress's soul in the chief city of e. entring into one of their theatres , whereof the empress could give as much account to his majesty , as her self . but both the emperor and empress told the duchess , that she could give directions how to make plays . the duchess answered , that she had as little skill to form a play after the mode , as she had to paint or make a scene for shew . but you have made plays , replied the empress : yes , answered the duchess , i intended them for plays ; but the wits of these present times condemned them as uncapable of being represented or acted , because they were not made up according to the rules of art ; though i dare say , that the descriptions are as good as any they have writ . the emperor asked , whether the property of plays were not to describe the several humours , actions and fortunes of mankind ? 't is so , answered the duchess . vvhy then , replied the emperor , the natural humours , actions and fortunes of mankind , are not done by the rules of art : but , said the duchess , it is the art and method of our vvits to despise all descriptions of vvit , humour , actions and fortunes that are without such artificial rules . the emperor asked , are those good plays that are made so methodically and artificially ? the duchess answer'd , they were good according to the judgment of the age , or mode of the nation , but not according to her judgment : for truly , said she , in my opinion , their plays will prove a nursery of whining lovers , and not an academy or school for vvise , vvitty , noble and well-behaved men . but i , replied the emperor , desire such a theatre as may make wise men ; and will have such descriptions as are natural , not artificial . if your majesty be of that opinion , said the duchess's soul , then my playes may be acted in your blazing-world , when they cannot be acted in the blinking-world of wit ; and the next time i come to visit your majesty , i shall endeavour to order your majesty's theatre , to present such playes as my wit is capable to make . then the empress told the duchess , that she loved a foolish ●●rse added to a wise play. the duchess answered , that no world in nature had fitter creatures for it than the blazing-world : for , said she , the lowsemen , the bird-men , the spider and fox-men , the ape-men and satyrs appear in a ●●rse extraordinary pleasant . hereupon both the emperor and empress intreated the duchess's soul to stay so long with them , till she had ordered her theatre , and made playes and ●●rses fit for them ; for they onely wanted that sort of recreation : but the duchess's soul begg'd their majesties to give her leave to go into her native world ; for she long'd to be with her dear lord and husband , promising , that after a short time she would return again . which being granted , though with much difficulty , she took her leave with all civility and respect , and so departed from their majesties . after the duchess's return into her own body , she entertained her lord ( when he was pleased to hear such kind of discourses ) with foreign relations ; but he was never displeased to hear of the empress's kind commendations , and of the characters she was pleased to give of him to the emperor . amongst other relations , she told him all what had past between the empress , and the several monarchs of that vvorld whither she went with the empress ; and how she had subdued them to pay tribute and homage to the monarch of that nation or kingdom to which she owed both her birth and education . she also related to her lord what magnificent stables and riding-houses the emperor had built , and what fine horses were in the blazing-world , of several shapes and sizes , and how exact their shapes were in each sort , and of many various colours , and fine marks , as if they had been painted by art , with such coats or skins , that they had a far greater gloss and smoothness than sattin ; and were there but a passage out of the blazing-world into this , said she , you should not onely have some of those horses , but such materials as the emperor has , to build your stables and riding-houses withall ; and so much gold , that i should never repine at your noble and generous gifts . the duke smilingly answered her , that he was sorry there was no passage between those two vvorlds ; but , said he , i have always found an obstruction to my good fortunes . one time the duchess chanced to discourse with some of her acquaintance , of the empress of the blazing-world , who asked her what pastimes and recreations her majesty did most delight in ? the duchess answered , that she spent most of her time in the study of natural causes and effects , which was her chief delight and pastime ; and that she loved to discourse sometimes with the most learned persons of that world : and to please the emperor and his nobles , who were all of the royal race , she went often abroad to take the air , but seldom in the day-time , always at night , if it might be called night ; for , said she , the nights there , are as light as days , by reason of the numerous blazing-starrs , which are very splendorous , onely their light is whiter than the sun 's light ; and as the sun's light is hot , so their light is cool ; not so cool as our twinkling starr-light , nor is their sun-light so hot as ours , but more temperate : and that part of the blazing-world where the empress resides , is always clear , and never subject to any storms , tempests , fogs or mists , but has onely refreshing-dews that nourish the earth : the air of it is sweet and temperate , and , as i said before , as much light in the sun's absence , as in its presence , which makes that time we call night , more pleasant there than the day : and sometimes the empress goes abroad by water in barges , sometimes by land in chariots , and sometimes on horse-back ; her royal chariots are very glorious , the body is one intire green diamond ; the four small pillars that bear up the top-cover , are four white diamonds , cut in the form thereof ; the top or roof of the chariot , is one intire blew diamond , and at the four corners are great springs of rubies ; the seat is made of cloth of gold , stuffed with ambergreece beaten small : the chariot is drawn by twelve unicorns , whose trappings are all chains of pearl ; and as for her barges , they are onely of gold. her guard of state ( for she needs none for security , there being no rebels or enemies ) consists of giants , but they seldom wait on their majesties abroad , because their extraordinary height and bigness does hinder their prospect . her entertainment when she is upon the water , is the musick of the fish and bird-men ; and by land are horse and foot-matches ; for the empress takes much delight in making race-matches with the emperor , and the nobility ; some races are between the fox and ape-men , which sometimes the satyrs strive to out-run ; and some are between the spider-men and lice-men . also there are several flight-matches , between the several sorts of bird-men , and the several sorts of fly-men ; and swimming-matches , between the several sorts of fish-men . the emperor , empress , and their nobles , take also great delight to have collations ; for in the blazing-world ; there are most delicious fruits of all sorts , and some such as in this world were never seen nor tasted ; for there are most tempting sorts of fruit : after their collations are ended , they dance ; and if they be upon the water , they dance upon the water , there lying so many fish-men so close and thick together , as they can dance very evenly and easily upon their backs , and need not fear drowning . their musick , both vocal and instrumental , is according to their several places : upon the water , it is of water-instruments , as shells filled with water , and so moved by art , which is a very sweet and delightful harmony ; and those dances which they dance upon the water , are , for the most part , such as we in this world call swimming-dances , where they do not lift up their feet high : in lawns , or upon plains , they have wind-instruments , but much better than those in our world : and when they dance in the woods , they have horn-instruments , which although they are of a sort of wind-instruments , yet they are of another fashion than the former : in their houses they have such instruments as are somewhat like our viols , violins , theorboes , lutes , citherins , gittars , harpsichords , and the like ; but yet so far beyond them , that the difference cannot well be exprest ; and as their places of dancing , and their musick is different , so is their manner or way of dancing . in these and the like recreations , the emperor , empress , and the nobility pass their time . the epilogue to the reader by this poetical description , you may perceive , that my ambition is not onely to be empress , but authoress of a whole world ; and that the worlds i have made , both the blazing-and the other philosophical world , mentioned in the first part of this description , are framed and composed of the most pure , that is , the rational parts of matter , which are the parts of my mind ; which creation was more easily and suddenly effected , than the conquests of the two famous monarchs of the world , alexander and cesar. neither have i made such disturbances , and caused so many dissolutions of particulars , otherwise named deaths , as they did ; for i have destroyed but some few men in a little boat , which dyed through the extremity of cold , and that by the hand of justice , which was necessitated to punish their crime of stealing away a young and beauteous lady . and in the formation of those worlds , i take more delight and glory , than ever alexander or cesar did in conquering this terrestrial world ; and though i have made my blazing-world a peaceable world , allowing it but one religion , one language , and one government ; yet could i make another world , as full of factions , divisions and vvarrs , as this is of peace and tranquility ; and the rational figures of my mind might express as much courage to fight , as hector and achilles had ; and be as wise as nestor , as eloquent as ulysses , and as beautiful as hellen. but i esteeming peace before vvarr , vvit before policy , honesty before beauty ; instead of the figures of alexander , cesar , hector , achilles , nestor , ulysses , hellen , &c. chose rather the figure of honest margaret newcastle , which now i would not change for all this terrestrial world ; and if any should like the world i have made , and be willing to be my subjects , they may imagine themselves such , and they are such , i mean in their minds , fancies or imaginations ; but if they cannot endure to be subjects , they may create worlds of their own , and govern themselves as they please . but yet let them have a care , not to prove unjust usurpers , and to rob me of mine : for , concerning the philosophical-world , i am empress of it my self ; and as for the blazing-world , it having an empress already , who rules it with great wisdom and conduct , which empress is my dear platonick friend ; i shall never prove so unjust , treacherous and unworthy to her , as to disturb her government , much less to depose her from her imperial throne , for the sake of any other , but rather chuse to create another world for another friend . finis . a new voyage to the east-indies containing an account of several of those rich countries, and more particularly of the kingdom of bantam : giving an exact relation of the extent of that monarch's dominions, the religion, manners and customs of the inhabitants, their commerce, and the product of the country, and likewise a faithful narrative of the kingdom of siam, of the isles of japan and madagascar, and of several other parts, with such new discoveries as were never yet made by any other traveller / by mr. glanius. glanius, mr. 1682 approx. 231 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 96 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a42798 wing g793 estc r40478 19339392 ocm 19339392 108700 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a42798) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 108700) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1671:4) a new voyage to the east-indies containing an account of several of those rich countries, and more particularly of the kingdom of bantam : giving an exact relation of the extent of that monarch's dominions, the religion, manners and customs of the inhabitants, their commerce, and the product of the country, and likewise a faithful narrative of the kingdom of siam, of the isles of japan and madagascar, and of several other parts, with such new discoveries as were never yet made by any other traveller / by mr. glanius. glanius, mr. the second edition [4], 183 [i.e. 185], [1] p. printed for h. rodes ..., london : 1682. advertisement: p. [1] at end. errors in paging: p. 65-66 repeated in the numbering. reproduction of original in the harvard university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels. east indies -description and travel. indonesia -description and travel. indonesia -description and travel -early works to 1800. 2007-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-08 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-03 jason colman sampled and proofread 2008-03 jason colman text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a new voyage to the east-indies ; containing an account of several of those rich countries , and more particularly of the kingdom of bantam . giving an exact relation of the extent of that monarch's dominions , the religion , manners and customs of the inhabitants ; their commerce , and the product of the country , and likewise a faithful narrative of the kingdom of siam , of the isles of japan and madagascar , and of several other parts , with such new discoveries as were never yet made by any other traveller . the second edition , carefully corrected , and much enlarged . by mr. glanius . london , printed for h. rodes , next door to the bear tavern near bride lane in fleetstreet 1682 to the reader . the good reception the world afforded to the first impression of the greater part of the following sheets , has engaged me to send 'em again abroad , ina more exact dress , and with considerable additions . you will find in these memoires a number of things which have escap'd the vigilance of all former travellers . first you have a description of all the islands of cape-verd ; from whence the author sayling to madagascar , where he stays long enough to know the quality of the country , and the manners of the inhabitants , whereof he gives so exact a description , that nothing seems to be omitted . then he pursues his voyage to the isle of java major , of which , and especially of the kingdom of bantam , he gives so particular an account , that it equally serves to the readers instruction and entertainment ; is both profitable and agreeable . what he says afterwards of siam , is no less useful and pleasant . he relates circumstances of that country as were not yet known ; and the description he makes of it is so perfect and delightful , that it is easie to perceive he himself took a singular pleasure therein . i say nothing of formosa , whereof he only speaks by the by , tho what he says thereof , teaches us that all men are not made after the same manner . he ends his voyage with a description of nanguesiaque , and of the manners of the japanezes , whereof he gives a pretty , tho short account , knowing there have been great volumes upon that subject . and this edition being perfect and correct , i do not question but the reader will give it even a more favourable entertainment than the former ; especially being all along interwoven with such surprizing cercumstances and stories , as will undoubtedly render the perusal of it very delightful ; particularly at this juncture , when an ambassador from those countries , does make people the more desirous of an account of this nature . a new voyage to the east-indies . sect. i. tho i was born with a desire of travelling , yet there was little probability , i could pursue my inclinations : my father not being rich , and also considering , i might be useful to him , and to the world , if i learnt an honest trade , made it his business to perswade me into an apprentiship . what repugnance soever i might have to that sort of life , i was forced to obey , at first indeed with much difficulty ▪ imagining that imploy would be an invincible hindetance to the design i had ▪ formed of seeing other countries besides my own ; but afterwards with delight , when my reason made me know , that what i did , was so far from being an obstacle to my inclination , as it opened me a way to the travels which i meditated . assoon as i perceived this , i was the more fervent and brisk at my work ; i became more tractable and more assiduous than before . i never heard the compass mentioned without feeling an extraordinary joy ; and when i saw marine cards , i could never be wear with looking on them . the passion of voyaging did so fortifie it self in me with age , that i had hardly attain'd seventeen years , but i began to grow weary of the life i led . methoughts it was time to think of departing , the difficulty was to find the means of doing so , and procuring my fathers consent . seeing very little likelihood of prevailing with him , i became extream melancholy ; the young people whose company i frequented , knowing the cause of my sadness , dissipated it by some discourses , which revived my hopes that were half dead ▪ and as about that time i happened to let fly some words , which might be ill interpreted ; my father reprehended me with so much severity , that i left him immediately , and went to amsterdam , where by good luck having found , that two ships were fitting out for genoa , i engaged my self in one of them in quality of boatswain's mate , being little concerned at the employ i had in it , or the place whither i went , provided only that i might travel . on the 26th . of december in the year 1667 , having set sail , we were hardly out of the texel , when we perceived that our two ships were not well ballasted : thus , the shortest way was to return from whence we came , for the taking in as much pewter and chests of quicksilver , as was requisite for the giving them their just weight . after which , we made sail the second time , on the first of jan. in the following year , in a time , when the ice was extreamly thick . on the 10th . a quite contrary wind constrain'd us to put in at dunkirk ▪ and two days afterwards , the wind being better , we pursued our course ; but we went not very far without being obliged to seek out a haven to shelter us from the foul weather and a very furious tempest . the isle of wight being pretty near , we put in there and stayed until the 25th . when we weighed anchor again , but were not destined without impediment to continue our course ▪ for on the morrow the wind came again to be so contrary , that we found it very difficult to get into a neighbouring haven . at length on the 6th . of february we cast anchor at portland , from whence we sail'd three days afterwards ; and on the 10. the currents carried us into the bay of gibraltar , because they were much stronger than the wind ; but on th● morrow the wind made us overcom● them , and was afterwards so favourable to us , that in fifteen days after we came into sight of genoa , when we cast anchor behind the old mole . on the 29th . of the same month , the cargo of the two ships being unload● and discharged , by reason the republick bought those two vessels which sh● furnished with all manner of ammuni ▪ tion for three years , and into each of which she put an hundred men all ger ▪ mans , except some few bandities . by this means i became free much soone● then i expected ; but as this liberty di● put a stop to the passion i had of going much farther , i re ▪ ingaged my self therein . while the ships were fitting out , i satisfied the curiosity i had a long time of seeing that famous city . the port on the south side is open , and beset in several places with little rocks , that lie even with the water , and are dangerous in tempestuous weather . 't is built like an amphitheater round about the port , and is a most pleasing prospect to the sight . it is about ten miles in compass , surrounded with good walls ; which however have not the appearance of being able to hold out against a long siege , at least , if the besieged do not make extraordinary efforts to defend them . their militia is composed of some companies of germans and corses , and others of light horse ; some maintained for the watching along the coasts , and discovering the turks ; and the others , to hinder any secret practices and conspiraces in the city . the entrance of the port is defended by four galleys , always ready upon occasion ▪ and there are a great number of them in the arsenal , which the genouezes often lend to the venetians against the turks . on one side of the port stands a tower considerably high , where fires are kindled by night , for the regulating the course of the ships . there is at the foot of that tower , a great piece of cannon mounted upon its carriage , which is never without a sentinel . the guard of the princes palace is of five hundred men all germans , under a colonel of the same nation , who have their quarters there . as for the buildings of the city , they are all far beyond the idea we can conceive of them : all palaces , all of marble , especially along the rivers side . but the pomp of the churches does exceed all these beauties ; there are thirty parish-churches , in one of which they shew a key of an exact figure of an emerauld perfectly good . in that of st. bartholomew , they keep the st. suaire , whither the people flock upon the rumours of the miracles that are done there . this city is very populous , and the merchants are there in great numbers and very rich ; their principal traffick is in velvet ▪ and we may judge how great it is ▪ by the number of the workmen who are employed about it ; i having been assured , that there was above eight thousand of them at the time i was there . on the 12th . of april we made sail towards velez malga , whither we came in four weeks , from whence after two days repose , we made for malgue , where we cast anchor on the 24th . of may. we were no sooner there , but all the bandities were set on shore , and since that time we never heard of any of them . 't is well known how famous that country is for its wine ; whereof we took an hundred pipes on board us , and after having provided our selves with necessary refreshments for the sick , on the 29th . of may the wind seconding our designs , we weighed anchor and made sail towards cap-verd , where we were to stay and repose our selves for some time . this design made us judge , that the voyage must needs be long ; but none except the officers , knew our intention , or whither we went. the 4 th . of june at night we found our selves near 9 ships which we took for corsaires . we were quickly satisfied of the truth ; for the men of those ships having asked us , who we were , and from whence we came , we found they were algermes . this news did something alarum our commander ; but as he was brave , far from shewing , that he was startled at this rencounter , he told the corsaires with a very good grace , that he only waited till break of day to make an acquaintance with them , and he should take it for an obligation , would they come on board him , where he would take care that nothing should be omitted for their being well entertained . at the same time turning towards our officers ; you see gentlemen , said he to them , what guests we have to treat , and what dishes we must prepare for their good reception ; they are in great numbers as you see , but that signifies nothing , and i hope that our courage will make them repent of their boldness , if they have so much as to attack us . they made no answer to the commanders speech , but every one running to his post , gave him to understand the resolution they were in , of making a brave defence . and indeed , assoon as it was day , tho the match was very unequal , all was disposed in such a manner , that we had a kind of displeasure to see the enemies , who had the advantage of the wind , make away from us without saying a word more . from that time the heavens were so favourable to us , that at the three weeks end we found our selves near the island of boa-vista . we had no sooner cast anchor there , than the bandities , who inhabit it , brought us a great quantity of salted goats-flesh and other refreshments . after which we loaded about ten chaloupes with salt. this island does so abound in all sorts of fish , that provided , people fish ne're so little there , they take as many as they please : especially the great salmon-trouts are there in so great abundance , that we took above fifteen hundred of them in the space of half a day . boa-vista is one of the islands of cap-verd . both near , and at a distance , nothing can be more agreeable to the sight ; and it is for its beauty it has received that name . 't is very mountainous , and about some 7 leagues distance from the isle of sabu . 't is about twenty leagues in circumference , and 't is very hot . it has towards the north a bank of sand of about twenty leagues in length , against which the sea makes a terrible noise . there are some other banks 〈◊〉 so as dangerous as that , which have occasioned the loss of several ships . on the south side , there 's a shelve of the same length as the former , but it is likewise beset with rocks , whose tops are sometimes seen above water ; its extent is more towards the north , and the surest place of ancorage is on the south-west , where is but fifteen , sixteen , or seventeen fathom water at the most . in advancing towards the south , we found the isle of may ; that island is about eight or nine leagues distant from boa-vista , and is without contradiction , the smallest of all the islands of cap-verd , having but eight leagues in circumference . in the midst of it stands high mountains ; and towards the north is seen a plain of above a league in breadth ▪ 't is likewise on that side , that there is a great extent of sand , which reaches a great way into the sea ; there is also , one towards the west , which renders the sea very dangerous on that part . the figure of this island is round , it● length and breadth being almost aqual ▪ it is bordered with several little points ▪ which make as many capes . the common road is on the south-west , wher● is but fifteen or 16 fathom water . ye● behind a considerable high point toward● the north , is a convenient place for anchorage , when there is only five or si● fathom water . there is at the foot 〈◊〉 that point a small village of about te● or twelve houses , from which strangers may receive considerable assistance . there is nothing to be seen but rocks amongst the clefts whereof do grow some herbs , wherein consists almost all the verdine of the country , the soil being generally very dry . this dryness joyned to the heats which are there excessive , is the reason , we never see there either oranges or lemmons , and all the fruit trees consist in certain fig trees , the fruit whereof hardly ever comes to be ripe : or if it sometimes happens , that the colour of it is passable , the tast of it is however bad ▪ those ill fig-trees , and some other trees ▪ that bear cotton , are all that grow in that island ▪ but in recom●ence , there 's a wonderful number of ●oats , and indeed the whole traffick ●f the country consists in those animals , ●●ce they vend every year an infinite ●umber of their skins . some little horses ●here are ▪ but wild , as also asses and cows ▪ but they abound extreamly in ●owls ; among others there are partridg●● , geese , and several fowls which are ●nknown in europe . in sundry parts ●ere is a certain reddish salt proceeding ●●rtly from a subterranean water , and ●●rtly from the water of the sea , which they convey into the salt pits . the inhabitants , who are of a tawny colour , live by hunting and fishing ; they catch goats with dogs , they are very dexterous at that exercise . as for fish ▪ especially the salmon-trouts , guilt● heads or goldenies , they have always ● great abundance of them . the isle of st. james is the greatest o● all the islands of cap-verd , and is abo●● 45 leagues in its greatest length fro● south-east to north-east ; ten in i● greatest breadth , and 95 in circumference . what is called the high-islan● is directly on the west road of the 〈◊〉 of may , excepting that the middle 〈◊〉 on the south west of bo● ▪ vista , and 〈◊〉 advancing towards the west and sou●● west , quarters on the south of the 〈◊〉 of salt , to the space of 25 leagues fro● the point of the south west to the sout● east . the land is of two leagues ●●tent ; there is a village called p●r●●● that is to say , the bank-side , the situati●● whereof is very convenient , being betwe●● two mountains , and all surrounded wi●● two rivers , which discharge themselv●● not far from that place into the sea. th●● 2 rivers form 2 bays , the one of whi●● is called port de praye , and can contain ●bove 100 ships . that port is situated b●hin● an island , sheltred from all winds , and out of canon reach , something beyond the port de praye , still advancing towards the village , is seen a cape , which the portugals have named the cape of tubarao ; on the west of which is the other bay , called the port of ribeirra corca ; this port is situated as commodiously as the other : it is likewise between two mountains , in the midst of which runs a river , having its source two leagues from thence , which empties it self into the sea by a mouth of a bowes shot breadth . there is in this island a little city which goes by the name of st. thomas ; its situation is very agreeable , there is likewise another called st. james from the name of the island , and situated upon the brow of a hill. this last is the capital not only of this island but likewise of all the others ; it being also the place where the bishop of the portugals has his usual residence . somewhat more towards the west , upon a point , two leagues from the port de ●raye , they have built a fortress for the security of the ships , that anchor there ; and towards the north-west of that point , there is the port de canise , where there are as great convenienci●s . this island is extreamly fertile , and the river of corea , which is planted on both sides , with coconuts , orange-trees , lemon-trees and other fruit-trees , and some cedars , forms in my mind one o● the finest prospects that can offer it self to the sight ; there 's moreover a great quantity of rice , mace , and other fruits o● all sorts ; as for cattle , you have for a●● use , as well as in the isle of may. the isle of fire , so called , by reason o● its flames , which one of its high mountains does vomit without ceasing , is abou● twelve leagues in length , and lies towards the south west of s. james ▪ o● the north west a little fort is situat●● at the foot of a mountain , for the defence of the ships , which anchor in th● haven that is hard by ; the rapidity o● its current hindring it from being commodious . those who will anchor o● the east side , must steer their cour●● towards the north of the island , by re●son , that otherwise they will find it dif●●cult to get in . this island is subject t● whirlwinds and hurricans , which ma●● terrible havock there ; and the water 〈◊〉 there so deep in all places , that one cannot cast anchor in any part , but ne● the little fort we h●ve newly m●ntione● ▪ some four leagues from that island , towards the south-west , is the isle of brave , almost a desert and uncultivated , and towards the north , two or three more that are very small . on the west of brave there is a convenient road for the taking in fresh water ; but on the south-east there is another much more commodious ; its depth is of fifteen fathom ; so that the greatest ships may lie by the banks of it without danger . above the haven is a very populous village , and at some distance from thence an hermitage , the situation whereof is very pleasant ; the fruits of this island are figgs , mulbe●●es , melons and maiz ; but it does not so much abound in cattle as the others . the air of these islands is generally ●ot and unhealthful ; insomuch as the ●nhabitants are tormented with burn●●g feavors , colicks , dissenteries , and ●●veral other diseases . there arise cer●●in mists , that seem of a reddish co●our , and are of a very bad smell ; this country is situate between the line and ●●e tropick of cancer : thus the sun is ●erpendicular upon them twice a year , ●nd affords 'em a couple of summers : ●●wards the month of june the rains ●●gin , and last almost without discontinuing , until the midst of october ; but the worst is , that these rains are attended with wind , lightning and thunder , which would make the most undaunted tremble . when this season approaches , the air grows thick and dark ▪ the salt melts into liquor , and the winds begin to strike a terror into people . we left these islands on the twelfth , and on the second of august , we came in sight of sierra-leona . without seeing it , we were certain , that we were not far distant ; for according as we came nearer it , we heard without ceasing , a wind which issued from that mountain , that resembled very much the roaring of a lion , from whence it had the name of the mountain of lions . in the evening we went into the pinnace , and as soon as we were on land , we heard a terrible noise ; it was occasioned by the waves , which being impetuously thru●● on between the clifts of a rock , made in their fall a certain noise , that is no● easie to be expressed ; this mountain 〈◊〉 lions begins at the cape of virginia , an● ends at cape tagrin , or ledo , which likewise bears the name of sierra leona . ' t●● situated under the 8 th . degree of lat●tude , and thirteen minutes of longitude . 't is seen afar off , for that it is much higher than all on the north of that cape ▪ as also by reason it reaches very far into the sea. this country is mountainous on the south-east , but low , flat and marshy towards the north : there are to the number of thirteen rivers , what in the mountains and elsewhere , all planted on each side with lemmon and orange trees , pomegranates , and other trees , which form an admirable prospect at all times , even to astonishment . on the 3 d. of august we cast anchor in the bay of that mountain , and at the same time , our commander sent to the king of the country , five barrs of iron , a barrel of brandy , and another of spanish wine . our deputies were kindly received ; and our presents were so acceptable , that the king and his courtiers , who looked like wretched fisher-men , asked , double of all that was offered 'em , by way of repetition . we were not over-well pleased with this complement ; but as we had occasion for water , wood , oranges , lemons and other refreshments , which are there in great abundance , we ●ranted them what they desired . from that time those caffres seem'd to us goo● tractable people ; they came every day on board us with fruits , and returned very much satisfied with our kindness . in the mean while the king being allued with our easiness to grant him hi● demand , sent word , that he expected the same present should be made him the third time , if we desired to have leave to come on shore . this procedure did so nettle our commander , that he resolv'd to be revenged , which that he might the better effect , he dissembled his resentment , and let him know , that if he pleas'd to come on board of him in the pinnace he sent him , he would endeavonr to give him satisfaction . the poor king not dreaming of any treachery , did not stick to come on board , where they only let in with him five or six of his gentlemen ; he was so full o● confidence , that he was no sooner there , but he went directly to the captains cabin , where he did not doubt but that a treat was prepared for him ; but instead of what he expected , he found there people who very r●dely put shackles upon his hands and feet . and what augmented the suprize he was in to see himself so ill treated , was , that the commander after having remonstrated to him , that he was too brutal for so high a dignity , threatned to have him hanged ; and indeed the punishment had attended very closely these menaces , if the officers of the ship had not represented , how the execution might have very ill consequences . upon their instances , the commander changed his punishment , which was to be cast into the sea : his attendants being terrified at that sight , leapt into their canoes , and scudded to shore , as fast as it was possible for them . no sooner were they there , than they put themselves in a posture of defence , to hinder us from coming on land. our commander being full of indignation at their daring to make head against him , or fearing perhaps lest they should believe it was for want of courage that he doubled his presents , filled two pinnaces with souldiers , whom he ordered to cut to pieces those miserable wretches , if they had the temerity to oppose their landing . those two pinnaces being seconded by two more , our men dispersed the cafres , and took in spight of their teeth , all that they had occasion for : and to revenge themselves fully and finally , our commander caused their houses and their gardens to be plundred , and set fire to the temples of their idols . in the mean time , the king having saved himself by swimming , seeing we had the better , and the lamentable condition we had reduced his subjects to , assembled all his forces , so as in a short time we saw a thousand canoes half loaden with gabions coming down the river , in all probability to have set fire to our ship , and make themselves masters of our lives : but their design had no effect by the diligence we used to get away from them , and to pursue our course . during our stay at sierra leona , we met with some hollanders who traded along that coast : they told us that the king of the country had dealt with them as he had done with us , and that in revenge they had paid him with the same coyn , so that in less than fifteen days , he had had the affront of being cast twice into the sea. our commander was upon the point of the giving one of his ships for the hollander● vessel , thinking it to be more prope● than his own for the passing the sands o● the red sea , and for the running along these coasts , but was disswaded from i● by the pilot. sierra leona is the most proper place in the world for the taking in fresh water , and all other refreshments . for besides that the fresh water is admirably good , there grows millet , oranges , lemons , bananas , cocoes , wild-grapes , sugar canes , long pepper , in a word , fruits of all sort sand species . there is moreover excellent wood both for dying and building , which we might have provided our selves with , as we did with all other things , had it not been for the adventure which happened to us . the fish is very excellent , and in great quantity ; and all the rocks which we saw , were covered ▪ with great and excellent oysters . tho there be a great deal of good fresh water , its goodness however does not continue in all seasons ; for about the moneth of may , which is the beginning of the rains , 't is there so unwholesome , that in strangers it causes hot feavors , bloody fluxes , and other violent diseases . the malignity of the rain at that time is such , that so many drops are so many blistors upon the skin , and as many worms in the clothes : for which reason , strangers to whom it is only fatal , ought not to provide themselves with water , until some monthsafter it begins to fall ; because that towards the end it is more pure and less dangerous , which we had the experience of , not any of our company having been incommoded . the inhabitants of that country are not [ however ] black . their complexion is something tawny or swarthy , and they make several figures with hot irons in their skins . one of their finest ornaments is to boar their ears and nostrils , which they embelish with rings of gold and other metals . the men and women go all naked , except a girdle made of the rind of a tree , which hangs down to the middle of their thighs . the further you go into the country , the less humanity you meet with ; the inhabitants are cruel , and even eat one another ; those who dwell along the sea coasts , are somewhat more tractable , by reason of the frequent commerce they have with the europeans ▪ the king that was cast into the sea , seem'd to be about sixty years old , was neither handsome in body , nor of a generous temper ; his habit was after the moorish manner , his hat grey , but had bare-feet , wherein he was imitated by his attendants . sect. ii. from the sixteenth of august which was the day of our departure from sierra leona , until the 13 th . of october , which was that of our arrival at madagascar , we had not any considerable adventure . the first port that we met with , was that at antongil . as soon as we had cast anchor , we went into a pinnace , wherein we set the white flag ; the people of the island did the same , but however with precaution ; for they assembled upon the mountains armed with arrows and azagu●es , which are staves of about five or six foot long , which they lance very dexterously against the enemy . this made us apprehend , that they designed to seize upon us , and in that opinion we would have returned on board , when one of the insularies taking notice of the fear we were in , called out to us in dutch , and bid us be of good courage , and if we would come on shore , he would answer for 't , that no mischief should happen to us . the word of a man we understood , dissipated our fears ; and we went on shore , where we were kindly received by the king in person , who was attended with a numerous train . the king after having told us we were very welcome , had us along to his palace . it is situated upon a rising ground , and reintrenched on all sides : the inner parts of it are neat , and all covered with extraordinary fine mats . the king asked the commander who he was ? whither he went ? and for what design he had cast anchor on his island ? to which the commander answer'd , that he and his men were hollanders , but that they sailed for the service of the republick of genoa . the king having interrupted him to inform himself of some other things , the commander was surprised to hear him speak dutch so well , and asked him the reason of it ; i have , replied the king , been the slave of a pilot called iean meas originally of holland ; the necessity i was in , of understanding his tongue for to obey him , obliged me to learn it , and you see to what perfection i attain'd in it . at our return from the indies , where we had been , we were so shattered by a furious tempest , that it cast us upon this island , and broke our masts . after that we had refitted our ship , the day being appointed for our departure , the repugnance i had to the name and life of a slave , made me hide my self in the island , where i have remained ever since that time . did not you call your self diembro , said the commander ? how came you , replied the king , to know my name ? because i had a slave in the indies , rejoyn'd the captain , who had all your features , and whose adventures were very like yours : i brought him hither by the accident you have mentioned , where he hid himself for fear of following me , as you you say you did : in a word , i am that john meas , and if i am not mistaken , i meet again in you , what i lost at my leaving of this island . you are not mistaken , replied the king , looking upon him with joy , you find again in me the man whom you had , and whom heaven has preserved to render you greater services , than those you could have exacted from me at that time . you were a good master to me , pursued he , embracing him ; it is but justice , that i remember it , and it is with pleasure , i meet with this occasion , to testifie my sincere acknowledgments . i am obeyed by all here , and i will likewise have all obey you : do here what you please , and do not fear , that any one should have the boldness to contradict you . the commander being surprized at so much generosity , gave him thanks for his offer , which he did not merit , and told him , that he only desired the permission of changing some of his merchandizes for those of the country . in short , the king remained stedfast ; he would needs have him to take all he had a mind to , and keep his merchandizes . after which , according to the custom used amongst friends of that island , he offered him his wives , and made others do the same to all those of his ship , as the women of that country are not very avaricious of their caresses , and the europians are a singular good ragoust to them , far from suffering us to beg their favours , they offered themselves , and that too with so good a grace , that it would have been very uncivil to have denied them . while our men were diverting themselves , and were all dissolv'd in joy and mirth , death came to disturb it , and caused a division , which had like to have been the ruine of us all . the vice-commander having languished under a fit of sickness for some time , at last died some days after our arrival at madagascar ▪ the commander puts the master of his ship into his place , and would needs have the other come on board of his , but instead of obeying , this last sent word to the commander , that he did not understand , why he should be deprived of a place that was his due , and that he would not go out of his ship but by force : at the same time causing all his canon to be mounted , that was at the bottom of the hold , and prepared himself as if he had been to fight . on the morrow the commander seeing this rebel had set up the red flagg , made preparations on his side , insomuch as nothing was expected but the hour of coming to engagement . in the mean while the boutefeu sent a chaloupe to a convenient place to take in water ; which the commander perceiving , filled his own with souldiers , with whom he went himself , and so ordered the business ; that he constrained 'em to yield themselves up , and put them all into fetters , until he was made acquainted with their design . whereupon he posted himself in such manner , as it was impossible for the other to stir from his place . whereupon the chief of the rebels seeing himself shut up on all sides , and besides his men being weakened by the loss of those whom the commander had taken , repented of the fault he had committed , and fancied that the shortest way of reparation , was to yield himself up at the commanders direction . and taking along with him some of the ships crew , he went on board , the commander , where as soon as he was come , he had fetters put upon his hands and feet , notwithstanding the cries of his men , who protested , that if he was not released , they were resolved to fight to the extremity , and not give any quarter . this bravado had so little effect , that upon the first resistance , that was made to the two pilots in the commanders name to come on board him , they went thither as sheep , and were treated after the same manner as the others . those who remained being daunted by the detention of their leaders , lost heart , and yielded upon discretion . by order of the council of war , it was demanded of all the officers , that were revolted , except the master , which they would choose rather , either to burn altogether with their ship , or to submit themselves blindly to whatsoever orders the commander should please to impose upon them ? 't is easie to conjecture that they chose rather to live than to undergoe so hard a death : and indeed they promised to be more supple than gloves , and protested after having asked pardon , not to fall any more into such like faults . as for the master's punishment , it was remitted until the return of the ships to genoa , and in the mean while , for the preventing such like disorders , they divided the two ship 's crew , whereof the half was obliged to go board the other . this business did very much delay our voyage , for the time of continuing it , being passed before that all was set to rights again , we were forced to wait for another monzoon ; but as in the mean time we made good chear , and spent our time in hunting , fishing , gathering excellent fruits with which the island abounds , we were easily comforted for that rub in our voyage . from the coasts of sofala to madagascar , is reckoned about a hundred and ten leagues , and from the mozambiques fourty four . it is situated on the east of the coast of zanguebar and the cafrees ; between the eleventh and sixteenth degree of southern latitude ; and extends from 72 degrees of longitude to 81 : so that it is about 350 leagues in length from the south to the north ; 120 in its greatest breadth , and 900 in circuit . the island is divided into several provinces , which are almost all parted by great rivers . the air is healthful and temperate , the soil very fertile in fruits , as oranges , pome-citrons , lemons , very large melons , and pulse . it produces ginger , rice , cotton , saffron , and other excellent roots . they gather wax and honey ; several sorts of gums , balm ; oyls , whose effects are admirable . there are several mines of gold and silver : the gold is much courser there than in peru , and every where else , but the steel of this country is most excellent . they have very choice trees ; as ebony , brazile and sandale wood , red , yellow and white ; palm trees of four or five sorts , from which the insularies draw very great conveniences : and several others which are of no less profit than these . the precious stones which are most commonly found there , are topazes , amnectysts , emeraulds , sapphires , hyacinths and agats . there are neither lions , elephants nor horses ; but abundance of tame and wild swine , goats who bring forth four times in the year . the sheep are so fat , that their tayles weigh from twenty to five and twenty pounds . the swine and wild boares are there much fatter and more delicate than those of europe . there are likewise porcupines , whose flesh , tho something harsh , has a most particular gust . these animals sleep there six months together , and during that time their skin is renewed as well as that of their hedg-hogs , which are very common in this island . the dogs here are very small , and most part of them flat-nosed , and without hair ; the monkeys are there in troops , never less than fifty together , some are white of the bigness of a fox ; they are cruel and hard to be tamed ; but there are some much smaller and browner , that are much more docible . some very large , that only go upon their hind feet , whose skins are white , and not so tawny as the rest . these love women to that degree , that if they meet with one , they help one another to violate her every one in his turn , after which they tear her in pieces . there are those , whose eyes sparkle like burning coales ; these are look'd upon as much the siner ; but they are so wild , that when they are taken they starve themselves to death . they have great numbers of martins , weasels and squirrels , as likewise scorpions , spiders , cheeselips , and other hurtful animals , whose venom is so subtile , that 't is present death to them who are stung . all manner of gumm is there very plentiful . the island is inhabited both by whites and blacks ; these are for the most part of a middle stature ; and their hair is black and curled : the whites are somewhat bigger , their hair is less black , less frizled , and much longer ; they shave their beards , and are tractable and humane , because they inhabit towards the coasts . but they who dwell in the midst of the island , never shave their beards , nor cut their hair. they are brutal savages , and without integrity , like the cafres . treachery and revenge are their vertues ; and those who are the best instructed in 'em are the most esteemed ; but charity and compassion are monsters which they have a horrour for ; and those who have the least grain of them , are reviled and contemned . idleness is natural to 'em , and they spend most of their time in singing and dancing . notwithstanding which , they have workmen , as smiths , carpenters , potters , cord-makers , and weavers that are expert enough in their trades ; some goldsmiths they have , but they are none of the most dexterous . fishing and hunting are their ordinary occupations . the places , whither they retire , are very pitiful cottages , which nevertheless they are used to take possession of with as much joy , as if they were the most glorious palaces . when these hutts are in a condition to be inhabited , the proprietors fix the day of their entrance , and make a feast , to which they invite their relations and friends ; every one goes thither with presents , for it is forbidden to come with empty hands ; and those presents consist of gold , silver , iron , corn and utensils , that are in use with ' em . some give oxen , sheep , goats , fruits ; and all this mounts so high , that at the end of the entertainment , the proprietor finds himself largely re-imbursed for his building and his entertainment . the feast lasts for some days , during which they commit several excesses . their way of living is very plain , for they have neither tables , chairs , seats , table-cloathes , napkins , beds or pillows . insomuch that whether it be for eating or drinking , they have only a pitiful mat spread upon the floor . the common people go almost all naked , and often without hiding what we dare not discover . persons of quality have a kind of drawers , which reaches down to the middle of their legs ; the rest of the body is covered very negligently with a piece of cotton . the women are clothed with certain robes , which reach but to their knees : some of those robes have sleeves , and others none . they wear under them a kind of drawers , which differs little from those of the men. they have a handkerchief upon their necks , much like to those of france and england . those robes are made of cotton , rinds of trees , and of silk of several colours , garnished with guimps and laces , that differ much from the colour of the stuffs . all the inhabitants of both sexes , go bare-headed and bare-footed ; except those who are of a certain race , whose men wear a bonnet much like a jesuites cap ; and the women an hood or ornament in form of a pyramid which falls down upon their shoulders . their weddings are celebrated with very few ceremonies , and upon very slight pretexts the men put away their wives . as it is neither a sin nor scandal to caress one another , the men and women make no scruple of doing so ; and when lovers are taken in the fact , they are acquitted for a present of little value . for the maids to prostitute themselves is looked upon as a good honest trade : the more they gain thereby , the more are they esteemed ; and the most notorious gallantry is the most ready way to marriage . it is accounted a kind of shame for maidens not to know what it is before they are contracted : they must first of all have made several tryals , and when they have not wit to find gallants , their mothers have the goodness to furnish 'em with the means of so doing , and to teach 'em to keep those whose mistresses they are . with all this facility there is nothing so chaste as the tongue of the women of madagascar ; and such an one is more lascivious and more debauched than lais , that one would take for a lucretia , if youdid not know her . when any person dies , all the relations assemble to wash the body ; after which they deck the deceased with his finest attire ; put him on rings , pendants and bracelets , afterwards they wrap him up in fine linnen , and a● last in a mat , wherein he is carried to his grave . this is the custom of the common people , but the ceremonies of persons of quality there are wholl● different . when they have washed their bodies , and cut of all , their hair , they pu● a crown of the finest flowers that can be found upon their heads , then the relations and domesticks bewail and lament round the body with grimaces that raise horrour . after the tears have made a pawse , the most ancient of the relations makes a kind of funeral oration which contains the life and most memorable actions of the defunct . after which they make a terrible noise in tingling upon copper basons , to the noise of which they dance ●fter an odd kind of manner ; which ●ome of them leave off doing on a sud●en , and go to discourse their dead kins●an . they ask him why he let himself ●ye ? if it be for want of money , jew●●s , precious stones ? if life was a bur●en to him , or if he want any thing ? one day is spent in these fooleries , wherein the relations do so tire ' em●elves , that they have need of repose . wherefore they re-assemble the next ●ay at the house of the deceast , where ●hey are entertained with a funeral re●ast : they eat and drink as much as e●er they are able , and without disconti●uing , they sometimes give great sighs ▪ ●irst looking up to heaven , then upon ●he dead , around whom there are burn●ng lamps . on the third day they ●ut him into a coffin , made of two trees , bored for that purpose , and which they joyn together very neatly . afterwards they carry him into a spick span new hutt ▪ wherein they put him into a grave of six foot high ; and round it a pannier of rice ; and a pipe and tobacco , together with a chaffingdish , a sute of clothes , and generally a little ●f all things which they believe he will ●ave occasion for in his journey to the other world. they shut up the h●● with a great stone , and they offer som● living creatures to the devil , that 〈◊〉 would be favourable to him in the cours● of his voyage . the whole year is spent in mour●ing , and his memory is so precious , tha● his relatives make him the only subje●● of their discourse . it is he , whom the● invoke in their distresses , and who● they consult in affairs of moment ; an● for their being the better understoo● they go seek out his soul where they i● magine it is . some are idolaters or without an● shadow of religion . others toward● the coasts are mahometans . the fir●● are superstitious and so gross , that the● are afraid of all things . some ide● they have of a first being , who has created all things , but they do not believ● themselves obliged to adore him , an● they pay him no honour ; and yet , whe● they are near the end , whether thro age o● otherwise , they confess their sins to him ▪ and ask his pardon for ' em . as to the dev● whom they call the malign and invisibl● being , they seem to have a clearer knowledge of him . 't is he , they say , who give● and takes away life : he is the author o● ●ll the evil which men do , and all ●he mischief which happens to them . wherefore they pray and sacrifice to ●im for the making him propitious , that ●e may ward from their heads , the mis●hiefs with which they are threatned . besides these two beings , they acknow●edge a third , whom they call dian●anans , that is to say , the god of rich●s . they think it is he , who renders men happy , and on whom depends their felicity . they have furthermore a confused idea , at least those towards the coasts , of angels , of adam , eve , no●b , and even of our saviour , which they ●eceived from the europeans ; but they do not operate any good effect , and if ●hey have feasts and fasts , it is thro a meer caprice , which they hold from father to son. 't is perhaps from the same source , ●hat they have received circumcision , which they observe very fantastically at ● certain season of the year in the fol●owing manner . on the day before the ceremony , all the kindred assemble at ●he childs fathers house , and fuddle ●hemselves with a sort of drink that is 〈◊〉 sweet as mead , when they are some●hat heated , some tingle upon basons ; others skirmish with their targets , an● azagays , while the young men an● maids dance to the sounds of those b●sons which serve them instead of m●sick . when they are weary , they fa●● to their mead again , and fox themselv●● anew at a certain hour of the night . th● mother takes the child , who is the occasion of the feast , and goes to lie alo●● with it in a hut built on purpose ● moneth before . at break of day sh● washes all her own body , and does th● same to that of her son , whom she dec●● up like a puppet , with pendants , brac●lets and a neck-lace of a value confo●mable to her condition . hereupo● she goes to find out her husband an● his guests , and the thinkling is renewed but some time after , all this noise giv● way to silence , during which , all tho●● who have been in the act of venery a●● obliged to retire , and likewise those wh●● are suspected of having layn that nigh● with their wives ; for all is mystery i● this occasion ; and if the father of th● child had toucht his wife the nig●● before , they would be sure to defer t●● ceremony . besides this precaution , the● have also that of sending those awa● from the place of the ceremony , wh● carry about them any thing of a red colour , because their presence , say they , would hinder the stopping of the bloud in the wound , all being thus disposed , the priest approaches with measured steps , and with devotion takes the knife destined to that use , and ties a napkin on his left leg ; the father and unckles of the child do the same upon their arms ; and in that equipage they follow the priest thro the door situated on the west , into the hut , where the mother is in bed with the child . in fine , after the circumcision , the fore-skin is cast upon the ground , if the person circumcised be a slave ; but if free , the fore-skin is put upon the yelk of an egg , whereon the father or unckle of the child receive it from the hand of the priests . after having put upon the wound a mixture of the bloud of a cock and the juice of herbs , the child is brought back to his fathers house , with huzzas and acclamations , which last the rest of the day . to see these grimaces , one would say , that these insularies are very religious , and very tender of their children ; however we may affirm , they are nothing less than that ; for indeed they neither sincerity nor affection , which it is easie to prove . when they have a child born , they give notice thereof to their priests , who make those ignorant people believe , they read in the stars all that happens upon earth . the priest pretends to consult the heavens upon what is to happen to the child ; and according to the humour he is in , he speaks well or ill of his future inclinations : and if his holiness says , that he is born under an ill constellation , that his manners will be corrupted , that he will be wicked , cruel and bloudy minded , from that moment the child is carried out of the house and cast into a bush , where it serves for food unto the beasts . if a woman during her big-belly finds her self more ill than usually , they stick not to believe , that 't is the child who torments her , and this is an ill omen : whereupon they give the mother a certain potion , which kills the child ; or if they wait till it be born , it is no sooner born , but 't is cast into a ditch , or into water . this inhumanity is so general , that all women both free and slaves , make no scruple of losing their fruit upon any pretext whatsoever . sometimes it is by reason that the mother being a slave , takes it ill to see her self put away by her master , who has deflowred her : sometimes for that a white maid being got with child by a blackmore , has some horrour of being the mother of a child of a different colour ; and lastly , sometimes for that a maid having got an itch to libertinisme , and is not willing to marry , chooses rather to kill her children , than take the trouble of breeding them up . but if the women are unnatural , the men do not fall short of them in that ill quality ; for if it happens , that the mother expires in the delivery , the father causes the child to be put in the same coffin , saying , that it is better for it to be dead , than to be brought up by strangers . besides these unhappy pretences of getting rid of their children , there are a hundred others caused by superstition : thus it is no wonder , that this island , as voluptuous as it is , is however so thinly populated . those who inhabit towards the coasts being become more humane thro commerce with strangers , are something less easie to put their children to death . when the priest has told them his sentiment , and gives them no good hopes , there are those who will have them educated privately by slaves , who bring them up like beasts , to the end , ( say they ) that they may overcome by that means their ill nature . the island is governed by several kings , who are almost always in war. their armes are bows and arrows , javelins and targets ; they do not want courage , but they fight without rules and art. their principal dexterity consists in surprizing the enemy in an advantageous place , and keeping him in play , while the others secure the country , and burn all they meet with . in the mean while the women take their pleasure , and seek out all means of diversion , but they dare not be unfaithful to their husbands , at least , those who love them ; believing that if they had any favour to their prejudice , they would not fail to be killed or dangerously wounded : whereas by making good chear without having to do with men , the husband would become both stronger and more couragious . during our abode in the island , king diembro having marcht against his enemies in the head of seven thousand men , we went upon a mountain , from whence we saw the field of battel . the two armies being in sight , they began confusedly with javelins ; then endeavouring to join , the strongest flung his man upon the ground , and killed him without remission ; the fight was long and doubtful , but at length , diembro had the advantage , tho he was much inferiour in number , those who remain conquerors , return to their homes singing , but the greatest noise comes from those , who have been made nobles , which is performed in this manner . some days before that of the battel , there are detachments drawn out on both sides to skirmish ; those who are the strongest cut their enemies heads off , and carry and lay them at the kings feet , who caresses 'em very highly , and gives 'em the title of noblemen : if in the following wars , those noblemen bring still more heads , they are qualify'd proportionably , insomuch as the heads of their enemies are as so many steps , which raise 'em to the highest offices and dignities . when they have a desire to make peace , the first means to attain it , is to make presents on both sides , and to appoint the day for the treaty . the day being come , both armies set ' emselves in battel-array upon the banks of a river , which parts 'em : they kill a bull on each side , out of whose liver , kings send one another a portion , whereof they and their generals eat in the presence of their deputies : at the same time they swear to execute punctually the articles of peace , which they had newly agreed to ; which commonly consist in never poysoning the waters nor cattel more ; and in not burning the houses , and in abstaining from all pillage : wishing that the liver they eat may serve 'em for poison , if they speak against their thoughts . sect. iii. after five whole moneths stay at madagascar , we departed from thence on the 16 th of march , and on the 12 th . of june we arrived at sumatra . we cast anchor in the port of sillebar , where we took in peper and some other refreshments . in cruising along the coasts we took two joncks that we met with . all the people they had on board , leapt into the sea , except a woman , whom all the italians vitiated , in spight of our officers , after the most bruitish manner imaginable ; when their rage was glutted , they let her go , but she was no sooner on land , than her husband stab'd her to death . on the 28 th . we made sail towards indrapoura , and in our way we took two joncks more of arquin , that were laded with pepper , sandalewood , camphire and such like things . on the 29 th . we arriv'd at indrapoura , where we bought what we wanted . we expected to have met with some more joncks , but they were already departed . from thence we made towards the sonda , and a little after that we were in the streights , fourteen holland ships came thundring upon us . they came from batavia , with orders from the company to bring us thither either by fair means or foul ; immediately they summon'd our commander , who very bravely made answer , that he was not a man to yield till after having bravely defended himself , and that perhaps , how strong soever they might be , they would find it difficult to constrain him to it . the hollanders not thinking to have met with so resolute a man , sent to batavia to know what they were to do ; the answer was , that they should press us , and if they found themselves too weak to perform their commissions , they should make use of the reinforcement that was coming to them , which was a great man of war advantageously fitted out , whose help was in no wise necessary . the hollanders having received this order , bid us with an imperious tone , bring to them our flag and strike sail , or they would sink us to the bottom . this daunted our commander , who had had time to think of what he was to do : he became pensive uneasie , and perhaps he had reason so to be . his men had still in mind the dispute at madagascar ; he knew they hated him , and they only waited for an opportunity to be revenged for the affront he had put upon them . these considerations made him inclinable to yield ; but before he came to that resolution , he took council of his officers , who were unanimously of opinion , that he should follow the law of the strongest , since their loss was infallible , if they persisted to make resistance ; this resolution was applauded by all the ships crew , whose disunion was so visible , that they could hardly have lived longer together : thus the hollanders were received with open arms. we were overjoy'd at the changing of our masters , and never were any men better pleased with coming out of prison , than our men were to go into it . if the passion of separating had not been so great among them , it would have been easie for them to have made their escape by night by the way of batavia , for our ship was a swift sailer , and those of the hollanders so heavy , that we were always twenty four hours more advanced than they . on the 15 th . of july , the commander of the hollander , called jacob vander meule came on board us ; and in the general of batavia's name , took an inventory of all he found there . after having written our names , and the name of the place of our birth , those whom they met withal of our own nation , were put apart in the corps de garde of java ; the others remained in the ship , whose coffers they picked , taking out all the money they found there , and making their escape , the italians to goa and bantam , and the hamburghers to their own country . presently after this plunder , our commander was found dead , and we judged , by the signs he saw upon his body , that he was poysoned , probably by the italians , for fear he should have defeated 'em at his return . as for our parts , we were kept prisoners for fourteen or fifteen days , but having presented our requests to be set at liberty , we were accordingly set free ; and by order of the general , each man having received the wages he pretended to from the republick of genoa , it was left to his choice , either to return into his own country , or enter into the service of the company . i was one of the number , which accepted this last offer , and the others were dispersed . shortly after my entring into the service of the east india company , i was sent by the general of batavia to regulate some affairs at bantam , where having dispatched my business , i took occasion to make all the inquiry i could into the state of that island , which take as followeth . java major is an isle declining 7 degrees 40 minutes towards the antartic from the equinoctial ; and placed in 21 degree of longitude ; a very great and noble isle for from east to west it stretches one hundred and fifty leagues , or of miles four hundred and fifty , and from north to south ninty leagues , or two hundred and seventy miles english . the mid-land is for the most part mountainous , and meanly peopled ; but the maritine low , and very populous : the first is very subject is wind but healthy : the latter marish and insalubrious . it may be called a compendium of the world ; for it abounds in all things that be either useful or excellent . the coast by reason of trade for p●per has towns well built , and very wealthy : upon the north side and to the north east , are bantam , palamban , jachatra , ( now called batavia by the dutch , but formerly sunda calapa by the inhabitants , and not unlikely to be that city sunda , where the people used with a dead man to bury so many live fish , as he had slain enemies in his life time ) as also japarra , tubur , jortan , grecy , chiringen , serebaya , &c. bantam is under the antartic declination or latitude 6 degrees 20 minutes ▪ and of westerly variation , 3 degrees . 't is the biggest city in the island , being situated at the foot of a mountain ▪ whence three rivers rise , two whereof run by the walls , the other thro the city ; but all too shallow for navigation ▪ the town is indifferently great , but rascally houses ; the walls which are brick , and three foot thickness , are not entirely lined with earth , yet so flanked , that at every hundred paces lies a canon , which would sufficiently secure the curtains , were it in condition for service , but their artillery is not mounted , and they have no other ammunition than a little powder , brought from malaca , where the portugueses have a mill. the city gates are so wretched , that they might be beaten down with a club ; but so vigilantly guarded , 't would be hard to approach without notice ; there are neither bastions nor towers , but in lieu thereof scaffolds of three stories , which yield a strong defence . in the whole city there are but three principal streets , which all about upon the castle called pacebam . the one from the pacebam to the haven ; another where the kings slaves and domesticks inhabits , leads to the gate towards the fields , and the third to the gate at the foot of the mountain . the streets are not pav'd , but are as commodious , by means of the sand they are covered with . the channels which in divers places cross the city , are foul and stinking , in regard the stream of the river is not strong enough to carry off the filth it brings , and what is thrown forth choaks the water , and makes puddles , that infect the whole city . no person of quality , but has his private chappel , or mosquite in his house ; but one is common near the palace on the magazin and stable-side . the city is divided into several posts , each of which is assigned to some person of quality , who commands in time of war , and gives direction in civil affairs . they have a drum as big as those german casks called thunderbolts , used instead of bells , which they beat with a woodenbar as big as a weavers beam , morning and evening , as also upon alarums they have brass basons , which they beat musically and chime upon , as we do our bells . at every corner of the streets there stands a guard , and at sun ▪ set they draw up to make fast all passage boats , so as in the night there is no stirring in the street . at the prison-gate , near the palace , stands a guard of fifty men : nor is there a person of quality , who has not one of ten or twelve at his house . the town is full of coco-trees , nor is there a mansion without divers belonging to it . the houses are poorly built of straw reeds upon piles made like those at ackim . they cover their houses with coco-leaves , and the sides of their lodging rooms have only curtains for freedom of the air , which is exceeding necessary in this hot climate . for preservation of their wares they have store houses of stone , but they are covered with straw , so as to secure them from fire , which is but too frequent amongst them ; they lay great pieces of timber on the ro●f , and cover it with sand , that the fire may not find passage . the rooms in their houses are only divided by partitions made of canes called bamboos , which they slit so thin , that a horse-load serves for all the rooms in their houses . at the houses of persons of quality upon the first entrance , you come into a square court , where the guard is , and where the master of the house speaks with such as have business with him , under a little shed , covered with canes or coco-leaves , in one of the corners of this court stands the mosquite , where at noon they do their devotions , and not far thence the cistern where they wash themselves . being entred the house , you find on both sides of a very narrow gallery several little nicks , for slaves to rest in , who watch there for their masters security ; by reason they are all afraid of being surprized and killed by their enemies in the night . all foreigners , as the natives of bengala , as gusurats , malayans , abyssins , chineses , portugals , and hollanders , ly out of town . here are three great market places , where the merchants meet daily ; the grand bazaror exchange , is towards the east part of the town , and is the meeting place of foreign merchants , as portugueses , arabians , turks , chineses , pagans , malayans , bengalans , gusarats , malabars , and other indians , who are there from the break of the day until nine of the clock , and then break up ; the second market place is before the great mesquite divided from it by a palisado . to this place women resort with sacks , and a weight of three pounds , they call gantam , who buy peper of the country people , an eight or nine hundred caxas the gantam . but the chineses , who are very skilful in this trade , forestal them sometimes , for they go to the peasants , and buy all they have by the lump before-hand . betwixt the pallisado and the mosquite , stand women that sell bettele , araca , bananas , melons , &c. and some there are set fine cakes to be eaten hot . a little higher on the right hand are armorers , who sell small pieces of cannon , pistols , sword-blades , battle-axes , &c. not far thence , there are others that sell sandale wood , white and yellow , and on the left hand are confectioners that sell sugar , honey , and all sorts of sweet-meats wet or dry . near to that is the bean-market , where are sold all sorts of beans , black white , red , yellow , green and gray , at the three hundred caxas the gantam . next to this is the onion market , where the merchants that sell cloth by whole-sale come , and such as deal in return of money , and assurances of the return in vessels . hard by this is the poultry , where besides tame fowl , they sell also kids , geese , pidgeons , parrots ▪ &c. coming thence you meet with 3 ways , one going to the chineses shop , another to the herb and pulse market ; and the 3 d. to the shambles . by the way to the chineses shops , on the right hand are some jewellers , who for the greater part are choroacones , that is to say , persians or arabians , who sell rubies , hyacinths , turquesses , granats , &c. and on the left hand is the place for the bengalians , with their toys and small wares . on the back side of this street , the chineses sell their silks raw and coloured , damask , velvet , sattins , brocadoes of gold and silver , purcelane cabinets and works of lacques , &c. by the way to the herb market , on the right hand upon the sand , are the bengalians with their small wares . on the left hand merchants of linnen-cloth , and at the lower end of this market , married women have seamstresses shops ; but men are forbidden to come there under pain of a forfeiture . then you come to the herb market , where are a multitude of simples unknown to us . turning thence you see the fish-market , then the shambles , with stalls full of beef , buffles and venison : then the spice-market , where women sell peper , cloves , nutmegs , mace , &c. and all sorts of gumms and druggs , to europians unknown : and the rice-market where likewise they sell earthen ware and salt ; whence they pass by the same way they came to the place , where merchants and masters of ships meet about their affairs : the sale of these commodities lasts but till nine of the clock , and then opens the market before the pacebam , or palace-royal , where are sold all sorts of victuals , as likewise some pepper , which they truck with the chineses . about noon the market in the chineses quarters begins , where nothing is sold but for the table . next to bantam , tuba , or tuban , is the chiefest town in java , and in effect is stronger than all the rest , and although not so great as bantam , 't is at least as handsome ; and as well built . the palace is exceeding spacious , and hath very fair apartments , where elephants and other beasts have their several quarters : each elephant hath his lodge built upon four pillars , with a post in the middle to tie him to . the rooms are filled with chests , and hampers for the baggage , when the king goes his progress . near to his lodgings is a place where his game-cocks are kept every one in his pen apart , and every one his keeper ; as likewise the parrats , which are much before those brought into these parts , the greatest part of a beautiful flame colour , with a great golden spot on the back : the outside of their wings blue and red , and the in-side a lovely carnation . they are to endure the inconveniencies of a long voyage : besides the indians highly esteem them , for that they love their owners , and delight to be made much of by them . the king of tuban was much taken with all these creatures , as also with dogs , horses , and white ducks , much larger than ours . he had four legitimate wives , six sons , and two daughters ; besides natural children , a great number by concubines , which he kept in several apartments : his bed was raised at some distance from the ground , built like an altar of great stones , whereon lay a quilt , and certain pillows of satin , filled with raw silk . the chief commerce they have at tuban consists in pepper , which they carry to the isle of bady , where they truck it for cloth and stuffes of cotton and silk , which afterwards they bring to banda , toanate , and the philippins , and other parts , to truck for cloves , mace and nutmegs , the inhabitants for the greatest part , live only on fish . they wear no other garments than a linnen cloth about the loyns ; only persons of the first quality have sometimes hangselines of chamelet , which reach but to their knees . they are by this habit distinguished from others persons , and by their trains of slaves , without whom they never come abroad . they delight much in horses , and to have their saddles exceeding rich , which are made like our great saddles ; only their trappings studded with gold and silver , striving to appear well mounted at assemblies , and to shew the king their horsemanship , and the dexterity of their horses . the inhabitants that live in the inner part of the isle of java are pagans , and the greatest part pythagoreans , believing a transmigration of the soul ; for which reason they eat neither fish nor flesh . towards the south part of the isle , there are , tho but few , mahometans , who observe the turkish religion in all things , sending for priests to mecca . they observe two great festivals , the greater of the two begins the 5 th . of august ; and at the beginning of this fasting lent it is , the slaves renew their submission to their masters , with ceremonies extraordinary ; for they take them by the feet , and rub 'em upwards to the knees ; then closing their hands , they rub the head , face and neck , and then unclose them again . lent being ended , they celebrate their easter , entertaining their children and all their domestics with a dinner . there is scarce a man in bantam , who hath not three or four wives , and some have ten or twelve , besides concubines , who wait on their wives , especially when they go abroad : they make no difference between legitimate and natural children : a father hath not power to sell his child though he had it by a slave . children go stark naked , only the girls cover their privities with a thin plate of gold and silver : they marry at the age of eight , nine or ten years , not only to prevent the disorders , which in this hot climate were inevitable , but because the king is heir to all who dying leave their children under age , whom he makes his slaves , as he doth the widdows and family of the deceased . the dowry which persons of quality give with their daughters consists in slaves of both sexes , and in a sum of coxas , which is very considerable among them when it amounts to three hundred thousand , tho it be but much about twenty two crowns and a half of our money . the women appear with great decency at the marriage of their relations , tho they use no great ceremony . one may know the day by certain poles , which are stuck in the houses of the bride and bridegroom , with tassels of red and white cotton . dinner ended , they bring a horse to the bridegroom , whereon he rides about the town till evening , expecting the slaves he is to have in marriage , who come commonly loaden with presents . none but the nearest kindred sup with them , and see the new married couple abed . women of the first rank are kept in such restraint , that their own sons are not suffered to come into their chambers ; and when they go abroad , which is very seldom , all give place and respect to them , even the king himself does it : nor dares any man speak to a married woman without the leave of her husband . women of quality are known from others only by their train ; for all are dressed after the same fashion , wearing a petticoat of cotton or silk , which comes from the breast to the mid-leg , stockings they have none , and go all bare ▪ headed , tying up their hair together on the crown of their head ; but , when they come to weddings or other publick assemblies , they wear a coronet of gold , and have coronets and bracelets on their fingers , and about their arms. they are so much addicted to cleanliness , that there passes not a day , but they bath themselves three or four times . they never do their natural necessities , nor receive their benevolences from their husbands , but they go up to the neck in water to cleanse themselves : they do no work at all , which is no wonder ; since the husbands themselves having employed two or three hours about their merchandize , all the day after do nothing but chew bettele amongst their wives , who are very sollicitous , by all the little kindnesses , imaginable to court their loves , washing and rubbing 'em till they are stirred up to voluptuousness . the magistrate of the town of bantam sits in judicature in the court of pacebam , from four or five in the evening until it be night . the plaintiff and defendant appear both in person , and plead their own cause . one only punishment is used for criminals ; that is , they tie them to a post , and stab them to death with a ponyard . strangers have this privilege , that giving satisfaction to the party complaining , they may redeem themselves from death , except they have murdered in cold bloud , or upon advantage . the kings council meets upon affairs of state under a broad spread tree by moon ▪ light , where sometime there comes near five hundred persons , who part not till the moon goes down . when the council is risen , they go to bed , and there ly till dinner . afterwards the counsellors of state give audience to all who have ought to propose to the council . when the king comes there in person , he sits in the midst of them , or else with the four principal ministers of state , and propounds the point wherein he requireth their advice , or causes the governour of the town to propound it , to a council of war they call the three hundred captrins , commanders of the troops the armies consist of , which are raised in the town it self . they have a particular course for quenching fire , which happecs but too often among 'em ; for the women have this office imposed upon them , while the men stand in arms to defend 'em in the mean time from pillage . persons of quality , when they go to court , or through the town , they have carried before them a lance and a sword sheathed in a black velvet scabbard , and by these ensigns oblige all the street to make way for them , and retiring back to sit on their heels , till these grandees are past . their ordinary wear is of stuff wrought with silk , and they wear turbants of a fine bengalian cloth. some amongst them wear mandillions of velvet black or crimson , and never forget the dagger or poniard under their girdle . they ever go with a numerous train of slaves , one amongst them carrying the bettel bottel , another the chamber ▪ pot , and a third the vmbrello . they all go bare-footed , it being thought a disparagement among 'em to walk with shooes thro the town . in their houses many wear 'em ; they are made at achim , malacca , and china , and the isle of sumatra , where are also made most part of the vmbrello's used in the indies . the bantamites are haughty , self-conceited , perfidious , mischievous , and cruel ; who never fail to make an end of such they get advantage of ; and having once committed a murder they kill all in their power ; for knowing death to be their inevitable reward , their discharge their fury indifferently on all they encounter , without consideration of sex or age : so as sometimes they are constrained to kill them in the place , instead of taking them to be delivered up into the hands of justice . they generally wear long hair , are of a chesnut complexion , having great jaw bones , flat faces , great eyebrows , little eyes , thin beard ; and being of a middle stature , well set , and strongly limb'd . they are naturally addicted to theft , and so vindicative , that to be revenged of an enemy they stick not to turn upon his weapon , and choose an assured death to take away anothers life . of which there was an example during the king of bantam's besieging batavia in the year 1659. a dutch souldier lying in ambushcade in a marsh , a bantamite little dreaming that any body had been there , came to the same place to discover the enemy , and was by the dutchman thrust with his pike into his body . upon which the bantamite finding himself wounded , did not strive to pull the pike out of his body , but thrust himself further upon it , to the end he might come at his enemy , whom he stabb'd to the heart as soon as he got within his reach . this bloudy disposition shews , they have courage , and would make good souldiers , were they but as dexterous at fire arms , as they are at their usual weapons , which are the pike , the battle-axe , and the broad sword , but above all the dagger or poniard . their bucklers are of wood or boyled leather stretch'd upon a hoop ; and for their bodies they have cuinasses , the pieces being fastned together with na●ls of iron . souldiers in times of peace have no pay , but in time war they have arms and cloths , and rice , and fish for provision . they are all slaves , and not only such as belong to the king , but likewise to other lords , who are obliged to enroll them for their princes service . they are seldom or never idle , but imploy themselves most commonly in making sheaths for poniards of sandal wood made hollow , or polishing their arms , which they generally poyson , keeping 'em so well , that no razor can be sharper than their swords . the bantamites , as indeed all the rest of the indians , hold their daggers so dear to them , that they will not speak to any man without that by their side , not one brother with another , and at night they lay it under their bolsters . some use trunks , thorow which they blow little poysoned arrows , so bearded that pulling it out , the head remains in the wound , which by these means becomes incurable and mortal . amongst such a multitude of villains , there are notwithstanding some honest people , but the number is very small ; for except some that inhabit near bantam upon the streight of sunda , at the foot of the mountain gonon bezar , who were transplanted thither from pasarvan , all the rest are depraved . the people not able to live under the tyranny of the king of pasarvan , put themselves on certain conditions under the protection of the king of bantam , and have built the town of sura , which has a peculiar king , but subordinate notwithstanding to the king of bantam , they living peaceably , and persevering in the exercise of the pagan religion . the soil is cultivated either by free people , who take it of their king or other lords at a certain rent , and are not bound to labour longer than by their bargain , and may afterwards do what they please ; or by slaves , who cultivate their pepper , rice and cocoes , breed poultry and cattel for their masters profit , and supply his kitchin. some slaves take the cocoes at 1000 caxaes the tree . others work by the day , and get eight hundred caxaes the day , which is to their masters profit . others are not maintain'd by their masters , but serve them six days , and the six days following work for themselves , and so get their livelihood . the women-slaves keep market , where they sell their masters pepper and other commodities ; or else imploy themselves in scouring or making cloth , that they might not live unprofitably . when they have a mind to be cas'd of them , they lead 'em from port to port , and sell them to him who will give most . the ordinary price for one of an able body , is five fardoes , that is about a pistol a piece . the children of a slave belong to the master , who disposes of 'em as he thinks best ; but he hath not power over the life of his slave , without the express consent of the king or governour . the pepper , which the bantamites sell to strangers , is usually mix'd with ordure , black sand , or gravel ; or they adulterate it some other way , either in quality or weight , as they do all their other commodities . they keep a trade amidst all the neighbouring islands , with notable advantage . at the towns of macasser and surubya they fetch rice , which there they buy for one sata de caxa the gantan , and sell it for double the price . at balambuam they buy cocoes , a thousand caxaes the hundred , and venting 'em by retail at bantam , they sell eight cocoes for two hundred caxaes , there they likewise buy the oyl of the same fruit. at joartam , gerrici pati , and juama , they fetch salt at a hundred and fifty thousand caxaes the eight hundred gantans ; and at bantam three gantans are worth a thousand caxaes . they carry salt to sumatra , where they truck for lacque , pepper , benjamin , cotton , tortoyse-shells and divers other commodities ; from jacatra , jappara , cravaon , timor and palimbaon , they fetch honey , wax , sugar , &c. salt-fish from cravaon , and bender-messing ; iron from crimata in the isle of borneo ; copper and lead from pepa and gusebun upon the coast of malacca ; from bali and cambaya , cotton , and cotton-cloth , &c. rich merchants make no voyages themselves , but venture the greatest part of their money for more or less profit , as the voyages are long and dangerous , and near upon the like conditions we do here in europe . obligations , as all other instruments , are written upon the bark of a tree , the letters ingrav'd with a bodkin ; and they make it up in a roll , or fold it four-square betwixt two boards , which they tye together with a pack-thread very neatly : sometimes they use china paper , which is very fine and of all colours . as yet they know not the art of printing ; but they paint their own characters exactly well , which are rather figures than letters . the usual language is peculiar to the country , but the malayans is more general ; the mahometan relion hath likewise brought in the arabian language . the persians , by the bantamites called coracons , traffick here for precious stones , and all sorts of gums and drugs , and are a people to be confided in , because they are open-hearted and civil . the arabians and the beguians come thither for china ware , and bring with them the commodities of the neighbouring islands . the malayans and quilens let their money out at interest , or upon change. the gusurattans are poor , and commonly sea men. all these foreigners are attired all of one fashion , in a cotton garment , and in a turbant of the same stuff . at their coming to bantam , they buy a woman that is for all uses , and at their departure thence they sell her again ; but , if they have children by her they are tyed to provide for them . the chineses are they , that bring the greatest trade thither , the most industrious to get wealth , and live the best . they are a self-ended people , that live by usury , and have there the same repute as the jews in europe . they go into the countrey with a weight in hand to buy all the pepper they can meet with , and having weighed one parcel , so as they may have a near guess at the rest , pay them present money , or according as they have occasion for it , and by this means engross so great a quantity , that they have sufficient to lade the china fleet when it arrives , selling for fifty thousand caxaes the sack ▪ what cost them but twelve thousand . this fleet arrives at bantam , in the month of january , to the number of eight or ten , and are vessels of forty five or fifty tun. by them likewise comes the money hither , which in the malayan language is called cus , in the bantam tongue pitty , and is current not only at bantam , and all the isle of java , but through all the neighbouring islands . 't is a little thin plate made of lead , and the scum of brass , so brittle , that letting fall a string of caxaes , you shall break at least ten or twelve . they are made in the town of chincoa in china , and they are beholding to wantay king of china for them , who lived about the year 15●0 , and finding that the caxas made by his predecessor huyen king of china , went not off , by reason the chineses had so filled the adjacent islands with 'em ; he contrived this brittle money , which his successor humedon put forth , as now it is corrupted . it hath a four-square hole through it , at which they string them on a string of straw ; a string of two hundred caxaes , called sata , is worth about three farthings sterling , and five sataes ty'd together make a sapocon . the bantamites when this money came first among them , were so cheated with the novelty , that they wonld give six baggs of pepper , for ten sapocons , thirteen whereof amount but to a crown . but they have had leisure enough to see their errour , for in a short time the island was so filled with this stuff , that they were compelled absolutely to prohibit all trading , which so disparaged this money , that at present two sacks of pepper will scarce come for one hundred thousand caxaes . likewise from china they bring purcelane , which they sell here at cheap rates ; for at the first arrival of the china fleet , six pieces of purcelane may be bought for a thousand caxaes . they bring their countrey silks , sattins and damasks , and take away pepper and lacque brought to bantam from the city of tabenbaen , ani or indico , brought thither from the town of anier , sandal-wood , nutmegs , cloves , tortoise-shells whereof they make chairs for the mandowins , who prefer this stuff before silver . the portugals that deal at bantam live out of town , in the same quarter with the chinezes . they drive here a great trade in pepper , nutmegs , cloves , mace , sandal-wood , cubebs , long pepper , and other drugs that are sent them from malacca ; for the greater part of them are factors , and commissioners of the governour of malacca , and the arch-bishop of goa . at bantam they have neither priest nor chappel , but at panarucan they have both . in the king of bantam's dominions are all sorts of beasts , both wild and tame : the forests are full of elephants and rhinocerots , leopards and tygers , which are more cruel and furious than those of any other place , and do so much mischief , that people go not without danger to gather frankincense , mastick , myrrhe , and benjamin , which is there in its greatest perfection , and whereof there were great quantity to be gotten , if the forrests were not almost inaccessible , by reason of the wild-beasts , as also for serpents , lizards and salamanders , exceeding dangerous , and of so extraordinary a growth , that there are serpents have swallowed children and sheep , eaten tygers and leopards , often come out of the wood and make great spoil among the cattel which for this reason are reared with great difficulty . their swine have no bristles , and are so fat , their bellies trail on the ground . the rivers breed fish in abundance , and oysters have there been seen , that have weighed three hundred pound ; a thing that would seem incredible if there were not two oyster-shells , which weigh four hundred sixty and seven pounds , now to be seen in the duke of holstein's cabinet at gottorp , that were brought by a sea-captain from the indies : the captain affirming , that there was so much meat in them , that it sufficed all that were in the ship , being a hundred and twenty persons . 't is very hard to hunt deer , goats , boars , and other game , fallow or black , which abound there , in regard the woods are so thick , that 't is impossible to make any way through them ; and the bantamites are so unskilful at their fire-arms , that it hath been observed , that a bantamite having shot a wild buffler , made a shift to kill the beast : but , the musquet recoyling he fell down , with his cheek all bruised , and the loss of two of his teeth ; insomuch as these creatures may be seen in whole herds feeding up and down the fields . there are likewise abundance of apes , foins , squirrels , wild peacocks and parrots , and infinite other birds exceeding beautiful to the eye . in the rivers there is abundance of crocodiles , which seize not only on men bathing , but attempt the very canoes as they pass along , snatching men out of 'em , and dragging 'em to the bottom . the chineses tame this creature , and fatten it , to be afterwards eaten as a great dainty . their civet yields as much perfume as that of guiney , but it is neither so white nor so good . they have two sorts of poultry , one like ours , the other betwixt ours and the indian kind ; and these last , which are in a manner monsters , are so furious , they will fight , till death decides the battel . amongst the common sort there are some whose flesh is black , yet are they very good meat . the rhinocerots , by the indians called abadu , is not so ordinary in the country of buntam , as in bengala , patane , and other places , though there are some ; and the bantamites make so great account of this beast , that there is nothing about him , which they use not in medicine , not only the flesh , the bloud , the horn , the teeth , but even his very dung ; they hold there is no better antidote against poison , and attribute the same qualities to this , as ancient authors do to the unicorn . the ants are exceeding troublesome in most of these places , but especially in the country of bantam . they are much bigger than in our parts , and so mischievous , that there is no stuff , but what they spoil , no victuals but what they consume , if they can get to 't ; wherefore they ordinarily set the feet of tables and cupboards on dishes half filled with water , to hinder the ants from creeping up ; and 't were impossible to preserve any birds , did not they set them on poles planted in a dish of water ; for should they put them in a cage , the ants would get up and kill ' em . there is besides another sort of ants about the length of a mans finger , and red ; but these are onely in the fields , where they live on the barks of trees and herbs . as concerning the trees and fruits in the isle of java , amongst others there is the areca , the portugals call the tree that bears it arrequero , the arabians , faufel , and the malayans , pinang . it is a kind of coco , but not so great , nor the leaves so big and broad : the fruit is like a date ; nature encloses it in a husk , which opens not till it flower , and when it ripens the shell falls off , the fruit remaining at the branch . it hath scarce any tast , but it moistens the mouth , dyes the lips red , and the teeth black . the indians lap it up in a bettele leaf , mix a little chalk or lime with it , and chew it rather out of custom than for any pleasure , though they hold that it strengthens the stomach and gums , and is a topical medicine against the scurvy ; and in effect , there is scarce an indian that is subject to this disease or troubled with the tooth-ach . this drug will make some people so drunk , that all things to 'em seem to run round ; but that dizziness is presently over . the mangas grow on trees not much unlike our nut trees , but they have not so many leaves : they are of the bigness of a peach , but longer and something bending like a crescent of a light green , drawing a little towards the red . it has a great shell , that encloses an almond of greater length than breadth , and eaten raw is very distastful , but roasted on the coals not unpleasant : 't is useful in physick against the worms , and the diarrhaea . it ripens in october , november , and december , and being perfectly ripe , 't is full as good as a peach . they get them , while they are green , and put 'em up in salt , vinegar , and garlick , and then they call them mangas d'acher , and they serve instead of olives . there are likewise wild ones , which they call mangas bravas , of a pale green too , but brighter than the other , and full of juice , which is immediate death without a present antidote . the ananas is one of the loveliest , pleasantest , and wholesomest fruits of the indies : it grows on a bush , and hath leaves like sempervivum ; the fruit at first is green ▪ but being ripe , turns orange or aurora coloured , drawing a little to a red , sharp like a pine-apple ; for which reason , the portuguezes who met with this fruit first in brasil , called it pinas ; but 't is tender an easie to cut ▪ 't is yellow within , of a delicate scent ; 't is eaten in wine , but the excess is dangerous for feavers ; the juice is so sharp , that if one wipe not the knife it is cut with , next morning it will be found eaten . the tree is so apt to grow , that a sprig will take root in the earth , tho it have not past two or three leaves , be half withered , and have been cut fifteen days before . the canarins call this fruit ananasa , the brasilians nava , and in hispaniola , and the other western islands , they call it jajana ; 't is as big as the larger sort of lemmons , or the middle melons , excellent both in scent and taste . at a distance they look like artichoaks , only they are not so picked as the leaves of that plant : the stalk is like that of a thistle , and every stalk bears but one , and that at the top of it ; for tho many times it puts forth at the side other stems , yet the fruit that comes of 'em is very small , and seldom comes to maturity . they have of them in march , and then they are very pleasant , for the juice hath the taste of sweet or new wine , and is exceeding easie of digestion , but it heats and after brings a fever . in the territories of bantam there is another fruit called lamnea ; 't is as big as a citron , the colour green , something drawing to a red ; full of juice that is tart and toothsome , and within hath divers black kernels : the leaves are like those of lemmon trees , but not so long : they put them up in salt or sugar , or use them as tamarinds against burning feavers , inflammations of the breast , against pains in the stomach and fluxes . tamarinds grow on great trees full of branches , whereof the leaves are not bigger , nor unlike to the leaves of pimpernel , only somewhat longer . the flower at first is like the peaches , but at last turns white , and puts forth its fruit at the end of certain strings : assoon as the sun is set , the leaves close up the fruit , to preserve it from the dew , and open assoon as that planet eppears again . the fruit at first is green , but ripening , it becomes of a dark gray , drawing towards red , inclosed in husks , brown or tawny , of taste a little bitter , like our prunelloes . every husk contains three or four little beans in a certain skin , which is that the portugals call tamarincho . the fruit is viscous , and sticks to the fingers , but of so good a taste , that the indlans use it almost in all sawces , as we do verjuice ; but 't would turn a mans stomach to see them cook meat with this drug : for squeezing it between their hands , the juice that runs through their fingers looks more like a medicine than a sawce . these trees bear twice in the year , and grow every whete without being planted , or otherwise looked after . physicians use this drug against burning feavers , heat of the liver , and diseases in the gall ; and infused a night in cold water , it purges gently . the tamarinds brought to our parts , are either salted or preserved in sugar . the inhabitants of the isle of madagascar , where there grows plenty of it , call it quille , and the bantamites sundalassa . the portugals give it the name of tamarinches , for the resemblance the fruit holds with the date of arabia , called tamar , as if they would say , dates of india . the malabars call it pali , and the rest of the indians ampuli : the tree is as big as a walnut tree , full of leaves , bearing its fruit at the branches , like the sheath of a knife , but not so strait , rather bent like a bow. the indians when they would transport their tamarinds , take them out of the husks , and make them up in balls as big as a man's fist , unhandsom to look on , and worse to handle . common it is in this country to plant pepper near a sort of canes , by the bantamites called mambu , in which the tabaxir is found . 't is true , in the isle of java these were never any of 'em found ; but again , 't is certain that on the coast of malabar , coromandel , bisnagar , and near to malacca , this sort of cane produces a drug called sacar mambus , that is sugar of mambus , the arabians , persians and moors call it tabaxir , which in their language signifies , a white frozen liquor . these canes are as big as the body of a poplar , having strait branches , and leaves something longer than the olive tree . they are divided into divers knots , wherein there is a certain white matter like starch , for which the persians and arabians give the weight in silver , for the use they make of it in physick , against burning feavers , and bloudy fluxes , but especially upon the first approaches of any disease : and which , according to their application , is a soveraign remedy against the stone . these canes are so big , that the indians cleave them to make boats , leaving knots at each end , whereon they sit to guide it , one before , another behind , and use this sort of boat the rather , for that they are perswaded crocodiles bear a respect to the mambu , and never hurt the boats made of this cane . in the isle of java there is another fruit , called amongst the malagars duriaon , not to be seen any where but in this place , and the malaccaos . the tree that bears 'em , by the malagars called batan , is as big as our apple-tree , the bark thick , plentiful of boughs , and wealthy in fruit : the blossom , which they call bnaa , is white , inclining to yellow , and the leaves half a foot in length , and two or three fingers broad ; on the out-side of a pale green , drawing towards a grey , but on the in-side the green is very delicate and lively ; the fruit is as big as a melon , covered with a thick rough rind , green , and hath ribs , as the melons . within 't is divided into four quarters , which are again divided into two or three little cells , that contain the fruit , which is as big and white as a pullets egg , and of taste so delicious , that the bianc●-mangiares , which the portuguezes compound of rice , brawns of capons , cream , sugar , and rose-water , is not more dainty ; each fruit hath a stone as big and rough as that of the peach ; ii will not keep ; for when the white begins to turn , it must be thrown away and must be eaten as soon as the husk begins to open . such as are not used to this fruit , will not like it at first , being it hath the smell of a roasted onion , but the taste is so pleasing , that it may be reckoned amongst the prime , and most excellent fruits of the indies . one thing it is very remarkable for , that there is so great an antipathy between it and the bettele , that the least number of bettele leaves laid near a room full of duriaons , they corrupt and rot immediately . accordingly , when a man hath eaten too much of this fruit , let him but lay two or three bettele leaves upon his breast , and he shall be eased ; and the eating but one of these leaves after the duriaons , causeth speedy digestion ; so as thus one may eat as much as he will , without the least inconvenience . the lantor-tree , which is another sort of cocoe-tree , as we said before , is frequent in the isle of java ; the leaves are five or six foot long , and so smooth that the bantamites write upon ▪ it with a bodkin , and use it instead of paper . of all the indies no part bears cubebs but the country belonging to the king of bantam ; the bantamites call it cuciombi and cuma● ; the other indians call it ▪ cuba chini , because the chineses first fetch'd it thence , to furnish other parts , before the portugals or hollanders had any commerce there . this fruit grows upon another tree like pepper , and in bunches like grapes . the bantamites knowing it to be no where but with them , esteem it so much as they will not suffer a plant to go from them , and sell it not unboyl'd , for fear it should be planted elsewhere , tho there is such plenty of it , that at bantam a weight of fifty six pounds is worth but six , or at most , seven thousand caxaes . the use of it is , to fortifie the stomack , and clease the breast , but the mahometans take it with a little arek , and are of opinion it restores languishing and spent nature . the manghostan is a fruit growing by the high-ways of bantam , upon bushes , like our sloes , and much of the same taste . the herb the bantamites call talassa , and the malagars lalade . it bears neither fruit nor flower , but is used in sawces , and some eat it green , and assign it the same vertues as they do the cubebs . in java they have another fruit , which grows likewise in other places call'd jaca , in form and bigness like a citrul , with a thick and rough rind ; within 't is full of certain nuts , the kernels whereof being roasted on coals , are good to eat , and stay the flux of the belly . the tree is very great , but the boughs not being strong enough to bear the fruit , it hangs all along the body of it , up from the very ground : being full ripe , the rind grows hard and black , and emits a very sweet scent ; the fruit it self changes taste , yielding one while that of the melon , another that of the peach , sometimes that of honey , sometimes that of sweet lemon ; but is so hard of digestion , that 't is never eaten , but vomited up again . the nut of it is as big as a date , and causeth windiness in those that eat it green , but roasted after the manner we told you , they are very pleasant , and good for such as have a kindness for women . in the same island , towards the streight of sundy , grows also abundance of wild cinnamon , which the portugals call canela de mato , and malayans cajumanis . it is not near so good as the fine cinnamon , whence it comes , there 's but very little of it bought , it being hardly worth the transportation . the carcapuli is a fruit about the bigness of a cherry , and much of the same taste , and the trees which bear it are like our cherry-trees ▪ of these there are several kinds , whereof some are white , some of a dark red , and some of a lively carnation colour . the costus indicus , by the malayans called pucho , by the arabians , cost , or ca●t , is the wood of a tree resembling the elder , as well in height , as in flower and scent : the turks , persians and arabians , make an extraordinary traffick of it , as they likewise do of calamus aromaticus , which also grows on the coast of the streight of sundy . that yellow and spungy matter which women use against pains in the matrix , is properly in the stalk of it . the bantamites give it to their horses , compounding it with garlick , cummin-seed , salt , sugar , and butter , making it into a paste , which they call arata ; and they hold it very sovereign for their beasts , to whom notwithstanding they never give it , till the extremity of the heats be over . the zerumbal , which the bantamites and malayans call canior too , grows in these parts and is like to ginger , only the leaves somewhat more long and broad . they use to dry it , or preserve it in sugar , as they do ginger , but esteem it above ginger . there are two kinds of galanga , by the arabians called calvegian . the lesser comes from china , and is much better than that which is brought out of the isle of javan , where they call it lanquas . this herb is neither sowed nor set , but grows naturally , and is about two foot high above the ground . the flower is white , and the leaves pointed , and as hard as the point of a knife . the bantamites use it for a sallad , as also in physick , as they do the root , which is thick and long , and full of knots like a cane , as biting in taste as ginger , and of a very sweet scent . benjamine is a gum distilling from trees , not unlike lemon trees . while they are young the benjamine is black , which is the best . but as they grow old the benjamine grows white , and loses strength ; so as to put it off they mingle it with black . the moors call it louan javii , that is , the incense of java . in the forest of java , trees there grow of red sandale , but the white and yellow sandale , which is without comparison the better , comes from the isles of timor and salor . this tree is of the bigness of a walnut-tree , and bears a fruit not unlike our cherries , but 't is black and insipid . the indians beat white and yellow sandale , and make a concoction , wherewith they rub their bodies , not only for the odour , but for that they believe 't is restorative . they value not red sandale , but sell it at cheap rates to other parts . they have likewise abundance of ginger , by the malayans called aliaa , and by the bantamites gauti ; but they either eat it green in sauces , or preserve it , for they never dry it . anacardium by the portuguezes called fava de malacca , by reason of its likeness to a bean , is very common here : and the bantamites take it in milk against the asthma , and the worms . some pickle 'em as they do olives ; and they are altogether as pleasant as olives . that wood the portugals call pala de cuebra , grows there in great abundance . 't is white inclining to yellow , hard and bitter . the indians bruise , and take it in wine or water against burning feavers and the stinging of serpents : 't is said , that for this cure they are beholding to a creature in size and shape like our ferrets , by them called quil or quirpela , which they breed for recreation , and to catch rats and mice . this little beast being a mortal enemy to serpents , never meets with any of 'em , but it sets upon 'em , and being bitten runs immediately to this root , which is his present cure. palo d' aguila , by druggists called lignum aloes , by the portugueze palo d' aguila , and by the indians calamba , grows in java , but not in such quantity as in malacca , sumatra , cambaya , and other places . the tree is like the olive tree , only a little bigger . the wood while green hath no scent , but as it drys its odour increases . the weightiest and brownest is the best : its perfection is known by the oyl that issues out of it when it is held to the fire . they make bands of it , and the indians use it to embellish their cabinets ; but the chiefest use is for physick , for this wood beaten to powder , and taken in broth or wine , fortifies the stomach , stays vomiting , and cures the pleurisie and bloudy flux . what the portugals call aquila brava , or wild calamba , is not so good as the others , and the indians chiefly use it at the funerals of their bramins , making the fire of it that burns the corps . at bantam they sell also store of lacque , whereof they make spanish wax , and the varnish they lay over so many excellent works in china , japan , and other places : the territories of bantam produce it , but the best comes from pegu , where 't is called tieck , and where great and winged ants get up the trees , and suck the gum , which afterwards they lay upon the boughs as bees do honey and wax . when the boughs are full , the owners cut them , setting 'em to dry in the sun till the lacque falls from the boughs , then they beat it to powder , and give it what colour and form they please . the other druggs gotten in the king of bantam's dominions are pody , a mealy kind of substance , which they use against rheum and wind. carumba or floris a root whereof they make sawces , and wherewith they dye their cotton cloths . conjuapi a wood with which they rub their bodies . samperentam is a root found near sundy , stronger than ginger , and very bitter . pontiou they hold good against feavers , but 't is exceeding dear . gatogamber is a fruit like an olive , good against the tooth-ach . ganti , a root so like ginger , that the bantamites have given it the same name , but 't is dearer ; and with it they rub their bodies . sasum is mustard-seed . doringi a drug they give children as soon as they come into the world. galan , a root growing in the water , and very refreshing . madian , maya , and corassini , are intoxicating drugs they mix in their drinks . rhodium the ashes of a tree growing near sundy , wherewith they scour their bodies , as they do with sary , which is a flower , the turgary , sarahan , and sedowaya are roots for the same use . sambaya is the fruit , the chineses call guiduar , as big as an acorn , of high price , by reason 't is not ordinary , and is a sovereign remedy against poison , and the biting of venemous beasts . jalave is like sambaya , and of the same use in medicine . paravas is a very cooling herb , but very scarce and very dear . tomonpate a root like galican , used against inflammations of the spleen . the conduri , which the bantamites call saga , are red beerries spotted with black , wherewith they weigh gold and silver , but are not to be eaten they are so bitter , and as some say poysonous . there is likewise azebar , the sycomore , the nux indica , and divers other trees , plants and druggs , to europeans some unknown ; but 't would require a peculiar treatife to name 'em all , and would fill a large volume to describe their good and bad qualities . sect. iv. among the creatures , which we said the land of bantam abounds withal , we mentioned apes ; and it is observable , that where there are a great number of these animals , there are very few crows ; for assoon as they have built their nests , and laid their eggs , the apes get upon the trees , and throw their eggs to the ground : i do not know whether it be to see , if they can fly or no. as i was one day travelling along the road in a coach , attended with a great many , we saw a vast number of monkeys males and females , and many of the females holding young ones in their arms : having a desire to shoot at one , i took a harquebuss , and kill'd a female monkey , who lay stretched out upon the boughs , letting her little one ●all to the ground . but immediately all the monkeys that were upon the trees , to the number of sixty , came down in a great fury to have leap'd into our coach , where they would soon have strangled us , had we not prevented them by closing the shutters ; and had we not had a great number of men , who with much ado kept them off ; yet they pursued our coach above a league , and were stout lusty monkeys . in several parts of this country there are particular hospitals for these creatures . on the ways there are commonly copses of bamboos growing very high ; some of these are so thick , that it is impossible for a man to get into 'em ; but they are pestered with prodigious numbers of apes . those that breed in the copses upon one side of the way , are enemies to them that are bred on the other side ; so that they dare not cross from one side to the other , but they are in danger of being immediately strangled . here the travellers have good sport by setting the apes together by the ears , which is done after this manner ; in several parts of the road there is rice to be sold , and they that would see the sport , cause five or six baskets of rice to be set in the road , some forty or fifty paces the one from the other , and close by every basket they lay five or six botoons about two foot long , and two inches about ; then they retire and hide themselves : presently they shall see the apes on both sides of the way , descend from the tops of the bamboos , and advance towards the baskets which are full of rice ; they are about half an hour shewing their teeth at one another , before they come near the baskets ; sometimes they advance , then retreat again , being ioath to encounter . at length the female baboons , who are more eager and couragious than the males , especially they that have young ones , which they carry in their arms as women do their children , venture to approach the baskets ; and as they are about to put in their hands to eat , the males on the other side advance to hinder ' em . immediately the other party comes forward , and thus the feud being kindled on both sides , they take up the battoons , that lie by the baskets , and thrash one another in good earnest . the weakest are constrained to fly into the woods with their pates broken , and their limbs maimed , while the masters of the field glut themselves with rice , and the joys of victory , tho it may be when their bellies are full , they will suffer some of the female party to come along with ' em . as for the elephants , i happened to see two that were lately taken . each of them was placed between two tame ones . round about the wild elephants stood six men , with every one a half pike in their hands , and a lighted torch fastened at the end of a pike ; who talkt to the beasts , giving them meat , and crying out in their language , take , eat it . the food which they gave 'em was a little bottle of hay , some pieces of brown sugar , and rice boiled in water , with some few corns of pepper . if the wild elephants refused to do as they were bidden , the men made signs to the tame elephant to beat 'em , which they did , banging the refractory elephant upon the head and forehead with their trunks ; and if he offered to make any stir or resistance , the other elephant thwack'd him most unmercifully on the other side ; so that the poor elephant not knowing what to do , was constrained to learn obedience . being thus fallen into the story of elephants , i will add some other observations , which i have made upon the nature of these creatures . though the elephant never meddles with the female after he is once taken , yet he is sometimes seized with a kind of lustful rage . one day that the king was hunting upon an elephant , with one of his sons that sate by him to fan him , the elephant became so furious by reason of his lust , that the governour who was by no means able to master or rule him , declared to the king , that to allay the fury of the elephant ▪ who would doubtless bruise him to pieces among the trees , there was no way but for one of the three to forfeit his life , and that he would willingly sacrifice his for the safety of the king , and the prince his son ; only he desir'd his majesty to take care of the three small children which he must leave behind him . having so said , he threw himself under the elephants feet , who had no sooner taken him in his trunk , and squeez'd him to pieces with his feet , but he grew quiet and peaceable as before . the king as an acknowledgment of so signal a deliverance , gave to the poor widow 200000 roopies , and highly advanc'd every one of his sons , that had so generously laid down his life for the safety of the father of his country . i observed also , that tho the elephants skin be very hard whilst he is alive , yet when he is dead the skin is just like melted glew . there are several parks that are empaled with nothing but elephants teeth , the least of which parks is above a league about . in some places they hunt the elephants , and eat the flesh ; but they are obliged to give the tushes of every one they kill to the lord of the place . when they intend to take their elephants , they make a long lane clos'd in on both sides , so as the elephant can run neither to the right nor to the left . this lane is broad at the first , but grows narrower and narrower , till there is no more room left at the further end , than for the female elephant to lie down , which must be one that is desirous of the male at the same time . tho she be tame , yet she is bound with good ropes and cords , and by her cries will call the male , who presently runs through the lane towards her . now when the elephant comes where the lane grows narrow , they that lie hid for that purpose , immediately barricado up the lane behind ; and when he comes near the female , then is another barricado set up , that stops him from going any further . when he is thus between the barricadoes , they so entangle his legs and trunk with ropes and cords , that he is soon taken , having no way to help himself . the same way they use for the most part in the kingdom of siam and pegu ; onely that the natives there mount the female elephant , and go to find out the male in the forests ; and when they have met with his haunt , they tie the female to the most convenient place they can find , and then they fix their snares for the elephant , who in a short time hastens towards the female hot for generation , where her cries call him . this is observable of the female , that when she begins to be hot , she gathers together a great heap of herbs and weeds , and makes her self a kind of bed some four or five foot high from the ground , where contrary to the custom of all other creatures she lies upon her back in expectation of the male , whom she calls to her by a peculiar cry. this is furthermore particular to the elephant in the isle of ceylon , that only the first , which the female brings forth has tushes . and it is also observable , that the ivory which comes from achem , when it is wrought has this peculiar quality with it , that it never grows yellow , like that which comes out of the continent , and from the east-indies , which makes it more esteemed and dearer than any other . when the merchants bring elephants to any place to sell , 't is a pleasant sight to see 'em go along ; for in regard there are generally old and young together , when the old ones are gone by , the children will be running after the little ones to play with 'em , and give 'em something or other to eat . while the young elephants ( which are very wanton ) are busily taking what is offered them , the children leap upon their back ; but then the young elephants , that lately stopt for the lucre of victuals , perceiving their d●ms a great way before 'em , double their pace , and playing with their trunks , throw the children off their backs to the ground , and that without doing 'em any harm . notwithstanding all the inquiry i have made , i could never find exactly how long the elephant will live ; nor can all the governours and keepers of those creatures tell you more , than that such an elephant has been in the possession of their father , grandfather , and great grandfather : and by that computation i have found , that they have liv'd some of 'em six score , or an hundred and thirty years . the javians making their benefit of the portugals ingratitude to the indian princes , who entertained 'em , did pertinaciously oppose the establishment of any strangers in the isle . but the profit the kings of bantam and jacatra receive by vending their spices to the english and dutch , was so considerable , that at last they consented , that the people of those two nations should build a house for such factors , as they should have occasion to leave there , and for stowing up the commodities they traffiqu'd in . the dutch by treaty with those kings , regulated the customs of importation and exportation ; but those articles were so ill kept by the indian kings , who raised their rates according as they discovered the strangers necessity of commerce ; that the dutch to avoid this injustice , and secure ' emselves from the violence of the barbarians , by degrees secretly fortified their quarters at jacatra , and in a short time made it defensible . the indians perceived it not , till 't was past their hopes of forcing it ; so as in this despair of driving out the dutch , they made use of the bad correspondence between the english and them , which chiefly appeared in a sea-fight they had near bantam and jacatra , june 2. 1619. the holland fleet being put to flight by the english . the dutch being forced to retreat , the king of jacatra with the english forces , besieged the dutch fort , now called batavia , which siege lasted six moneths , till the holland admiral having reinforced his fleet with the ships that lay in the molucques , constrained the english to raise the sieg , to embarque their guns , and quit the streight of sundy , to get into the main sea. the king of jacatra would have cast the blame of all these disturbances upon the english , but the dutch general would not be satisfied with such excuses , but landing his forces , to the number of eleven hundred men , he assaulted the town of jacatra , which he took by force , and having put all to the sword , fir'd it . that done , the dutch compleated the fortification of their quarters , and brought it to a regular form , with four bastions of free-stone , well trench'd and pallizado'd , with half moons , redoubts , and other necessary works . the king of matram , who is ( as it were ) emperour of java , in the year 1628. besieged this fort , and lying under the canon storm'd it several times ; but in the end was forc'd to raise the siege , as he in like manner was the year following ; and since that time the dutch have established their commerce joyntly with the chineses , siameses , succadans , and other neighbours , taking ten in the hundred custom upon all commodities , whether imported or exported thence . the city of batavia is twelve leagues from bantam , eastward in a bay , which being sheltered with some small islands on the sea-side , is one of the best roads in all the indies . strangers that inhabit there pay a certain tax by the moneth , according to the profits they make , which is great ; for a porter who will with ease get two royals a day , pays but one and a half in a moneth ; a fruiterer four royals , a fisherman three royals , distillers of arach eight royals ; mechanicks , as shoomakers , taylors , and the like , so as at present 't is the most important place and firm establishment the dutch have throughout the indies . shortly after my return from bantam to batavia , i was drawn out amongst others to be sent to siam , where we arrived safely . that kingdom extends not onely in the peninsula , beyond the ganges as far as cape sin capare ; but it likewise comprehends the kingdom of martaban , which is upon the gulph of pegu , and that of cambaia , upon the gulph of siam ; it is situated in the most eastern part of all the indies , and contains abut 360 leagues from the south to the north , and about 200 in its greatest extent from east to west above the peninsula . it may be divided into four or five principal parts ; that which is above the peninsula , in the midst of the others , is particularly the kingdom of siam . on its west is that of martaban , on the east cambaya , and maluca on the south ▪ this island formerly contained several kingdoms , that are at present reduced into provinces , the princes whereof are subjects and tributaries of the king of siam . very pleasant and fruitful is this country , being watered with several great rivers , the principal of which is called menan , which after having bathed prom , travai , and brema , cities of ava and pegu , enters into that of siam , passing thorough india the capital thereof . this river is so deep , that it can carry ships of four hundred tun , and which take twelve or thirteen foot water ; and it might bear those that draw as much more , were it not that at its mouth there is a rock , which fills the bottom near which you are to pass , and hinders greater vessels from coming in . it s breadth near the city , and for two leagues beyond it , is two bow-shoot , which renders the unlading of commodities so much the more easie . every where else its banks are a good musquet shot distance one from another . from the city to thirty leagues beyond it 't is all along beset with gardens , burroughs , villages , monasteries , and other very fine glorious buildings , the sight of which is infinitely charming . and what exalts their beauty , is that instead of mountains , we see nothing in all that country which is plain and even , but towers and pyramids , which have something very singular both for art and materials . eight leagues from the city stands another called bancock , where all manner of ships , of what nation soever they be , are obliged to stop to declare from whence they come , whither they go , what is their cargo ? and how many men they have on board ? after which they pay the customs , for which the toll-man gives an acquittance , which they are obliged to shew to another little city , called canon bantenau , which is but a league from india ; and in case it be without deceit , they are permitted to go whither they please , and to trade freely through all the kingdoms , without being obliged to pay any other customs than those of going out , which every ship is to pay upon pain of confiscation . as for india , which , as i have said , is the capital of the kingdom , 't is without contradiction , one of the finest things that can be seen . its ramparts are about three fathoms in height , with bastions of all sorts , for there are both solid , plain and cut . admirable are its buildings , but especially the temples , the monasteries , and gilt towers , are there of an unexpressible richness and ornament . the river menan does there run into eight parts , which after having formed two islands , discharges it self into the gulph of siam . the kings palace is of so vast an extent , that one would take it for a ci●y . it has its separate ramparts , and ●he towers which environ it are in such great numbers , so high built , that nothing is more magnificent ; and the inside is answerable to the outside . i know by those who have travell'd china , that in no other country is any thing so perfect ●o be seen . the air is very temperate , considering its being so near the line , ( for it is but fifteen degrees distant ) perhaps by reason of the narrowness of the country , which is refreshed by winds . the soil is fat , and very fruitful in rice , barley , and fruits . they gather there a great quantity of pepper , benjamin , musk and aloes . there are mines of gold , silver , copper , pewter , and other metals . it breeds a great number of elephants and horses . there are great forests towards cochinchina , which serve for retreats to tygers , lions , leopards , and other ravenous beasts , and for venison ; but the number of red and fallow deer is incredible , since that there is carried every year to japan , above three hundred thousand skins of those creatures , wherein the company have a good share . oxen , cows , hares , hogs , wild boars , buffeloes , and rabbets are there without number . birds there are of a thousand several species , and even of all sorts , except the swan and nightingale , which have never bin seen there . the country ▪ wants not fish , but above all they make a great trade of the skins of thornback , the most part of which are sold in japan , where they are worth fifty , sixty , and some an hundred ducats a piece . i have seen one sold for an hundred crowns ; and that was no extraordinary rate , yet they would not give five pence for one that has the least defect . there is a great number of crocodiles , which the inhabitants do happily make use of for the curing many evils . the natives are all idolaters , and extreamly superstitious . they have many temples inhabited by monks , who are had in great veneration . this country was always governed by a king or an emperour , to whom his subjects pay a kind of adoration . he reckons princes among his subjects ; his dominions are so vast and so extended , that he is esteemed one of the most powerful monarchs in the world , which we shall see more at large in the following section . sect. v. the kingdom of siam , tho vast , yet is populous , proportionably to its greatness . the natives are good-natur'd , witty and industrious . all the artificers are very dexterous ; and tho they be of all sorts , most part of 'em however are either fishermen or husbandmen , because very few but have their lands in property , or certain places of rivers and other waters , where they have right of fishing , which suffices them for their subsistence . for avarice and ambition are no vices of this country ; the abundance being so great , that mostly the day-labouring people have but three pence a day for their nourishment and pains , on which they live very handsomly , and have besides something to lay up . the merchants are all rich , because perhaps they know the end and art of trade , wherein few nations excel them . in each city is a sovereign court , whose president , that is triennial , being assisted with his counsellours , sits as judge in all causes both civil and criminal . but they do not judge there in the last appeal , and none but the great council , which resides in the metropolis , have that priviledge . the proceedings there are much shorter , and less subject to corruption , than in europe . they do justice without distinction , and whosoever finds himself attainted and convicted of larceny , of murder , &c. no favour can hinder him from being punished , according to the enormity of the crime . there is no court more superb than that of this emperour . he never goes on foot , no , not in his own palace , where he causes himself to be carried from one place to another in a chair of massie gold. the greatest lords of the empire , who are obliged to follow him at all hours , and at all times , however never see him more than once a day ; and that too with so much pomp and splendour , that he dazles all those who look on him . when one of these great men is desirous to speak to him , he approaches him with his knees upon the ground , his hands joyned , his head bowed down , and begins and ends his speech with these words , javva fiauw perre bonde , tiauw javva ; which signifies , king of kings , and lord of lords . his throne , which is of massie gold , and all best with precious stones , is raised very high from the ground ; he mounts it by several steps of the same metal , but 't is a crime to see him mount it , and every step at both ends supports an animal of different kind , and of fine gold. when he goes out of his palace , whether out of devotion ▪ or for pleasure , which happens two or three times in the year , he is attended by the greatest princes of his empire , by his wives and concubines , who are in great numbers all very richly clothed , by land upon elephants , and by water in barges all guilt without and within . from the palace to the place where the emperour goes , the life-guard stands in a row on each side , all well apparelled and mounted to advantage ; principally the chief officers , who are upon elephants , whose houses are of gold and silver . all along the way nothing is to be heard but fifes , drums , flutes , and other instruments , which make a passable harmony . and assoon as the emperour appears , every one upon pain of death is obliged to come out before him , prostrate ' emselves , and adore him : wherein they are so rigorous , that if one waits never so little to acquit himself of this devoir , he is punished at that instant , which i have seen with my own eyes . this custom is quite contrary to what is practised in peru ; for in all places where the king goes with his wives and concubines , the people must shut their doors and windows , and remain as in prison until all is gone by . those who happen to be in the emperours way , are obliged to dislodge , and make way for his attendants ; which often occasions people to die of hunger and cold ; especially when the order comes by night , those who give it being so punctual , or rather so hard-hearted , as they force obedience , without giving the people time to provide themselves with clothes and food . a hard extremity in all particulars , since besides the inconveniency which they receive from this surprize , they have likewise the displeasure of leaving their houses to be plundered . gold is so common in this court , that their cattle are served in vessels of no other metal . the elephants , and especially the white ones , are there treated like princes ; and of this last sort there is always one in so great veneration , that they attribute to his presence the prosperity of the empire . those creatures have in all times served for a pretext to wars of long continuance betwixt the neighbouring kings ; for besides , that they are rarely of that colour , they reverence 'em in memory of xaca , whose mother being with child of him , once dream't , that a white elephant came out of her mouth , and at another time out of her left side . it was upon the account of these animals , that in the year 1548 , the kings of ava and pegu , made a league against the emperour of siam , in whose territories they had made a great progress , before he was in a condition to resist ' em . at length with the aid of his generals he got in the head of two hundred thousand men , with whom he went to encamp within half a league of his enemies . those who thought to have surprized him , seeing so strong a barrier opposed to their design , made shew of preparing ' emselves for a battel ; but whether their forces were unequal , or they began to abate in their good intelligence among ' emselves , three moneths passed without making any attempt ; at the end of which those kings seeing their armies perish for want of victuals , abandoned the ground , and left by that means the emperour of siam the peaceable possessour of the two white elephants , which they pretended to seize on . what at first delayed his march , was , that he had neither souldiers nor ships to go to the place , where he was to joyn the enemy ; and he caused above twenty thousand vessels to be built , which required some time . besides the two hundred thousand men which he brought with him , he left upon the frontiers fifty thousand citizens , who were obliged to guard 'em at their own costs . some were amazed , he did not take advantage of his enemies weakness ; but he said , that he had gained more by destroying them after that manner , than if he had constrained 'em to end the quarrel by a battel , the issue whereof was uncertain . he pretended to have conquered 'em more cunningly , and more happily for his subjects , whose lives and estates he preserved , without costing 'em one drop of bloud . so that he was received in triumph in his metropolis , as if he had made the greatest conquests . after the death of the king , if he has left no male infant , or his son has not attained the age of 15 years , this son loses his right to the crown , to which the eldest brother of the deceased becomes the legitimate successor . and as for the offices possessed by the grandees of the court , they are all hereditary , at least if he who enjoys 'em does not oblige the prince to declare his heir uncapable of succeeding him . sect. vi. the great number of strangers , who trade at siam , help much to increase the treasures of the king ; there is continually a coming in and going out of his kingdom , a prodigious quantity of merchandizes , on which there are considerable imposts . his mines of gold , lead and pewter , do contribute very much thereunto ; as likewise great forests of as fine wood of japan as that of brasile . the trade of this wood lies along the coasts of coromandel , dabul ' china , japan , and all the neighbouring islands . add to this , that all his subjects being his slaves , he inherits all their estates , or at least two thirds , leaving out of favour , the other third to the relations of the defunct . a custom so advantageous , as this prince extends it even to strangers , whose heir he is , as well as those that are born in his country ; and as there is ever an incredible multitude of 'em , 't is certain , his finances are thereby much augmented . the greatest expence of this prince is the great number of pagods , convents , hospitals and towers , which he causes incessantly to be built , and what it costs him in raising 'em , does surpass the idea people have conceived thereof . after having applied himself to what concerns religion , he takes care his arsenals be largely provided with all that is requisite for war : and indeed all things there are in a surprising abundance , and so neatly kept , that it would be very difficult to imitate them therein . as for his forces , they consist almost all in infantry , which is very good ; the pay of the souldiers is but a little rice ; the rest they have occasion for , they are to gain it from the enemy , or by labouring very hard at any kind of work , for they are treated as slaves , and they give a blind obedience to whatsoever they are commanded . as for the citizens , their condition is little better than that of the souldiers ; for , besides the subsidies with which they are excessively oppressed , and that they have nothing in propriety : they are obliged to work on the fortifications , and to work as well as the souldiers in occasions of necessity . notwithstanding this , they are so supple , and so tractable , that they are never heard to complain or murmur : tho the government is severe , they live contented and happy , because they desire nothing . from that soft and tractable humour , they easily proceed to devotion , which is as natural to 'em ; and whether they are little addicted to riches , whereof they have only the use , and not the property , or they think 'em unworthy of their affection , they employ 'em almost all in alms , which they bestow upon the bonzes , who ●re the priests of the country , and in building pagods and convents , to which they annex so many revenues , as no monks live more at their ease , nor know better , how to take advantage of the useful ignorance and superstition of the people , than the monks of that country . the great esteem the people have for 'em , causes 'em to multiply more than can be imagined ; these priests affect a fine out-side , and a modesty which savours ● of nothing less than of ambition . but this appearance is very deceitful , for under pretences of maintaining the glory of their gods , to whom they boast they are much dearer than their lives , they only think of advancing themselves , insomuch that there has been those found , who have made secret cabals for the dethroning the king , for to reign in his place . these good people are clothed in yellow , and every new moon they have their heads , beards and eye brows shaved . they neither wear gold nor silver , and dare not so much as touch it , but they receive and dispence it by a procurator , that is to say , by the hands of a man of an approved fidelity , and who honours the secrets of the order , but pretends to see nothing . they make a vow of chastity , and seem to keep it very rigorously ; but they see women in private , and provided there results no scandal from that commerce , they make little scruple on 't ▪ but if it comes to light , the criminal is punished very severely . bating this , they lead a very delicious life , exempt from all care ; for as they want nothing , and they have not so much as the care of heaping up riches , which shower down upon 'em , without spending their thoughts in that way , they have nothing more to do than to study , how to entertain their votaries in the good intention they have of nourishing 'em in a heavenly idleness . their rule obliges 'em to preach to the people every quarter of the moon , to catechise at all times , and to induce 'em to peace . the great modesty which they affect in their pious exercises , does invite to their houses all the people , who in acknowledgment of the spiritual benefits which the monks communicate to 'em , bestow upon 'em such as are temporal , and that even to profusion . about four a clock in the morning , they rise at the ringing of the bells , and go all together to a certain place appointed for prayer ; part of the day is spent in visiting the sick ; in the evening they return to prayers , where they remember the dead , for they believe that their prayers contribute very much towards their comfort and ease , and for the freeing 'em from an imaginary place , where ( they say ) they endure great pains . they have an infinite number of idols , who represent several postures of men and women , most being of gold or silver , some of copper and pewter , and very few of stone or wood. in the great pagod , where the king goes once a year , there is one , who tho seated with legs across , is about sixty foot high ; the others are much richer , but not so great . those of the altars are much the finest , but their beauty is not in the least to be compared with the idols of the pagod , which is in the midst of the city ; where of four thousand which it contains , there is not one but what is either of gold or gilt. as for their ceremonies , they are in many things conformable to those of the papists , who its easie to prove , have suck'd most of their superstition from paganism ; for at the entrance of their pagods , there is holy water ; and without speaking of their altars , that are loaded with images or idols , there are lamps always burning , a number of other lights , and every where boxes to receive the alms of pilgrims . the works of supererogation are in great credit amongst 'em ; and if we would believe 'em , there is not a dead person , but whom their prayers are a great help to , nor any living , but to whom they are considerably useful . tho the indians , especially the bonzes , have commonly a blind aversion to those who are of a contrary religion to theirs , these people seem very moderate in that respect , and far from being passionate . when we represent to 'em the vanity of the gods they adore , they answer modestly , protest they search for the truth , and if they knew a better way to attain it , they would quit all to pursue it . i have heard one of those banzes say , that the christians after them were the most beloved by god , and the nighest to salvation . i esteem them ( said he ) so much the more , in that they seem to love justice , probity and sincerity ; because th y leave the conscience free , and do not traduce us , at least in our presence , as the mahometans do , who cannot suffer those , who are not of their belief . a pride which we detest , and which binders us from praying for their conversion , as we do for the christians , whose god is the brother of our god. sect. vii . nothing is wanting in that kingdom of things necessary for the structure of all sorts of buildings , especially it abounds in very fine stones , and yet the houses there are only of wood : the reason of it is , that the stones are reserved for the building both the pagods and pyramids , whereof there is a prodigious number through all the country , stools , chairs and tables are of no use there , and the siamites as well as all the other orientals , sit in all occasions , only upon mats or carpets . all their moveables , which consist in some utensils of the kitchin , are of brass , always very bright and very neat ; their houses are so clean and neat , that they far exceed holland in that ; and as for their persons , they wash their bodies three times a day from head to foot , in the clearest fountain water that can be found ; then they rub ' emselves with a perfume composed of sandal wood , aloes , ambergreece , rose-water , musk , and such like things , whose odour is very agreeable ; wherein they take a much better course than the javans , who perfume ' emselves with a drug that is insupportable to those that are nice in the least . commonly it is forthwith after those bathings , that they make their visits and their devotions , but they first deck ' emselves with all their fineries ; those of the men consisting in a number of gold-rings , and a long vest of cotton-stuff , upon which they have a sash of several colours , and under , a very loose shirt of linnen or cotton , which is sometimes red , sometimes white , or of another colour . the sleeves of their vests are very large , most of 'em open about the elbow , and hanging to the knees , but they go almost bare-headed , and without shooes . the women make a round of their hair , which they fasten behind their head with a bodkin . their pendants are of blades of gold , of a fingers length , which are inchased with some jewels ; those blades are so massie , that the weight of them makes holes in their ears big enough to put a thumb through . their bracelets are likewise of gold and precious stones , and they have very fine diamonds upon their fingers . as for their habits , they are of cotton , as well as those of the men , and made much after the same manner ; except that they have upon their bosoms a veil of linnen or silk , the colour of which is arbitrary , and the form something resembles the scarfs women wear in england . the complexion of both sexes is tawny ; they are tall of stature , but well set , and of a free carriage , and generally the people there are good natur'd and polite . tho the young men and maids see one another with liberty enough , and it is no scandal for the latter to grant sometimes favours , they live in marriage with so much reservedness , that there is no nation where the women have more : not that they are all perhaps so many lucretiaes , but as adultery is there severely punished , the fear of punishment is capable of rendring 'em discreet . moreover , the mothers forbid their daughters when they are young , too great a commerce with men , for fear of getting an ill habit ; or perhaps too , for fear that the men should not be so eager to court 'em by way of marriage . this circumstance makes the maids , who have a desire to be married , of difficult access ; and the more they conceal ' emselves , the more do their lovers crowd after ' em . the means to obtain 'em is , to address ones self to the parents , who , without consulting their daughters inclinations , grant her to the man , who pleases 'em most , provided he be of the kindred ; for it is the custom of the siamites , to ally ' emselves only in their own family , where all alliance is permitted , except between brother and sister ; nay , and these may marry together , in case they be but half-brothers and half-sisters ; that is to say , of the same father , and not of the same mother . thus intrigues of gallantry are of no use in that country , and such an one marries , who has never seen the person she is to wed . as interest reigns there as well as elsewhere , they make alliances commonly in consideration of estate and fortune ; and when the match is advantageous , for fear of a disappointment , the maids are married at nine years , and the young men at twelve ; insomuch as the married couple do not both make five and twenty years , when they find ' emselves already fathers and mothers . out of marriage the men are permitted to have as many concubines as they can maintain , and in marriage , if they have but one wife , they are free to quit her upon slight pretexts , especially when they have no children , and then either the one or the other may marry again when they please . tho the priests are very much reverenced in that country , yet there is no respect had to 'em in marriage , and far from calling 'em to be witnesses of the union , they are on the contrary avoided , and people take it for an ill omen , that they should be present at such a time . he who performs the ceremony of it , is one of the nearest relations , who in the heat of the feast , makes an exhortation , after his mode , to the new married couple : and whether the bride and bridegroom live together until death , or they part , the clauses of the contract of marriage are religiously observed . as to the children , they are brought up with great gentleness , and yet they are very supple , and do punctually , without any need of using rigour , all that is exacted from them . 't is usually the priests , who take care of their education ; and as this sort of people live happily , their disciples observing it , turn priests as well as they , for to enjoy the same pleasures . their custom in regard of the dead , is to burn them , and to make their funerals conformably to their means , which is performed in the manner following ; the relations of the defunct raise up a tomb , which they fill with sweet scented wood , which serves to burn the corps , and whereto the priests set fire , after having said prayers . the rich preserve the ashes in urns of gold or silver , or bury 'em under a pyramid , or in a pagod , which the deceased has caused to be built ; for there is not a rich siamite , but who is at that expence to eternize his memory . the ashes of the poor are cast into the wind. those who die naked of all , through an excess of charity , that is to say , for having spent what they had of value in building monasteries or pagods , those i say , are burnt at the expence of the priests and monks , who have profited thereby , for which reason the pomp is very small . as for criminals and children , who end their lives , those by a criminal , these by an untimely death , their bodies are not burnt , but they inter 'em , it not being reasonable , that they who have lived without honour , or died before they attained to the knowledge of religion and the gods , should enjoy the honours and priviledges of the country . the civility of the siamites extends even to strangers , and of what nation soever a man be , he is favourably received there . what contributes to this good reception is , that the more strangers there be there , the more are the natives of the country esteemed by the neighbouring states ; for which reason , it is forbidden to trouble them in any kind , whether in the course of their trade , or customs , or in the exercise of their religion . true it is however , that there are some who are priviledged ; and of all those who frequent there , none are so well received as the hollanders , to whom the king has been particularly kind , as well in their trade as imposts ; and even contrary to his custom , which is to see no foreigners , he gives 'em access in his palaces , and calls 'em , his children . sect. viii . those sensible marks of the king of siam's goodness towards our nation , have raised us enemies who have endeavoured to destroy us ; but far from attaining to their ends : their hatred has only served to make us take precautions , which have confirmed us in the favour and good opinion of that prince . since we have had the honour of having access into his palace , he has heaped upon us new kindnesses ; and that which he did in permitting us to assist at the funerals of his only daughter , is certainly one of the greatest that strangers can receive . this princess being deceased at my first arrival there , six moneths afterwards the king sent word to the sieur van muyden principal commissioner of the company , that he had leave given him to be present at the obsequies . van muyden received with all due respect the honour the king did him : and thus , with some others , of which number i was , he was spectatour of a ceremony which merited well to be seen . preparations were made for that pomp in one of the courts of that palace , where there were raised five towers of wood ; whereof that in the midst was about an hundred and twenty foot in height , the others diminishing by the same degrees they stood at a distance from that . those towers were painted and gilt , and had communication by galleries , with ballisters enriched with the same ornaments . before the highest of those towers , the body of the defunct , was reposed upon an altar , all covered with gold and precious stones ; she was standing , her hands joyned , her face turn'd towards heaven , in a coffin of gold an inch thick . her robe had a long train , and was all beset with jewels ; her crown , her necklace , and her bracelets likewise , all over covered with diamonds , were of an inestimable price . when every one had taken places upon scaffolds made on purpose , all the grandees of the kingdom went to make their bows to her . the ladies came thither afterwards , and both sexes were only apparell'd with a white cloth , without any attire or ornament ; each one scattering round the body and the altar flowers and perfumes , with a very sad countenance . after which , the body was carried twenty paces from thence in a chariot , the riches whereof equalled that of the altar . the potentates of the kingdom , and the ladies , having paid her the same honours , they all wept bitterly , and after so mournful a manner ▪ that it seemed as if they had lost what they had dearest in the world . these tears and lamentations having lasted for half an hour , the principal officers of the crown drew the chariot very gently towards the place where the funeral pile was . it was attended by the same lords and ladies we hav● already mentioned , still weeping and lamenting . before 'em marched the eldest son of the king , only brother of the deceased princess , and both born of the same mother : he was clothed in white ▪ as well as the lords who attended him ▪ and was mounted on an elephant whos● hoose was embroidered , with chains o● gold upon his neck . on each side o● him went his two brothers , born of other women , upon elephants , like th● first , each holding a long skarf of white silk , whereof one of the ends was fastened to the coffin . round the bed , walked fourteen of the kings sons on foot , clothed also in white , with a branch of a tree in their hands , all so well instructed in weeping , that there was not one in the company but did it with a good grace . at half way from the funeral pile , there were stages or scaffolds , where the lords of lesser quality than the former , expected the convoy . when the body was come up over against them , some cast several sorts of habits to the people ; others , oranges full of ficols , which makes half a crown of our money : and some certain pieces called masen , which are about our crown in value . the convoy being arrived at the place where the ceremony was to end , the grandees of the kingdom took the body with great respect , and laid it upon the funeral pile , several instruments in the mean while sounding , whose mournful harmony , attended with the tears and lamentations of all the court , was capable of staggering the hardest hearts . this sad consort being ended , they covered the body with sandal and agor wood ; and after having cast therein a great quantity of perfumes , the king and lords children returned to the palace , leaving the ladies with the corps , which was not to be burnt till two days afterwards . tho this term appointed for tears , seem'd long to persons weary with weeping , they were notwithstanding forced to continue that sad exercise for the space of two whole days , without any ones being permitted , of what quality soever she was , to exempt her self a quarter of an hour : a severe custom upon my word , but necessary to all that have ambition , tears on that occasion , being the surest and shortest means of rendring ones self recommendable . tho a persons honour i● concerned to shew a deep mourning and a profound silence , there were however some , on whom those considerations had so little effect , that they grew weary of weeping ; and it was for those weak souls , that they had left old women among them , to revive 'em with lashes of a whip , made in the form of those sorts of disciplines , which the monks make use of in europe ; and if it happened that those poor ladies left off weeping for one moment , because they were oppressed with weariness and sleep , they lashed 'em in such a manner , that instead of feigned tears , they obliged 'em to shed real ones . whilst the ladies were weeping round the deceased princess , the priests were upon scaffolds in the court where the first tears were shed , praying night and day for her soul : and while the body was exposed there , they interrupted their prayers often , for to cast to the people garments of all sorts , utensils for house-keeping , instruments for artificers , beds , mats , and other moveables . on the side of the court , there were twenty other towers made of reeds , faced within and without with paper of several colours : those towers were filled with numbers of fire-works , which lasted fifteen days together : during which , the king caused great alms to be given , both to the poor , and the priests , the expence whereof was [ the preparations being comprehended therein ] of five thousand calfi , which makes of our money about sixty thousand pounds , beside the statues of gold and silver , amongst which , there were two of gold , of four foot and a half high , and an inch and a half thick , which were put , for the honour of the deceased , in the finest pagods of the country ; all made of gold silver and jewels , which the deceased had received during her life , as well from the king her father , as from the principal lords of the court. sect. ix . the body having reposed two days upon the sweet sented wood , which serv'd to burn it , all the court went to relieve the doleful ladies , whom their fatigue had rendred very lean . the ceremony began with prayers and speeches , which the priests made ; and when they had done 'em , the king took a lighted wax-candle from the hands of the arch-priest , and set fire himself to the funeral pile , where the body was reduced to ashes in the coffin of gold , wherein they had left the riches , wherewith it was adorned . when they thought the body consumed , and went to gather up the ashes for the putting 'em into an urn of gold , there was found a piece of flesh of the bigness of a little child , so fine , and so vermilion-like , that it seemed at first , as if the fire had spared it out of respect ; but that thought was followed by another , which occasioned the shedding of a great deal of bloud . the king , who was one of those who gathered up the ashes , looking upon that piece of flesh , what do ye think ( said he , to the lords who were present ) is it out of respect , the fire has spared what remains of the body of my daughter ? the king waiting their answer , one amongst 'em said , that his majesty had too much understanding to doubt what he saw . how ! ( replied the king all in a fury ) i have but too much reason not to doubt any longer of a suspicion i have had a hundred times , my daughter was poisoned . in finishing those words he gave order they should secure all the women who had serv'd the defunct , and that not one should be excepted . the days following , new suspicions were formed , upon which a number of innocent people were imprisoned : for what tortures soever they made them suffer , there was not one but disavowed the crime . in the mean while the kings fury daily augmented ; all those that were accused made appear , they were not culpable : but the cruelties did not diminish ; and when the court was dreined , and the king no longer found any one upon whom to discharge his anger , he sent upon divers pretexts , for the greatest men of the kingdom , and their wives , whom he caused to be put in prison as soon as they arrived at court. when he had 'em in his power , he caused several holes to be digged round the city , about twenty foot square , wherein great fires were kindled , guarded by souldiers , who took care to hinder 'em from going out . and thither he sent the prisoners , loaded with chains , to the end he might draw from 'em by force what threatnings and promises had not been able to make 'em confess . when they were at the place of punishment , it was begun with making 'em enter into a tub of hot water for to soften their skin , and render it more susceptible of the impression of the fire . after which they scraped the soles of their feet with irons as sharp as knives ; then carried 'em before judges , who examined 'em concerning the pretended business of poysoning ; those who continued obstinate to deny that they were culpable of it , were forced to walk bare footed upon burning coals ; and if it was found afterwards that the fire had penetrated 'em , it was a convicting proof , they were guilty of the fact whereof they had bin accused . an errour which in all times has been entertained among the pagans , who made use of fire for the trying of criminals ; witness the roman vestals , who only proved their chastity by grasping a burning iron , without burning ' emselves . as for the siamites we speak of , they whom the heat of the fire caused to fall into a swoun , and who had not strength enough to get out of ' emselves , perished there miferably , no body daring to to help 'em , for fear of running the same danger . those who escaped it , were tyed to a post , from whence an elephant instructed in that manner of death , tore 'em with his trunk , cast 'em into the air , from whence they fell again upon his teeth , and after several tosses he trod 'em under foot , and made their guts come out , which were afterwards cast into the river . besides this hard punishment , there was one , that was no less to be feared , which was to be interred all alive unto the chin , upon the high-way of the city , with obligation to passengers to spit upon 'em , and prohibition to give 'em ease in any manner , and even to advance their deaths , which was the favour those miserable wretches demanded with most ardency . amongst other punishments , there was this very remarkable , and which is also very frequently executed upon notorious malefactors . the criminal is bound so streight about with a napkin , that a man may grasp him with his hands , and then is pricked with engines as sharp as needles ; not only make the bloud gush out , but force the patient to hold in his breath . which taking the opportunity of on a sudden , they cut him through the middle , and clapping immediately the upper part of his body upon a flaming hot piece of brass , through the cauterization of which , he remains a considerable time alive , in far greater torments than can be imagined . these cruel executions lasted for above four moneths , during which , they took the lives away of an incredible multitude . one day in less than four or five hours , i my self saw above fifty put to death . people imagined , that would have been the last day of the massacres , because some moneths passed afterwards without putting any body to death ; but they were quickly disabused . as the nobility , that were terrified , began to take heart and return to court , the executions were renewed , and so many heads fell at length , that the flower of the most apparent , whom the king thought ill intentioned to his person and children , perished upon the pretext of having had a hand in this sham-business of poysoning , or of having been privy to it . to have seen those cruelties , and so visible an injustice , it was much to be wondered there was no rising , and indeed , there has been such for less considerable reasons : but the king had provided against that , by keeping on foot a great number of forces , with which he had filled his best towns , in appearance , for to send 'em against the chinezes , but indeed to bridle those whom he distrusted , while he made sure of the others . and further , his hatred did only extend to the great men , whose fall the people did joyfully see , by reason of their insolence , and the ill treatments they received from ' em . on the 28 of february , they carried three hundred persons , who had served the defunct lady to go thro the fire : but whether it was only a fire of straw , or painted , it is said to have spared those three hundred domesticks , who by those means were absolved and released : some days after one of the deceased kings daughters was impeached ; she was one of the youngest of his children , who was suspected of the crime then in examination , because it had been observed , that she laughed when all the others wept at the obsequies of the princess . they were fortified in this suspicion by the remembrance of the frequent complaints she had made of the king , by reason he had not consideration enough for her , and his slights were the cause , that she was no longer treated as a kings daughter , wherein she was in no wise inferiour to his other children who were the delight and admiration of the court. tho these conjectures were but half proofs , yet they were made use of for the bringing her to a tryal ; or rather , she was condemned contrary to all forms of justice ; for , without hearing her reasons , they caused her to pass thro the fire , with almost all her attendants : but , as they had only a design upon her , a rumour was spread abroad , that it had hurt no body but her ; wherefore they loaded her with chains of gold in an obscure place , with prohibition , to whomsoever it was , to see and speak with her . nothing was now expected but the hour of that princesses death , when people learn'd , that the king being moved with compassion , desired nothing more than to save her , provided she could justifie her self of the crime , that was imputed unto her in the presence of his counsel . on the day of her appearance , instead of being terrified at the torments that were preparing for her , my lords , said she , looking scornfully upon her judges , all in chains as you see me , i am of the bloud , which you adore in the person of the king , and which you have adored in the person of my father . 't is of the same value ; 't is the same in my veins that it is in his ; and yet the same bloud is treated in me , as if i was a vile slave , at the same time that incense is payed to it elsewhere , and they render the same honour as to the bloud of the gods. from whence comes this difference , my lords ? is it , that the bloud which animates me is corrupted ? but whence should that corruption proceed ? thanks to the gods , i have neither a fever nor the pox ; and tho there had been something impure in me , the fire i have been made to pass through must needs have purged it : but i am said to have taken away my cousins life , and by that action i have degenerated from the dignity of my ancestors . i do not examine the effects of the crime , whereof i am accused , nor if our actions deface in us a character , which nature bath imprinted there ; but let us see if it be just to condemn me without hearing me ; the greatest barbarians take another course , and the worst of crimes are punished among them according to the laws . however , they make a scruple of treating me as all the world is treated ; i do not deserve the least regard should be had for me , and upon the least appearances , i must be condemned to undergo the severest punishments . but i laughed , said they , instead of weeping at the obsequies of my cousin , i have complain'd of the kings slights , how ! when were the most innocent actions ever condemned ? is it so culpable a thing to laugh when we are young , and not yet at an age to dissemble ? and for some small complaints which were none of the worst grounded , have i merited either fire or sword , and ought they to prophane in me the bloud of a prince , who never sought pretexts to prophane yours , under whose reign this empire has so long flourished , and under whom it would still perhaps have flourished , if certain secret enemies had not snatch'd the scepter from him by an action that is commended in them , because they have had the happiness of triumphing without opposition , and which is basely punished in me because i am weak , and all the authority is in the hands of my antagonist . thus you see , my lords , the injustice of this procedure ; but after the manner i speak thereof , you may very well judge i have no desire to be spared ; and indeed , my lords , i hate life , and since the affront that has been put upon me , i only wish for death ; not that i am troubled with the remorses of my conscience , but because i blush to live in so sordid an age , and i have no body to help me to repulse the blows of a tyrant , who cannot endure the sad reliques of your kings , go , my lords , and tell him my resolution , and endeavour to represent it to him after such a manner as may terrifie him in case my death be in the least deferred : this is the only favour i demand of you . the princesses boldness did stagger peoples minds , and if the king had not foreseen it by the raising of the forces we have before mentioned , 't is certain , that there would have bin some revolt ; but the fear of the approaching danger stifl'd the grief of the judges : they made their report of what they had heard , and the king dissembling the vexation he had to see himself braved after that manner , pretended to have some pity , and made her appear before him with an air , as gave occasion to believe , he had a desire to save her . well , said he , to her , at her coming into his presence , i hear that life is grown a burden to you , and it would be in vain for us to endeavourto save it ; but from whence proceeds that great aversion to it ? is it not from the remorse of having poysoned my daughter , or from some other yet more violent ? for i do not believe you of a humour to confine your self to one crime : but as wicked as you are , i have no desire to see your ruine , which it lies only in your power to try , which you may easily do by confessing your crimes , and your accomplices . do not think , sir , ( replied the princess boldly ) i am terrified with menaces , or your false kindness is capable of surprising me . i am in a condition to speak to you sincerely ; you have lost a daughter , and you will needs have me to be the cause of her loss : yes , yes , let it be so , i confess , it was i , who poysoned her , but i likewise avow , that this crime is not so great as you make it , or rather that that victim was too vile to be sacrificed to my just resentment . 't is well known , that it was by your plots , the scepter of my ancestors fell into your hands ; and by your order , we are in the dust : could i do less than take vengeance for so considerable a loss , and for a treatment so unworthy the bloud of so many kings ? wherefore i have sought to comfort my self in the death of my enemies ; but i have so ill performed it , that i think my self unworthy of the light ; and it is for having failed of depriving you of it , that i can no longer endure living . as for my accomplices , i confess with the same sincerity , i have had none of those whom you have so cruelly murdered . but why should i tell you what you know , and what no body is ignorant of ? no body is ignorant , that you , hated 'em long since , you dreaded 'em , and have a long time sought for a pretext to get rid of 'em ; you have found that happy moment , you triumph , you are beloved by heaven , enjoy in repose the favours which it heaps upon you ; and if you have still any humanity left , finish what you have begun ; for i must confess , i am weary of breathing the same air that is sucked by the executioner of my bloud , and the basest of all tyrants . the king used great violence upon himself to suffer her speak so long , but at length , affecting to appear what he was not , that is to say , good natur'd and humane ; after having asked her if she had nothing more to say , the princess making no answer , he caused a piece of her flesh to be cut off , which he commanded her to eat ; content thy self ( said she to him ) with being my executioner ; thou mayst tear my body to pieces , but thou hast no power over my will. she was going to continue , when the kings choler augmenting , she was cut to pieces as she finished these words , and cast into the river . of the family of the deceased king there remained no more than two children , viz. one son of twenty years old , and a daughter who had not yet seen ten . her extream youth saved her life , but the son lost it the same day , and after the same manner as his sister did . what torments soever he was made to suffer , he protested , his sister and he were innocent of the crimes that were imposed upon 'em ; and he was not very sorry to die , life being insupportable to him , since he saw himself fallen from the state that he was born to ; but he had a regret that the tyrant survived him . sect. x. we have already said , that the king of siam is one of the richest and more powerful monarchs of the east ; but we have not yet seen the titles which he gives himself . as the manner thereof is singular , i imagine the reader would take it as an obligation to be shewn two copies , which fell into my hands while i was at siam , thro the intermission of one of the great lords of the country , to whom i testified my desire , that he would leave them with me . as the phrase of that tongue is something barbarous , i have caused them to be translated according to the genius of ours . alliance written in letters of gold , wherein shines the divine splendour , and which is the most excellent of all those that are in the world ; which comprehends the sublimest sciences , and which is alone capable of rendering men happy . it is the best and surest in heaven , and above and below the earth . all the words thereof are royal ; they are soft and delicious , but almighty and energical . the renown that is spread thereof thorow all the earth , produces there the same effect , which the sighs of the dead raised to life would produce , when done by an all-divine vertue , and purged from their corruption , as well spiritual as corporal . all persons too , constituted in dignity , as well amongst the nobility and clergy as the commonalty , do never see 'em without feeling a certain joy which no other thing can cause . thus there is nothing in the universe which is comparable to 'em , no more than to the source from whence they issue , as being a monarch most illustrious , most invincible , most powerful , and most high , and crowned with an hundred and one crowns of gold , all adorned with nine sorts of precious stones : being the greatest , the purest , and the most divine master of immortal souls , the most holy who sees all things , and the sovereign emperour , who holds under the shadow of his wings , the great , the rich , and the most incomparable kingdom of siam ; the splendour of the fine and famous city of india , whose gates and passages are inhabited by an infinity of people , and which is , without contradiction , the capital of the universe , the only throne worthy of the greatest of kings , to which is subdued the goodliest and the most fruitful of all countries , which the sun gives light to ; who is a greater lord than the gods , and whose palace is only of fine gold and precious stones : the divine master of the heaps of gold , of the white , red , and round tail elephants , which three animals are the sovereign god of nine sorts of gods : the divine lord , in whose hand is the victorious sword , who resembles the god of armies , with arms all of fire , and the most noble and most excellent of all kings . the second was much of the same force , and is as follows : the most high paducco dyrisultaan nelmonam , welgahu , nelmochadin magiviitha , jouhen der eateten lillaula fulan , the king of kings , who causes the waters to ebb and flow , the monarch who is as a god , as a sun in the highest point of its elevation , as bright as the moon in its greatest lustre , the elect of god for to be esteemed as much as the star of the north , whose extraction is altogether royal , as being the issue of the great alexander , and whose wit is all-perfect , all-seeing , and all-penetrating ; like to a globe , always rowling , and so made , as to measure the abysses of the sea : a king who has adorned the tombs of all the decayed saints ; who is as just as god ; and of so vast a power , that all the world may hide it self under the shadow of his wings : a king who holds from the hand of god a number of mines of gold ; who has caused pagods all of gold and copper to be built ; who sets upon a throne that is only of gold and precious stones : the king of the white elephant , who is king of all the other elephants , and before whom , several millions of other elephants are obliged to prostrate themselves : a king whose eyes are so sparkling as the morning star : under whom are elephants with four teeth ; red elephants , purple coloured elephants , and of several other colours ; as likewise , of an elephant buytenaque , for which the almighty god has made him a present of several sorts of embroidered houses , in great numbers , and all beset with precious stones ; a number of other elephants exercised in war , whose harnaces are shot proof ; others whose teeth are armed with steel , and their harnace of brass : a king who has horses without number , shod with iron , whose houses are likewise of gold , and all beset with stones , besides an infinite number of others , which are proper for war. a king who is above all the emperours , monarchs , princes and potentates of the universe , from east to west ; who raises to honour and to dignities , those who have the wit to get into his good opinion , and who on the contrary causes those to be burnt alive who revolt from him : a king as powerful as god , and in whom resides the power of doing all that god has done and created . by these proud titles the king of siam pretends to insinuate into his subjects that he is as great as god , and more than all the powers which reign upon earth ; and to confirm it , he makes 'em believe , that he stops the course of the waters , which he goes to work to after this manner : the river of siam being one of the branches of the ganges , which increases and decreases regularly in certain seasons of the year : its increase and decrease is likewise limited . when it begins to diminish , which happens in the month of november , the king takes that time to make one of his publick appearances , whereof we have spoken : to which , he is attended by all his court , and shews himself on that occasion , with all the riches and splendour imaginable . his galley is all shining with gold and precious stones ; he is therein seated upon a golden throne , covered with a canopy set with diamonds ; he is attended by two hundred galleys of a prodigious length , each having two hundred rowers , and being for the most part , painted and gilt . about six leagues from the city , the king and arch-priest enter alone into a little barge ; wherein the latter , after having uttered some prayers upon a sabre of gold , presents it to the king , who strikes the river three times with it , and commands it , by his divine authority , to retire into the sea. while the king is employed in this ceremony , the people , whom the priests do make believe that none but his majesty can stop the course , are prostrated upon the shore , surprized at the power of their king. sect. xi . on the twelfth of april we departed from siam , in a ship freighted with buck-skins , sandale wood , and amrac , whereof the japanezes make the finest varnish ; and we made sail towards formosa . in the way near a shelf called pracel we discovered a jone with an holland flag , which seemed to come directly to us ; the more it approached , the more did we believe , it was a pyrate : wherefore for fear of a surprize , and to be so much the more free in case he attaqued us , we were contriving how to cast some merchandizes into the sea , when we perceived , it was a merchant-man . being delivered from our fears , we called to 'em to come shew us their passport , but they excused ' emselves , in that their jonc was in so ill a condition , that it sprung leaks on all sides . we armed seven or eight of our men , and put 'em into a pinnace to go on board of ' em . all the men on board the jonc were chineses and gambodians ; they had sandale wood , amrac , and buck-skins as well as we ; but they were moreover freighted with counterband goods , and had no pasport , for which reason we seized upon ' em . having got all they had on board of us , while the jonc was repairing , we caused the gambodians and the chineses to return into it , who were exposed to the sea without sails , masts and rudder , that we might be revenged of the massacre which the latter had executed a little before upon some hollanders . on the tenth of may being arrived at formosa , we cast anchor before the fort called zelandoia , from whence presently after , we saw a jonc strike so hard upon a rock , that both it , the goods , and men were all cast away . this island is situated under the tropick of cancer , at 21 degrees of southern latitude , and ending towards the 25 th . of northern ; its circuit is 130 leagues . it abounds in fish of all sorts , but above all they catch a sort called harder , of the bigness of a whiting , which being salted and prepared like stock fish , is distributed thorow all china , as herrings are in europe . they salt appart the eggs of that fish , which the chineses make a very savoury dish of . that nation paid formerly to the dutch east india company a certain impost for the fishing of this fish , but that right does no longer subsist . it s soil is very fruitful , but the inhabitants ( who are lasie ) do not make the best advantage on 't . it produces rice , wheat , barley , millet , ginger , cinamon , coco's , lemons , oranges , melons , gourds , and all sorts of pulse , majavinades , guigavas , cadiany , potates ; and the focufocoes , which is a fruit of the form and bigness of a bon chrestien pear . this fruit is of a purple colour , and lies upon the ground as melons do , and is of a most excellent taste . there are likewise some sheep , but not so many as deer , goats , hares , rabbets , pidgeons , fallow deer , wild goats , wild boars , tygers , bears and monkeys ; besides a certain animal , called by the hollanders , the devil of fayovan ; it is about three quarters of a yard in length , and about twenty inches large ; it has scales like a fish , and very sharp claws . it only feeds upon pismires , who go of themselves upon its tongue , when hunger presses it to put it out . this creature is very timorous , and especially of mankind : if it can only shun one by hiding it self in the earth , it makes a hole therein with so much ardour , that in a moment it retrenches it self as in a fort ; or if it be surprised in such a manner , as that it has not time to get in , it wraps its self up in its scales , and takes the form of a ball. those who have named it devil , must needs not have known it , or they were frighted with its figure ; for tho you hurt it never so much , it will rather suffer it self to be killed than make any defence . there are no parrots , but many other sorts of birds , and an infinity of flying locusts that are very dangerous and troublesome . the men are of a low stature , particularly those who inhabit the mountains ; neither are the women of a larger size , most of whom have broad faces , great eyes , flat noses , and full bosomed ; and what they have most singular is , that they have beards grow upon their chins as well as men ; and were they not very diligent in pulling it out , they would be much better furnished . add to this beauty very long ears , which they take great care to lengthen and augment by the weight of certain great shells , which serve 'em instead of pendants . this ornament seems to 'em so rare , that the more solemn the feasts are , and of the greater quality the people they see , the more they lengthen their ears , which reach , on those occasions , down to their very breasts , by the counter weights which they put in ' em . their hair is both very black and long ; some wear it much after the same manner as they do in holland ; others tye it up after the chineze manner , or make it into several tresses , which they fasten round behind their heads with a tin bodkin . their necklaces are of glass or stone , and of little pieces of silver in several figures . their complexion is yellow and black , and some towards kubeland are yellow and white . the women of miday , whose king is master of the greatest part of the isle of souten , norwe and lamei , are altogether yellow . as for the gifts of mind , all the inhabitants in general are pretty well furnished . the women are cloathed from the neck to the middle with a piece of cotton , which flys about negligently ; and from the middle to the knees with another piece of cotton . their head-geer is of some silk stuff , or most commonly of velvet , whereof they make two points , which advance on either side the forehead : they go always bare-footed , and are almost ever followed by an hog , who is as familiar to them as the dog is in europe . the habits of the men consist in several ells of cotton , whereof one part falls from the right shoulder to the mid-leg , the two ends crossing over the left arms , insomuch as half of the body is always uncovered . they go commonly bare-footed , except in a long tract of way , when they have sometimes certain shooes made of goats skin , and much like the sandales of our monks . in winter they dress ' emselves in beasts skins , as tygers , bears , and leopards . those of the province of soulang dressed ' emselves formerly after the mode of the hollanders : at this day it is after that of china , as well as in all the rest of the island , where all the inhabitants went naked , before the spaniards and the hollanders set foot there , which is still at this day observed by those who inhabit the mountains ; except that they cover grosly , what civility forbids to name . the men paint their breasts , backs , and arms , with a juyce of herbs , which is never worn out : they have bracelets of glass and necklaces of the same , and they have such streight sleeves of iron upon their arms , that they can hardly move 'em ; as for their legs , they deck 'em with rows of white shells very neatly wrought . the inhabitants of tocadeol take for a sumptuous ornament ( for they only deck themselves with it on holy-days ) a long reed or cane of a yard and a quarter in length , the one end of which , is fastened upon the reins , the other bends over the head , to which , is tyed a floating knot of red and white stuff , of almost half a yard long , and seven or eight inches broad . they have moreover a crown of cocks feathers , and the tails of bares upon their arms and legs . their beds are as extraordinary as the rest , two stags skins serving 'em for quilts , sheets and blankets : these beds seem so delicate to 'em , that they are loath to leave 'em ; and when that happens , which they do the latest they can , 't is with no design to go to work , for they are neither shoo-makers , weavers nor joyners . in a word , they make profession of having no need of the most necessary trades : or rather , they know 'em all , every one being capable of doing what he has occasion for : their particular dexterity lies in handling the bow ; and whether running , lying , standing , or sitting , they never fail of hitting the mark they aim at , provided it be visible . they are also excellent swimmers , but especially they run with an incredible swiftness , and when they undertake it , there is not a horse that can outgo 'em ; they have , while they are running , a piece of iron of a round figure , six inches long , and five inches broad ; they strike with those instruments upon the bracelets or sleeves of iron we have mentioned , to animate one another , according to the need they have thereof , making more haste , or making the less speed , according to the number of the blows they give . navigation is an art which they do not understand ; and all they know in point of water is to cross a river in the hollow of a trunk of a tree : but tho they are ignorant of what is the delight of most other nations , yet they live very happily , fishing and hunting furnishing 'em abundantly wherewith to live ; and if they have an occasion or desire of something else , their women have so natural an inclination to agriculture , that they find means , without the help of other living creatures , to dispose the earth , to produce 'em what they sow there . they make war after the same manner , that savage and brutal nations do , that is to say , without art and order ; and what is therein most inhumane , without quarter too : for , those to whom hazard gives the advantage , never give quarter to their enemies , for fear they should be taken with a desire of returning to the charge , or they should become more happy the second time than the former . thus , say they , to remove all fears that may arise from that side , it is requisite to take that course . before i had seen this island , i had often heard say , there were men with long tails like beasts , but i could never believe it , and i thought the thing so far from our nature , that i could hardly give credit to my eyes , when they took away all doubts by an adventure somewhat odd . the inhabitants of formosa being accustomed to see us , we saw one another with so much confidence , as not to be afraid of any ill accident on either side . so that tho foreiners , we believed our selves in safety , and went often abroad without a guard , when experience made us know that we hazarded our selves too far . one day some of our people walking together , one of our ministers being of the company , went a stones cast from 'em upon some natural occasions , the others in the mean while walked still on , very attentive to a story that was told ' em . when it was ended , they remembred the minister did not return , and waited for him some time : after which , being weary of waiting , they went towards the place where they expected he was ; they found him , but without life , and the sad condition he was in , gave sufficiently to understand that he had not languished long . while some kept him , others went on several sides for to discover the murderers : they went not far without finding a man ▪ who seeing himself inclosed by ours , foamed , howled , and made 'em comprehend , that he would make him repent who should first approach him . his desperate carriage made at first some impression , but at length their fears ceased , they took that miserable wretch , who confessed , that he killed the minister , but they could not learn for what reason . as it was a heinous crime , and that impunity might have ill consequences , they condemned him to be burnt . he was tied to a post , where he remained for some hours before the execution . it was then that i saw what hitherto i had not been able to believe ; his tail was above a foot long , all covered with red hair , and very like to that of an ox. when he saw that the spectators were much surprised to see in him what they had not themselves , he told 'em ▪ that that defect , if it was one , came from the climate , since all those of the southern part of this isle where he was born , had the like as well as he . sect. xii . having made sail on the 15 th . of july for japan , we arrived there on the 10 th . of august . half an hour after having given the signal of our arrival , we saw on board of us a hundred japoneses , who made us a sign at their coming , that we needed only to be at rest , and they were going to do our business . what desire soever we had to discharge 'em from that trouble , we were forced to obey , and remain with arms across , while some took away the sails , others the rudder , some the ammunitions of war , others the anchors , carrying all on shoar , as well as the merchandizes , which were shut up in a magazine , which the governour of nanguesaque , being the place where we went on shoar , did answer for . this course was no novelty it is a custom established for all strangers ; the japonezes , who are extreamly distrustful , act in that manner for the securing their repose , for they are always in fear , it is l●ss the traffique , than the desire of supplanting 'em , that invites other nations thither . the magazine which the hollanders have in that city , is situated in a little isle , separated from the city by a river of about forty foot broad . the ramparts of that island are of planks of a foot and a half thick ; the bridge of communication is an hundred and fifty foot long , and fifty broad . at the end of the bridge they enter into the magazine , in the midst whereof is the house of the chief or principal officer of the company . 't is a very regular building , very large and well furnished . there is round the magazine a number of houses , which form streets of a good handsome largeness , where there are convenient places for the inhabitants of that little city . on the sea-side they descend by a large pair of stairs , from the magazine to a great court , where they discharge their merchandizes , which consist in raw and wrought silks , in velvet , damask , satin and cotton , in bucks and kaimans skins , in quicksilver , sublimy , spanish green , camphire , wax , alum , pepper , elephants teeth , and several other commodities . three days after our arrival at nanquesaque , the japoneses finding that the li●ts of our mearchandizes did agree with what they had ' emselves unloaded , came on board us , and sealed up the hatches ; and to charm the displeasure which this course caused in us , they brought with 'em six little barrels of saqui , which is a strong drink made of several sorts of corn , but wherein there is most rice , and which fuddles like wine . there were those of our ships crew , who without being much concerned for what might happen , gave their hearts up to joy , and drank so largely thereof , that they set up the flag , round which they sung , danced , and to which they pretended likewise to shew a comedy , when a hurricane came , and broke all their measures ; it came with so much fury , that we had hardly time to get into the hold , than the masts , sail-yards , main-yards , all were broke like glass , and cast very far into the sea. our cables broke like threads , and our ship had such furious shakes , that we believed it was going to open ; however it held good : wherein we were more happy than those who were at the mouth of the river , for they were so hardly treated , that they had much ado to save ' emselves . those who were on land , were not much more in surety , all running the risque of being incessantly oppressed under the ruins of the houses , that fell pell-mell , which commonly happens on the like occasions . the city of nanguesaque is situated in 33 degrees of northern latitude , in a very agreeable place . very great and very populous it is , but without walls , as well as most of the cities of japan ; its port is large and commodious : it is full of fine buildings , especially on the sea-side ; over which do appear at a great distance the towers of the pagods , in great numbers . the houses are only of wood , as being l●ss dangerous during the earthquakes , which are very frequent in that country , than if they were of stone . ordinary peoples houses , are pitiful and low ; they are covered with planks , which advance the one upon the other , and reach beyond the wall about four foot , for to cover the gallery , which reaches the length of the houses on the garden side . the houses of the nobility and the rich , are more exalted and more beautiful ; their apartments are divided , insomuch as that of the husband has no communication with that of the wife . all the chambers are painted and gilt , and generally the houses there are more gay and agreeable than in europe . the walls on the inside are garnished by several stories of all sorts of porcelaine ware , and boxes of a very fine varnish , all being ranged upon frames , that stand out for half a foot broad . the plain ground is a painting of some excellent workmanship , and from space to space the floor is covered with great vessels of porcelain , filled with sweet-scented flowers . the out-sides are not so fine , and to see 'em one would not say , that such nice gentlemen as those of japan would inhabit there , but enter never so little , and one is quickly undeceived . the city is cut by several canals , much after the same manner as in holland . there are counted eighty eight streets , all in a right line , and four hundred paces long . each of these streets is locked up separately , and from ten a clock in the evening until the next morning , there is no reason strong enough to have it opened . it is thought strange , that in case of fire , or any other such like accident , that order should be so rigorously observed , but when the japanezes have taken a resolution , it must needs subsist even at the expence of their lives . the country round about is pleasant and fruitful ; most of the nobility have their houses that are only made for pleasure , not only for that of the eyes , but likewise the taste and ears : for besides sweet oranges ▪ excellent pears , and other good fruits which grow there , the birds with their wild notes charm your senses there more than they do in other places . the inhabitants of all japan do not pretend much to whiteness . they are comonly tawny , but much less at nanguesaque than in other parts . of a strong complexion , ●obust bodies , flat faces , their noses the same , and their eyes small and black . the habits of the men consist in certain vests , which reach down to their feet , the one side crossing over the other , and being so fastned by a girdle more or less large , plain or rich , according to the humour and inclination of every one . the modes of the women differ little from those of the men , for they are both much of the same length , and carried after the same manner ; but women of quality have usually such vestments as are so rich , that it is easie to distinguish 'em from the commonalty : all their robes are embroidered with gold and silver , at least those that are uppermost : if the others are not so rich , the stuff of 'em is so fine , that they may put 10 or 12 of them one upon another , without having too many clothes on , or being too much troubled . all these robes are hanging , and have trains , and are tied with a sash extreamly large , and which is answerable to the riches of the habits . though these ladies are so pompously cloathed , they seldom go abroad , and when they do so , it is either in a chair or a boat , as well because walking is something too common to be the mode amongst them , as because they have hardly any feet , having , like the ladies of china , the folly to imagine , that a woman is so much the more beautiful , as that her foot is small . the japonezes have for the most part great hearts ; of what condition soever they are , they love honour and glory , and are so sensible of contempt , that they do all things to avoid it , and for to revenge themselves if they are insulted ; insomuch as an artisan leaves his work imperfect , if he who employs him pretends to treat him scornfully . there is no nation that knows so well to constrain themselves , principally in adversity ; they endure it like stoicks , and the greater the misfortune , the less does it outwardly appear . they have friends as well as elsewhere , hut they never make use of them either to receive their complaints , or to give 'em pity in their troubles ; how great soever they be ▪ neither regrets nor murmurs are ever heard to come out of their mouths . but tho they are firm in the miseries of life , they are uncapable of a vain joy in prosperity . they live there without concern , and see with the same eyes their advancement and fall. this firmness is a vertue which passes in them from father to son , ●nd is become natural to them by the frequent revolutions to which they are subject ; their fortune is so wavering , that they may fall in a thousand ways ; and it is from experience they have learnt to contemn it , or at least , to enjoy it without fearing to lose it . with all this the japonezes are not without defects ; and without speaking of their contemning christianity , of their idolatry , and that they have neither piety nor religion , but through interest , they have little sincerity , never faithful to any body , and especially to strangers . cruel they are , treacherous , deceitful , and so vindicative , that to repel an injury , they violate the most holy laws . an idea of their cruelty may be had from the punishments they inflict upon criminals , one of which consists in fleaing some parts of the offendour , tying him to a tree , bedawbing him all over with honey , and then they leave him to the mercy of bees and wasps , who meeting with such a regal never leave him till they have stung him to death , which he suffers with all the tortures and torments that may be imagined . charity is a vertue which they are ignorant of , and neither the poor nor the sick can hope from them either ease or pity . the government is monarchical ; above threescore petty princes do homage and prostrate their coronets afore the supream diadem . the country is most part mountainous , but full of rivulets , which makes it abound with corn , grass and minerals : the north and east parts are less peopled than the south and west . upon any trivial accusation , their children are so sensible of their reputation , that without any pawse , to evince the truth , they will whip off a joynt from their finger , with this imprecation , if true , i wish my hand may never heal again . of all the great towns of this island , fucate or falcate is look'd upon as the most pleasant , being watered with a sweet river , and made defensive by a castle ; a forrest of lofty pines , and spreading sycamores , for three miles space , well nigh compasses the town ; of force against the scorching sun , delightful to the eye , more grateful than any other object , did not idolatry render it unpleasing ; for under those green trees , where are many small , but richly tyled fotiques , they adore pagothas , in shape not unlike pan and priapus , yea the devil himself in his ugliest resemblance . for where the country is most inhabited , and garnisht with greatest variety of trees , and corn , &c. as 'twixt edoo and suring●● there are erected most fotiques , and there the people are the greatest idolaters . in meacco a mediterranean city , and the metropolis of japan , are 60 temples and colledges , in which some have numbred 3333 chamortirae , or ▪ little guilded daemons , of several shapes , which they call mannada●s : of which shaca and amida have the highest rank in their kalendar . nevertheless one of their princes has erected there a monstrous image of awricalk , so large , as albeit was sitting , the chair was not less than 70 foot high , and 80 broad : his head was capable to hold fifteen men , and the thumb in compass was forty inches , by which the rest may be conjectured . near this grand pagod is a fotique , in the cloister whereof a memorial is registred , how that the ears and noses of three thousand of the captived corcans were there interred . at dabys such another coloss of concave copper was raised ; an idol 24 foot high , notwithstanding his posture was such , as his buttocks rested upon his legs , as the usual mode of the orient . ●ut of most remark was the fotique at fencheday , where , if fame speak truth , the devil oft times made an apparition . this temple was of more than ordinary bigness , and the bonzes numerous . amongst other sacrifices or forms of worship , one was , that a damosel every new moon was by the bonzes brought into the temple and placed right against the idol . the room was forthwith illuminated by a preparation of lignum vitae with other costly perfumes , put into a lamp of gold ; after a small space , the lights ( as it were by a miracle ) extinguish , and then in gross darkness , the phasma having assumed a bodily shape , or other false representation accompanies her , at least , as she imagines , and the rather , because certain scales like those of fishes are left behind as an argument to perswade it was no phantasm . but unless the bonzes second that work , upon that imaginary familiarity , the most is but a tympany or false conception . nevertheless for her applause , at her issuing she is entertained with musick and songs , and the enthusiastick girl resolves 'em several questions they propound , and is of more repute with 'em ever after . one temple is dedicated to a lizard , which they make the author and patron of learning without altar or image in it . he that readeth of the huge works of taiscosoma holding sometime an hundred thousand workmen in labour at once , may present to his imagination the incredible buildings which those tyrants , by so many slavish hands , can raise . their buisy wits appears by their questions to the europeans , of the nature of the soul , of angels and devils , &c. and some of 'em seeing the absurdities of the bonzii , worship nothing at all . the bonzii , as the jesuites report , raised slanderous rumours of 'em , to be eaters of mans flesh , and causes of the wars and plagues , which their gods , provoked by this new sect , sent among 'em : they slandered the new converts as miserable apostates , which became christians because they would not be at the charges of their idolatry . the jesuites tell of a great woman , possessed with a devil , which said , that he was a fox , for some injuries offered by the maid , thus dealing with the mistress . there were in those parts store of foxes , multiplied by their superstition , not daring to hurt any , notwithstanding their great harms , hecause forsooth , they were the devils instruments to punish ' em . yet in this case , the wizard being consulted , counselled , to take a fox , without hurting him , ( which with a trap was done ) and to give him all kind entertainment , with most delicate food and usage , so to pacifie the good wifes angry daemon , who yet ( like a devil ) with fair entreaty grew worse . hereupon another famous wizard was called , who writ a long scroll , binding himself in the devil foxes name to free the woman , subscribing with bis bloud ; which scroll he hanged on the foxes neck before taken , which being neatly trimmed and shaven by a barber , and painted ( as their women , being of pale complexion , use ) was let go , and the devil intermitted his tortures a while , but after reiterating the same , the womans husband caused all the foxes thereabouts to be slain , for this perfidiousness : and a third wizard cured the mistress , by conjuring the devil into one of her maids . they are very curious and ambitious in setting forth their funerals . thus briefly : the friends assemble in their best array to the fire : the women of his acquaintance go forth in white raiment , with party colour'd veils on their heads , and their maids attending , thei● chief women are carried in beds , o● litters of cedar . after 'em follow th● men in sumptuons habit● . next come● the chief bonzius of his sect in his po●tificalibus , carried in a costly bed , attended with three other bonzii , in thei● linnen vestments , then one in ash-coloured garments ( for that is also ● mourning colour ) with a long torch lighted , sheweth the gorps the way to the fire ; followed by two hundred bonzii , singing to the deity which th● dead had chiefly observed . others bea● on the bason till they come at the fire ▪ others carry paper baskets full of painted flowers , which they shake out by the way , as a token that his soul is gon● to paradise . eight bonzii draw banners on the ground , in which is written thei● idols name : ten lanterns with the same inscription , are carried with light● burning . two follow with torche● unlighted , wherewith afterward they kindle the fire . many come after i● ash-coloured habits , with three squar● caps on their heads , with the name also of their devil therein written , which name another beareth written in a table with large letters of gold. after all these ( did you think you had lost him ) comes the corps sitting in a bed , in white , borne by four men , his hands joyned in a praying gesture . his children are next , the eldest carrying a torch to kindle the fire . lastly , comes the multitudes with strange sort of caps . after an hours hallowing their holies by all this multitude , and three times compassing about the inclosed square place , in which ( besides tables for viands ) the fire is made , the chief bonzii in an unknown language mumbleth over an hymn , and lighting a torch , doth thrice brandish it about his head , ( thereby signifying the soul is without beginning , aud without end ) and then casts it away . two of his children take it up , and after a triple ceremony ( the body being laid thereon ) kindle therewith the wood : on which they hurl costly woods and oyl , and so burn the carcass to ashes . which done the children , making incense , adore their father , as now assumed to the heavenly society , and richly reward the bonzii . next day they return , and put the reliques of this corps ashes and bones , into a guilded vessel , which is hanged in the house , there to receive the like exequies , and afterwards with no less ceremony buried ; every seventh day , and seventh month , and seventh year ▪ his children renewing their devotions . the poorer spend herein two or three hundred , the rich as many thousand ducats . in the obits of great persons , the lords and men of rank assemble ' emselves , and are called every man by name , to do honour to the image of the deceased , with incense , as in sacrifices . after so much wickedness of the men , i think it will be time for us to leave japan . our trade being at an end at nanguesaque , we departed from thence for batavia , on the 30 th . of december , and arrived at the fort zelandia , on the 9 th . of january . after some stay , there being a ship that was going for siam , i was commanded to go thither , and we arrived there on the 22d . of the same month. the sieur van muyden , commander for the east-india company , in the countoir of that country , caused 8 elephants to be embarked on board us for batavia , whither he himself went with us . eight days after our arrival , the fleet departed for holland , whither i had leave to return . as we had a good wind , we in a short time passed the streight of sunda , and two months after our departure from batavia , we came in sight of sancta helena , where having cast anchor , we reposed for fifteen days . during the abode we made there , we killed a great many wild boars , goats and deer , which that island is full of , we took by fishing a prodigious quantity of fish , which being salted and dried in the wind ▪ s●rves commonly the ships crew the rest of the voyage . we likewise found there pome-citrons , and a certain purgative sorrel , which without being disagreeable , produces the same effect with sene. after having thus refreshed our selves , we pursued our course , whose end being as happy as the beginning , we went and cast anchor at gouri on the first of september , where i finished my voyage . finis . books lately printed , and sold by henry rhodes . 1682. the history of the glorious life , reign and death of the illustrious queen elizabeth , by s. clark. price bound . 1 s. the history of the victorious life reign and death of king henry viii . with the life of king edward vi. price bound 1 s. pastime royal , or , the gallantries of the french court. a new novel . price bound 1 s. female prince , or , frederick of sicily , a new novel . price bound . 1 s. round-heads , or , the good old-cause , a play. by mrs. a. behn . city heiress , or , sir timothy treatal , a play , by mrs. a behn . with all sorts of new plays . in the press , and almost printed , madamoiselle , de scuderys conversations . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a42798-e320 infamous diseases among the siamites , and for woh they are ignominiously treated . a relation of ten years in europe, asia, affrique, and america all by way of letters occasionally written to divers noble personages, from place to place, and continued to this present year / by richard fleckno. flecknoe, richard, d. 1678? this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a39724 of text r24329 in the english short title catalog (wing f1232). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 238 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 93 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a39724 wing f1232 estc r24329 08121992 ocm 08121992 40918 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a39724) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 40918) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1229:15) a relation of ten years in europe, asia, affrique, and america all by way of letters occasionally written to divers noble personages, from place to place, and continued to this present year / by richard fleckno. flecknoe, richard, d. 1678? [6], 176 p. printed for the author, london : [1656?] "with divers other historical, moral, and poetical pieces of the same author." reproduction of original in the bodleian library. eng flecknoe, richard, d. 1678? voyages and travels. a39724 r24329 (wing f1232). civilwar no a relation of ten years travells in europe, asia, affrique, and america. all by way of letters occasionally written to divers noble personag flecknoe, richard 1656 44086 410 0 0 0 0 0 93 d the rate of 93 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2003-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-09 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-10 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-10 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion relat●… of ten years travell in europe , asia , affrique ▪ and america . all by way of letters occasionally written to divers noble personages , from place to place ; and continued to this present year ▪ by richard fleckno . with divers other historical , moral , and poetical pieces of the same author . haec olim meminisse juvabit . london , print●d for the author , and are to be sold by 〈◊〉 the epistle dedicatory . to all those noble personages mentioned in these following letters . to you , with good reason i dedicate these letters , to whom they were writ , and to whom i have dedicated my self : for whilst others were desirous of pleasures , ambitious of honors , or covetous of wealth , you were all in all to me , all my pleasure , all my honour , all my wealth ; nor had i other desire nor ambition , but of you ; so became i more dese●ving , similitude of disposition best gaining and conserving frends , knowing you were not to be purchas'd bu● by worth , nor conserv'd but by merit . never any man then gain'd more by his frends than i , not without some acknowledgment to mine enemies , ( of whom i should have fewer , if they would be content to stand neuters ) of which sort though i make no mention , yet had i ever some who added sharp spurs unto me of doing well , not to afford them the pleasure of my doing ill : as souldiers in battel , ar most commonly as much encouraged to fight , to deprive their enemies of the victory , as to gain it for their frends . accept then of this dedication , and be still to me as you have ever been , so shall i study still to be alwayes to you as i have been , your , &c ▪ to the reader . gentle reader , t is for no vaunt nor boast that i write my travails ( i esteeming my self ( i can assure thee ) a far lesse travailer now ( having sail'd of seeing the east-indies , and consequently all the eastern monarchies ) than i did when i past over seas to zeland first ) but to satisfie the curiosity of some noble friends , and make honourable mention of others , to whom i am infinitely obliged , ( so thou wilt find whilst i make but slight mention of those , i am most acurate in mentioning these ) nor is it vani●y in me , that i make mention of so many , and noble ones , all that know me , knowing i never willingly converse but with the noblest in every place , finding them still in every respect the best ; besides , since fortune maim'd me , and brought me to my crutches , whom should i rely upon but the best able to support me ? which they the more willingly do ( perhaps ) because i lean so lightly on them , and alwayes strive to afford them some pleasure for the profit i receive of them . and thus much for that , for the following letters , i must advertise thee , that most of those writ abroad are but translated out of the several languages i writ them in originally , nor art thou to imagine them lesse english for that , there being as much difference betwixt the authors translating his own conceptions , and those of an others , as betwixt a prētises copying , and a painters drawing the same piece agen , the one having a dead copy for imitation , the others pieces being all drawn upon the life . for the rest , some faults thou must allow the printer , & some me , neither having bee● so acurate as they might have been , and for all testimony of frends , give me leave to prefix only this following one be●ore my book , qui mihi mille testes erit . to the lord marquis of newcastle . who in answer to a copy of verses of his sent him these following , fleckno thy verses are too high for me , though they but justly fit thy muse and thee , caesars should be thy theam on them to write , though thou 'dst expresse them more than they could ●ight , those worthies rank them in thy wits pure fil● , though homers blush , and virgils lofty stile : for thy poetique flame is so much higher , where it should warm , 't consumes us with thy fire . thy vaster fancy does imbrace all things , and for thy subject ought t' have greatest kings . my lord , i receiv'd the verses you honored me withall , which impose on me a necessity of deserving them , although i do not yet ; to which end i know you writ them ( for 't were ●oo great presumption in me to imagin you flatter'd me ) it being one of the gentlest arts of frendship , laudando praecipere , to praise one for somewhat they are not , to incite them to what they are praised for ; yet must i glory in it , and publish it every where ; since , if as cicero says , laus est laudari à laudabili viro , 't is only true praise to be praised by a praise-worthy man , how glorious must it be to me to be praised by the most praise worthy-man alive ? by one who has the most of the noble man in him , the most of true greatnesse , and who is of so equal a mind in all fortuns , as prosperous could never elate , nor adverse e'r depresse ; no more my lord but the assurances that i shall always be your lordships most &c. i. to col. will. euers from gant , anno 40. the reasons of his going over seas . noble sir , there are divers birds that flie away , when stormes and winter comes , one of those birds am i : for all prognosticks mariners observe of ensuing storms , i have observ'd in england , the billows beginning to swell high , and those porpoic●s which , were the times fa●r and serene , should be i' th' bottom , dauncing on the top. mean time , let your vast and strong built carracks ride out the storm for me , i 'm too weak and slight-built a vessel for tempestuous seas ; besides educated as i am , in the arts of peace , ( musick and poetry ) and your musick of base , superious , and rect●r chori , o●king , peers and commons being all di●consorted , the base neither admitting of master of the quire to moderate it , nor superious to consort with 't , without which , t is rather a loud tumultuous noise , than musick and harmonie : england is no place for me , and for poets , they are well feign'd to delight in hills and mountains , where there are alwayes some eminences above lycurgus valleys , or fields of standing corn , where all heads are equal , england begins to be a place too much overgrown with shrubs and underwoods for me . and thus much for my leaving it . now for my retreat hither , 't was altogether without design ; i , like one who flies an incendium , wholly indifferent whither i went , so i sav'd my self ; and if any thing turn'd the scale for flandres , 't was its near vicinitie to england ; and for gant , because 't is the chief town here , ( whosoever would know any thing , or be known in any place , being ever to reside in the principalst city of ●●e country where he is ) yet did fortune , ( the best director of indifferent things ) dispose it better for me , than councel or d●liberation could ( the directors of things where there is choice and difference ) i lighting hear on a neat town , good air , and excellent company , of the count salazar governor o● the cittadel , his lady , the baron re●●urt her noble brother , the blangelvals , the m●rquiss of libourg● , with divers others of the nobility , extremely curteous and obliging , ( as most commonly they are all , when out of court and competency with others ) amongst these i am daily conversant , there is no feast nor party without me . in all their sports and exercises i must make one , for their games , they teach them me , and make me win , or if i chance to lose , they are as much concern'd as for their own losses , and more than i am for mine . it were too great a vanity to tell you this , if it were not a greater ingratitude to conceal it , and you know ( sir ) i can so little conceal the honour my frends do me , as i publish every wher the honour you do me , in being one of them , as that i have in being , sir , your , &c. ii. to the lord — from gant , an. 41. with the character and epitaph of the earl of strafford . my lo●d , you would not believe me , when i told you which way things tended , and see what comes of it . one of you is brought unto the block already , for whom i have made this following epitaph , to see such heads off , on the scaffold lie , only to keep on th' head of majestie , what is 't , but admonition to his peers , s●ch heads once off , 't is time to look to theirs . as for this following character , because i know my lord amongst your many other commendable qualities , you have this , not to envy others commendations , i send it you withall . the character of the earl of strafford . he was the fullest man of all the eminent parts and qualities of a great minister of state , as england ever bred , and both in cabinet , and abroad , exprest it as fully too ; his unhappinesse 't was , ( or rather ours ) that he liv'd not in happier times ( might have rather admir'd , than envyed those parts of his ) so as that epitaph of adrian the 6th , might well be applyed to him , proh ! dolor quantum refert in que tempora vel optimi cujusque virtus incidat . many envyed him , because few understood him , and 't is almost to be wisht that his prince had not don 't so well , since 't was his overthrow ( so much more it imports the people than the prince be good , they being many , and he but one . ) he was a iewel sit for the crown of any prince to wear , and that his prince well knew , and therefore wore him him there ; but being matcht , and overmatcht too with counterfeit ones , they fearing his splendor should dim and offuscat them , snacht him thence ▪ and cast him into the obscurity of a prison , from whence he might have escap'd , had he preferr'd his life before his fame ; but he had higher thoughts , and look't only after eternitie , and the perpetuating his memory ; so while 't was irreparable losse unto the crown , 't was his gain to die with the glorious title , and high reputation of his princes martyr . nor wanted there as great prodigies at his death , as ever fore-run any heroes yet , all the laws of the land being first subverted , the king losing his authority , and kingdom chang'd into democra●ie , er ' he could die : so as his noble house was more honour'd and illustrated by his fall , than ever 't could have been , even in his greatest rise . and now ( my lord ) comfort your self , if you chance to be the next , that you shall not want one to make your epitaph , and cha●acter at least ; but i rather wish and hope 't may be your elogium , in celebration of your glorious actions . for if things look towards a warr , ( as i 'm affraid they do ) 't will be as well the glory of your judgement to chuse the better side , as of your valour to defend it bravely ; for valour is either virtue or vice , as 't is well or ill imployed ; and 't is hard to determine which is the greater crime , to defend an ill cause well , or a good one ill : you then being of brutus disposition , ( quicquid vult , valde vult ) that is , vehement in all you undertake , i cannot end this letter with a better prayer , than god blesse a good cause from having you for enemy , and god blesse you from being frend unto an ill ; which is the prayer of my lord , your , &c. iii. to mr. henry petre from gant , anno 42. of his resolution ●o leave gant . noble sir , i have liv'd to see the day , when having lost all 〈◊〉 sinc● , i may thank god for having nothin● now , nor did i ever know how great a happinesse ' twa● , till i saw their unhappines●e , w●● are bemir'd and hog●'d in their own l●●● , and bound to the●r countries by the ●ie● of ●●fe and children : for what avails it such to ●●ve their bodies free abroad , whilst their souls are imprisoned at home ? or to flie the miseries of the●r country , whilst they have lef● pledges with fortune there to be miserabl● still ? i speak this in regard of many engli●● here , retir'd ( as they imagine ) from the noyse and tumult in england , whil●● their ea● are as much beaten with it here , and thei● minds as much sollicited and perplex'd , as they were present there . they receiving wee●ly intelligence from their wives , frends and servants there ? this , that his house is plundered ; that , that his tenants refuse to pay their rent ; a third , that his estate is sequestred , &c. when i must make sad faces with them ●or company , or they cry out , i care not how things go . i answer , if my care could remedy it , i should ; and for their losses , i protest they touch me as neerly , and ●'m as sorry for them , as i should be for my own , and if that suffice not , i am sorry nature made me not of another temper and disposition for their sakes ; neither was this any sto●cal indolency in me , who could suffer , nay die for a friend , but yet without trouble and vexation . in ●ine , i 'm so wearied out with this sad sport , as ( not to be made miserable at second hand ) i 'm resolv'd to quit this place , and retire me to antwerp or bruxelles ( for i 'm indifferent for either ) you laugh now at my indifferency , but may i die , or lose your frendship , which is more , if i find it not an immense happi●esse to say with bias , omnia mea mecum porto , and while others by heaping up wealth on wealth , make themselves at last so cumbersom a load of it , they cannot stir for it ; i by reducing all to the narrow compasse of one portmanteau , travel lightly up and down , injoying that liberty , fortune has bestow'd on me , and nature inclines me to , wanting nor wishing for nothing more ( sir ) than your company , being as i am , sir , your , &c. iv. to the lady audley , from bruxelles , anno 42. of his arival there . madam , i am at last arived at bruxelles , where for some time i intend to stay , having by rowling up and down like a snow-ball contracted so many acquaintances , as i am now incompast with them , and in the center of them all . the town is exceeding pleasant , the nobilitie numerous , and ladies generally handsom , more sprightly than the english , and of graver temper than the french ; ( in a word , madam , just like your sel● ) to tell you of their generous actions , ( for i know you love generosity , and they but imitate you in it ) the marchionesse of bergues , mother of those two incomparable ladies , the dutchesse of l●rein , and mad●moiselle d● beauvais , after my first visit , singling me from the company , told me , that since she kn●w those of my country and condition ( as the times went ) could not be so well accommodated , she should take it ill of me , if in my wants i had recourse to any but her self . to whom i answered , ( after my most humble remerciments for so high a favour ) that as i yet wanted nothing : so 't was now impossible i ever should , having the honour of her good graces , which i beseech'd her to continue only , and i should be rich enough . after this , visiting madam berlamont , ( whose very name is story ) she freely and nobly offered me the honour of her table during my abode in bruxelles , where only eat her self , her two neices , daughters to the duke of arschot , and the young prince of arembergh his son , whence you may conjecture how great an honour 't was , but much more by that which followeth . she having the great spirit of the nobility here , not only hereditary , but almost all contracted in her self , not brooking the spanish domination ( besides some p●cque with the infanta ) was banisht the court to her house at audenard , where for some years she lived retired , like a great princesse as she was , till at last ( the infanta dead ) her banishment was exchang'd , for confinement to her house at br●xelles , which she carried so wisely , and so cunningly dissembled at her return , as making vertue of necessity , she reclus'd her self in her own house , as in a monastery , together with her neices , every one the whilst envying her felicity , accompting ●t a point of solemn greatnesse in her , to be visited by all , without obligation of re●v●siting any , and of great happinesse to live so in the world , as she were ou● of it ▪ and so out of it , as she enjoy'd it more than those who were in it , living at vast expence , keeping a noble train and tabl● , wanting no pleasures nor delights a plenteous fortune could procure , or honourable mind could wish , having woods , gardens , fish-ponds , banqueting-houses , all within the incinct and inclosure of the walls , with cooling fountains , where under the shaddow of fresh arbors , she eats all the summer time . and in that state she was , when she offered me the honour of her table , and freedome of her house ; which her noblenesse not suffering my modesty to re●use , imagin madam , what a delicious life i lead , in so noble company , so splendious entertainment , and so magnificent equipage ; which that you may not think too voluptuous a life , 't is requisite you know , that the mornings we imploy in our devotions in the chap●ll of her monastery , into which she has a dore opening out of her house , where on sundays and holydayes is frequent concourse of all the nobler sort , to hear the n●ns musick , absolutely the best in bruxelles , for voice and instrument . you 'll pardon madam , my tediousnesse in relating these particulars , and consider how hard it is to moderate ones self in so great felicitie , which yet i can assure you , without complement , i would exchange , were it far greater than it is , for one day at holicroft , or whersoever you are . mean time be pleased to believe , that wheresoever i am , nothing can change me from being madam , your , &c. v. to mr. edward lewis at the spa , from bruxelles , anno 43. of conve●sation with ladies . noble sir , yours from the spa i received by the last , for your newes i thank you , that of the prince of gaure was welcom to madamoiselle d' arschot , and more to madam bar●amont , who both command me to present their best respects and remembrances unto you . but now touching our quarell . you wonder i am always amongst the ladies , and i wonder , you and all men are not so ; for amongst them , one learns nothing but vertue , high honour and noblenesse , whilst amongst men ( such is the corruption of the times ) one learns nothing but libertinage , vice and deboisherie ; mistake me not yet i mean not all women , but only such you left me with , and madamois●lle de beauvais , whom i look not upon as woman , but vertu 's self ; of whom you remember i said upon another occasion , that she was so wrapt up from our mortal s●nce , in all that 's exc●llent , as one by one unfolding her out every excellence , you never should unto bare woman come . nor mean i all men neither , but only your young gallants of the time , who have little of the court , lesse of the school , and all of the bourdel in them ; who , whilst they learn only to manage the sword , lea●e the ladys in possession of their books at home : and at best , talk of nothing but rampards and parapats , mosquetad● , estramacons , and canonads : so as you have nothing but the noise of drums and trumpet in your head , whilst they are present , and the ringing of it in your ears a month after they are gone . i know too there are bad women in the world , such who have put off woman , and put on impudence ; but i thank god i know them not , nor ever mean to do : so are there many learned and pious men ; but still me thinks they are but men , and have their imperfections . if they be learn'd , they are most commonly too positive and magisterial , and so opiniatre , as none's opinion must be heard , but th●irs . 't is a tyranny to converse with them , and conversation , you know , should be a republique , where every ones discourse and opinions should be free : so your pious men have somewhat in them ( commonly ) of t●e supercilius , rather deterring than inviting to their conversation ; they would have all grave like themselves , without distinction of age nor persons ; every thing is vanity with them , every thing levity : which quality till they sweeten , they are too austere for me . now for your ladies , without noise and quarel you converse with them , there is no contention with them , but in court●sie ; they gentlely give you their opinions , and let you retain your own ; they pursue not contention , but truth , and have no author to maintain beyond it ; their vertue is charming , and honour without boast ; and finally , 't is pleasure , not pain , to converse with them . i grant you , they have their imperfections too , but they are noble ones , and their birth , their education , and the modesty of their sex , makes them nothing , in comparison with those of men ; for example , an oath , an obs●ene word with them is horror and blasphemie , that is but sport and gallantry with men . but what doe i talk of imperfections , having so newly mentioned mad. de b. with whom imperfections the same day are not to be nam'd , and of whom i must make more hast to speak , whilst she is effable , she advancing so fast towards perfection , as she will be ineffable e'r long , and here i must end , since having but named her , i have no more to say , but to admire , and abruptly to tell you that i am , sir , your , &c. vi . to the lord — from bruxelles , anno 44. of his resolution to tra●el into italy . my lord , you will wonder , living so deliciously as i do , so as 't is the general voice of brussels , none lives but i , every day with madamoiselle de arschot and the princesse d'h●ghzolern in the park , singing , and making m●sick at foote of every tree , and head of every fountain , every day in feasts at home , or collations abroad , i can resolve so soon to quit brusselles , having scarcely yet resided here a year ; and you will lay perhaps , ( as others do ) that i am unconstant , fickle , and even aweary of mine own ●●licitie . but i will tell you now , in confidence , my reason for 't . t is no inconstancy , but rather a constancy to my first resolution of ●lying war and trouble , makes me now resolve to leave this country , and travel into italy ; nor could i excuse it to mine own country , should i longer stay here , where the french and hollander betwixt them , wast and consume this country ; just like a taper lighted at both ends ; nor is there any retreat here from the noise of warr and tumult , every place being frontire to some enemy or other ; nay the very walls of some towns ( so narrowly they are prest ) frontire unto both . mean time , imagine with what heart i can behold so many noble creatures ( so nobly obliging me ) suffering under so many heavy calamities , one's territory spoyl'd , an others castles raz'd unto the ground , and all reduc'd by it to such want and povertie , as i heard a great princesse say not long since , after she had reform'd her house and family almost to a fourth part , that she fear'd she should be forc'd to spinn to maintain the rest . yet do they venture lives & fortunes here to maintain their king in possession of his own , whilst better cheap they might be subject to an other prince , and change hands , only by crossing of their arms , and sitting still ( a rare example of loyalty in subjects now adayes . ) italy then , being the only country now free from wars , and the miseries it brings in train of it , thither i resolve to go , in search of that peace all countrys have lost but it . and if you ask me , with what heart i can leave this noble company , i am so much obliged unto ? truly , just with such an one as i should depart with life , or whatever were dearer unto me then it ; nor could i ever resolve to do it , without hope of returning soon again , and some sudden change of fortune . mean time , part of my grief , and resentment of my departure , i have endeavoured to expresse in this following copy of verses , which , cause they are but short , i send you here . absence , that in each soft and gentle mind , with parting frends dost leave a sting behind ; iust like the bee , but with far different fate , thou wounding where thou lov'st , they where they hate : since destiny of things would have it so , what most we love , with pain we should for go ; and that the smart of all lov'd things be such , nothing hereafter may i love too much : so , though i prove less happy by 't , ( 't is true ) i shall , withall , be less unhappy too . this , my lord , if you shall read with some reflexion to your self , you shall do but justice to your lordships , &c. vii . to madamoiselle de beauvais , from paris , anno 44. of his arival at paris . madamoiselle , in complyance with my duty , and your commands , i shall have the honour to let you understand that i am arriv'd at paris , ( thanks to count grancy , who arrested all my company ( except my self ) for comming to gravelling out of the enemies country , without pasport . for paris , what should i say of it , but that 't is one of the greatest cities in the world ? and where there is the greatest disorder ; 't is all hurry , and one spends more spirits with noises here in a week , than he can recover in a years solitude . they accompt their kingdom greater than any three of the king of spains , and so they may this city , then any three of his cities , madril , s●vil , and salama●ca , for court ville marchante , and universitie , not being altogether to be comp●r'd with it . for the rest , leaving every one to admire somwhat or other here , evē to that italian prelat , who admir'd the great aboundance of cooks shops , and alloys of bief . i admire nothing in it ; for he ariving at admiration , who go●s but a step beyond that he knows already , i ( madamoiselle ) am gon a step beyond admiration it self , in knowing you . i dare make no stay here , for fear of being tempted to longer stay ; nor visit any , for fear of ingaging my self in too many visits , the abstinence from things being sar easier than the temperance of them ; wherfore tomorrow i depart for lions , and so forwards on my journy towards italy . of the progresse of my voyage i shall not fail to advertise you from place to place , since you do me the honour to permit me , and esteem me for . your , &c. postscript : my most humble baisemains i beseech you to the lady marquesse your noble mother , to madamoiselle d' arschot when you see her , and all the rest . viii . to the same from marseilles , anno 44. the description of the place . madamoiselle , by my last from paris i had the honour to write unto you , now this is ( if you please ) to let you understand , that the next day i departed thence with the messenger for lions , from thence down the rhosne by water to avignon , and from thence by horse to marseilles all my journey through france being only a bon voyage , or pleasant journey in excellent company , with wines that would tempt a nazareth , and flesh and foul that would deboish a minime . for marseilles , 't is one of the delightfullst places as yet i ever saw , situated in a corner of the mediterranean sea , at equal distance betwixt spain and italy , injoying in a more temperate climat than either , all the commodities of both . the sea tam'd and broken by the force of the opposit hands before it arives unto the walls , flows thither , ( leaving all its rag●ngnes behind ) as gently as any river , when by an in-let entring the port it becomes as calm and smooth as any lake . the town on the left hand of it theater-wise , ( with one house elevated above an other ) seeming situated on purpose to behold the pleasant spectacle of the port ( some two miles about in oval form ) where ride all the french galleys , so evenly rank'd , as whilst their becks like a stand of pikes seem to charge the water , their prows seem to assault the land , and brave the cawsway surrounding all the port , where towards the town-side the ladies accompanied with their gallants walk every evening some ten or twelve a breast , sollacing themselves with musick and conversation til midnight ; nor shall you easily find anywhere in france bandsomer women , better behaved , nor richlier clad , so accostable and free of company and entertainment , as none ( no not strangers themselves ) are strangers there to any : ●o as comparing them with the maritime women of other seas , ( for the most part fowl , ugly , and weather-beaten ) you would easily conclude , 't was only on those seas venus was born . for the town , 't is rather well compact , than great , and more commodious than magnificent , containing about some seventeen thousand houses within the walls , and without ( on the adjacent hills and vallies ) some two and twenty thousand more : so as you 'd imagine them an army of houses in disrout , or the greatest part o' th' towne broke out the walls , their incinct not being capacious enough to contain them all . to these bastids or houses of pleasure , in spring and summer time , ( which is with them almost all the year ) they retire themselves , and passe their time in nothing but sports and jollity , where for more than this fortnight i have past my time amongst the rest , in expecting the commodity of embarquement for genoa . mean time , madamoiselle , be you who are patronesse of my voyage , but as propitious to me by sea as you by land have been , and i shall soon be at my journies end , of which i can no waies doubt , being as i am , madamoiselle , your , &c. ix . to the same from genoa , anno 45. of his arival there . madamoiselle , vvith good reason i imagined my voyage by sea would prove as fortunate as my journie by land , having you for patronesse of either ; we having past with favourable wind , and prosperous navigation from marseilles hither , frighted only a little with pirats on our way , which necessitated us to put in at monaco , where for some foure or five dayes during my residence there , the prince did me the honour to lodge me in his pallace , being a great vertuoso , and not only a great lover of musick , but an excellent musitian . he is really a prince very noble and generous , deserving a far greater principality , it being only a rock or promontory into the sea , some mile about , o'● look'd by horrid cliffs , hanging like clouds or tempests in the air , threatning each moment to fall upon their heads . it has a pretty port , capable of some twenty ships and galleys , which is his chiefest revenue , every ship paying some 3 crowns for anchorage ; yet is his pallace magnificently built , a● ' italian , and richly and nobly furnish'd . and so much for monaco . from whence i imbarqu'd for genoa in the princes own faluque , all the strand of genoa for more than ● hundred mile seeming but one continued town , allowing the interjacent mountains and valleys for gardinage , planted with all sorts of delicious fruit , oranges and limmons amongst the rest , in so great abundance , as their flowers perfume the sea all the way you passe along . ariv'd at last at st. pietro d' 〈◊〉 , the suburbs of genoa , you would imagine that architecture had install'd there all the ra●ities of its art , and given the last proof o● i●s excellency , it being a seminarie of palla●es ; no one plot in the world , for its bignesse , being able to shew so many and so stately , 〈…〉 . from thence passing by the 〈◊〉 po●t into the town , first thing you admire f●r 't is admirable all ) is its mole or wall , forc't all along into the sea to secure the haven , rampir'd with whole rocks thrown in at foot thereof , to break the fury of the waves , in beholding which , you would imagine , that as the giants formerly pil'd mountains on mountains to scale the heavens : so ▪ these threw one upon another to penetrate the abysse . next prospect that takes your eyes , is that of the pallace of the duke ●'or●● , fronting the haven with its gardens , and collosean statuas , making a glorious shew . whence you passe onward towards the city , situated on rising ground , all built of white stone , making a fairer shew without , than it does within , by reason of the narrownesse of the streets . here i no sooner ariv'd , and had ta'n up mine inne , but the marquis philippo palavicino fetcht me straight away from thence , and lodg'd me in his pallace , i easily imagining upon whose accompt it was , when that night at supper the marquesse his mother drank a health to all the flandres ladies , as he himself did afterwards , in a solemn entertainment he made for me aboard one of the states ships in the harbour , together with divers other noble gen●ueses , where whilst he drank your health , ecco reported to land & sea , the fame of the flandres ladies , and the canon unto the skies ; 't were infinite to tell you all my entertainments here , all ( ladies ) to expresse his gratitude unto you , as i in gratitude to him am oblig'd to let you know . one thing i observ'd here , that whilst they glory in being a free estate , even to have libertas written on the arms of the commonwealth , the nobility notwithstanding abuse the common people at pleasure , they having onely the liberty to hang themselves , if they please , for other liberty they have none . whence i see 't is but a meer cheat this popular liberty , the inchantment of the vulgar , and g●ugaw they promise children , to make them good boyes ; yet 't has been , and ever will be the madnesse of the common people to goe in quest of it , as don quixote did of his dulcinea , or sancho pansa of his imaginarie iland or government , which , just like your floating ilands , slips away from you , when you think to set foot on it , and so eludes your imaginary possession , which those who govern them well understanding , they alwaies delude them with that specious name , when in reality there is no such thing at all , the true liberty of the people only consisting in being well commanded , and the magistrates in being well obeyed : from whence results the perfect harmony of kingdoms and commonwealths , which then is disaccorded , when the one deflects to tyranny , and the other to riot and licentiousnesse , the one abusively call'd absolute domination , and the other liberty : from whence finally results those two extreme mischiefs of all estates , by fronto wisely observ'd to be equally dangerous , where all things are lawfull , or where nothing is . but enough of this discourse : and to conclude with genoa , their churches here are most of them richly guilt , marble being their vildest material , their musick very good , but that of their comedys excellent . i ariving here just at the overture of their theater . by my next , madamoiselle , i shall have the honor to write unto you from rome ; towards which to morrow is going , madamoiselle , your , &c. x to the same from rome , anno 45. of his a●ival t●ere , and ●●e overture of some a●●ai●s . madamoiselle , by my last from genoa you understood of my arival there . now this ( if you please ) is to let you understand , how from thence by lucca , pisa , florence , s●ena , &c. finally i am arived here at rome , admiring nothing so much in all my voyage , than that from bruxelles hit●er , having made the tour of c●l●s , 't has cost me only two and twenty pist●lles . next day after my arival here , i visited the duke and dutchesse of boullon , who live here very privatly since the last popes death , with the fall of the barbarins , they f●lling l●●ewise in credit and authority : so they being no frends of her highnesse , ( as you know ) no matter how great enemies they are . one pretty mistake i ran into at unawares , treating him with excellence , ( as formerly i was wont to do ) when ●e pretends ( as since i have understood ) to be treated with altezze , which i am glad of ( who otherwise should be sorry to err in so main a point of civility , in giving an ace too little , rather than an ace too much ) since he treats her altezze with nothing but excellence . i have been also to visit the marquis rene bentivolg●o , who retains still a grateful memory of the curtesy he receiv'd in flandres of particulars , though as to the general he is so little frend , as i 'm inform'd he is taking conditions under france . the marquis matthei i saw too , there being a solemn justing or running at ring and sarazen this week at the cardinal d' estes ( where all the great ladies of rome were present ) consisting of three bolonez , three ferrarians , and three roman knights ; of which the marquis ma●thei was chief of the romans , and bentivolgio of the bolonez , both doing excellent well , adding somewhat of the aire of flandres to that of italy , that made them excel the rest . his highnesse agent in this court i have not visited yet ; thinking it high time , after i have prepar'd my materials , to assemble my workmen for finishing the edifice , towards which one main help i hope to have of cardinal carasfa , newly promoted to the cardinalat . more madamoiselle by the next : now give me leave ( if you please ) to conclude this with my must humble baise mains to her highnesse your sister , my lady marque your mother , and with the assurance that i am ever , madamoiselle , your , &c. xi . to the same , from rome , anno 45. containing an historical narration of the mariage of the dutchess of lorain . madamoiselle , since those who are to inform others ought first to be well informed themselves , you will please to correct me , if anywhere i have err'd in this following narration of her highnesse marriage , wherein , as 't is my duty , i have endeavoured to vindicate the justice of her cause , and declare her innocence . henry duke of lorain dying without issue male , leaving only two daughters , nicole and claude . the count of vandemort ( father of the present duke ) assum'd the dutchie , as next heir unto the house ( by right o' th' law salique , as he pretended ) in deffalance of the masculin line ( the daughters of the last duke but weakly reclaiming ) when more to strengthen the title of his house ( by connecting the branches of either stock together ) he propos'd the marriage of charles his eldest son , with the princesse nicole , eldest daughter of the deceased duke , with protestation in case of his refusal ( well perceiving his unwillingness ) to marry her to the prince of faulxburgh , and disinherit him , when he knowing there was no dallying with his father , of stern nature , rendred more violent by opposition , seemingly assented , and so was forc'd to marry her , yet would he no ways bed her , such an aversion he had from her , til his father perceiving it , ( and knowing he had don nothing , until he had don also that ) he forc'd him to bed her in his presence , taking witnes of it , as his son did presently after of the force thereof ; who though a religious prince , was not religious yet , to that point , to lose a dukedom for want of bedding a lady , shortly after his father dying , he continued still his cohabitation with her , til having assured , as he thought , the possession of the dutchie , they severed at last , like bodies never well joyn'd , having no other issue of their mariage , but nails and teeth ( as one said antiently ) whē he accounting himself free from all bonds of matrimony , ( being assur'd so , by many grave divines , not only of his own , but of others dominions ) after some years sute , & all the precedent formalities of the church , maried publiquely the lady beatrix de cus●nce , princesse of cantacro●x , one of the consider●ble●t mariages then for noble , rich , and fair ( under the degree of absolute soveraigns ) in the christian world , her house having often allyed with that of loraine , and her dem●ins when he maried her ( as i have often heard ) amounting nigh to thirty thousand pounds a year : in which mariage [ celebrated by a bishop in the face of the publick church ] they liv'd some 7 years happily together ( he having fair issue by her ) when a storm was rais'd against them at rome , by the suscitation ( as was imagined ) of his brother prince francis , and the princesse nicole , he ( having espous'd the second daughter of duke henry , by whom he had numerous issue ) for the intrest of his children , and she for emulation , and revenge on her fair rival ; which proceeded so far at last , as excommunication was denoun●'t against them , not to be revok't , till they mutually separating , should submit their cause to the decission of the court of rome . this occasioned many rumours in the world , some allowing no divorce at all , but only by death , ( as if the tie of mariage were like that of the gordian knot , ) others inferring from their long cohabitation , their validating the mariage , when all casuists agree , that no length of time can render that mariage or contract lawfull , which was unlawfull at the first , and that force or metus cadens in constantem virum , ( as they tearm it ) was one of the principal anullers of mariage , nothing being more essential to it than the free consent of the parties . their long cohabitation then was still but the same force drawn out in length : and for their main objection of all , the censure of the church ▪ what should i say ? but many a veritie may be doubtfull , for want of being well explicated and understood , that truth has no greater enemy than verisimilitude and likelihood ; and that the condemnation may oftentimes be just , and the person condemned innocent . this inclosed i beseech you to her highnesse , with the most humble baise mains of madamoiselle , your , &c. xii . to the dutchesse of loraine , from rome , anno 45. touching the state of her affairs . madam , after long poring in the dark , i begin at last to perceive some light in your highnesse affairs here , and to find how his highnesse agents negotiation here , is more to take off the excommunication , than to procure a divorce from the first mariage , or ratification of the last ; and this i came to light of by this occasion : i recommending your affairs the other day to the dutchesse matthei , one who can do all here , his holinesse governing rome , donna olympia him , and she donna olympia . she most readily undertook it , first , for your highnesse sake , next for her brothers , and lastly perhaps for mine , ( i having the honour to wait often upon her ) commanding me to bring my man , and his businesse should be dispatcht . whereupon i joyfully ran to inform his highnesse agent of what had past , imagining he would have run as joyfully to imbrace the occasion , when contrary to my expectation , i found him nothing mov'd with it all , rather surpriz'd , confus'd and interdict , and so cold ( in fine ) as conecting delays unto delays , at last he absolutely refus'd to goe , less he had his highnesse warrant first , whi●h excuse appear'd to me frivolous ; for if he had order to do the thing , ( as now i suspected he had none ) what need he further order to do it well ? this suspition shortly after grew up to certitude , when discoursing with cardinal caraffa about your highnesse affairs , and recommending to him the iustice of your cause , and expedition of the rhota , he answered me , with the prudence of an italian , and franchize of a germain , ( with whom he was nuntius , when i had the honour to know him first ) that i urg'd the expedition of an affair , wherein they should disoblige both the emperour and the crown of france , without so much as gratifying the duke himself , who being the main party , sollicited it not at all ; whereupon i wondred at mine own blindness all this while , not to have perceiv'd , how whilst the emperour embrac'd prince francis intrest , ( who had put himself under his protection ) and the crown of ●rance ( for the same reasons ) that of the princesse nicole's ; his alt●zze of lorain had his interest too , not to set the princesse nicole at liberty to marry with any other , till she were past estate of bearing children , lest some foreign prince having issue by her , might claim the dutchie in their right , to the exclusion of his own house , if not of his own body . this , madam , i could not but represent to your highnesse consideration , that you might perceive how all the world ( not only there but here ) is govern'd by interest and reason o● state , in spight of iustice and innocence . mean time , for my part i can only assure your highnesse , that i have none , nor ever had other ambition , than only ( madam ) to declare upon all occasions how much i am your highnesse most humble , &c. xii . to sir j. s. from rome , anno 4● . in answer to h●s ne●s of the scots comi●g into england . noble sir , i give you humble thanks for your news , and if it were not an homely complement , could wish it better for your sake : since if i be n't deceiv'd , ( as i shall never be , in thinking too well of a scotch pre●byterian ) they come but into england with their arms , as butlers doe at christmas with their cards , to set you a playing , that all the gains may come to their box at last ; for if you remember , they have much to retaliate with the english , both for injuries and benefits ; of the first sort are our often inrodes into their country , and the deadly fewd of the nations ; of the second are our assisting them to change religion , and rebell against their lawfull prince ; now , if they should have a mind to be quit with us , i know not whether t were not better have them enemies than frends . and thus much for your newes . now for ours , i 'll tell you a pleasant passage hapned here about the book you sent , in front or title thereof was a dove , with an olive branch in the mou●h , and the word or motto , holy innocence be blest , ( which if intended by the scots , might better have been a vulture , with its prey i' th' mouth , and this motto , curst be their rapine ) which coming in conjuncture with his holinesse innocent the tenth's assumption to the papacy , whose arms are a dove , with an olive branch in the mouth , 't was interpreted as a prophecy of him , so ridiculous they are , wherefore prethy come up to rome , that we may laugh at them , i being in mighty want of one , as cicero says , cum quo doctè rideam , that may laugh learnedly with me ; for these italians here are such wise men at home , and such fools abroad , as they know nothing out of italy , though they pretend to know every thing : and for the place , 't is a common saying , that to like rome , one must be either very vertuous or very vicious : if so , i am neither , for i swear i like it not . good meat there is , delicious wine , and excellent fruit ; but that is the climats vertue , and none of theirs . give me good company , good natures , & good mirth , & the devil of any such thing they have here , all being for their interest , and conserving their individuums , i never hearing a hearty laughter since i came , nor seeing a smile but from one end of the mouth to th'other . in a word , when you have seen their ruins , you have seen all here ; for all their antient virtues , like their antient structures , are fa●n to ruine : and for generositie and magnificence , it seems to have dyed with the last pope , for now there 's none left alive ; yet do your cardinals ( i 'll say that for them ) live like great princes as to the exterior , with great trains of coaches , staffi●res and other dependancies ; but examine their interior , and you 'll find , while their bodies inhabite whole acres of palaces , their souls in their straight narrow bo●oms are stifled for want of room . and ●hus much for the better sort ; for the other , i must confesse they are the civillest , and farthest from quarrel in the world , ( thanks to their cowardise ) so as saying but con licenza , you may pluck them by the noses , tread upon their toes , or do any thing but touch their money or their wives , and they 'l tell ye , vostre signiorie e patrono . in fine , with the old you shall hear nothing but quattri●● in their mouthes , and with the young putana , yet with all these vices , if you 'll believe them , there a● no where in the world more virtuoso's than here ; for if an ape do but his tricks well , or an ass leap thorough a hoop , they call him a virtuoso strait . but you 'll say this is an odd way to invite you hither ; wherefore i 'll take an other way , and tell you there is no town nor country in the world better govern'd than this , nor where there 's more variety to satisfie the curious , where one of your religion lives more free , nor one of your knowledge better improves himself , ( their very streets being as learned and full of erudition , as others histories ) every wall is a monument , and the stones of more than a thousand years standing , stand up in testimony of their religion , of the truth of which , though there were no other argument , yet t were enough to convince any rational man , that it must needs be that church and religion our blessed saviour promis'd perpetuity unto , since in so great corruption of manners it stands still , and falls not to the ground , while so many others who pretend to more vertue and morality of life , are wholly perisht and decay'd . farwell , and prithy come up ( i say agen ) that we may laugh , for i have great need of it , your , &c. xiv . to the lord marquis camillo bagni , from rome , anno 45. declaring unto him the nobleness of n. my lord , since you did me the honour to make me of your confidence at bruxelles , 't is but justice i make you my confident from hence , and discover t' ye a noble piece of bravery of the admirable person we both admire so much , yee can never admire enough . know then , that i lately receiv'd from madde . b. a letter of exchange , in so obliging terms as none but her own words can expresse them , and therefore verbatim i send them here . sir , i esteem more this occasion than to have found a treasure , as in effect 't is one for to oblige ones frends . you may give this inclosed to monsieur d' armencourt , who will make no difficulty to deliver you the sum therein exprest , neither does he know wherefore 't is , but may imagine i owe it you . i let you understand this , because i know every one is not willing to have these things known . in fine , i deal with you , as i would another should doe by me , if i were in your place . words so nobly obliging , and so worthy of eternal memory , as if ever any thing i write may last , 't will be for having inserted them in my writings , every word that proceeds from her , being a certain charm against forgetfulnesse ; but i forget in the mean time to tell you how i have seen the marquese your sister here , who complains of your forgetfulnesse of her ; whence it seems that charm has rather a particular than a general influence . pray oblige me to let you hear from you by the next , and esteem me ever , as really i am , for your lordships most humble , &c. xv . to count salazar , from rome anno 46. on the taking pi●mbino and porta longona . my lord , i congratulate ( with all my heart ) your new accession of honours , and wish that goulden key you have lately received in mercede from his catholique majesty , may but serve to open you the door to many and greater , &c. the taking of piombino and porta longona hath occasioned many rumours here amongst the italians , to the dis●dvantage of his majesty of spain , to stop the mouths of whom , in imitation of boccalino ( a way much taking heer ) i have made and published this following . lusus hisp●niae , & gal●iae . a spaniard and frenchman playing in italy , the spaniard played negligently , as one who had much to lose , and was too confident perhaps he could never lose it all ; whilst the frenchman like a cunning gamester , knowing all the slights and advantages of play ha●●uddenly won of the spaniard piombino , and ●●●ta longona , he esteeming the one no mo●e th●n a leaden token , and the other but ●nl● a a n●st o● rocks , for a few ships to harbour in : but the italian standing by , who had learnt ( o● the iews perhaps ) to estimate things on another manner ( in detaille , not in g●osse as did the sp●n●ard ) thought it a mighty matter , and wondred at the others negligence , as you might perceive by the often , casting up his eyes , lif●ing up his hands , shrugging his shoulders , and crying out capito ever and anon , inclining toward the french party by degrees , in wishing him good luck , ( as your rooks do always to those who win ) and seeming much to rejoyce in his good fortune ; but seeing no baratta coming in , as when th●spaniard won , his joy began to cool , and he was a little out of countenance , when tha● which put him quite out , was this reproach made to him by the spaniard . thou silly penurious italian , that beginning with quatrius , counts a iuli● thy bloud , a teston thy livelihood , and a crown thy soul , with a heart and brest narrow as thy country , that accounts massa and mo●aco two mighty principalities , & them soveraign princes , the one for being lord and master of some mile of rock , with a port no bigger than a ducking pond , and tother for having dominion of a plain twenty farmers in flandres have bigger fields to feed their oxen on ; and for his marble of carrara , it only shews how hard a country italy is , and how hardly you live in it , when stones are the chiefest revenue of a soveraign prince . thou thinkst me now quit undon ( i warrant thee ) for losing two petty places , they afford no place in the mapp of the world too , allowing no more to your italy it self than a flys wing c●n cover , whilst i am lord of territorys wearies the sun to travel over , nor can he sooner end his journey on them in the west , but he begins it on them in the east agen . get the a greater book for shame , and leave thy hornbook of italy , if thou wouldst not be alwayes esteemed a baby in the world , when thou wilt know this is nothing , and know thou know'st nothing too . mean time , i would thou hadst felt the heaviness of the french yoke thou wouldst so fain bring on thy neck , that thou mightst find by experience how light that of the spaniard is , which tho'w'dst so fain shake off ; so he , when the italian left off his insulting , and the spaniard continued playing till he had won all agen . as 't is the wish and prophecie of my lord , your , &c. xvi . to the princesse of hoghzollern , from rome , anno 47. of his irksom life at rome , and hope he had to revisit flandres . madam , may i not live , if i breath the air of rome but only to sigh after that of flandres , i living here me thinks ( wanting that company i had there ) just like adam out of paradise , among beasts , having lost the blessed conversation of angels ; for what comfort 's in a heaven , where one never sees the stars ? i mean those living starrs i saw in the heaven of bruxelles , without whom me thinks the sun at noon-day is but cimmerian darknesse , for 't is not the eyes , but the mind is cheared with light . whence 't is that i converse more with the dead than living here , ( their antient statua's and pictures i mean , ) and find them ● far the better company of the two . and if for those few months of your excellencies absence in holland i liv'd so melancholy a life , my lute being silenc't , and i never appearing in park but like a walking ghost , or a body without a soul ; imagine madam now how melancholly a creature i am , and how i pine away , so far from you , and so long absent . one thing comforts me , that by all prognostickes both there and here , i conjecture my absen●e now cannot be long from thence : when but conserve for me ( madam ) your good graces , and i shall be more happy than before , the more of unhapinesse i have experienc'd since ; none knowing better the benefit of health , than those who have been sick ; nor rellishing prosperity better than those who have tasted adversity before , as has in being deprived of your sight , madam , your , &c. xvii . to the count salazar , from genoa , anno 48. of the reduction of naples , and some passages concerning it . my lord , of the reduction of naples , i gave you advertisement by my last from rome , from whence i departed just upon the advice there , embarquing in the popes galleys at civita vecchia , together with the marquisses iean baptista , and felice mario , with the marquesse spinelli , recommended particularly to them by the marquesse de buffalo , and treated by them with all noble courtesie : our navigation being so speedy , and prosperous , as in lesse than three days we arrived at genoa ; on the way we met with the duke of tursi comming from naples , who confirmed all i writ unto you , as did likewise your ambassadour signior roncilio at genoa , we conferring letters together , and he making solemn bonfires for the news ; yet do the french report the contrary , the best architectures in the world of false rumours , when it makes for their advantage , as does this , they knowing how 't is only the first reports of ill news , that dismays , astonishes , and disanimates , which if you can divert and damp a while , people are nothing near so struck and startled with it afterward ; which false rumours i tracted from the very fountain , finding them on the friday after , the day before the general postday ; impoysoning with it all the publique places of rome , from whence news is derived , and flowes abroad in the world . the copy of that letter count de ogniato thought fit to make use of , to injealouse the neapolitans , upon the arrival of the duke guise , as written from france intercepted and interpreted , is thus . behold the best sport in the world for us , our enemies fighting against our enemies ; to prevail our selves of this occasion , you must be sure to keep the parties so equally ballanced , one mayn't destroy to ther , but with its own destruction ; wherefore if you find the neapolitan too weak , you may strengthen them with small succours ; if too strong , you may weaken them , with drawing them out in small factions , ever keeping your main design secret , till they be both so weakned , you may easily make an absolute conquest of either ; let the duke of guise then be precautioned by the duke of alansons ill successe at antwerp , in discovering his designs too soon , and allaruming them by it , to unite forces as against a common enemy ; whence i wonder why he proclaimes so loud his descendency from the house of anjou ; enough to waken their jealousies , that he intends to set on foot the title of that house again ; pray let him be advised of it . more instructions you need not ; all being compriz'd in this only , that you look upon the neapolitans as wild beasts , that may be subdued , but never tamed . this published amongst them work't such effect , as out of this letter they sinisterly interpreted all the duke of guizes actions , every thing he did , stumbling them afterwards , just like french posthorses , who stumbling once , never leave running headlong till they be down . thus you see ( my lord ) how little things sometimes ( which history never mentious ) confer mainly to the performance of greater ones ; and the smallest occasions as hinges somtimes serve to turn the world ; no more ; but my most humble service , and best respects to your self , your noble lady , and monsieur recourt , &c. being your lordships most , &c. xviii to the lord thomas somerset from marseilles , anno 47. of his voyage and return out of asia . my lord , i have travail'd farther than ever vlysses did , since i left italy , and had the honour to see you last ; yet write odysses of my travails he that list , for i have nothing of rare or particular to write , but what has been heard of a hundred times before : for that little then i have seen of asia , the isles of the archipelago , the dardanelles , pontus euxine , and the helespont , &c. consult sands , and others travails ( if you please ) where you shall find them acurately and at large set down ; for me , he only say of constantinople , that for an imperial seat , 't is one of the noblest cities i ever saw , situated on two seas with its two feet collossean like , treading on asia and europe , nor did i ever see truer bravery , or greater gallantry than there , every one wearing such various coloured silks , with swelling turbans , and flowing garments , as their streets appear just like tulipp gardens , whilst ours ( with so many's wearing black ) appear just like mortuary houses , all mourning for the dead : here finding no commodity of voyaging farther levant , the seas being all obstructed by reason of the venetian warrs , after some two or three weeks residence , i returned again in a french bottom , and am at last arrived at marseilles , where i am now on point of embarquing for spain on an english vessel having only time from my necessary preparatives , to assure you my lord , that as there is none i am more obliged to than your self , so there is none who can with greater verity say that he is , my lord your , &c. xix to the lord charls dudley , prince of the empire , &c. from lisbon , anno 48. of his sea voyage from prov●nce to portugal . my lord , if he that 's at charges of setting forth the ship has right to the voyage it makes , certainly your lordship has right to the relation of all the passages of my voyage , who was at charges of setting forth the passenger . you may please to understand then , that the same day i parted from you at marseilles , i met at toulon with the captain of our ship , with whom i went to ere 's , where our ship lay at anchor ; nor am i so great a contemner of vanitie , but i confesse i took a little , to find fame , like a harbinger flown thither before me to take up my lodgings ; whilst all the town was taken up for lodgements of souldiers , the dean o' th' chief church meeting me , and knowing me by the same he had heard of me at marseilles , courteously offering me lodging in his house ; the next day the wind turning fair , we imbarqu'd , and merrily sayl'd along the coast of provence , finding the gulph of lyons , so furious to others , as gentle as a lamb to us ; yet had we so fresh a gale of wind , as in 4 or 5 dayes say● we had left the coast of france , catalonia , and valentia behind , and were now where the mediterranean ( like a wide vessel with a narrow neck ) began to streighten a little , betwixt minorca & murcia , when one evening tacking once or twice about to hale up the beck or spur of a galley , driving on the waves ( the relicts of some wrack perhaps ) we might perceive two great ships chasing us , when we needing no more spurs , clapt on all the canvas we could make , and fled away so fast before them , as our chasers perceiving they followed us in vain , gave o'r their chase about the shutting in of the evening , and fell to seaward of us ; when full glad and joyful were we , but 't was but a short joy and gladnesse , for the next morning by break of day two turkish galleys from a nest of rocks ( where they ordinarily sculk , called the collybre on the spanish coast ) made towards us amain , neither could our best defence of flight avail us now , the sea all becalm'd , and winds breathlesse ( as we were our selves for fear , our ship though call'd the hercules being of small defence , since ne hercules contra duos , what is hercules against two ? ) whilst those catterpillars the galleys on their oares , as on so many feet , made towards us a main ; at which we looking about us , ( as people in danger do , who would be glad to run away ) might espy a far off those two ships had given us the chase o'r night , which comforting us not a little , we gave them a warning-piece ( at all adventures ) to advertise them of our danger , when presently we might behold them tack about , and make up towards us , which the turks and we joyntly perceiving , we suddenly chang'd minds ( fear departing from us to them , and courage from them to us ) and they of chasers , now becom our chase , whilst we incompassing them with our three ships , as hunters with their toils doe wild beasts , or so many greyhounds would a hare , gave them a turn or two , now from the spanish shore towards barbary , and now back agen , till at last they escap'd away before us , on the strength of their oars , whilst our flagging sayls seem'd to chide and murmur at the winds deserting them this danger past , we has'd out our boat , and went aboard the other ships , to thank them for their timely aid , whom we found to be two holland men of warre ( the tergo●se , and the lewarder ) part of a squadron whose admiral was in portugal , sent out with expresse commission to scour the seas of turks and pirats , with the vice admiral of whom i presently making acquaintance , he easily invited me along with him to lisbon , ( ● being not secure in the other ship where i was , ) so altering my course from spain to portugal , and changing ships , i began a new voyage on sea , without ever going to land . thence we sail'd along the spanish coast from cap● to cape , escaping a little danger nigh cape de pales of driving on land ) our cable sheering whilst we lay at anchor there , to make provision of fiering in a juniper wood nigh carthagene ) the king of spain being not more absolute lord on land , than we were on his seas , hasing all ships in keen of us , every one contributing somewhat to us of sea provisions , til at last drawing nigh the str●ights , the shore now on both sides affording us a delightfull prospect , betwixt the steep rocks of gibraltar on the spanish coast , and the embattaild walls of zent● , situated on the high mountains on the barbary shore , in less than 5 or 6 hours we pass'd all the streits , and out of the mediterranean sea past into the grand ocean , when steering our course directly towards portugal , within som two days after we arived at cascais in the mouth of lisbon road , where i landed some 5 or 6 weeks after my depart from provence , and took leave of my hollander , who had treated me most courteously and nobly all the way ; neither did i ever meet with any of that nation more a gentleman than he . of his arival to lisbon . and now behold me ( my lord ) safely arived in portugal at cascais , some twelve english miles from lisbon , where the governour ( besides the ordinary vice of that nation , the foolisher the wiser they pretend to be ) would needs play the states-men , and be wiser than the truth , in suspecting me for some spi● , or else come thither upon some great design , and so presently he sent me to lisbon with a souldier along with me , with express order not to leave me till he had deliverd me to the secretary of state , who being altogether as great a politician as my governour , made great difficulty of my stay in the country , till spying my lute , the suspition i was a musician , as clavis clavem pellit , soon drove out of his head the suspition that i was a spy : so lodging me by way of caution in an english gentlemans house , a great confident of the kings , till he might inform his majestie of me ( who being an excellent musician , was covetous of knowing all strangers of that profession ) he no sooner understood of my arival , but he sent for me to court , and was so well satisfied with me , as continuing my lodging in mr. iohn muley's the same english gentlemans house , than which the whole town afforded not more noble accommodation , the next day he sent for me again , where after some two or three hours tryal of my skill , ( especially in the composative part of musick , in which his majesty chiefly exceeded ) i past court doctor ; though don emanuel sa , grand chamberlain to the king , swore 't was rather a tryal for a doctor in an universitie , than a gentleman in the court . after this , his majestie was pleased to assign me a certain cavallier of th' order , to whom i was to addresse my self for audience and accesse to his person as often as i pleas'd . mean time , regis ad exemplum , i was lookt upon with particular regard by all , passing most of my time in mr. muley's kinta , or garden house some three or four english mile from lisbon , whose amenity i cannot better set before your eyes , than in this following copy of verses . where in a vale near tagus golden side , through all the world renowned far and wide , though now for silver waters famed more than e'r it was for golden sands before , circled with fruitfull olives , vines , and corn , a ! pallas , ceres , bacchus , there were born , a kinta stands so situated t'has resort unto ' r of every rurall grace , ( and rurall graces are in summer far iollier than those of towns in winter ar ) whose fairest garden 's planted round withall those trees wee fruitfull and delicious call , as orange , lymon , apricock and peach , ( whose rudier sides do nimphs their blushing teach ) silk animating mulberies , spreading wide , pomegranads , figs , and hundred more beside , under whose leaves the sun-shine all the day delights with dancing beams to sport and play , whilst to its walks each cooling wind dos come , t' asswage the calenture o' th' burning sun . here , whilst i often us'd to make resort , to quicken the dull pleasures of the court , one day my muse ( that ne'r in any place more present to me , nor propitious was , ) appear'd to me in all her best aray , and this to th' kinta's glory bid me say , how all the gardens of th' hesperides , semiram's pensil ' ones , alcinous'es , lucullus's nor seneca's to boot , compar'd but unto this , were nothing too t . xx . to doctor hart at rome , from lisbon , anno 48. concerning some rep●rts of him at rome . deer doctor , there are some places , as some persons , better agreeing with our genius and disposition than others ; and if ever there were any that agreed not with mine , 't was rome , where one cannot stand without supplanting , speak without caution , nor live without extreme industry , all is insidiousness , all shoving and shouldring , and all solliciting , making businesse of every thing , and then following close that businesse ; which considered , 't is no wonder i never agreed with it , nor it with me : nor need i goe so far as the stars with the astronomer to find the cause of it ; for when good fortune falls , i cannot crowd and shove to catch it : i had rather be silent than be solicitous what to say , nor am i busie body enough to have a head fit for businesse , and for industry 't is not in my nature , nor i can no more change my disposition of mind , than my lineaments of body . this i say , to let you know , that as i liv'd , so i came a discontented person from rome , which i declare on every occasion , so 't is true ( what is reported of me ) that discoursing o●e day here with his majesty of portugal , and he demanding of me how atts flourisht at rome , i ( betwixt malicious and merry ) answered , that as those arts his majesty favour'd regis ad exemplum , were the study of the portugal courtier , so all at rome studied the popes arts , which was hording up of money , and nothing else . and though i wonder how his holynesse came to understand this , there being scarce four persons in the cabinet beside the king and i when 't was spoke , yet i am glad he did , it being necessary princes should know , that their better lives live by the breath of strangers , and their fames can no more fly out of their own territories and dominions without obliging them , then they can voyage by sea , or travail by land , without some vehicule to transport them , their own subjects being but as their own leggs , whilst strangers as those ships and montures which easiliest and best can do it . and thus much for that , for the rest dear doctor hold me alwayes your , &c. xxi to the countesse of berlamont , anno 48. where he merrily describes his life at lisbon . madam , &c. i am not yet so heavenly minded , to count all the world a prison , but i no longer admire those that doe , since really , i count my self as absolutely in prison here , in not being able to goe out of this kingdom , for flanders , as ever any did in a common gaol ; for t is not the bignesse of the place , but the restraint that makes the prison , so they are as much prisoners who are in the bois de vincent , as those who are in the dungeon . to describe unto you my prison , and my company in 't ( that you may pitty me ) i am here in lisbon , a city of but 9 or 10 mile about , all built upon hills and dales , rising just like the great billows of the ocean ( when you are in the bottom , and wonder at the vastnesse of one , passing that , you find another as vast to wonder at ) there i have a garden no bigger than your park at brussels ( to walk in , and take the air ) where ther 's all sorts of fruit the east or west indias can afford , or the northern or southern climate of the world produces , figs that make beccoficos of men , and meloons both red and green , beyond their marmal●ds for meltingn●sse ; but alasse , what are these unto your pompions ? now for my company i have none but such , one would be ashamed to keep company withall ; the king here a man of no estate , but only besides the kingdom of ●o●tu●●l and the algarves in europe , lord of two or three kingdoms in affrique , of the western islands , the maderas , the isles of capo verte , st. thoma , the empire of goa in the east indies , and of brasilia in the west , alone bigger than all europe together , poor things god wor , that with good husbanding might only yeeld about 9 or 10 millions every year . now to describe unto you his person , and the queens : the king is an honest plain man , changing nothing of the duke of braganza by being king of portugal ; faring as homely as any farmer , and going as meanly clad as any citizen , neither did he ever make use of any of the crown wardrope , since he came unto the crown ; his ordinary exercise is hunting , and musick , never omitting the first every mond●y , not the second every day after dinner , for any businesse . but for the queen , she has more of the majestick in her , and if she be not king , her ambition 't was that made the king ; she has a goodly presence , a stately gate , and uses the trowel in painting , with better reason than other ladies do the pencil , having an epilipse makes one side of her face reder than the other ( like the sunny side of fruit ) did not her painting make both sides red alike . for prince theodosio her eldest son , he is a pr. of great expectation , learned , and of great wit and courage , of person tall and slender , about some 18 years of age . and this is all madam i can say of their persons , as all i desire should be said of mine , is , that i am madam your &c. xxii to madamoiselle de beauvais , from lisbon , anno 45. madamoiselle , you will wonder , that having seen the court of the world , in paris , rome , and constantinople ; the city of it , in venice , genoa , and lisbon ; the garden , in provence , andaluzia , and italy ; and the paradise of it where you are , that i should now go see the desart and wildernesse of it in affrique and america , the one ( all the coast along ) nothing but barren sand , and the other where i am going ( the brasils ) all overgrown with woods and trees ; and that too in midst of so great desire to return for flanders , as never any thing was more ardently desired ; but when you hear my reasons for it , you will absolve me , madamoiselle , i 'me sure of legerity or change of resolution . b● pleased to know then , that just upon point of my embarquement for flanders , understanding of the losse of the battail of lens , i thought it no ways fit to render the joy i hop'd to conceive at sight of my friends in flanders abortive by their general sadnesse there ; wherefore casting about for some diversion for a year or so , till your losses might be recovered or forgot , there opportunely offered it self unto me , the voyage of brasil , which having propos'd unto the king ( without whose permission no stranger can undertake that voyage ) his majesty not only gave me permission , but 200 crowns aiut a de costa for my voyage , when a hundred other considerations began to encourage me to the undertaking it ( besides the ardent thirst i had of voyaging , which nothing but the whole ocean could quench ) first having seen so many rarities of the brasils in portugal ; i thought it worthy my voyage thither to fetch you some of them . ●ly . according to the antient expiation of fire and and water , i thought it fit to passe whole oceans , and the torrid zone , before i approacht unto your presence . 3ly . having somewhat in me of the philosopher and astrologer , i imagined it richly worth my journey , to see the stars of the other pole , and nature of the other hemiphere . and lastly my desire of seeing all the world is so insatiate ( whether the more one sees of it , the less he is satisfied , or that it satisfies so much , as one has still a desire of seeing more ) as just like another alexander , not thinking one world sufficient , i am seeking another forth ; mean time ( madamoiselle ) your goodnesse will pardon this presumption of mine ( who ought not to stir out of one room into another without your permission ) that i dare presume to goe out of one world into another without your licence , being as i am madamoiselle , your , &c. xxiii . to the same . anno 48. of his sea voyage from lisbon to the brasils . some week after we set sayl at lisbon , we ariv'd at the madera's ( one of the affrique ilands ) where landing at funchal ( the chief city , or bishops seat ) we were kindly entertain'd by the merchants there , contending in hospitalitie who should first lodge and entertain us , ( as the manner is , where provisions are plenty , and strangers rare ) here we staid some 4 or 5 dayes feasted and regaled every day , and presented at our departure with the rarities of the isle , they making the best confectures in the world , both for dry and wet , sugar growing there in great abundance , and their wines surpassing for generous all that ever i tasted yet : when prosecuting our voyage , after a few dayes sayl we had a sight of the canaries or fortunate ilands , where under the pick of teneriff we lay some dayes becalmed , it being one of the highest mountains in the world , all green unto the top , and of so equal an ascent , that those of babel might have innocently built their tow●r there , secure from deluge , and did it extend itself a little higher , one could not imagine a more pleasant nor easier passage unto heaven . from thence we say●'d along the coast of affrique , towards the islands of capo verte , which we past without touching at them , the air being generally held unwholsom , but at that season infectious ; after which , steering our course westward towards the brasils , and once past all comerce the land has with the sea , of common air , and repercussion of waves , &c. we had the pleasantest voyage as could be imagined , no storms , the winds ( which surely on those seas blow all from land ) hardly having breath enough ( for the long voyage they had made ) to fill our sayls , and the air so pure , as in comparison with the pleasure of it there , it seemes a●paine to breath on land , where the air is stuffing , suffocating , and noisom , tainted as it passes with ordures and filth , ( there being few countryes like arabia , affording more sweets than stenches ) whereas that of the sea comes purely ( as it were ) drayn'd and purified by the sun-beams , as it passes to the sence . then for other pleasures , you have none on land , but we had some at sea to equal it ; and to begin with the most incredible , hawking and hunting . ( besides fishing ) we had perpetually for more than a moneth together . our ship being all incompast with dorado's or shining fishes ( somwhat like dolphins ) hunting the flying fishes , which you might see on top of the water , fluttering to escape , and the dorado's bounding to overtake them , till being hard pursued , and so near prest , as they were in danger to be ta'n , the poor flying fish would get on wing , and flying one danger , incurre another ; for a slight of sea fowl ( call'd booby's by the english ) followed us all the way hovering in the air , in expectance of their prey , seeing the flying fish on wing , would stoo● at them , and each one singling out one , flye them to a mark . then for fishing , our mariners had but only to choose out their dorads ( as a good woodman would a dear ) and strike him straight with his fisgigg ( or dart with many barbed heads ) never failing of their cast , and this furnished us with fresh fish all the time , it being excellent meat , short and crisp like our salmons , and much like them in bignesse ; which being ta'n , strange it was to behold the curious colours of its scales , fading by degrees , as death won on life , ( just as the skies colour does when night comes on ) till quite dead it became all black , with good reason , it putting on mourning for its death , whose life had cloath'd it in such rich and glittering colour . an other sort of fish we took call'd the shark or tuberon , black and great as a porpoise , with terrible long teeth , huge wide jaws , and so ravenous , as at a bit 't would snatch a legg or arm away of any it found swimming in the sea ; these have certaine little fishes called the pilot fish , cleaving to them so fast by a fynn o' th' top of the head , you can hardly separate them by any force : they have great heads , some spann long of body , and are excellent meat . nor wanted we the pleasure of gardens too at sea , the ocean ( for many hundred miles from land , and many miles together ) being all cover'd over with a certain green , so thick as the ship could hardly make way thorough it , with many gridiline flowers besides like our crocus's , rendring it a most delightfull spectacle . then for other prospect , do but behold the rising and setting sun , and you should see a hundred several forms and figures , like your scenes in masques and playes , with lights behind them , reflecting them to the eye , and betwixt light and shadow , setting them off more resplendently to the view . for other commodities and delicacies you have on land , we wanted none , our great cabines being large as your chambers , our beds as commodious , our decks spacious as your galleries to walk in , our kitchin our sellars as well furnished , heards of swine , flocks of sheep , and pullen of all sorts aboard , perpetually feasting , nor wanted we musick to our feast , ( besides an excellent set of trumpets ) the mariners having some fiddles amongst them , to which they often danc'd to delight the passengers . and thus sleeping , eating , drinking , and recreating our selves , we made our voyage secure from storms , secure from pirats and enemies , till making land about capo st. augustine , we might de●cry some 3 or 4 sail which knowing to be hollanders of fernambucca , and not willing to encounter them , we steered to seaward again , being that night overtaken by one of them , who allarumn'd us as if their whole fleet had made after us , appearing on every side of us with fiers on his main mast , and about the wast of his ship perpetually burning ( as a call it seems for his companions , if any were in sight ) sayling away in the morning to find them out , and returning towards evening , ( ever endeavouring like a kite to snatch away our carvel and pattachio , which lay like chickens close under our wings ) till at last , about the height of baia , it left us , despairing to meet any of their fleet higher up , when holding on our course for the rio , and sounding all the way , we found it a bold coast , some 35 fathom all the way , with neither flats nor rocks , so passing by capo frio ( so call'd from the excessive cold there , though under the torrid zone , and the climate on either side be exceeding hot ) at last we arrived before the mouth of st. sebastians haven , where under a little isle we cast anchor , having in lesse than three moneths , deducting our stay in assrique , made the voyage almost to the antipodes , of 4 ships ( as we were ) and more than 4 hundred men , losing only one man in all the voyage ; and here let me cast anchor too , er ' i prosecute my voyage . of our arrival to st. sebastians , or the rio de ianaro in brasil . whilst we lay h●re at anchor , our mariners angling , took certain f●shes about the highnesse of roc●ats or gurnet , which they call cunny fishes from their resemblance of our cunnies in face ( but only they wanted ears ) with bellies all white and chequered , which swell'd just like blown bladders , when they had lain a while panting on the hatch●● , these were rank poison , as the portuguez assured us , the sea being full of divers other venomous fishes , which renders the water unwholsom , as i experimented my self , when bathing me in it , i came out all faintish and ill-dispos'd , accustom'd to come out of other seas more strong and vigorous . mean time advertisement being given from the fort unto the town of our arival , they ( perceiving us to be frends ) sent divers boats and canoes forth to welcom us , and bring us aboard all sorts of fresh provision and fruits of the country . their midsummer being our mid-winter here . amongst the rest , having pilots sent us to conduct us in , we weighed anchor towards evening , and with a gentle brize or gale from seaward , blowing constantly every night from sea , as every morning it does from land . we entred the bay betwixt two mighty rocks some mile assunder ( the one ( from its form ) call'd the sugar loaf ) when having past the fort some mile or so , beyond the entran●e of the bay , we discover'd the pleasantst prospect in the world for natural landschap , of the rio or lake some twenty mile or more about , all tu●ted with green islands , some a mile about , some more , some lesse , the town situated on the left hand , some 2 or three mile beyond the fort , where was safe harbour for many hundred ships . here ariving , and going on shore , i found a lodging prepar'd for me , by the fathers of the company , with two molato's or mungril negro's to serve me , with my dyet from their kitchin , just against my lodging , whether by order from the king , the recommendations of the governor ( who came along with us ) or the charity of the good father i know not , but certainly 't was so extraordinary an accommodation , as no money could have purchased the like , there being no innes nor pensions to lodge or eat at , as with us ; all who frequent those parts being either merchants , who lodge with their correspondents , or seafaring men , who lodge aboard , never any man like me before making that voyage merely on curiosity . of brasil in general . brasil , as 't is confined by the ocean on th' one side , and the rivers of amazones and de plato on th'other , is a vast continent , and far bigger than all europe , the climat is hot and moist , by reason of the aboundance of rain that falls there continually ; yet are there no rivers at all in the country ( but only those it is surrounded with ) from whence any watry vapours should exhale . it has only some 4 or 5 ports by which you may enter into the country , all the rest o' th' shore being impenetrable , by reason of rocks , and inextricable woods , for many hundred miles together , the countrie seeming rather reserv'd for the habitation of men hereafter , than ever to have been inhabited heretofore ; and one of these ports was that we now entred . of the town . the town of st. sebastians is situate in a plain some mile in length , bounded at either end with rising hills , the inmost towards the lake inhabited and inclos'd by the benedictins , and the outmost towards the sea by the fathers of the company ; upon which hill was formerly situated the antient town ( as the ruins of houses , and the great church , yet remaining , testifie ) till for the commodity of traffique , and portation of merchandise , 't was by degrees reduc'd unto the plain , their buildings being but low , and streets not above 3 or 4 , the principal regarding the haven . behind the town is a great plain some two mile over , part of it bushy , part woody , and part medow ground , beyond which you find a country so wholly different from ours , as there 's not a tree nor plant , bird , beast , nor any thing you ever saw in europe to be found , and to speak somewhat of each one in particular . of the country . the country is for the most part●all o'r-grown with wood , which the soyl , unforc'd since the creation of the world had produc'd without culture , amongst which are some trees of such vast bignesse , as th'ar above 7 or 8 fathom in diameter , and 70 or 80 high , of which they make canoes , or trees hollowed into boats of 2 or 300 tun . as for the brasile wood , by excellency taking its denomination from thence 't is but a shrub in comparison with the other trees , much like our bigger sort of hawthorn trees . the country i● naturally hot and moist , by reason of frequent rains ; whence in many places , where the moisture settles in the bottoms , you have medow grounds , some 20 or 30 mile over , ( seeming abandoned by those trees , for not being firm enough to sustain the weight of their huge vast bulks . of the fruit trees , and plants ▪ for fruit trees , besides wild limons , which grow every wher in great abundance , the bonano deservedly claims the first place , it being a tree that from the root grows yearly up to the heighth of an ordinary pium or cherry-tree , and much about that bulk ; t is all green , the body being nothing but a collection of the leaves , which spred out towards the top , and fall like plumes of feathers , each leaf being some 6 foot in length , and 2 in bredth , on top of which , the fruit grows some 40 together in a bunch , in husks like beans , all yellow when they are ripe , the fruit of colour and tast much like our apricock , but much more firm and more delicious . for their caijus , it is a sort of tree of the bignes of our ordinary apple-trees , the leaves like chesnut leaves , and fruit much like the bigger sort of green figs , fastned to the tree in lieu of stalk , by certain chesnuts , which roasted are excellent meat , the fruit eaten whole , melts all away to juice , exceeding cooling and refreshing , excepting certain strings which hang in your teeth , so tough , you cannot swallow them . the guaver is a certain tree about the same height and bignesse , the fruit is round and green , like to our nectarins , but crusht , you finde a round red pulp within , about the bignesse of a bilyard ball , eating like so many strawberries moulded into a past . another sort of fruit they have call'd mamons , growing like great green pears , some 20 or more in cluster on the top of the tree , never ariving to the maturity of being eaten raw , but they make a good conserve . limons , oranges and citrons they have in great excellence and abundance ( which i suspect to have been transplanted thither at first ) and limas of a mixt sp●cies , betwixt the orange and limon , all round , with a bunch on the top , of a drier tast , & mor eager douce than either . another tree they have , of whose root dryed , and the moisture prest out o● it ( which is rank poison ) they make their f●ri●a de pan , as they call it , which they use instead of bread , when fresh and recent , t is like the crums of wheaten bread , and when stale , like pownded oatmeal ; by every ones tr●ncher they lay heaps of this , and though bread ( made of corn , brought from portugal and the western isl●nds ) be neither scarce nor dear , yet most of the inhabitants r●ther eat of that . but above all , the ananaz is one of the deliciousest plants the earth did e'r produce , it growing like an ar●●c●oke , the leaves thick and sharply indented , like those of sempervive , thistly on the top , with a rind all scaly like the pine-apple , which paring off , you find the fruit of the bignesse of an ordinary m●loon , of a golden colour , and distinguisht in●o cells , like oranges , which slicing and eating in wine ( as 't was affirm'd of m●nna ) every one finds ▪ that gust and tast in 't , he is the most delighted with . meloons they have too , both yellow and green , far better than those of europe ( though transplanted from thence perhaps at first ) and boratos in as great abundance as turnips and carots are with us . to conclude , another tree it has called the p●nto , which though no fruit tree , yields them more profit than all the rest ; growing most commonly in moist places like our willow , the body growing cane-wise , distinguisht by several knots , out of whose poory sides , the branches issue forth in round , with their several falls rendring it so many stories high ; of a delightfull green , body and all , whose le●ves being thick and filmy , they use to sleave and spin to what finesse they please ; the grosser serving for h●mp , the middle sort for flax , and the finer for silk . of their beasts . for their beasts they are all strangely different from ours : the coty has some resemblance to our hare , but bigger , without ears , and its back parts ending more bluntly towards the scut , and of a redder colour than all the rest o' th body : the tatoo is , not much unlike our lesser sort of swine , but 'thas a more swag belly , and longer snout . pigritas they have , so called from the slownesse of their pace , so monstrous , as no devil can be painted more horrible and ugly , all scally like the rhinoceros , but more serpent like , going so slowly , as it scarcely advances a pace a day : ounces , tigers , & leopards they have too for wild beasts , and for ●●me , sheep , swine , goats and oxen ( al● imported ) and breeding there in so great abundance , especially the latter sort ( which they nourish both for food and service , to turn their sugar-mills ) as the fathers of the company have for their share ( not far from the rio ) more than twenty thousand all grazing in one pasture . bu●iis or apes , they have in great abundance , most commonly all black with white faces , their tails in spire , turning inward , they smell sweet , and when they have done any mischief , will so hugg you , whistling lamentably with their mouths , as you cannot but pardon them ; but above all , the prettyest animal nature ever made is the saguin , about the bignesse of a little squirrel , with long shag mains , and bushy tails , of golden colour ( most commonly ) fac't and handed like a black-more , with small singers and smi●king countenances ; peeping or squeeking like a cricket when it craves , so as could it be but transported ( as 't is so tender and delicate , it commonly dies on change of air ) all your island sho●ks , and bollonian dogs would be banisht ladies laps and chambers , and these be their sole minions and favourites . of their fowl . for their fowl , they are all so beautifull in comparison with ours , as we may well say , nature learnt her colouris there , when she painted them ; and that for birds , whilst those of arabia are call'd birds of paradise , brasil may well be called the paradise of birds . amongst the rest the arara is a certain bird about the bignesse of a goshawk , seeming a whole garden of tulips , every feather being of a several colour , which beheld in sun-shine , even dazle your eyes , they are so bright & glittering ; of these i had one i taught to speak like a parrot , but in so grosse & big a tone , as you could not abstain from laughing to hear it ; an other bird they have call'd a canada , differing from the arara only in colour ; its back and wings without being all azurine , and breast and wings within of golden yellow : others all jet black they have , with a stomacher of aurora colour , borthered with crimsen , others again all scarlet . in fine the ordinarest bird they have , is the parrot , of which they have hundred sorts ; the parrachitos about may coming thither in flocks , just like starrs in other countries , and are sold as cheap , & eaten as ordinarily as they . with the rarer sorts of all which beasts & fowl i had my chamber furnished , during my stay in the country , as sanguins one or two , which i always carryed along with me , calling them my pocket lyons , out of which at meals they 'd come , and on either shoulder one , take meat from my hands and mouth , of my kindnesse to which , i had an arara was so jealous , as it never left importuning me with its caresses , now looking me in the face , and talking to me , now climbing up my back , it being a good-natur'd bird , having only this ill quality , to be alwayes pecking and tearing with its bill what ever was next it , which makes your frugal portuguez , or wholly banish them their houses , or provide them iron perches to exercise their beacks on . many other sorts of animals i had , which all perished by sea , my sanguins by change of air , my arara's drown'd , on which i made this following epigram . since thou so like unto the phoenix wert , in shape , in colour , and in every part , that so unlike should be your destiny , that should by fire , thou shouldst by water die . of their insects , or lesser sort of animals . for their insects , a certain little crab or crevish they have , no bigger than beetles , earththed in banks of sand , as cunnies are in burroughs , with one claw far bigger than the other , which makes them turn whirling about , as other crabs motions are retrogred : another strange insect they have the portuguez call lobedio , or praise god , as for some admirable thing , as indeed this is ; it being a certain animated stick , like the end of some small twig , some fingers length , out of the joynts of which there grow out leggs by pairs , on which it crawls , like walking tressles , nor can you perceive any other life it has , nor any other part of living creature ; as eyes , mouth , &c. i finding one of them crawling on me as i walked forth into the woods , which tyed with a thrid , and fastned to a bough , i kept long time in my chamber , not perceiving any sustenance it took , often peircing it , to find if it had any sence ; it alwayes crawling in the the same manner about , until at last it vanished , i know not how ; but that which molested me most of all , was a certain kind of anima●ed dust , which insensibly ingenders to worms in your feet as big as magots in a cheese , which unless they be carefully extracted , leave each one the seeds behind of a hundred more ; these was i grievously tormented with for a month together , so as i could not stir , but as i was carryed in a hamatta ; nor did i ever know before , how near confining pain and pleasure was ; ● , at their first ingendring in my feet , being assaulted with so fierce an itch , as 't was the greatest pleasure in the world to scratch it , which presently was succeeded by so intollerable a pain , as i never remember to have felt the like . of the salvages , or natives of brasil . of the natives or inhabitants what shall i say , but if , as iohn baptista de porta says , every nation has resemblance to some certain beast or animal , certainly these brasilians are most like asses , dull and phlegmatick , in servitutem nati , and only fit for to●l and druggery , which is the reason nature perhaps provided that country with neither horse nor asse , nor any beast of carriage or burthen besides themselves , yet are they rather squat than robust , with broad bodies , and little leggs , small eyes , of sallow , sickly complexion , ill featured , with black and greezy hair , nor curl'd nor dangling , but flagging ill-favouredly about their ears , going for the most part all naked both men and women , with only some rag to hide their privy parts , which you would never desire to see , you ar so disgusted with the rest , they being all christians , but such , as put me in mind of that sentence of holy scripture , homines et iumenta salvabis domine , that the lord will save both man and beast ; for surely they are both , having not wit enough to commit ingenious vices , nor temperance enough to abstain from brutal ones ; and thus much for those who live among the portugals , betwixt which and the other savag's i imagin there is as much difference as between wild beast and tame ; neither can i believe what is reported of their fiercenesse , though all that is reported of their ferity i do , as their eating one the other , and having not so much as a word in their language , signifying nor god , nor king , nor law , for were they so fierce as 't is reported , certainly they would never have yeelded their country up so tamely to the portugal , nor suffer them to enjoy it so quietly as they do ; but to return to my tame salvages , i hired 4 of them for a journey i made by land , to carrry my hamatta , whilst tother two ran lacqueying by , which was on this manner . your hamatta is a certain cotton net about the bignesse of a blancket , drawn together at each end , and fastned by a strong line to a cane as big and long as a colstaff , carryed on their shoulders , where you sit or lye in what posture you please on a boulster or pillow , far more easily than in any licter ( the portuguez men having a negro carrying a parasol or umbrella to shadow them from the sun , whilst the women are shadowed and defended from publique sight , by some rich coverture thrown over the hamatta , with two negro maids going by their sides , to help them up , and put on their ●hoppinas when the net 's laid down , and they rise to go out of it to any place . in one of these was i carryed some twenty miles a day , more or lesse , ● according as the way was more plain or mountainous , covenanting with my savages for a small matter in money , besides my finding them dyet , which was only a little farina de pan ( or bread made of the root of a certain tree , as we have said before ) for the rest they rather finding me , for to our farina we had ordinarily no other meat but fish , of which at every plash of water where they came ( but casting in their hooks ) they took enough for twenty men , when we presently made fires upon the place , and broyl'd them , eating them aftewards with the juyce of wild lymons , growing every where in the woods ; and this , with water for our drink ▪ was all our sustenance , and for our lodging at night , we hung up our hamattas betwixt two trees , and there slept till morning , only along the coast , in that tract which the portug●ls have made to travel by land from place to place , you sail not every second day at most to find some r●ss or country farm of the portuguez where for your money you are well accommodated with all sorts of pullen and fruit . one pleasure i had in passing through the woods , was to see the trees full of apes and parats , ( as if they had born no other fruit ) one chasing another with such noise and chattering , you could not hear one another speak , and you should see those apes which had young , with 2 or 3 claspt about their neck , or hanging on their back , which they went thus luggering , till they waxed big , to catch which , the natives would shoot the old ones with their arrows ( with which they are the best mark men in the world , considering what clouterly bows and arrows they shoot withall ) when the old one tumbling down , the young for want of exercizing their legs , had not th' addresse to runne away . of the commodities of the country . from my voyage , i will return to speak of the riches of the country , chiefly consisting in their sugar , which when i have named , i have named all ; not that it wants others , but that it can want no others , having that , since that country which abounds with that commodity which all others have need of , can never want any commodity which others abound withall . for the rest , it produces neither corn , nor wine , nor salt , which i attribute not so much to the difference of the climate , as some politique reason to keep them with that necessary dependency on portugal , to vent their commodities , and prevent revolt . now for their sugar thus it grows , and thus 't is made ; their sugar canes are prun'd to the heighth of standing corn : nor need they other culture , but every second year to cut them close by the roots , as we do osiers , when against the next year they never fail to spring up agen , the flaggs of which canes are of a pleasant green , and shew a far off just like a field of corn , which being ripe about the month of iune , they joint them in pieces some footlong , and carry them to the mill , turn'd by oxen , or water , consisting of two round cylinders , about the bignesse of mil-posts , plated with iron , which turning inwards , and joyning as close together as th●y can meet , so squeez the canes in passing through them , as they come out on th'other side all bruzed , and dry as keques , which were all liquid before ; which liquor is conveyed by troughs to certain caldrons , wher 't is boyl'd , still retaining its amber colour , till powr'd out at last into their forms or coolers , with a certain lee 't is rendred white ; and in these mills ( during the season of making sugar ) they work both day and night , the work of immediatly applying the canes into the mill being so perillous as if through drousinesse or heedlessnesse a fingers end be but engag'd betwixt the posts , their whole body inevitably follows , to prevent which , the next negro has alwayes a hatchet readie to chop off his arm , if any such misfortune should arive . of the starrs , and heavens of the other hemisphere . i will conclude this treatise of brasil with a word or two of the starrs of the other hemisphere , garnisht with many constellations wholly unknown to us , of which the cruciero or crosse is the principalst , consisting of 5 or 6 stars of the first magnitude , as bright as any in our hemisphere ; whose brightnesse , as with a foil , is set off the more by a great black cloud that 's continually under it , as is the whitnesse of the milky way rendred more perspicuous , by a streak of black in the midst of it , tending towards the same constellation ; both which , as also another great black cloud on th'other side the milkie way , i observ'd at my being there , for more than six months continually : whence i concluded , 't was the natural complexion of that sky ( as ours is blew ) to have much part of it black , which perhaps renders the people of that climat far more melancholy than ours , which black clouds i much wonder none ( as i know of ) has observ'd besides my self , especially since there ar 2 white clouds not far from the cruciero appearing always in the same posture and figure , so generally observ'd and known , as they are call'd nubes magellanicae , from magellan , who first discovered them . and thus much for brasilia may suffice ; in which , if i have been too long , you will perceive at least , i have made al hast i could away . there being nothing in the country , besides the satisfying my curiosity , that could invite me to longer stay than whilst the fleet was preparing , which in the beginning of august , the 8th month after our arival there , was ready to depart , i being to imbark on the adm●●al don rhoderigo d' alancastro , who nobly invited me to dyet and lodge with him in his own cabbin . xxiv . to the reverend father john pererio of the society of j. in brasil , anno 50. reverend father , t'il i can do 't in deeds , you will please to accept of my thanks in words for al your noble favours in brasil , by whose curtesie t was that i not only lived there , but that my life in all my voyage has been prer●●gued ever since ; for non vivere , sed bene vale●● vita est , you know : and i can assure you i never far'd better than i did on ship-board with the general drn roderigo d' alancastro , to whom you particularly recommended me , who lodg'd me in his own cabbin , plac'd me at his table next himself , and not only made me companion alive with him , but would have don 't in death ●oo , ●f there had been occasion , ( as we imagined , on sight of another fleet , which afterward proved frends ) when putting a rapier in my hand , and arming me with a rondache or shield , he bid me ( if we chanc'd to fight ) keep alwayes close to him , that we might live or die together . so as ( my dear f. ) whilst others oblige as 't were by chance , you only have the art to do it , by linking benefit thus to benefit , till you make such a chain of it , as he must be most ungratefull should not alwayes remaine your thrall ; but that which your modesty will not hear from me , i hope shortly you shall hear from the king himself , whom i have informed since my arival of the many favours i received from you in brasil , chiefly for his sake , next to god ; nor have i limited my gratitude only to this place , but i have written also to rome , that i might repay your curtesies the sooner , the more i should call into contribution to the debt , of which letter behold the copy . ad eminentissimum card. fra. barba . anno 50. post suum ex brasilia reditum : eminentissime domine , ex quo soed a illa tempestas nuper in anglia exorta me quasi naufragum in alienas orbis terrarum oras ejecisset , ego , ac si omnis terra mihi patria suisset , vel polius nulla , magnâ p●r●ê europae peragrâta , atque nonnulla asiae , affricaeque brasiliam tandem in america cogitavi , quo à nobis remotior ●o propius ●●men notitiae admoturus . after which exordium i proceed , and say , that though it abound in many things ; and that a gold mine has lately been discover'd there in the territory of st. pauls , and a veyn of emeralds nigh sancto spiritu , yet i esteem more than any gold or pretious stones , the planting of the christian faith , ( i having no w●ere seen learning and piety more flourishing than there ) chiefly by the industry of the fathers of the society , who converting those barbarous people daily , whilst they exercise their bodies in cultivating the land , do cultivate their souls for heaven . i will conclude , by telling you how our voyage was so prosperous all the way , as for more than 3 months none of our 22 sayl ever lost sight of one another , til nigh the western ilands ; or ti●rcieros ( where i only with our purser went ashore , the generall suffering none else to stir ) our fleet was so distipated by fowl weather , as only 7 of us entred lisbon road together , the rest comming afterwards dropping one by one , excepting 2 or 3 catcht up by the hollanders , and one or two lost : and this is all i can tell you of our voyage hither : besides which , i have no more to say , but only agen & agen to iterate my many thanks unto you , r. f. rector , f. vas●o●cells , and all the rest , with the assurances that i shall alwayes be your r. &c. xxv . to the lord — from lisbon , anno 50. of some discourses in portugal . my lord , being return'd from my brasil voyage , my next is for ●land●rs , whither i tended in my thoughts , even whilst i tended farthest from it ; they like compasses having one foot fix'd in that , whilst the other compast the whole world about , for which whilst i expect an embarquement , i cannot better entertain my sel● , than by en●er●aining you with some passages here ; be pleas'd to know then , that discoursing the other day with one of the greatest in this kingdom about our affairs of england , ( which have so chang'd face since i left 'em , as i should hardly know them . i having been so remote from them , as the blow of that fatal axe which took the kings life away , was not heard there till six moneths a●t●r ) they thereupon vilifying the supreme authority , imagining none great enough , that is not monstrous , and that to reign courteously , is onely to reign at curtesie of others , and not rightly understanding that of our parlament ; i to rectifie their understandings in either , told them first , that the right institution of the parlament of england was so far diminishing the royal authority , as on the contrary it rendred it , but the more absolute , whence they were deceived , who imagined the parlament there an imperious maister , as 't is in some countries , or an abject vassal , as it is in others ; it being rather in nature of an humble frend , to advise and counsel as often as was requisite for the kingdoms good ; that there are some things which like the wheels of chariots , or wings of birds , look like burthensom ; when indeed they are but helps to support and lighten the burthen , and one of those things was the parlament of england ; not so much an embarasment to the royal power , as an expediating and faciliating it , not so much to limit the regal authority , as not to leave it altogether limitlesse , that its bounds was like that of the ocean , boundles , but for its own conservation , that the king could do all things , but ruine and destroy himself and his kingdoms , an impuissance so far from imperfection , as is that of almighty god not being able to sin , which is on the contrary one of his most god-like attributes . in fine , that the king of england was one of the potentest kings in the christan world , but with his parlament omnipotent , and that without that he was but one 't is true ; but that without him nothing . for the rest of our affairs , his religion had rendred him more intelligent ; and he could say , that as 't is not then when the house falls , that the ruin begins , but when some main pillar or foundation is neglected , the want of maintaining which , draws on the ruine of all the rest : so 't was not now the ruine of the royal authority began in england , but then when the schism began ; when that foundation of monarchy , p●r me reges regnant , was so shaken and weaken'd , as it has stood wavering and tottering ever since . that the spiritual and temporal monarchy are that murale and antemurale , fortifying one another ; neither could the one more subsist without the other , than the walls of a town without its bulwarks and outworks can defend it self . that so the king , in taking the ecclesiastical authority upon himself , did but like him who foolishly took his horse on his own shoulders , and fell to the ground with 't , whilst he vainly indeavoured to carry that , whith should carry him ; and so we see all had fayl'd in their ends they propos'd to themselves in that preposterous change ; the king in establishing a greater authority , the bishops , or spiritual lords , in imagining they should grow more absolute by the ejection of abbots ; and the lords temporal by the ejection of bishops afterwards , all but making way for their own ruine ; nor were the commons to imagine they had much mended their mercat by it ; since whosoever cheaply fells another authority makes but the market to buy his own : so we see since the first change of that religion , wherein england had continued flourish●ng more than a thousand years , how 't has been hurryed from one to an●t●er ever since ; it being as impossible things div●rted ●rom their pristine institution , 〈…〉 which by long tract of time they h●● been accustomed , should afterwards stand firm and stable ; as for the needle o' th' compasse , diverted from its north , to cease its restlesse motion , till it return unto 't agen . thus he , which how truly , the event o● things will shew : for my part prep●●'d ●or ●ll ev●nts , when i am in flandres , if there be any s●ttlement in england , and subsistence for an honest man , who loves to be quie● , and let others be so , i may see it ag●n : i● not , i have learnt how wide the wo●ld is , an● to esteem every place for my country , w●●re i may live quietly , and withou● molest●tion ; which humour and disposition ( my lord ) i know you will not dislike , in your lordships most , &c. xxvi . to mr. john mulys , an. 50. worthy sir . the courtesie i have received in all my voyages from those of your noble prosession , especially from your self , obliges me in gratitude to the publishing every where of this following character of an english mercha●● reside●● in sor●in pa●●s . he is one , who goes abroad with a stock of honour , as we 'l as mony to traffick with , and manages either bravely , being a master , and not a slave to wealth , and such a master as honours it by his commands , making it only serve to noble ends . he neither sticks at trivial exp●nce nor gain , nor anticipates poverty for fear of being poor ( like those who kill them●●lves for fear of death ) nor accelerates it by vain glory of appearing rich ( like those who guild o're ruinous palaces ) but look in his accomp●s and ware-house , and you find him a wealthy merchant , but look in all the rest of his house and family , and you find him a noble and gallant minded gentleman . in brief , he neither starves the chanel with penuriousnesse , nor exhausts the spring with prodigality , but has a particular art to keep a full stream still running , and the fount still full , so as we may well say of him in these dead times , that there is none lives but he ; who whilst greatest landed men are outed of all they have , as long as the sea is open , is sure of his coming in : to conclude , he is the honour of his nation abroad , and therefore his nation should be very dishonourable and unworthy , should it not alwayes honour him . for the rest ( sir ) you will please to know , that about a month after my departurture from lisbon , and embarquement at set●val i arrived in holland , the travailing through which by land , from the texel to amsterdam , from thence to utrecht , dort , and so to antwerp , &c. cost me more than all the sea voyages i made in all the four parts of the world beside , and land too , since i left italy . they will imagine this a paradox , who know not that all my other voyages cost me nothing ( which by computation in four years only , had cost me more than 2 or 3 thousand crowns ) if the accommodation i had with princes by land , and admirals by sea , could have been purchased with money , to say nothing of the entertainment i found by merchants every where ; of which now i say no more , but only that i can never say enough . in fine ( 〈◊〉 having compleated my ten years voyage , i am now arrived at bruxelles , as stones to their center , and elements in their sphere , wanting nothing of that requiescence which every thing enjoys in that which it most desires , where i remain sir , your , &c. xxvii . to the dutchess of lorain at berseel nigh brussels , anno 50. the description of the countesse of berlamonts funeral . madam , yesterday were the obsequies of madam berlamont celebrated with all magnificence in her own chapel , hung all with black velvet , bordered with cloath of gold , the hearse in like manner with a coronet and canopy , the holland bishop officiated , all the privy councel , and magistrates in crops assisting , together with all the nobility , her two nephews , the duke of arschot , and prince of gau●e the chief mourners ; but the prince the more officious of the two , as most concerned in her testament , father mallyard made the funeral oration , indiscreetly enough , who whilst he excused her for not intermedling with state affairs , accused her the more , there being some incurable wounds of fame , which like soar eyes are but made worse with handling , nor wanted there positive vertues enough to praise in her , that he should need to seek out negative ones ; but 't is the vice of your petty orators , to o'rpasse familiar and obvious things , & seek out uncouth and abstruse , thinking they are never eloquent enough , till they are extravagant . the ceremonies o' th' chapel performed , the prince of ga●re and i in manner soly accompanied the corps into the vault ( perhaps the only true and real mourners there ) where i complemented him , in telling him i wisht with all my heart all his misfortunes buried in the same grave with her , and he answered that he never had , nor could have a more sensible one than the losse of her . in fine ( madam ) it were no ill complement to your highnesse ( i imagin ) to wish all your enemies buryed in the same grave too ; she having nothing i ever dislike in her , but her enmity to your highnesse ; for which sin god forgive her and i doubt not but he 'll forgive her all the rest ; i having been always of opinion , that somes obliging vices ar better than others sowr and austere vertues , learning of that fryer in comines , to pray alwayes for those who do me good , and for me , your highnesse knows the many obligations i had unto her , so great really , as all the joy i had of living in flanders had been buried in the same grave with her , had she not left your highnesse executrix of it before she died ; so madame having rather gained than lost by the exchange of the hand , i may the more truly say now , that i am solely and absolutely your highnesse most &c. xxviii . to the same . apprehending danger from the inflamation and rediness of the princesses eys . madam , i am so concern'd and sorry for the princesse maladie , as did i apprehend the least danger of it , i should not be now alive to tell your highnesse so ; but i am so far from it , as whilst doctor forges is busie with the rest , consulting the remedys , with half the consultation , i 'll tell your highnesse the cause of it , ( when the malady is half cured they say . ) first then , the rednesse of her eyes is nothing else but as the blushing of the morn is to the day ; and no wonder that aurora should precede , the fair sun-shine her eyes promise ; next 't is but iustice , that those eyes which are to inflame so many , should first experience what t is to be inflam'd themselves ; that she may say with dido , she has learnt to pity others by her own harmes , &c. besides by her drawing green taffaty curtains over them , i suspect some design of keeping them for reliques ( as the manner is ) if so , i desire she should understand , that there are some things ( 't is true ) are more esteemed and reverenc'd the lesse they are beheld ; but such as her eyes are , the more they are beheld , are ever reverenc'd and esteemed the more . how ever , to morrow i shall not fail to come and pay my devotions at her shrine , when if she look well upon me , i shall esteem my self highly blest ; mean time , i desire she would esteem me for the humblest of her votaries , and that your highnesse would hold me for , madam , the humblest of you honourers and admirers . xxix to the same . merrily describing his journey on foot from berseel to brvxelles . madam , yesternight e'r i reacht bruxelles i was sufficiently punisht for my unmannerly ( or rather too mannerly ) refusing your highnesse coach , the sudden rain having rendred the ways so slabbery , and me so dirty , as i can assure your highnesse it put me more in mind of adam's clay than a hundred as●wednesdays with its memento homo's could have done ; i having more on my shooes than went to making the first man , and one might have planted more salads on them than would serve madamoiselle de — s little houshould a year at least , so as my feet were like nebuccadonozors image all of clay , and they had like to have cost me twenty quarrels in coming hom . the master of the brick-kills had like to have quarrell'd me for carrying away all the clay upon my shooes he had been preparing and making provision a whole week of to make in bricks ; and a spaniard lookt grim and furly on me at the gate , for carrying away so much of the kings highway on my shooes ; at my entrance into town , i might have had two pence for it of an ale-wise for stopping bung holes , and a moulder of images bargained for it to make his moulds of . but he who made most profit of it , ( next to the shomaker ) was your good frier terminarius of berseel , who meditating on his way , how adam in state of perfection , of clay was made made man , at sight of me fell on another conceit , how man in state of imperfection was made clay . in fine , madam , all the profit i can make of it , is to learn how i go on foot again when i may have commodity of a coach , and not to refuse any thing that is offered me . xxx . to the lord duke of buckingham . in praise of berseel a castle of ma●am●iselle de beauvais nigh bruxelles . my lord , there are certain moments and ravishing minutes like the divine extasies of saints , we should desire might always last ; and if our lives were all of the same piece with them , how happy should we be ? one of these in my opinion ( and i doubt not but i have your graces suffrage ) was that we had tother day at berseel , when may had put on its best attire , the day its sereuest countenance ; madam the dutchess was never more pleasant , your grace in better humour , nor my late in better tune . for berseel it selfe , i could not at my return but give it this character : that 't was the only remains o' th' terrestrial paradise , the world being still ther in its first innocence , the tree of 〈◊〉 only wanting to make them live perpetually , the air being so pure , as heal●h has made there its constant residence : and sickness dares not come within the sphere of zeph●rus breath , who has taken possession of the territory thereabouts , and suffers no wind to blow there besides its self , whilst the liquid christal of its silver moat serves both for mirour to its lofty buildings , and the wood nymphs too , who with little sports and cupids on every tree , in fresh revelry every day , pass all the year . the genius of the place is alwayes sprightly , and the spirit of may is alwayes there . in fine , 't is an academy of nightingals ; and the bees , those little huntfeasts of flowers , sind no where better , nor more abundant store , than there , where flowers grow every where , and crop but one , and strait seven more spring up in place of it , whether 't be the goodnesse and fertility of the soyl , or the vertue and fairnesse of the hand that gathers them ; heaven having priviledg'd this place , with that happinesse above all others , that it should never fall , but into the fairest hands of the universe . thus i ; but this i know ( my lord ) comes short of your idea of it , whose quick imagination goes far beyond all others expressions , wherefore i 'll leave this theam , and come to that other of the reason why after madmoiselle de b's letting bloud there was found so equall a mixture of bloud and water , as the nicest sense could not distinguish it ; for which , whilst we were solliciting our muses till after midnight , and could not obtain any reason of them , behold that mine gave me next morning . of this so just and equal mingly of water and bloud , what should the reason be ? but only this , being forc'd to part from her , each drop of bloud for grief did shed a tear . and now ( my lord ) your grace is oblig'd to admit of this reason , or afford a better ; which i know is as easie and natural to you , as 't is to me to be alwayes your graces most , &c. xxxi . to madamoselle de b. anno 50. the reason of his leaving bruxelles to wait upon the dutchess of lorein into the country . madamoiselle , the roman stories make mention of a certain lady so nobly constant to the afflicted , as when her husband had cast her father into banishment , she left her husband , and follow'd him ; and when her fathers faction ( afterwards prevailing ) did the like by her h●sband , she followed him agen , and lef● her father ; and i should more praise this disposition , if it were not mine own , i having followed the queen mother so , as now i do her highness , that they might see , i follow'd not their fortunes but themselves ; nor is it vertue , but interest in me , who love the good graces of those i am with , above all the benefits they can bestow on me ; of which your princes are then most liberal , when they have nothing to bestow on you besides ; so there is somwhat me-thinks in great princes , as in the sun , that makes them the more regardable the more they are eclips'd , and somwhat more venerable in ruined palaces , than when they are intire . i speak not this ( madamoiselle ) with any reflexion on her highnesse fortune , but on mine own disposition , who was pleas'd to say publiquely , when i had resolv'd to wait on her into the country ; that none ever running at the ring was more sollicitous to carry away the prize , than she was to carry me away from you . in revanche of which i can assure her highnesse , that none ever having gain'd in prize some precious jewell , was more carefull to conserve it , than i shall be the honour of her good graces . mean while think not , ( madamoiselle ) that i leave you for her ; but only hope to serve you the more in serving her ; you being so good a sister , as i know you prefer her contentment to your own , or rather have no contentment but only hers ; to which if i shall confer any thing , 't is all the ambition , as 't is but the duty of madamoiselle , your , &c. xxxii . to monsieur laurins , lieutenant civil at gant , anno 50. noble sir , i have finished my little circle of the world ( incompassing only the borders of asia , affrique , and america ) and am return'd to bruxelles , the point where i first begun , remaining much unsatisfied ( the while ) that i took no greater compass ; yet was i rather wanting to the opportunity , than the opportunity to me : the count d' averos ( newly made vice-roy of the east-indies at my return from the west offering me the like accommodation with him thither , as i had with don roderigo d' alancastro ( who had maried his daughter ) in returning from brasil ( that is , my diet and lodging with himself ) ( to which the king would have willingly assented , and munificently contributed ) which , with many humble thanks i refused then , and if i repent me now , 't is because i weigh it without the same circumstances which then turn'd the scales , ( the extreme l●ssitude of one voyage , and danger of th'other ) not one portugal ship of three returning safe from that voyage , whilst not one in ten of the hollanders ever miscarries , the doubling the cape of bona esperanza being onely dangerous at some seasons in the years , which season they never avoid , ( by their own confession ) so unwise men , or so ill mariners they are , not better to know to time their voyage , or trim their ship ; but enough of voyaging : and now 't is time for me , like a ship safe return'd to harbour , to carine and rest awhile , and tempt fortune no longer , since quem saepe transit ●●sus aliquando invenit , not one in a hundred ever having been so fortunate as i , nor ( perhaps ) did i live ● hundred years , should i ever be so fortunate again , i never knowing what danger was by l●nd , nor stormes by sea , in 8 years travelling by one , and two years voyage by tother ( so rare a felicitie as ( perhaps ) none could ever boast besides my self ) so are there certain conjunctions which never but at certain periods ( like ecclipses ) encounter , as was this to be defrayed and entertained , where e'r i went ( in manner ) at the publique cost , like some publike ambassadour ; one chief reason of which i imagine to have been my indifferency of travelling to any place where i had not been before ( those who bind themselves to a●y one course ●n particular , renouncing to for●unes concurrency to all the rest ) yet let none ever hope the like advantages , that are not signaliz'd by some remarkable qualities ( as i was by musick , &c. ) there being somewhat in art ( whilst exercised in no mechanique way ) above fortune , that makes princes more favour those t●at excell in t'one than t'other , they looking on t'one , as their subjects , but on t'other , as their companions ( there being no superiority in art as there is in fortune , but the best , not the greatest carries it ) this you should see now sir if you were at brussels , where whilst others far richer than my self are kept at distance , i am admitted to such a familiarity with those grandees , as some admire , some envy , and all emulate , all which honour i should not glory in , if it were not accompanied with that of being sir your , &c. xxxiii . to madamoiselle de b. anno. 50. of language . madamoiselle , since you honour me so much to permit me to entertain you weekly ( or oftner ) with our occurrences , and my meditations here , and please to give me the hint sometimes of the subject i am to treat of , as now you do ; be also pleased to understand that for languages , t is to embarque without bisquet , or travel without viaticum for any to travel , or undertake a voyage without the language of the count●y , where he goes ; for a shift ( t is true ) one may have recourse to their country men in forein parts , but that is but a kind of begging to be understood , and travelling in forma pauperis ; and as you must seek them out in corners , so must you confine your self to corners while you converse with them ; for my part i account it altogether as necessary for those who travel to make provision of language● as of money , & therefore i never travail any wh●●● , but 〈◊〉 provide me with furniture 〈◊〉 of ●anguages for so vast a room , as those 〈◊〉 ●ries ● travail through : and if you demand of●●●e which language i found the most l●rge an●●preading , and of greatest latitude and extension , the best way to answer you , is to give you first the plane of the room , and next to let you see the several pieces of languages to furnish it . first then for french it serves you thorough all fland●rs , spain , savoy up to italy ( exclusively ) as through the neitherland up to sweadland , denmark and poland , the other way ) where almost all the people of quality speak french . then for italian it serves you not only through all italy , but sicily , malt● , and almost all the isles of the ar●hipelag● and medditerranean sea , up to constantinople , where your language begins to change , and fails you in travel●●ng further levant ▪ wherefore to return back again , it serves thorough all dalmatia , and b●yond the venetians territory up to austria , where t is spoke commonly in the emperours court , as almost in all the princes courts of g●●many . now for spanish it not only serves you thorough all spain and portugal ▪ but along all the coast , and the isles of a●frique to the brasils , and either indies . for dutch next , it not only serves you in germany , switzerland , the low countries , denmark , sweadland , but every where by sea , which is as properly the hollanders country , as any land they or any other nation inhabit and possesse ; and lastly for latine and english ( to tell you true ) they only served me to stop holes with ; the english language out of our dominions being like our english money current with much adoe in neighbouring countries who traffick with us ; but farther off you must go to banqu●ers of your own nation , or none will take it of your hands . and for latin , it being no where a vulgar language , but the sacred and erudite tongue , take even the clergy and schoolmen themselves ( whose proper language it ought to be ) out of the church or schools , and you cannot doe them a greater displeasure , than speak latin to them , so as it rather serves to interlard other languages , than to make an intire meal of discourse , and but upon great necessity is never to be used . and now i 'll tell you an observation or two concerning languages , e'r i end this letter ; and the first is , that ( almost ) all the languages of europe , are originally derived from the two main fount●●ns of the almain or latine tongue , the italian , french and spanish branching from the last , as the low dutch , d●nish , english , &c. from the first . the next is the influence they have , according as their countryes , border and con●●ne one upon another , or by flux and reflux of trade ; the italian for example being more current in turky than the french , for the first reason : as the french ( for the second ) is more current than the spanish there . the last is concerning your subordinate languages , as the walloon and liegois to the french , the portuguez to the spanish , and scotch to english , &c. all which understand you in speaking the chief or master language , but not o' th contrary , and all these your master language says use but their old absolet words , as servants wear their masters old garments , but they ( too proud to acknowledge this ) say rather , that as old men keep constant to their old fashions , whilst their sons refine dayly upon them in bravery , and change for new , so the plainesse of their language , is but an argument of the antiquity thereof . to conclude ( madamoiselle ) 't would be difficult for me to tell you which of these languages serv'd me most in travelling about the world , were not the french that i have the happinesse to converse with you in , whom i esteem above all the world besides , to that therefore i must give the preeminence , and subscribe as i do this letter , with the assurances that i am madamoiselle , your , &c. xxxiv to the same . of the pronunciation o● several languages . madamoiselle , in my last i discours'd t' ye of several languages ; now if you please i 'll treat of their several pronunciation , and withall make a lazy apology for my pronouncing them so ill : first then for french , you know the queen-mother would never suffer them to correct me when i err'd , saying , that if they taught me to speak well , she should want the sport of hearing me speak so ill ; and betwixt the latin , span●sh and italian there is so little difference in most words , as what betwixt negligence and unadvertance , assured to be understood , though they pronounce them ill , sew are carefull and curious enough to pronounce them well ; besides their similitude is so great , as ( like twins of the same parent ) one hardly distinguishes them , which , similitude as it facilitates the understanding of them in general , so it renders the pronunciation of them in particular more difficult , so as i ( for my part ) count it as hard to speak pure and without mixture , as 't is for your water drinker there to spurt several liquors out of his mouth , without confounding the tast of bear with vinager , or aquavitae with wine , &c. besides to one ( like me ) who regards more the matter then the words , and the words then the pronunciation ; and are of opinion that there is no supreme excellency in the world ( besides only in your self ) i count it as great trifling in him should seek to rid and weed his mouth of all impropriety of some words ▪ and mispronouncing of other ( in speaking other languages ) as t is in him should go about to sweep an earthen floor too every g●ain of dust , or rid a garden from all its weeds , quod ere nascitur , vix evitatur , that which i● c●●●atural to a thing being impossible to be av●yded . suffice it then , that speak as well as one can other languages besides his own , unlesse from his childhood he has been train'd up in them , in which case they are as natural to him as his own , and he sha●● speak with the allowance of a stranger still ( it matters not much , whe'r'● be a grain or two more or lesse ) let me then understand a stranger language , so as to make all i hear or read in it mine own , and speak it so as i may be understood , and let whose will take the bootl●sse pains to pronounce it well , and have the reputation of an affected traveller for me : to conclude ( madamoiselle ) i shall never envy him who tells you in finer language than my self , that he is your most humble servant , &c. but 't would inflict me much that any one should be indeed more than i am madamoiselle your , &c. xxxv . to madamoiselle de b. of fame . madamoiselle , considering the mighty elogiums and magnificent prayses that has ever been given to fame by all kingdomes and republiques on th'one side , the airinesse and the fabulousnesse of it on th'other side , it makes me half suspect that there is more of policy than reality in the thing ; for who would doe great and noble actions ? who would expose their lives for their countries ? if somewhat beyond their lives did not excite them to 't ? if the memory of what they did were terminated with themselves , or that memory nothing appertained to them when they were gon , hence 't is , that this is used as a spur to incite men unto vertue ; 't is fames trumpet , that encourages men , and edges them to valor , and the sound of this like that of meltiades trophies to themistocles , is still resounding in our ears , and animating us to great and noble actions ; but if ( as i say ) we examine on th'other side , the frivolousnesse of the thing , we shall find our selves impos'd by antiquitie , and conclude with that greek , who taken with the voice of the nightingal , and imagining it some mighty thing , pluming it ( for curiosity ) and seeing what it was , cried out , vox est , & praeterea nihil , that 't was a voice , and nothing else . for first , if we consider the fame of writers , ( in which the fames of all others are included ) both in its duration and immensitie , ( for these two , forsooth , they promise you , shall never be terminate , and alwayes permanent ) if we consider , i say , unto how small a part and portion of the world their fames can penetrate , how few understand their language , and how few of those who do , can read it , and lastly how few of those who can are curious ; surely instead of painting it with wings , we might more properly paint it with plumets at the heels , and in lieu of imagining it flying about the world , we may imagin it rather pent up , and fluttering about some narrow bird-cage or volary : so as 't is as great a folly and vanity to imagine what we write in our language , or any other crudite tongue whatsoever , can make any ●ar progresse in other countries , as to imagine the sound of a cymbal , or little tinckling b●ll could be heard over all the universe . then for the duration or perpetuating of it when i am dead , what avails that me , or how can it more rejoyce and delight me , than musick playd at my tomb or monument ? when i am nam'd , who remembers what i was ? or when those are dead that knew me , who reflects upon my person hearing me mentioned ; give me then fame alive , and take whose list my fame when i am dead , which at most , is but as the eccho of dying voices , or the perfume of expiring odours , rather shaddows than substances , and not so much as pictures , which terminate at least the imagination to certain species and resemblances . and if any one object , by this opinion all incitement to vertue and to noble and heroick actions is ta'n away ; i absolutely deny it , and affirm that the fame we enjoy alive , and our countries and families after our death , is sufficient incitement , and encouragement enough : so as to conclude , i must answer you , madamoiselle , demanding what fame is , as that antient did him , who desir'd to know of him what god was , that he would tell him on the morrow ; when summoned of his promise , he demanded two dayes respite more : and so went multiplying time and delays , till being prest at last , he answered ingenuously , that before he thought of it he imagined he know it , but the more he thought of it , the lesse he knew of it ; and here ( madamoiselle , ) before i conclude , that the worshippers of this fame may not think me atheist , i have made this following hymn , here to its honour , to acquit me of impiety . fame that from great & noble actions coms , as pretious odours from arabian gums , the shadow that from brighter vertue flows , and follows it along where ere it goes , the eccho of great names , the walking spright , and ghost of mighty men , the tripartite division of us , when we 'r dead and gon , and nothing left of 's here , but thee alone . when heaven our soul has ( where it never dies ) the earth our bodies , fame our memories ; since only thou 't is mak'st our memories last , nor can oblivion ever draw so fast her curtain or 't , as thou 't undraw't agen , to shew the fairer portrait of 't to men . to whom , fair daughter of eternitie , should we commend our selves and works , but thee , through whose sole benefit 't is , if we survive , long as ther 's worlds , or men be left alive . xxxvi . to madamoiselle de clerque at gant , anno 50. wherein he declares the life they led in the country . madamoiselle , my indeavours have not been wanting , nor ever shall , to maintain that good intelligence betwixt her altezze of loreine and you , who often mentions you with much honour and tendernesse , and the ofter perhaps for my giving her the occasion , she always honouring me with that complacency , to prosecute willingly that discourse which i begin , we often wish you here , and to incite you to visit us the sooner , i 'll tell you how we passe our time . the mornings , having finished our devotions , about an hour before dinner we have a little consort of viols , lutes , and ghittars , which we often vary , together with our pieces for more variety ; neither the dutchesse , princesse , nor i , but play our parts on all , and if madamoiselle de beauvais be with us , as oftentimes she is , they sing 3 parts , to which i play the base , nor shall you anywhere hear more excellent voices , nor airs more excellently sung ; having dined , and some one or two hours past in pleasant conversation ; if the day be fair , we goe abroad in coach to take the air , a second coach following , and some horse , besides the princesse in side-saddle , who takes much delight in her little pal●rey , and rides excellent well , though not above 12 year old : from our journey , which never ends without some banquet or collation , we return about sun set , and dance court and country dances , some hour or two before supper , our company of women dancers , or ladies of the court being strong , but of men weak , unlesse some noblemen of brussels or englis● gentlemen come over to us , as ordinarily they doe : after supper we either play at cards , or at the sports of wit and laughter , and all sorts of petits ieus , which ended , the dutchesse and princesse retire to their several appartements , and each one to theirs , we having one main advantage here , to be free from the tyranny of clocks , which tells you peremptorily what hours you must rise , eat , and go to bed at , whom you must punctually obey forsooth ( as sheep go to pasture , or hens to roost ) whether you have mind or appetite to 't or no , or y'ar disorderly and irregular ; an order and regularity fitter for monkes and friers than seculars , for slaves than freemen ▪ and for knitting women than ladies , if you like this life ( madamoiselle ) do but come over to us , and you shall have your part of it , and find the dutchesse ready to welcome you , and me most ready to wait upon you , who am madamoiselle your , &c. xxxvii . to madamoiselle de beauvais . the vices of evil tongues arraign'd . mad●moiselle , i know not how you got the secret ( but i 'm sure you have it ) to charm ill tongues , and so stop the mouth of mesdisance , as whilst every one ( almost ) speaks ill of others , every one speaks well of you ; is it because you speak ill of none ? and give none occasion to speak ill of you ? but they can doe it without occasion , and when you give them none , can take it of themselves ; or is your high vertue above the reach of evil tongues ? but nothing in this age is above their reach , who are so curious of finding fault , as where their eyes fail them , they invent new prospectives , to find spots our even in the sun it self ; or is it lastly , a certain majesty in your person , that daunts and aws them to reverence ? what ever it be , i must admire and congratulate your felicity , and professe my self as glad of 't , ( being to speak against the vices of evil tongues ) as one would be in a strange country to find out one that understood his own language . purposing then to arraign those vices , i have chosen you for judge , the only impartial one i know of , that is not complice with the criminel . first vice then i intend to call unto the barr , shall be mocking , ieering , and derision , rather abuses than crimes , and next the more criminous ones of calumnie , and detraction . of mocking , ieering , and derision . mocking , ieering and derision , may be defin'd a malicious publishing of others imperfections , with intent to render them ridiculous , ( for if it be their vices , 't is reproach and contumely , and done on purpose to render them odious , ) and 't is lawfull in no case , but only when imperfections are affected , to laugh them out of them ; whence 't is good when us'd for physick , but when only for poison , 't is detestable . however , it becomes none but buffoons , and under pain of becoming ridiculous ones self , none is to endeavour to make others so . it tends to enmitie , if it proceeds not thence ; ( for the faults of those we love , we seek to hide , and never seek to find fault with any , but those we care not for : ) mean time , whilst they imagin they shew their wits , they but shew their folly by 't , and want of wit , none more foolishly purchasing enemies , than they ; it being as great a folly for a iest to lose a frend , as to sell ones horse to buy him provender . 't is a dangerous vice too , being commonly the occasion of quarrel , ( whilst it touches men where th' are most sensible ) and therefore none but women may safely use it ; which is the cause ( perhaps ) why now adayes more women ar tainted with this vice than men . and if you mark it , their mocking and jeering at others , is principally for not being fine gentlemen , and a la mode ( forsooth ) they learning by looking on their glasses , to looke on nothing but superficial things ; ( having more regard to the discomposure of ones garments , than of their manners , and the disorder of their hair , than of their mind ) and for such as these , your blunt man marrs their mirth , his not being put out of countenance by 't , putting them out of countenance themselves : such an one was our countrymen sir roger williams , an excellent souldier , but a blunt courtier , who coming to court after the losse of sluce in flandres , and being jeer'd for it by the ladies , with is this he that deliver'd up sluce ? pray let 's see him , a doughty souldier no doubt he is . answered them brusquely , yes ladies , i am he ; and on so good conditions , there is none of you ▪ but would have deliver'd up your sluces too . nor did he spare queen elizabeth her self , when waiting long at court to deliver a certain petition for arrears of pay , and the queen not willing to see him , he one day encountring her where was no avoyding him , she , to put him out of countenance , feign'd to smell some evil savour in the room , crying nicely out , fogh , what a stink 's here ? williams , i think it be your boots ( said she ) that smell so . no by — said he , 't is my petition ( madam ) i have kept it so long , e'r i could get it deliver'd . but to return to our subject . there are divers sorts of derisions and mockery ; some by whisper , others more openly ; some before ones face ; others behind ones back ; some finaly by laughing out-right , and others ironically , and by dissembled scorn : of which , that of whisper is commonly the most offensive , which , whilst it takes away all place from reply , leaves place to imagine the injury greater than it is ; whence , whilst the affront perhaps regards but one , the offence of it extends it self to all . your publique way of jeering is most dangerous , and your secret more base and cowardly ; above all your ironicall one does the least harm to those they mock , and the most to those who use it ; it marring their natures quite , and teaching them falshood and dissembling . and generally those who are so diligent in marking others faults and imperfections , must needs be full of faults and imperfections themselves ; since , whilst their minds are still abroad to observe others faults , they can never be at home to mark and amend their own . in fine , however light they make of it , they are to know , that no generous spirit but can easilier brook injury than scorn , and the reparation of it too , is easier made : and that they but render themselves by it odious unto all , it being natural for men to love those who esteem them , as t is to hate all those who disesteem them , ( as those who mock and jeer them manifestly declare they do . ) to conclude , i could with them only to observe this rule , never to say any thing of others , but what they would say before their faces , or what they would others should say of them behind their backs . of slander , calumnie , and detraction . but mocking , ieering , and derision , are nothing to slander , calumnie , and detraction . those but point with the finger , but these brand in the forehead ; those but strike , but these wound ; let those say no more , and ther 's an end , but these must unsay what they have said , and like venomous beasts , resorp their own poyson , and like witches and sorcerers undo their own spells and charms , or the poison and the mischief remains still . to distinguish them , detraction seeks to take away my good name , and calumnie to purchase me an ill. for example , detraction comes and sayes of one that 's esteem'd an honourable and vertuous lady , that she is not so honourable and vertuous as is imagined ; when having laid the egg , calumnie comes and hatches it , saying that she has her g●llants too , as well as others ; after which ▪ comes slander , and for conclusion , names persons , and charges her with certain crimes ; whence you see , the first has more of the envy , and the second two more of the malice ; the first slights , the second reproaches , and third defames ; these ( is those who have the plague seek to infect others with their sores , ) you shall alwayes find sowing of their malice in others minds ; when take it for a general rule , what ever they report to you of others , is ●●ther wholly false , or never wholly true ; for they doing it to mischief others , do it with ●ll the malice they can devise , and owing a 〈◊〉 to those they calumniate , doe it , you 〈◊〉 be sure , as spightfully as they can . but let t●●m take heed , for where the scripture s●●s 〈◊〉 ●hall answer for every idle word , ( such as 〈◊〉 mocking and jeering ) on the contrary , we shal never be able to answer for our spightfull and malicious ones , ( such as are detract●on , slander , and calumnie ) whence it distinguishes ▪ and says ( in effect ) that whosoever concristats and offends his brother , shall be lyable to iudgement ; but whosoever injures and desames him , shall be lyable to condemnation : but as there would be no thiev●s , if there were no receivers ; so there would be no calumniators , if none would give ear unto their calumnies , wherfore 't is rather our faults then , than theirs , who whilst we vainly imagin the depressing others a kind of exalting our selves , and that we are magnified , whilst others are lessened , if we truly consider it , we shall find we but depress & lessen our selves by it , & declare our own indigence & want of worth the whilst , as ladies who use painting or choppins do their want of beauty , and their own littlenesse : for me then , when any goes about to make me enemy of any , i conclude he is their enemy , and no friend of mine , with this distick . ▪ who 'd have me doubt another is my foe , first makes me doubt wh'er he 's my friend or no . xxxviii . to the lady , — an. 51 of secrets . betwixt making a secret of every thing and nothing , there is a difference and mean , and great judgement is requisite to know what 's to be kept secret , and what not : you shall have some of so laxative tongue , they are in pain to be delivered of all they know , and these are never to be intrusted with any reports above the region of bake-house or barbers news : others again are so costive and ha●d-bound , as they will not tell you how they do without caution , and will whisper you the weather and time of the day as a great secret . when you hear one say , i know more than i will or dare speak of , &c. know 't is but a call for the curious and inquisitive , & he longs to tell it you ; so when you see any inquisitive , you may conclude them talkers too , and but factors & ingrosers of news only to divulge it afterwards . these are those who with their reports embroyl themselves and others , so sophisticating what they hear ( as hucksters do their ware ) as e'r it passe their mouths , you may be sure 't is either wholly false , or never wholly true , they corrupt & fly-blow it so with their reporting it ; and such should be banisht all civil company , where they only sow the seed of lies , mistake and quarrel : for my part , i observe this rule in all companies where i come , never to speak any thing of others that may do harm ; but on the contrary all the good i can ; ●or example , when i say this or this such an one said of you , &c. it shall be so advantagious to either , as to beget a good opinion and intelligence in both ; but what if they did not speak well or them , will you say ? why in that case ill tell the speaker of it , not those are spoken ill of ; for this may mend matters , tother but make them worse , and exasperate them the more , for the rest , what every one may know , i 'll make no dainty to tell every one ; for he to no purpose gets the reputation of close and shy , who is continually reserv'd ; and who on ordinary occasions is so cautious , for extraordinary reserves no caution for himself . above all , i 'll willingly participate no secret which others may know besides my self , not to be responsible for their blabbing it , neither are they more secrets insus'd into many conscious brests , than waters are rivers when cut into many branches & rivolets . in fine , madamoiselle , as that princes favourite was wise who when his pr. demanded of him what he should impart unto him of all he had ? answered any thing , but his secrets , and so say i : wherefore chide me and spare not , if ever you perceive me inquisitive of others secrets , or injurious in my reports of them , and this madam i give you under my hand , that when i transgresse herein , this letter may be witnesse against me of that want of temper and discretion that is requisite in one that has the honour to be madam , your , &c. xxxix to the lady , — how we are to contemn the calumnies of the world . i never knew any one nobly eminent in any kind but they were envyed and calumniated ; it being the nature of base and low spirits , despairing to arrive to that height , to which others by their merits and excellencies are attain'd , to seek by detraction to pluck them down as low as they ; nor will it be ever so happy with the world , to have more emulators than envious : emulation making men strive to be as good as others , but envy to make others as bad as it , whence this vice is only found amongst the worser sort , to whom every one that 's better than they seems to exprobate their being so ill ; so as 't is either some particular hate or self love that blinds them from seeing their own faults as well as those of other mens , else they would never calumniate others as they do , if they but considered , that one ought to be most cleer themselves of those faults they reproach to others , and he who cheaply sells others fame ( upon th' accompt ) makes but the market to buy his own . mean while it being as impossible all should speak well , as that all should do well , and 't is not what we are , but what they are that make them speak ill of us : we are to indeavour so to live , as our lives may give the lie to their reports , and that they may never say true any harm of us , and let them say false what they please , t will be more their own harm than ours . to this purpose ( madam ) i 'll tell you a pleasant story , which i use often to recount , when i would laugh at these busie censurers of others actions . an old man and his son ( a young stripling ) travelling on the way , the boy mounted on an asse , the father trudging it on foot ; the first company they met began to revile the boy , calling him ungracious rascal , was he not asham'd to ride , and let his father walk on foot ( nor must you imagine the charitable presage of hanging was forgot amongst them . ) at this the boy desired his father to get up , and let him walk on foot ; which being done , the next company revil'd the father as much as formerly tother had done the son , calling him hard-hearted and cruel ( strong and robustous as he was ) to ride , and let the tender infant walk on foot ; when the father to content them took up his son behind him , and so they jogg'd on a while , till the next company raild on them afresh , for over-burthening the poor asse , calling them more beasts than he ( nor did the asse ever know before how many friends he had amongst the multitude ) when to content these at last the father and son both light and led the asse , which when the next company espy'd , they laught at them more than the others had rail'd at them before , calling them a hundred fools , to tire and weary themselves , having an asse to ride on : when the good man perceiving the impossibility of contenting the world , and avoiding its censure , wisely resolv'd thereafter to content himself , and let them judge and censure him as they pleas'd . and 't was a wise resolution , i having found by experience , that one sooner stops the mouth of calumnie by a resolute going on their way , than a too nice fear of irritating it , it being of the nature of cowards , the more you fear it , the more outragious it becomes , and the vulgar like apelles coblar , but care for its censure once , and they will never leave censuring you ; mean time i know , as the apostle says , that i am debtor in point of fame both to the foolish and the wise , but if they wo'nt accept the payment , when t is lawfully tendered them , but find fault and cavill still ; let them still remain unsatisfyed for me , and for that vae scandal● , that woe to scandal , 't is to be understood where scandal is given , not where 't is taken before 't is given . to conclude this point , never brave spirit yet , car'd what the vulgar said , nor ever was brave nor noble action perform'd by those that did . insomuch as alcibiades would administer them matter himself to censure him . alexander gloried in it affirming nothing was more great , nor kingly , than to do well , and hear ill for it ; and aristides was so offended at the peoples speaking well of him , as he askt his friends , not without indignation , what ill he had done that he should deserve it at their hands . but what should we goe so far for examples , when we have others nearer home , i remembring to have heard of the late earl of exceter , how ( amongst his many other excellent apothegms ) he demanded one day of his lady , whether none spoke ill of him ? and she assuring him they were so far from it , as ( on the contrary ) every one spoke well of him ; mary , and i am sorry for it , said he , for 't is a sign i have nothing of extraordinary , they being most commonly your ordinariest persons of whom the world speaks well , with the slight commendations of oh he is a good man ! an honest man ! &c. but god be thanked there is no great danger of that in the age wherein we live , calumny being so universal a a trade now , as every one is of it ; neither need you take care to afford them ● matter , for they can make it of themselves , and out of themselves ( as the spider does ) so whilst 't was the custom in antient times ( when there was more charity in the world ) to excuse the act by the intention , we are now arriv'd to such a height of uncharity to condemn the intentision , when we cann't the act , at least , calling devotion , hypocrisie ; honest liberty , dissolutenesse ; complacency , flattery ; nor is there any action so good , they cannot find a bad name for ; nor intail upon 't an ill intention , insomuch as one was so injurious to his mistris beauty not long since to say , " cease jealous thoughts , and thus resolve at last , " she has more beautie than becomes the chast , worthy of no mistris , but such an ugly one as none should love but he , who would intitle deformity , rather then beauty to vertue , against the intention of nature , with whom it implies a certain fitnesse to conserve choicest iewells in the fairest cabinets , and to lodge the noblest persons in the stateliest palaces ; yet such is the iniquity of the times , as beauty only , because 't is beautiful , is calumniated now , as vertue , because 't is out of fashion : and this madam is just your case , whose excessive beautie makes you not onely the mark of envious eyes , but also of malicious tongues , to spit their venome at , whilst defended by your innocence , their poyson , like the cockatrices , but returns upon themselves . mean time thank your beauty ( madam ) or rather he who gave it you , for delivering you by it from the many vices of your detractors , you having too many perfections to envy the praise of them in others , or to calumniate that in them , which is so praise worthy in your self , whilst you need not vex nature nor your self , as they do , to become fairer than you are . to whom ( or rather to the truth indeed ) i must give this testimony , that having as a spy of all that 's fair and good , travail'd almost o'r all the world , i never met with greater beauty accompanied with greater innocence , nor one who thought lesse harm , because she did none , nor judg'd lesse ill of others , because she knew none in her self , and of this your chearfulnesse and freedom of behaviour is to me sufficient argument ; those who dissemble most commonly over-doing , whilst they are over-anxious to do enough ; whilst who are secretly immodest , cloath it in an outward demurenesse , and feign'd modesty , which most commonly , like gold gilt , shews fairer than gold ● itself . if any fault then there be , t is in the time itself , which though it can never warrant bad actions , can render indifferent warrantable at least , and so i see no reason but our behaviour , as our fashons , may alter with the times , and become more large or strait , as the fashons are . to conclude this point , what is affected is deform'd . as what is naturall is ever becoming as 't is ( madam ) in you to be cheerfully free , and in a word , your self ▪ in which i wish none to imitate you , if they be not of your disposition , nor you to alter , unlesse you be of theirs . be still then your self ( madam ) in spight of your detractors ; that is , one of the fairest and beautifullest creatures in the world , and let none make you lesse good , by calumniating your goodnesse as they do ; and in conlusion assure your self , that as you shall never want detractors of the baser sort : ( as are all such who detract from you ) so of the better and nobler you shall never want admirers and honoures : amongst the rest ( madam ) i hope more than one age , as more than one nation shall testifie how much i am your faithfull honourer and admirer . xl . to madamoiselle de b. of affectation . madamoiselle , you know the sun with his beams chears not , nor is more diffusively good , tha● her highnesse with her presence . who yesterday was pleas'd to graoe a country wedding here with her company , where the country people ( you may imagine ) put on their best mine to entertain her , and the dauncers set the best foot forwards to shew their agilities : amongst the rest a country fellow laid about him with arms and leggs , so as i look'd still when they would fly off from him , and fear'd ever and anon as he approached me , lest he would throw them at my head , at boyes do cudgels at plum-trees . verily , madamoiselle , never any wheel so whirl'd about , nor spoaks e'r turn'd so fast , so as you could not perceive whi●h part of him was upwards , or which was undermost ; yet did he imagin he daunc't excellent well , and was the more confirm'd in it , the more we laught at him : such fools self-opinion makes of men , whilst it hood-winks them so , they cannot see their own imperfections , and so besots them , as they imagine none else does ; nay , makes them mistake vices and faults for imperfections ; whereupon i considered the deformity of affectation , which makes people so anxious to do enough , as most commonly they over-do , and all excesse you know is vitious , as all that 's vitious is ugly and deform'd . in fine , after the poor fellow had taken pains a great while to make himself ridiculous , he gave over for pure wearinesse , and all panting , lookt about to see who commended him , when frustrated of his expectation , he was as much dejected with the want of it , as he was elated with the expectation of it before : so it exposes us not only to the derision of others , but to dejection also in our selves . you see the use i make of my time in every place , and how i philosophy on every thing , with only this difference , that where you are , my meditations are delightfull and serious , wher you are not , every thing ●eems to me irksom , and ridiculous ; no more but the tres-humble baisemains of all the ladies of our court , and of madamoiselle . your , &c. xli . to madamoselle de b. anno 51. inviting her into the country , the plague being hot at bruxelles . madamoiselle , it being absolutely necessary in these dangerous times , that you quit bruxelles ; 't is concluded in a council of war , to use all means of perswasion , force and stratagem , to make you abandon it . first we send you master iohn here , to make you an eloquent oration with all his tropes and figure , and his topicks de bono utili , & del●ctabili , to perswade you into the country ; neither wants he his flowers of rhetorick out of cicero , and the muses garden , far beyond all the gardens you have at bruxelles . if that won't do 〈◊〉 we are resolved to try force an other while ; to which end we'●l implore the assistance of our ladies of succour by our ambassadour sir toby matthews ( powerfull wi●h ladies as you know ) and old monsieur hurdlestone with his baston of marishal de camp shall lead the succours up . if that fail , we 'll imploy stratagem , and gros iean shall be workt to undermine you in the sellar he has in keeping under your appartement , or if he can't be corrupted , we 'll imploy some holland ingenier to derive all the spa water from bruxelles hither , that you may be inforc'd to come and take it here . in fine we are resolved to use all possible means to make you leave the town , when having got you here , we will erect a trophy of bottles on the place , and drinking you health in pure mosella wine , so triumph for it here , as you shall not need to envy them the recreations of the spa , we 'll walk i' th' mornings , and ride abroad to take the air every afternoon , & instead o th' meadow , we 'll dance here on the green a chanson , and our six and thirty english dances every night ; after which , madamoiselle , t will be ●ime , i think , to bid you good night your , &c. xlii to madamoiselle — taking exceptions at somew●at he had writ . madamoiselle , i lay me down most humbly at your feet , demanding your pardon — madamoiselle , what should i say , or what should i not say in my excuse ? — madamoiselle , to say your exceptions were not just , were to accuse you , and to say they were , were to accuse my self — madamoiselle , that friend that suspects me without cause , must attend lesse satisfaction from me than an enemy — madamoiselle , never was man so embaras'd and perplext as i ; not knowing betwixt the too humble , and the too brave , what to write or say . ther 's none than your self , i 'm sure better understands railery , nor better knows to distinguish betwixt the gentle and piqua●t , yet do you interpret to evil sence and intention my but naming the duke of — and deducing a parallel betwixt the shynes of damosels in this age , and those in the days of knights errantry , who were not afraid to encounter cavaliers alone in wildernesses ; whilst those now a days are afraid to meet them in a park or garden , and that in company . i pray madamoiselle hereafter have more bounty for me , and declare your self at least so much my friend , as not to look on me as an enemy ; for if you did not , you could not interpret my words so sinisterly as you do . there are some pictures so contriv'd , as look on them on t'one side , and they appear angels , on t'other devils , and in the middle men . just such things are words ( the pictures of our mind ) a friend interprets them to good , an enemy to evil , and one indifferent to neither . how , madamo●selle , i should esteem of you , declare i beseech you by your more favourable interpretation of all i write and do , whilst how you should esteem of me all i write and do shall testifie , which is , that i am madamois●lle , your , &c. xlii . per speculum in enigmate . or a mirour in enigma presented to the princess of lorein . spoken by the mirour . madam , as 't is the fashion of all those who present their services to any one , to declare their countries , birth , and quality , your highness may please to know that i am venetian by nation , of as illustrious extraction as any magnifico of them all , and of a family as unble misht and untainted ; for my qualities , i am sincere , and tell others there faults without fl●ttery , and that so far from humour of finding fault , as i tell them as well their vertues and perfections too . i am strangely fantastique ( i must confesse ) wearing my cloaths within , as others do without , and ●o awkward , as where others use their right hand , i use my left ; for the rest , ( to confesse my weaknesse ) i am most frail , and subject to fall , if i be'nt look'd well unto , and am so weak of constitution , as 't is a hundred to one afterwards , if ever i recover it . in fine , i am somwhat of the nature of a cameleon , changing colour often by reflexion ; nay , what is yet more strange , i often change complexion and sexes too , being now fair , now fowl , now a woman , now a man , though i 'm oblig'd out of gratitude to love more the feminine sex , and can assure your highnesse on my faith , i am never fairer than when you look on me . xliv . to madamoiselle de beauvais , in raillerie , on his being king on twelf-ni●ht . anno 51. madamoiselle , pythagoras ( or i imagin ) would never have been such an enemy to beans , had he received such favours from them as i have done , who by the suffrage of one am chosen king to night ; think me not now one of those who change their natural condition , with the condition of fortune , and wax proud with their honours . no , more i am in capacity of doing good , more good i mean to do ; and i promise you on my royal word ▪ my subjects here shall all● have cause to rejoice whilst i reign over them , my raign shall be nothing but one continued feast , which they shall celebrate with joyful acclamation , nothing shall be consum'd but in the kitchen ; and nothing be exhausted but the cellar , i will do grace to all , and no justice shall be done , but in drinking healths , amongst the rest madamoiselle , yours shall not be forgot , and think but what grace i may do you , and account it done . il rey. the answer . a sa majeste flecknotique . sa majesté scaura que je me rejouie insin●ment de son heureux avenement a sa coronne , et je le cr●is d'autant plus facilement , pour●● que l' on a tousieurs este d' opinion du temps passé , que le ● royaumes seroient heureux quand les rois ●eront philosophes ou les philosophes royes . pesper e que vostre regne en sera extremement , et que vostre grandeur n' empeschera pas , qu' elle ne se souviene de mapetittesse . the same in english . to his flecknotique majesty . your majesty may please to know that i rejoyce exceedingly for his happy accession to the crown , which i easily believe will be the more happy , since antiquity has alwayes been of opinion , that then kingdoms would be happiest , when philosophers were kings , or kings philosophers ; according to this , i esteem your kingdom very happy , and hope your greatnesse will not hinder you from remembring one so little as i , your , &c. to madamoiselle de beauvais , an. 51. on his leaving breen . madamoiselle , i am lookt on here as an ingrosser of her highness favours , which ( having no intrest ) i have no arts at all to conserve , but only my sincere honouring her ; for the rest , i have so little complacency ( i profess ) as i imagin 't were too much spending on the main stock , to be complacent to all , and every one thinking they deserve it , imagine they are injur'd if they have it not : this makes those enemies , whom i care not to make my frends . since then those who live in court , are like those who embarque on sea . the prince is the sea , your open enemies , the winds , and secret ones , the rocks and shelves ; yon , who are not only my cynosura , or pole-star by whom i direct my course , but my pilot , who are also to direct me , knowing better than i the nature of those seas , will be carefull i hope to preserve me from these rocks and shelves , and for greater storms i will take care my self , who am of the nature of your holland yauges or barks of pleasure , which when any storm arise , put to land presently and secure themselves ; and just as in those boats , when the sea is calm , and the skie fair and serene , you shall hear nothing but laughing and meriment , but when storms arise , and the clowds gather together once● , they are all husht , and there 's an end of their joviality ; so i lose my good humour straight , when i perceive any clowdy countenances , as i imagin i doe here now . you 'll say perhaps , 't is but my imagination . it may be so , however i 'll retire a while , so shann't i break with my frends , but avoid breaking with them , it being not my manner , who love not to be treated with indifference , much lesse neglect , to importune any with my company , longer then they may take delight in it : so shall they return to 't with appetite again , which else , as meats they are once cloyd with , they alwayes look afterwards on with loathing & nautious●es . besides , i find it no ways conducing to my health , to remain longer here this winter , which ( as a hole in the wall , is no part of the building ) is so deep sunk in a bottom , as it seems no part of the world , there being a hole in ireland they call purgatory , and another in the isle of lipary they call hell , but if ever there were any place that deserves the name of both , in my conceit 't is this . you see how satyrical discontent makes a man ; and in the humour i am in , will excuse i 'm sure my leaving breen , only with intension , when they and i am am in better humour , to return again ; mean time ( madamoiselle ) i beseech you conserve me , not only in your good graces , but also in theirs , to whom i am , and ever shall be as i am to you madamoiselle , your &c. xlvii to the lady tenham . an. 54 : in sending her a song or ballad . madam , i send you here a song made upon this occasion : the other night almost all the ladies of the time were in the garden , with none to wait on them but my self , when if a handkerchief but fell , i must strait reach it up , and with a couple of reverences , and kissing my hand , deliver it them again . if a fan dropt , i was to do the like , and if a glove were lost , like a good water spaniel i must go hunt it out ▪ and fetch it them again . in fine 't was impossible sir toby matthews himself amongst so many ladies could have been busier than i was , nor more officious ; with which notwithstanding i was so wearyed at last , as returning to my chamber i made this following song , in revenge of those who left me all alone under so great ( yet honourable ) a burthen . song . i now into what times are we faln for our crimes , or what ever the matter of 't may be ; it does not afford so much as a lord to wait upon a lady : but now all alone a walking they come , with none to wait upon them ; your gallants are grown such tarriers at home , a murren and shame light on them . 2 is 't boldnesse they lack , they are grown so slack , or each turn'd woman hater , or money they want , of which store god grant , or what the devil 's the matter ; but yet we behold them dayly more bold , and their lands to coin they distil ye , and then with the money you see how they run ye , to lose it at pickadilly . 3 your country squire i far more admire , ( whose father that 's dead god pardon ) he knows 't is the fashion to give them colla●ion , who go to the park and the garden ; whilst he of the town is grown such a clown , yo wait on them he is unwilling ; but away he does run , when the ladies do come , and all for to save his ten shilling . 4 but ladies you 'll see , be ruled by me , and this geer will soon be amended ; upon them but frown , when you have them at some , and all this quarrel is ended ; sharp hawks we are sure will come to the lure , then of favours in private but starve them and strait you will see in publike they 'l be more ready and glad to deserve them . xlviii to cloris , anno 54 ▪ on her going out of town . see fair cloris how you deal with us , you left us in the spring to deprive us of flowers , and you leave us now in summer to deprive us of the fruit of them ; but you know what you doe ; two suns at a time would be too much now in the town , and therefore to prevent plagues and calentures , you go out of it ; but now our better sun is gon into the country , what should we do here ; where that we have , only serves to scorch and burn , not to comfort us : it being more safe and comfortable then to follow you into the country , than longer to remain in town here ; if now we suffer by your absence , we may thank our selves , and none would pitty our complaining of it , when we might enjoy your presence with but only going after you . expect me then next week with you ( fairest cloris ) and if you find not yet in my heart the reasons for it ; look but in your glasse at least , and you 'll find it in your face , the sun never attracting more flowers , than that does hearts to follow it , and amongst the rest ( if not above the rest ) that ( aimablest cloris ) of your , &c. xlix to the lord rich. my lord , i have considered since i saw you last , wha● vain boast 't was in those who threatned ( on i know not what particular picque and quarrel of their own ) to deprive me of all my friends ; for besides few are so indigent of enemies now a day , as they need to take them up on others scores ; if another can deprive me of them , they are no friends of mine , and to imagine others should be angry with them when they are angry , is as great a folly , as to imagine others should be sick with them when they are sick ; besides i should be very greedy of the store , should i not content my self with those for friends , ( should they deprive me of all the rest ) whom they have for enemies ; but all this proceeds from their not considering the differences between acquaintances and friends , which are so hard indeed to distinguish ( but on such occasions ) as pray tell them when you see them ) they shall much pleasure me to do it for me , when with all their blustring they shall do me no more harm by it , than the wind does to the trees , by blowing off their old wither'd eaves , ro make place for new flourishing ones ; mean time i assure my self , my lord , you are none of those who think those that cry loudest have the greatest wrong , when 't is rather their weaknesse than any just provocation of mine , unlesse they take it for an injury and affront , that i 'd receive none from them . for me , though i should not be so good a friend , unlesse i knew how to be as bad an enemy ; yet i professe i had rather contend with them in any quarrel , than in such an one ; where 't is a greater shame to overcome , than to be overcome , so tell them , if you please my lord , assure your self from him who knows not to dissemble , nor to be other than your lordships most &c. l. to the lady — of the temple of frendship , a tragi-comedy he was writing , with the character of the persons . frendship being our second religion , and so main a part of our first , i have design'd to present it so beautiful to the eye , as all should be ravisht with its love and admiration . to this end i have ●personated it in the loveliest sex , and that betwixt persons of the same sex too , for avoiding all suspect ; frendship being nothing but love stript of suspition of harm . for representing it by ladies , after the like example of the queen and her ladies here formerly , & of the greatest ladies & p●incesses in spain , france flandres , and else where , i thought none reasonably could take exceptions , nor think me too ambitious in'● , especially i having been long time train'd up & conversant in the courts of the greatest queens and princesses in europe , and consequently not altogether ignorant of personating and presenting them according to their dignity and quality . first then for blondinia and lindiana , i make them vindicating to their fair sex , all the noblenesse & generosity as ever was in man , and to their friendship all the dearnesse and tendernesse as ever was in love . for the two princesses ●artiana and philothea , i make them of equal perfection , though of different disposition ( like pamela and philoclea in the arcadia ) high minded , magnanimous , excelling in all the vertues of great princes , and not to make them more than princes , subject too to their noble vices of anger , ambition , &c , to shew in fine that they are not vertuous by chance , but by choice and election , since they may be otherwise . for bellara , she is a person whose divine conversation would even make you doubt whe'r she were humain or no . her wisdom is so great as there is no labyrinth in this world she would not help you out of , by conecting a thrid of first and second causes together . she has charge both of the altar and oracle , yet is her breast the purest altar , and mouth the truest oracle : so as in following her opinion , you are sure of truth for guide , and in following her example you are sure of heaven for frend . for euphemia , so young yet as she is but a neophi●e , and under bellaras tuition , she is of so pure a brest , as like white paper she is apted for receiving all the others divine precepts and impressions : so as you may well guesse at what she will be hereafter , by what the other is at present . for compase lastly , and the rest , we may well say of them , that as those who play the fools part in the play , are most commonly the wisest men : so those are most commonly the best actors , who play those treacherous parts , and though they be not lookt on with such gracious eyes for the persons they represent ; yet certainly they are most admir'd , when they represent them well , as painters when they paint some ugly body to the life . for the plot , to give you some light of it , i feign a commonwealth of amazon● , and ( to render it more propable than tother ) of peacefull ones , sent there in colony , though for the greater variety distemper'd into warr ; in which ( heroina's as they are ) you are not to wonder , to see them do actions of greatest heroes , and capable of all the heroical exploits you admire of men in story . i having found in your noble sex a capacity of all the excellency i ever yet found in man . li. to lilly dra●ing cloris picture . stay daring man , and till perchance thou finds , colours so rare , and of such orient worth , to paint bright angels , or celestial minds , never presume to paint bright cloris forth . till ●rom all beauties thou extracts the grace , and frō the sun beams gets the dazling thred , never presume to draw that heavenly face , nor those bright radient tresses on her head . ve● not thy art , the while , t' expresse th'eclate that from her beauty and her eyes do shine , all earthly things thy art can imitate , but cloris eyes and beauty are devine . what needs thou then the bootless labour take , when none can paint her out to her desart , she that 's above all nature e'r did make . much more 's above all can be made by art . but yet go on too , since who ere does see 't , at least wi●h admiration must confesse , it has an air so most divinely sweet , 't is more than others , ●hough than her● much lesse . so they who shoot at heaven , though they propose t' emselves a butt , to hit they ne'r may hope , level and shoot far higher yet than those , who aim but at some tree , or houses top . comfort thee then , and think it no disgrace , t' have fail'd where none could hit and know ( in fine ) ( unto thy higher praise ) the cause of 't was , her too great ex'lence , and no want of thine . lii . to the lady biron . on the black hair of a fair lady . rarest of all that nature ever ●nd do , light in the dark , and sun-shine in the shade . tresses so black , and eyes so fair and bright as it a mixture seems of day and night wonder ! whence this so strange conjunction of meeting oposits and extreems should come ! did nature fear , when those fair eyes she made . they 'd not have shone so bright unlesse they had ; foil of black hair , to set them off , or did she with those shadowy curtains keep them hid left their so radient and resplendent light , should dazle our weaker sight , and blind us quite . or to defend us from their scorching rayes , this needfull shelter she invented has ; as in the torrid lybian desart , where th parching sun shrinks up the traveller , to 's nontide shade , black clouds she does provide . poor fainting wretches from its beams to hide , or cause 't is controverted which does make , the perfects beauty , or the fair or black , did she together curiously place the choice of eithers exellence in in her face . or is 't the harmony she 'as within doth make , her outward form , o' th harmony partake ; discord in concord so has reconcil'd , she 's sweetly rigid , and severely mild . she 's simply wise , modestly confident , gravely pleasant , and wittily innocent : what ever 't is our wonders all will ●ase , when we shall hear 't is biron is all this ; or rather ( madam ) we shall wonder more , hearing you mention'd , than we did before , since all must needs confesse , beholding you , your beauty's beauty and admiration too . liii . to briget countess of desmond . in excuse of his no sooner celebrating her praises . madam , you being all admirable as you are , no wonder yet i never did declare , but in an aspiration or two , the admiration which i have for you , for silence ( admirations tongue ) can best speak that , by words can never be exprest ; for 't is not with me , as with one that has some slight and easie subject for his praise ; for plain and obvious texts all at first vew can understand , but one must study you : so th' superficial beauty of a face each superficial brain knows how to praise , and th' shallower bosom every shallow wit can dive into , and sound the depth of it . but your fair soul , so deep , and so profound , fews wits have fathom-line enough to sound ; and for each several grace one might agen number as well the starres as number them ; besides , what most perplexes , is to see you equally possest to excellency of all th' per●ections of your fairer sex , and equal , not unequal , does perplex — so as whilst others th' subjects penury deters , 't is th' store only deterreth me , when , seeing so much to praise in you , i 'm lost , not knowing what in you to praise the most . thus y 'ave the reason of my praising you no sooner now , but ( silly ) what do i do , he 's a meer trifler and nothing does , in general terms , praises a subject thus , and should i to particulars descend , 't were easier to begin than e'r to end . ●iv . to cloris . cloris ne'r think that i should whyne and cry at womens humors & inconstancy , or , like the amorous knight in the romance , look pale for 't , sound , & fall into a trance . i know you love to change , & would that you shu'd know , that i can change as easily too , when summ of all the harm can come of it , is , you leave me , i you , and so w' are quit . mean time yours , & not mine shall be the loss , when cloris forth in all her bravery goes . contending whe'r the gaudy spring or she , to eyes end hearts more ravishing shu'd be , t' have none with praise usher her forth , & say , this is the spring , tother but only may , this , this is she , so glads these hearts of ours , whilst that glads only trees and sencelesse flowers , and more to heighten th' glory of the spring , birds do but chirp , cloris does only sing . be then my goddess , as you were before , or ne'r expect such offrings from me more , and as propitious as y'ar wont to be , or you have lost a worshiper of me , who never yet a reverence did bear to deities , wou'd be only serv'd for fear : so your young novice in religion , if 's goddess frown , thinks he is quite undon , and fondly superstitious seeks in vain , by prayers and tears her favour to obtain , whilst th'old egyptian idolater his idol fire to nylus bank does bear , and ' lesse he finds it in a better mood , do's threatē straight to quench it in the sloud . lv . to the lady elizabeth darcey . the farewell . madam , to my departing grief t is some allay , that all my better thoughts with you do stay whilst only thought of you i bear away . so whersoever absence us confines , 't can never seperate resolved minds , whom mutual bonds of thought so fast combines what need i care then whilst from you i part , so long as you are present to my heart , whe'r eyes or no ●'th ' joy have any part . eyes are dull instruments , that only hew out forms i' th' mind , with oft repeated vew , or being decay'd those forms again renew . whence , as 't wer folly in painters more to stare o' th person , when their pictures finisht are so 't wer in me , for eyes now more to care . howe'r since frendship and suspicion trade both in the same mind , i 've but this one boon ( madam ) to crave of ye , and i have don . and t is t' assure ye , i am none does take the last impression still his eyes does make , but what his heart once has , does ne'r forsake . to end then , after this assurance , know , that you who are my last thought now i go , shall be when i am gon , my lastingst too . lvi . to the lady isabella thinn . madam , i' th' worlds great liberary , whe● i 've studied men far more than books , and there have learnt to know their differences too : some are my classique authors , such as you , from whose fair lectures i have learnt alone , what 's profitable , and fit ●or to be known . others light pamphlets , which when once w've read , w 're straightways cloy'd with them and satiated . others meer out-side ●hore for ornaments of studies , than for inside or contense , ( for libraries are like th' stationers stall , defective , if not furnished with all ) and fin'lly some too hard and tetrical for th' muses to be conversant withall : having at last perused every one , i must conclude of all i 've ever known or read , both for contense and outside too . the fairest , best , i ever read , is you . lvii . the fair mourner . to the lady howard . in fable weeds now all the graces mourn , till she to brighter colours does return , and just like sad camelions appear , taking their dark reflections all from her , from her , whose beauty can't go more nor lesse , for any additionary wear or dresse . who gives her robes , their chiefest ornamesit , whilst others chiefly from their robes are lent ; and does herself within herself contain ; all that 's by others sought and , sought in vain ; not france does on the neighbouring world impose , ( as it had pattent for 't ) its garb and cloaths , nor ladies teach with more becomingnesse , what habits they should wear , what tire , what dresse then she on all that 's excellent , sweet , and fair , happy to take examples all from her . mean time was never sweeter sorrow seen , since for her favourites losse the idalian queen , taught lovelinesse [ could only smile before ] the gentle art to weep and to deplore , which she improving makes her tears the while more pretious sweet , than e'r was any's smile , enhancing of their value by 't so high , 't would beggar either india to buy ; ah gentle nymph then shed them not so fast , of pretious baum make not such lavish wast ; one drops enough to satisfie for all misfortunes in this world co'd e'r befall , and then the living make ( by odds ) the dead happyer , for whom those pretious tears are shed , who would , you 'd spare them yet , their care is such , ( though most concer'nd ) lest you should weep too much ; happy the whilst are both the joy and care , of all that 's dead , of all that living are , lviii . to misa . angry because she was old . now what a devil misa makes thee with such eyes behold me stil . cause from thee time thy good looks takes , must i therefore have thy ill ? i prithee misa don't behold me thus , as if i were thy foe , for howsoever thou art old , i am not time that make thee so . and rather than to quarrel with me , as if i had done thee wrong , go quarrel with thy age i prithee , whose fault 't is that thou 'ast liv'd too long . how e'r ( for me ) thou well may'st spare , thy anger , and thy frowns may cease , who for thy good looks little care , for thy bad ones care much lesse ▪ lix to the same . on her striving to appear still fair and young . let autumn paint her wither'd leaves , and winter dye his snowy hair , yet he 's a fool that not perceives both aged and decayed are . so while thou 't needs look well again , and still seem fair unto our sight , misa , thy labours all in vain , like his who 'ud wash the ethiope white . nature by art is better made , whilst art has ground for what it does , but when that nature 's once decayed , all art but more deformed shews . who look't well in king iames's raign , and in king charl●'s old appear'd , will hardly now look young again , when th' commonwealth has got a beard . then misa follow my advice , and leaving off thy bootlesse care , strive rather to win hearts than eyes , and to appear more good than fair . lx . to phillis . reporting he loved her , because he praised her . phillis , how you your ignorance discover , whilst you mistake a poet for a lover , who when he verses writes , makes love t is true , but 't is unto his muse , and not to you , and oftentimes does mistresses invent , to exercise his wit , and complement ; iust as i 've gallants seen ( dispos'd to mock ) make leggs and faces to a courting stock . when then i prais'd you with hyperbolies , nought but impossible , excus'd from lyes , planting the rose and lillys in your cheeks , ( where one more truly might have planted leeks , ) and talkt of your divinity of mind , ( when i human'ty ●here co'd scarcely ●ind ) and much more when ● flatt'ring ye did bring sweets from arabia , flowers from the spring , from beauty all was excellent and fair , and from the graces all was choice and rare . were you so simple , to believe that i , could e'r commit to grosse idolatry ? or that i had so little sense and wit , to mean all this by you ? or you by it ? pray be more wise hereafter , left you make me blush ( not for mine own ) but for your sake , and understand against another time , ther 's no smal difference 'twixt prose & rhime , while t'on for what you are commendeth ye , tother for what indeed you ought to be , your poets end being only to make men better than th'ar by their commending them ; make you like use of 't then , and so i may perhaps admire ye , as you think and say ; mean time all ( phillis ) i admire in you , is ( saying i admir'd ye ) you could think it true . lxi . to the vice roy of norway , anno 55. insending him some verses which he desired . my lord , behold your desire has a greater force with me , than any others commands could have , i obeying it even when i was not in estate of obedience , being in the heat of a feaver , and consequently unapt either to write or compose any thing . if your lordship find any heat then in these lines , i will not say t is of the feaver , nor that of poetry ; but of the desire i have to serve you : and if you like it not , you will think it worth burning at least : so shall it but die a natural death , and but return to its first being , being begot in flames . i will detain your lordship no longer from reading it , being able to write no more , but only that i am your lordships most , &c. on his choosing valentines . how great a freedom he injoyes who loves not without counterpoise , since be th' attraction what it will , he stands upon firm basis still : so tother day my chance it was , choosing valentines in a place , t' have one draw me , and i an other , who so counterballanc't t'other , neithers captive i was made , both such equal beauty had , eithers captive else had been , had i both assunder seen , so true tis when two such as those , we to our equal choice propose , we should dye e'r we could choose which to take , or which refuse . no danger 's then of eithers harms , whilst th'one undoes the others charms : but when these circes are alone , then all the loving harm is done ; so she who made alcides spin , his club layd by , and lions skin , should soon have seen with what disdain he would have snatcht them up again , and thrown his servile work aside , soon as some dame he had espy'd i' th' room with omphale appear , at all parts equalizing her ; so great a freedom he enjoys , who loves not without counterpoise , since be th'attraction what it will , he stands upon firm basis still . lxii . to the countess of desmond . on the death of the lady theophyla carey , daughter to henry earle of monmouth , anno 55. madam , i saw so many graces and perfect●ons in the lady theophyla carey ( for she was all transparent , and her very soul did shine thorough her body ) as i must wish ( with her noble familie , and the rest of her honourers and admirers ) that either i had never known her , or that we had never been depriv'd of her . but being fair as an angel , having an angels mind , and singing too angelically as she did , we might well imagine her one of those celestial quires , and cease wondring , being all angel as she was , that we had onely a glympse of her on earth , and that she should straight vanish like some heavenly apparition into heaven ; it dealing so ordinarily with us in this manner , to shew us such as she only , and straight to snatch them away agen , as i begin to suspect 't is but a bait to make us desire to follow them , knowing us so earthly minded , as there 's no other way to intice us unto heaven . for my part , ( at least ) upon her death i 've left the town ( so much i am displeas'd with it , could no better conserve the choicest rarity it had ) and that after times might know what a losse they had in her , as well as the present , have made this epitaph on her before i went into the country . reader , if th' art courteous stay , and understand before thou go , here lies th' admir'd theophila ; more of her if thou wilt know , for beautious features , lovely grace , for candid breast , and purest mind ; she glory was of careys race , and excellentest of woman kind . lxiii . to mr. thomas higgins with his ode in praise of the country life . noble sir , if those on whose soyl the tree grows have most right to the fruit , none has more right than your self to this following ode in praise of the country life , since 't was made at grewel with you in the country . after which i know not what excuse to allege for my living in the town , but that self-accusing one of phedra , video meliora , p●j rasequor , or this , that when i would live to my friends and self , i go into the country , when to others , i goe to town ; however , i being of that amphibean gender , with those who are now in one , now in tother , do receive this benefit ( at least ) by it , that the one but begets an appetite to tother ; all pleasures in this life consisting in a certain change , and vicissitude , which indeed is but a pause and respite of pain , or relaxation from misery ( none taking pleasure in rest , but the weary , nor in eating but the hungry , &c. ) which you 'll easily perceive , when continue them but too long , and you make a pain of that pleasure , and begin to long for the pleasure of the pain you had before ; such is our humane infirmity , as like sick men in their beds , we lye tossing and tumbling up and down , and restlesly change place , only to find rest , which we can never find , because we carry unrest along with us , quod è re nascitur vix evitatur ; the purest company which i find without lassitude is the company and conversation of a frend , which is the more pure the more spiritual they are ; and that , sir , i never enjoy in greater perfection , than when i am with your company . ode in praise of the country life . o happinesse of country life , which ●own nor palace ne'r could boast , where men are even with gods at strife whose happinesse should be the most . whilst innocently all live there , lords of themselves , as well as land , out of the road of hopes and fear , and out of fortunes proud command . where to deprive men of their own , is crime which yet they never saw , nor more injustice e'r was known than not to give beasts hunted , law . where but for fish ther 's none lays baits , nor traps , but for some ravenous beast , and but for foul there 's no deceipts , so harmlesse th' are in all the rest . where of false dealings none 's afraid , and soothing flattery none allowes , but only in the dairy maid , who whilst she milks them , stroaks her cows . where only in sheep-sheering time the rich the poor do seem to fleece , and of oppression all their crime is only whilst they make their cheese . then for the pleasant , do but think , th'vast difference there is twixt both , whilst men in towns live in a sink , a life , even very beasts would loath . where nothing on the earth does grow , to speak the seasons ; but ( in summ , ) by dirt they only winter know , and only dust shews summers come . then for serenating the mind , without which no contentment is , where in lowd cities shall you find a recollection like to this ? where on some object whilst x stay , and hidden cause of it would find , no noice does fright my thoughts away , nor sudden sight distract my mind . or if that any noise there be , 't is such as makes me not af●ard , of waters fall , birds melody , o' th' bleating flock , or lowing heard . mean time how highly are they blest , whose conversations all with them , who only but for th' name of beast , are ( in effect ) lesse beasts than men . for no ambition makes them fight , nor unto mutual slaughter run , invading one anothers right , till t'one or both be quite undone . none others acts calumniate , nor mis-interpret every word ; for others lives none lies in wait , nor kills with poyson , nor with sword . then to conclude the country life , has happinesse towns could never boast , where men are even with gods at strife , whose happinesse should be the most , and since life somewhere must be spent , give me but amorets company , without which life has no content , and here i could both live and die . lxiv a condoling epistle to the dutchesse of richmond . anno. 55. o● the dea●h of my lord duke her h●●band . madam , amidst the greatest discomfort i ever had , this comfort my lady kingsmel gave me at my arrival to town , that a more becoming sorrow , nor more natural than that of your graces , as yet she never saw , which made me ( madam ) instead of condoling ( in some sort ) congratulate with your grace , that as y'av formerly performed all the parts of a most illustrious wife , so now you do of a most ex●mplar widdow , one of which is not to mourn ambitiously as others doe , and with such a studied sorrow , as if they courted new husbands in mourning for the old , but with such a grief , as shews them rather dying than living , since those are dead whom they most lov'd alive . mean time ( madam ) since virtue always consists in the mean , and all extr●mities are vitious , give me leave ( i beseech your grace ) only to put you in mind that you grieve not too much ( like those who are over anxious to grieve enough ) but imagin ( amongst your other imaginations of the dead ) that you hear your noble lord and husband expostulating with you thus ; why ( dearest heart ) having left thee three main businesses to do , to have care of my children , to have care of my estate , and to bewail me dead , why wouldst thou frustrate and irritate my will in all these three , by making my children compleat orphans by thy death ? by ruining my estate if thou dyest ? and lamenting me so dead , as 't would kill me a second time were i alive ? modera● thy sorrow then , and k●ll me not wholly by 't , who am not wholly dead , as long as thou 'rt alive , but live , as ( if 't were in thy power ) thou'dst have me live again , so shall thou comfort me by comforting thy self , so shall i more perceive thy love , than if thou dyedst for me . those ( madam ) i beseech your grace to beleeve are rather his words than mine , after which i'● say no more but only weep , whilst i write this following elegy , and subscribe my my self ( as really i was , and shall ever be ) his and your graces most &c. on the death of the lord duke of richmond and lenox : elegie . as when some mighty blow is given , by which our walls & towers ar shook , some all agast look up to heaven , some wildly on each other look . nay somtimes too ( w' are made of such frail brittle stuff ) it may so fall , the violence of 't may be so much , to shatter in pieces life and all . so , at report that richmonds dead , whilst some astonisht stand at gaze , some towards heaven lift up their head , in witnesse of their sad amaze . we whom the blow does strike more neer at the report even dead do fall , whilst sad and dolefull news we hear , of such a death that kills us all . how would that tyrant ( then ) be glad , to mankind was so great a foe , he wisht that all but one neck had , to take them all off at a blow ? when he sh●'d see , now lenox ' gon , how dead and sprightlesse each one is , as if to kill us all in one , did need no other death but his . mean time soft rest i' th' sacred vrn , vnto his noble ashes be , where lies intomb'd , not to return , all vertue , all nobility . vntil the heir h'as left behind , in whom his house's hopes remain , true offspring of the phoenix kind , revive them from his dust again . then shall his mother tears refrain , then shall she cease to sigh and moan , seeing her husband live again , with all his glories in her son . lxv . a consolatory epistle , to the queen mother of france , mary of medices ; written about the year , 41. omi●ted in its place , and inserted here . madam , your majesty knows ( whose chief study these many years has been divinity ) how our b. saviour in one place of holy writ , says , without him we can do nothing ; and the apostle in another , that he could do all things in him who conforted him : which two passages conferr'd together , ( as two contrary medicaments in mixture ) are a soveraign cure for those two extream maladies of our soul , a too great presumption , and too great diffidence of our selves . for who will ever despair hereafter , when he considers the second saying ? or , who will presume too much of himself , who considers ●ut the first ? in consideration of which , a ●ertain holy man was wont to say , god , and i can do all things ; and if it seem too great a presumption in him , to name himself with god , certainly a greater presumption 't is for any to name themselves without him . this receit ( madam ) your majesty has got , and this consideration 't is , that makes you bear all your afflictions with so great patience , as iob will no more be mentioned for it , when your majesty is named , nor david for mansuetude and forgiveness of his enemies ; i having heard ( with admiration of your majesties vertue ) whilst one inveighing against your enemies , your majesty interrupted them , with intreating them to desist , and affirming that they were persons you daily and nightly prayed for . oh generous and noble example of christian patience and charity ! worthy perpetual remembrance , which ( madam ) i set before your majesties eyes , knowing that nothing comforts more for the present , then the recordation of our good deeds past , as nothing incourages us more , to those that are to come . and this i desire to set before the eyes of all the world , that the joynt concurrency of the greatnesse of the person and example might nore move them to imitation . be pleas'd to go on then ( madam ) in being a pattern , as you a●e , not only to these , but also to future times , ●f longanimitie , patience , and sufferance , g●● ever from time to time renewing in his ●hurc● such examples as these , that beholding them near at hand , we might believe them possible , which else beheld a far off , might be imagined fabulous , and but the illusions of fancy and imagination : so shall you receive ( madam ) of our b. saviour , who has said he is the way , the truth , and the life , for your following his way , and his example , truth for your guide , and eternal life for your reward ; which is the wish m●dam , of your majesti●● most , &c. finis . a new discovery of terra incognita australis, or, the southern world, by james sadeur, a french-man, who being cast there by a shipwrack, lived 35 years in that country and gives a particular description of the manners, customs, religion, laws, studies and wars of those southern people, and of some animals peculiar to that place ... translated from the french copy ... terre australe connue. english foigny, gabriel de, ca. 1630-1692. 1693 approx. 259 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 99 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a70052 wing f1395 estc r20648 12117476 ocm 12117476 54359 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a70052) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 54359) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 68:6 or 143:12) a new discovery of terra incognita australis, or, the southern world, by james sadeur, a french-man, who being cast there by a shipwrack, lived 35 years in that country and gives a particular description of the manners, customs, religion, laws, studies and wars of those southern people, and of some animals peculiar to that place ... translated from the french copy ... terre australe connue. english foigny, gabriel de, ca. 1630-1692. [8], 186 p. printed for john dunton ..., london : 1693. first published under title: la terre australe connue. vannes [genève?], 1676; later editions have title: les avantures de jacques sadeur. reproduction of original in harvard university libraries. imperfect: lacks p. 89-96. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages, imaginary. 2006-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-12 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-03 celeste ng sampled and proofread 2007-03 celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a new discovery of terra incognita australis , or the southern world. by james sadeur a french-man . who being cast there by a shipwrack , lived 35 years in that country , and gives a particular description of the manners , customs , religion , laws , studies , and wars , of those southern people ; and of some animals peculiar to that place : with several other rarities . these memoirs were thought so curious , that they were kept secret in the closet of a late great minister of state , and never published till now since his death . translated from the french copy , printed at paris , by publick authority . april 8. 1693. imprimatur , charles hein . london , printed for john dunton , at the raven in the poultry . 1693. the preface of the french publisher . tho the surprising adventures of mr. sadeur , and the discovery of the country of which you are going to read the particulars , be things very extraordinary , yet 't is supposed , the reader will not much scruple to believe them , when he shall be informed , that a southern unknown land has been talkt of these 200 years ▪ he will only wonder , that since the world is now so well furnished with numbers of such skillful and curious travellers , how it should have continued so long undiscover'd , and he will judge not without sufficient grounds , that they which have attempted this discovery , have either been lost in their voyage , or been killed by the inhabitants of the country , after they had entred it ; as sadeur had been himself , had it not been for the signal he gave of a prodigious bravery and courage , before the eyes of the australians , by fighting against animals of a monstrous strength and bigness ; which so charmed those people , who are naturally very brave themselves , that they granted him the priviledge to live among them , contrary to the most solemn laws of their country . the birth of sadeur , and his education , his misfortunes and shipwracks , will appear to all the world , as effects of a destiny , that designed him to be born for no other purpose , but to be conducted afterward into that unknown country , of which we had no true relation before his time . it is true , that magellan attributed to himself the honour of having discovered this country , in the year 1520 , under the name of terra de fugo , or the land of five . but the hollanders have clearly convinced us , that he discovered certain islands that depend rather upon america , than australia . mark paul the venetian has likewise enjoyed for a considerable time the glory of this discovery , because that being driven by a tempest , a great way beyond the island of java , he discovered the kingdom of maletur , the province of beach , the isle of petau ; and another isle , which he named , the lesser java : but the hollanders which have since settled themselves in the greater java ; and who drive all the commerce there , assure us by all their relations , that all the countries that pilot saw , are nothing but a great cluster of many islands , that no where joyn to the southern continent : and that is so much the more probable , because ferdinando galego , having roved all about that great sea , from the strait of magellan , to the molucca islands , reports that it is stowed with such a multitude of islands , that he counted above a thousand . it is likewise true , that upon comparing the description that ferdinando de quir a portugal , gives of the southern continent , with that which is contained in this book , it must needs be allowed , that he hath made some discovery of that country . for we read in his eighth request to the king of spain , that in the discoveries , which he made in the year 1610 , of the southern country , called here australia , he found a country much more fertile and populous than any in europe ; that the inhabitants were much biger and taller than the europeans ; and that they lived much longer than they . and lewis paes de morres , who was admiral of the fleet of the said ferdinando , confirmed to the councel of spain , the truth of doaduir's relation , adding that the air was so healthy in that country , and so conformable to the temper of man , that people there , as freely slept by moon-light , as by day-light , on the bare earth , and that not only without any incommodity , but with pleasure ; that the fruits there were so excellent and nourishing , that the inhabitants sought no other food ; that they drank a much more pleastant liquor than wine , that they knew not the use of cloaths ; and that the study of natural knowledge , was there very much cultivated . but notwithstanding all that , we must needs grant on the other hand , that they had but a very superficial knowledge of that country , and that what they have said of it , might serve indeed to stir up the curiosity that many had already to know it , but could no way satisfie the appetite it had raised in them , with any solid and particular account . 't is therefore to our sadeur , whose relation here follows , that we are wholly obliged for the discovery of this before unknown country . and i doubt not but many persons will be surprized , that the name of a man to whom the world is so much beholding , should lye so long concealed in obscurity , as well as the particulars of his rare discovery : but their surprize will undoubtedly cease , when they shall know that the memoirs from which this relation was composed , were long kept private in the cabinet of a late great minister of state , from whence they could not be had till after his death . a table of the chapters . chap. 1. of sadeur's birth and education . chap. 2. of sadeur's voyage to congo . chap. 3. of the accidents which brought sadeur into australia . chap. 4. a description of australia , with a geographical map of the said-country . chap. 5. of the constitution of the australians , and of their customs . chap. 6. of the religion of the australians . chap. 7. of the opinion of the australians concerning this life . chap. 8. of the exercises of the australians . chap. 9. of the australian tongue , and of their studies . chap. 10. of the animals , or living creatures peculiar to australia . chap. 11. of australian commodities , and rarities that might be useful to europe . chap. 12. of the ordinary wars of the australians . chap. 13. of the return of sadeur to the island of madagascar . chap. 14. of the stay that sadeur made in madagascar , and the occurrences that happened in that time . a new discovery of the southern world. chap. i. of the birth and education of sadeur : as 't is impossible to reflect upon all the adventures of my life , without admiring the prodigious variety of events which have accompanied it , so i believed i ought to make a collection , and from thence remark all the most considerable instances , for altho i have yet no opportunities to send them into my own countrey , nor see any probability of returning thither , yet i believe i cannot do better than commit them to writing , for the frequent assistance of my memory , and my more particular satisfaction . i receiv'd a memoir from a father jesuit of lisbon in portugal , when i was at villa franca , which contains an account of my birth , and the adventures of my younger years , as i am about to relate . my father was called james sadeur , and my mother , willemetta ilin , both of them were of chatillon upon bar of the jurisdiction of rochel in campagne , a province of france . my father knew many secrets in mathematicks , which were owing more to his own genius than the precepts of a master ; particularly he excelled in the inventions of facilitating the removal of great bodies or burthens . monsieur de vare , who had then some intendance over sea affairs being acquainted with him , brought him to bordeaux , and from thence to the west-indies , with promises which he never perform'd to him , altho he knew him to be so necessary for his service : my mother who had followed him , prest him to return after 9 or 10 months aboed at port-royal , and being imbark't , april 25. 1603. she brought me into the world 15 days after they had been on shipboard , monsieur de sarre , who was captain of the vessel , was pleased to be my god-father ; i was conceived in america and brought forth upon the ocean , an infallible presage of the miseries which were to attend me during my whole life . the voyage was happy enough in all the places which were esteemed dangerous , even to the coasts of aquitain , where an unexpected tempest so furiously engaged the vessel , that it was cast upon the coasts of spain , and shipwreckt near the cape of finisterre , in the province of galicia in spain , with the loss of my father and mother . the same memoir , says , that my mother seeing the ship let in the water on every side , lifted me out of my cradle , and embracing me with an extream tenderness , and abundance of tears , said , ah my dear child , have i brought thee forth upon the waters , to see thee so soon swallowed up by them ? at least i shall have this consolation of perishing with thee . she had hardly finish'd this complaint , when a more impetuous wave than any of the former , breaking into the vessel , bore her away from my father . in this extremity every one was sensible that nothing was more dear than the preservation of his own life , only my parents , who preferring me to themselves , did expose themselves to the evident danger of perishing to preserve me alive ; the love that my mother had for me , made her not forsake me , for in the lifting me up continually with her arms above the waters she her self was at last choak-with them ; the courage which my father shewed on this occasion was also very particular , for , forgetting himself , instead of making to the shore as did the rest , he came to us by the mercy of the waves , and imbracing my mother , who yet lift me up , he drew us just to the bankside , and set us upon the sand , but either having wholly spent himself upon this occasion , or believing that we were dead , he fell down in a swound , holding me in his arms ; altho every one was sufficiently perplext , yet there was none that did not consider this spectacle , and was not amazed at it , many themselves running to relieve us , when it was perceived that i had yet any motion , they took me from the arms of my father , and held me before a fire , which the inhabitants had kindled out of compassion to us . there was no sign of life in my mother , and having laid her for some time before the fire , they were perswaded that she had more need of a burial . those who had more particularly known my father , deplored his fate with cries that drew tears from the inhabitants of the countrey , o man of eternal memory , said some , o too generous soul , must thou dye for being willing to save the life of thy family ? ah , said others , never was there such a tragedy ; the mother to expose her self for the child , the father for the mother , and yet those generous efforts to terminate in the death of each other . i know not whether so much lamentation made my father sensible , but he open'd his eyes , and with a feeble and languishing voice , said , where art thou my dear ? this unexpected speech surprized the company , and when they answered him not readily enough , he added , then let us all three dye together ; these were his last words , and then he clos'd his eyes and dyed . 't is said ▪ that he signalized himself on many occasions in this voyage ; but he drew the admiration of every one in this extremity : all those who saw him thus expire could not look upon me without being moved with pitty , poor destitute ( said they ) what can become of thee , can any good fortune attend thee in this world , thou being the cause of their death , who gave thee thy life ? some believed that i could not long survive them , after the violent struglings which i had undergone in the shipwrick . but alas ! this was but the beginning of a tragedy , which i have now continued for about fifty five years , with so great and strange catastiophes , that they can never be represented in their whole extent , altho i my self should relate them all : the heat of the fire soon impower'd me to weep and lament , with such a noise as gave them to understand that i was out of danger . an inhabitant of the countrey , who knew french enough to understand what had past , remembred that he had an only son who dyed not long before , and resembled me , this mov'd him to use his interest to get me ; they represented to monsieur de sacre that this was a very favourable opportunity , and that he could not easily refuse it without putting me in evident danger , he thereupon consented , being rather constrain'd by necessity than any other consideration ; this man soon adapted me into the place of his son , and his wife having , heard the whole relation embrac'd and entertain'd me with great caresses : monsieur de sarre , and some others of the most skilful in the vessel , knowing that they were near to st. james's , took a resolution of visiting the church which is consecrated to god , under the name of this saint , and there by good fortune they found merchants of their own acquaintance , who equip'd and gave them opportunity of returning creditably to oleron . monsieur de sarre after his arrival , began to particularize his adventures to his wife , and describe the shipwreck which he had escap'd , but it was some time before she could attend to it , for the joy of having received her husband safe from the danger of so long and tedious a voyage ; this wholly took her thoughts in the first moments of his return : but some time after she prayed her husband to give her the history of the shipwreck , and then she could not forbear admiring the conjugal and paternal love of my parents , who for my sake underwent a voluntary death ; and instead of conceiving an indignation for me , she took such an affection to me , especially when she understood that her husband was my godfather , that she continually importuned him to find some means of regaining me ; whereupon he re-imbarkt 22 months after his return , and in 15 days arrived at camarinas , where he found me very well , and about 30 months old , equally cherish'd by a father and mother , whom i believed to be my parents ; as soon as he had declared to them the reasons of his coming , and the design he had to pay for my entertainment , proportionable to the time that they had kept me , these good people were mightily offended , and determined not to part from me ; monsieur de sarre alledged his right of godfather , and the spaniard insisted upon the donation and possession , this cause was brought before the judges of camarinas , who , having decided in favour of my foster parents , monsieur de sarre , for fear of having made a voyage to his shame resolv'd to steal me away , and fly under favour of the wind which then stood for him , and entring roughly into the house with a valet where i was , and seeing only one servant-maid which held me , he snatcht me into his arms , and gain'd the bark which was ready to sail ; the fear that i was in , and the cries that i uttered threw me into a kind of convulsive swound ; as soon as i came to my self , they found me in a great fevor : my foster father being advertized , and justly provokt with this attempt , ran with other people towards the forts , and perceiving that we were out of attack , they made a discharge , which gave occasion to a portugueze vessel who lay to the south , to discharge a volly of canon upon us , with such misfortune that a bullet broke a plank out of our vessel , just at the top of the water , and sunk her down to rights , tho not without some respect of being the cause of the death of persons they knew not ; those in the road seeing this accident made what haste they could away , and the portugueze sent two shalops to endeavour to save those which perished , they only preserv'd a valet , who knew how to swim better than the rest , and as i floated upon the waters , by means of the straw in my cradle , it happened that i was also taken up : i am troubled to write that which no body can read without looking upon me as a kind of viper , which lived by the death of those who took pains to preserve my life ; the portuguzes fearing a just reproof for their crime , put out speedily to the main sea , and finding that i was yet alive , they committed me to the care of a portuguze matron , who was in their vessel ▪ she profest a great desire of serving me , till she found that i was of two sexes , i would say an hermaphrodite , for afterward she conceiv'd such an aversion for me , that it was a trouble to her to look upon me , and as my fevor encreas'd , my death had been inevitable without the particular care of monsieur de sarre's valet . one might believe that god only preserv'd him to cherish me , if i had been any way useful to his service . being arrived at leira , he brought me from port to port , and us'd me with that tenderness , as if i had been his own child ; the portugueze being very willing to be discharg'd of us for many reasons , departed thence , unknown to him ; and he being inform'd that he would find more assistance in the great hospital of lisbon , than in leira , resolv'd to carry me thither : he was received there with as much humanity as if he had been in his own countrey , but he was scarce arrived when he found himself seized with a mortal fevor , which carry'd him the seventh day , dying in the arms of a jesuit , to whom he communicated all the particulars which i have related , and as i learn'd by means of a memoir which this jesuite gave me 15 years after as i said before . the poor wretch dying , instead of regretting his misfortune , and hating me as the cause of it , ceast not to recommend me to those who assisted him , as if i had belonged to him . the father jesuits being advertized of the evils which i had been the cause of till then , very seriously deliberated what i should come to , and the result was , that they should take a particular cognizance of my inclinations , so that they might know how to distinguish my sex ; i had hardly attained to the age 5 years , but they were satisfied that i ought to be reckoned in the masouline party . they saw that i had an inclination to devotion , and judged that if my mind was cultivated , it would promise no mean thing ; they presented me to the countess of villa franca , at eight years of age , after having given her the story of my sad adventures . this lady , who might justly be compared to her illustrious predecessors , received me with so much tenderness that she was pleased that i should be treated and educated as the count her son , who was about 9 years old ; altho i wore a livery , i had no other obligation than that of keeping him company in his studies , and i learn'd with him the latin , greek , french and italian tongues ; the principles of astronomy , geography , philosophy , and the history of spain , with chronology . the countess , who shewed the same affections to me as if i had been of her own blood , being inform'd that i was very serviceable to the progress of the count in his studies , was willing that i should lay by the livery , and study philosophy , and having accomplisht that , 't was thought fit to dispose the count to the publick theses , at the university of conimbria , where i was oblig'd to harrangue , and begin the dispute . above 15 days before our departure , i had my mind so agitated , that i visibly dryed away , so that my blood congealed , as if i had been about to endure the utmost punishment , and my heart beat as if i had been upon the point of being precipitated ; they saw my colour come and go , but that which was most afflicting in this chain of accidents , was , that every body believed that 't was only caus'd by the fear of which i had of appearing in publick . i shall say nothing of the dreams , spectres , and a thousand such things which threatened me with extream desolation : so soon as i had learnt that the count was resolv'd to go by sea , all the story of my misfortunes which had happened there before ; pierc'd my mind after so feeling a manner , that i believed there was no mean betwixt embarking and perishing , i entreated then that i might travel by land with part of his train , but how little do precautions serve to combat against destiny ? that what i sought most eagerly to shun , the evil wherewith i was threatned did justly render it inevitable ; i made so many adieus for some hours before my departure , that i appeared ridiculous , and the countess seeing me weep at her feet , lookt upon me as weak and effeminate . the count , with whom i was familiar as with my brother , said to me , sadeur , are you willing to forsake us ? you will go distracted , why do you thus torment your self ? i believe that you have some particular design in your mind ; the fear of appearing in publick is not capable of working so much upon you as to deprive you of common sense . my lord ( said i ) if it please god that i return , i will discover to you the weakness of my mind , but grant me the favour of suspending your judgment till we come back : this answer was so great a surprise to the young lord , that he protested that either he would not forsake me , or that i should not go the voyage , for the voyage , answered i , as it is for your honour , so i will accomplish it or dye by the way , to accompany you upon the water if my life lay only at the stake i should abandon it with pleasure , but to suffer that yours should be expos'd , i should rather do violence on my self than obey you . this discourse joyned to the affection which he had for me , made him urge it no more to me , and so we parted . the day following , it is to be remembred that philip the ii. king of castile , having taken possession of the kingdom of portugal , in the year 1581 , he raised many families to maintain this illustrious conquest with the greater ease , one of these which he most advanced was the seignory of villa franca , not without the jealousie of many others , who lookt upon themselves to be deserving as that . as 't is more easie to us conquer nations than hearts , many portugueze remained so firm to the family of braggance , that they only sought how they might shake off the yoke of the castilians , and crown the duke of this house : altho the country was entirely submitted to the obedience of the kings of spain ; the secret revolts of particular persons were very frequent , and the sea was not without its pyrats , who shewed in all the rancounters , what aversion they had for the spanish government , and that they could not support the creatures of the king of spain . the embarking of the count was blaz'd abroad , which was on the 15th day of may , in the year 1623. and two vessels confederate of braggance , were resolved to take him ; to this end they attackt two sail which convoy'd him towards the coasts of ternais . but they maintained their shock with such vigour that the attack was to their own confusion , and the glory of the count ; i followed afar off with the train that went by land , and perceived nothing of what past , till such time as the enemies distinguishing us by the shining colours of the count , put to shore 30 musquetters , who fir'd upon us from an ambuscade , killing one page , two servants , and the horse upon which i was mounted . the rest being incapable of defending themselves fled away , and left me alone , abandon'd to the discretion of these pyrats , who having brought me into their vessels , put forth into the open sea. chap. ii. of the voyage of sadeur to the kingdom of congo . 't is a true saying , that man purposes , but god disposes : i believed that in going by land , i should shun the dangers of the sea ; and the sea ( if i may so speak ) found me upon the land , and reduc'd me to all those misfortunes which i strove to flee from , the pyrats were not long in the open sea , but that it began to blow terribly , and became so tempestuous that the master pilots despaired of escaping ; the mast of our vessel broke , the rudder split , the ship leakt on all sides , and we endured 24 hours the mercy of the waves , labouring night and day at 6 great pumps ; till at last being overcome with labour , the water at last gain'd upon us , the ship sunk down to the bottom , i found my self by chance near the door of the captains chamber , which was born up and began to swim , and as i was about to perish i catcht hold of it , rather by a natural power and instinct , than by any effect of reason and conduct : i cannot say how long time i floated with in it that manner , because i was distracted and void of judgment ; but i was perceived by means of the moon-light , by a vessel , which sait'd towards the south , and which sent out a shalop to know what i was , when they saw that i was a shipwreckt man , they took me and carryed me into the vessel : i was scarce come to my self , but they took me for a portugueze , and soon remembred that they had seen me at lisbon , and that i was in the service of the house of villa franca ; the captain of the vessel order'd that particular care should be taken of my person , because he had great obligations to that illustrious house , i was not long in recovering my perfect health , which so soon as i got , i conjured the company to dischage me at any rate whatever , i recited all the misfortunes which had happened to me upon the water , and omitted nothing which might perswade them that this element was extremely fatal to me , but the more i studied reasons to work 'em into that belief , the more ridiculous i appeared to them , wherefore i concluded with my self to insist no longer upon that subject , but that it were better for me to abandon my self to the course of my destiny . the captain told me that the respect he had for , and knowledge he had of that house , where he had often seen me , obliged him to conduct me thither , that he might deliver me to the countess , adding , that he esteem'd this occurrance more happy than all the other fortunes he could have made in his voyage ; i learn'd at the same time that the vessels which we were in belonged to the portugueze merchants , which went to the east-indies . it happen'd a little time after that , the chief secretary of the vessel fell very ill , wherefore they pray'd me to undertake the charge . the wind was so favourable that every one said i brought good luck to the vessel . we came well and healthful to the line , the 15th of july , and the first of september to the kingdom of congo , where we cast anchor the sixth , at maninga : there was no sickness amongst us , but that of the secretary , which encreas'd daily ; the physitian gave his opinion that he ought to be set a shore , all the captains and pilots at the same time judg'd , that he ought not to be exposed to double the cape of good hope , during the approaches of the equinox . at last it was resolv'd to stay in this port till the month of december , as well for our health as to avoid danger : we met three portugueze at maninga , who understood the language of the countrey , and who told us of so many rarities in the kingdom , that we could not sufficiently admire them : and was a true terestial paradice , filled with all that man could ever desire , for health , convenience , or the pleasures of life , without any need of cultivating the earth , which is often barren after a thousand labours , and always exposed to the rigours of bad seasons . the natural inclination which i always had to know the wonders of nature gave me a very sensible pleasure at the relation of them , and as i sometimes desired of our merchants to go abroad into the country , and examin the truth of these things which were told us , so i shall give this abridgement of them as follows . this country has not half the inhabitants in it that portugal has ; i know not whether it may happen from the little inclination , and the great difficulty there is to engender : the men there are entirely naked , only within these few years , there are some that begin to imitate the europeans , and cover what we call shameful . 't is certain , that the abundance of their countrey renders them negligent , slothful , simple and stupid ; after having considered them sometimes , i was forced to acknowledge , that man naturally becomes slothful when he has nothing to do , and that idleness transforms him to a beast . the soil of these regions , which is watered throughout with the rivers of zair and cariza , produces fruits in abundance , without any labour , and these fruits are so delicate and nourishing that they fully satisfie those which eat of them , even the very water of certain fountains , has i know not what delicacy and juice , which satisfies those that drink thereof . we staid there a considerable time , but without any expense , because the people despise gain , the countrey furnishing in abundance all that one can wish . there 's so little need of houses in this countrey , that no body goes into them ; and as the nights have all the sweetness that one can desire ; so 't is better to sleep abroad than under a covering ; they know not how to make use of beds , yet they have their reserves of some mattresses , for the weaker sort to lye upon , tho there is no body that sleeps not upon the ground , all these considerations gave me an idea of a people , who being not obliged to labour , lived with some justice in the midst of idleness , which rendred them dull , negligent , sleeping , disdainful , without exercise , and without action . our captain gave liberty to me , and three more of our company , to go by the river zair , to a lake of the same name ; we had all the pleasure and satisfaction possible in this voyage . take one part of the most considerable remarks which i then made , as far as my memory will assist me . we arrived in twenty four days at the mouth of the lake , we went about it in ten , and we came back again to the fleet in twenty more ; the river zair is not rapid , and as we had four good oars , we could easily make fifteen and eighteen leagues a day ; nevertheless , 't is certain we never made above eight in going , whence we may easily see how much our geographers are deceived , that place the lake of zair three hundred leagues from the sea , that which obliged us to such little journeys , was the number of curiosities which continually presented themselves to our eyes , in fruits , flowers , fishes , and tame animals ; we could scarce remark a place in the vast meadows of sixty and eighty leagues long , which was not enriched with a marvellous tapestry of flowers , which would pass for rare in the finest cardens in europe ; i could scarce see my feet tread upon so many miracles of nature without indignation ; but the vast quantity of them was the cause that they were no more esteemed then our field dazies ; there is scarce a tree which does not bear some precious fruits , and such as are incomparably better than all that we know ; and nature hath so accommodated them to the constitution of the inhabitants , that they might be gathered without incommodety and danger ; we lived not upon any other nourishment , nor did we desire any more : our master pilot sebastiano deles , a man of great experience , seeing that we were admiring why we should go to the east-indies for their delicates and curiosities , and never brought back none of those things that we saw in this countrey , said , that 't was with these fruits , as with viands , well baked and seasoned , which could not be preserved four days with their ordinary gust ; this obliged me to make the experiment , and i saw that indeed they would not be kept long without corruption ; 't is true , that in eating them we find 'em perfectly digesting , nourishing and conformable to the stomach , very different from our fruit , and which brings at last as much indisposition to the body , as pleasure to the taste . for this cause they may be preserved , since their crudity strives with their natural heat , whereas those at manicongo being perfectly ripe are spoiled in a little time , and as nature has provided that some are always dying ; so the trees are always laden with flowers , buds , and fruits , some green , some rotten , and others proper to eat . amongst the great quantity of fishes which i remarkt in the river zair , i saw two sorts which surprized me , i may call the one amphibious , since they are something like our water spaniels , and come as easily out of the water ; they leap almost like foxes , with this difference , that their paws are as large as the feet of our drakes , and those before are twice or thrice as short as those behind ; they have so great an inclination for a man that they will seek him out , and offer them selves to him , as so much sacrifice , it happens sometimes that they will even leap into boats , and come to the feet of the watermen , to fawn upon them like dogs ; this i saw with my eyes , and i wish not over well to a water man that struck one of 'em down at my feet ; the natives of the countrey call them cadzeick , and their flesh resembles that of our spanish otters . the other that i admired were slying f●shes , and we might well call them sea peacocks , but much more fine , and of a brighter colour , than those at land , 't is rarely that they swim at the bottom of the water , but they are almost always seen at the top , their feathers appear just like the scales of fishes , but with a diversity of green , blew , yellow ▪ and speckled with red , which ravishes the eyes of such as behold them , these which i saw out of the water appeared like great eagles with two wings , every one with five or six feet ; one would believe that they affected to be seen and admired , sometimes did they gather together in a circle round the boat , sometimes they placed themselves right against those who lookt upon them , turning and returning after all manners , with trains which dazelled our eyes ; the shores were full of many sorts of animals , but the most common , and the most charming , resembled our sheep at leira , excepting that we saw some of almost all colours , i mean , red , green , yellow , and a blew so shining , that our purple , and best prepared silks come not near them ; i askt why no one traffickt in such glistering rarities ? and 't was answered that these natural colours fail with the lives of the animals . being arrived at the lake , we employed ten days in going round it , and we found its length about sixty leagues , and its breadth about forty ; we saw the head of the river niger , which is pretty spacious , and deep enough to carry a vessel , but it soon lost it self in the mountains of benin ; we rested our selves upon the nile , which is not at all inferiour in its rise to the niger , and it continues in its first state for about three leagues , there is no difficulty to go down into the mediteranean sea , and the communication betwixt the two seas is also very commondious by means of this place . i carefully endeavoured to inform my self where the crocodiles were , which historians place in such great numbers in these quarters , but the inhabitants could not even divine what i talkt of , which made me believe they were only fables , if we may truly say , that those who make long voyages may enlarge upon them to others , who only know the place of their birth , 't is yet more true to assertion , that this liberty is stretcht too far , and often runs out into fictions , the reason is , it often happens that men travail a great way without seeing any thing besides ports , or never rest themselves a moment , and all the mischievous incommodities which they saffer , give so much trouble and weariress , that they never think of taking any recreation : nevertheless , as travellers are perswaded that they ought to tell something new when they come from far , the more cunning they are , the more capable they are of invention , and as there is no on which cannot contradict them , they are pleasantly received , and there is as certain a debt to the labour of their inventions , as to truth it self . we went afterwards into a small island which is in the middle of the lake which belongs to the king of jassal●er , who also calls himself the king of the lake ; the natives of this country , call him zassa , and the king keeps a fortress , which is lookt upon as very famous in this country , tho in truth 't is very small in comparison of our forts in europe ; we were charmed as soon as we set foot upon land , for there was nothing wanting for the general pleasure of all the senses , besides the order of the aromatick herbs , which was a little too strong ; there were fruits so fine so delicate , and in so great quantities , that the beauty of them joyned to the abundance , cloyed us ; but which was more surprizing than the rest , and which i had never heard of , was a fountain which was as sweet as our hipocras , and which rejoyced and pleased us more than our spanish wine , we reasoned loing enough upon the cause , which should produce so agreeable a liquor , and we concluded that as all over head was embalmed in this country , so the earth within must be of the same nature ; and if there were fountains of a very ill tast , there must by consequence be those that are very sweet and agreeable ; we drank with an inexpressible pleasure , and every one wisht to live in that place : there came one of the natives to us , and with a great concern told us , that drinking of that water was mortal to all such as drank to excess of it , we were n●t long in proving the truth of what he had told us : but so great a drowsiness fell upon us , that we could not forbear lying down in the place , where we slept above 15 hours , how ever this sleep had no ill effect upon us , for we rose as brisk and healthful as we were before ; some attributed this sleep to the great quantity of odours which hanged over our heads , and others believed this , that this delicious drink we had taken , was the cause of it . from this isle we were willing to go to the source of the river cuama , which we found narrow and incapable of receiving a boat , a little time after , we discover●d the fountain of the lake it self , and we reckoned above 200 brooks which came down from the mountain , which are over against the middle of it , and which the spaniards call mountains of the moon , because that vasco de gama , who first doubled the cape of good hope , in the year 1497 , to discover the oriental isles , seeing the moon , on these mountains , appear , as if it had toucht the top of them , gave them this name . the natives of this country , call them the mountains of the ors , that is , of the water , because of the abundance of water which continually runs down from them . these who confound the lake of zembre , with that of zair , speak upon very defective relations , for we were assured that it was on the other side these mountains , about ▪ 50. leagues from zair . most historians place a great number of monsters in these quartecs , but upon no other foundation than the recital of those who first invented it : all our enquiries could not serve us to discover the original of a neighbouring nation , which the europians call caffres , and the natives , the country of fordi . we were informed that a native having taken a small she tigres , became so familiar with the beast , that he loved her carnally , and committed that infamous crime with her , whence came an animal half man and half beast , which gave the original to these savages , which cannot be humanized ; a very probable proof of this relation , is that their heads and feet are very like those of tigers , and even their body is in some places markt with spots like those of these animals . we returned by the river of cari●● , and staid 20 days upon the road , with the same divertisements which we had upon the river zair , except that whatever we saw as we came back , was become common to us and excited a less admiration than at first . chap. iii. of the accidents which brought sadeur into the southern world. so soon as we were returned we set sail , with a wind and sea as favourable as we could wish them , we arrived in 8 days to the cape of good hope , where we would not stay for fear of losing the opportunity of so fair a season , which is very rare in this place , we were got within sight of port dananbolo , in the isle of madacascar , where we were wind bound , for more than forty six hours , afterwards an east wind so furiously tost the sea , and drove us with that impetuosity that it broke our cordage , and drove us above a thousand leagues to the west . many saw some isles on the right hand , and took them for those which are called the trinity , 't was there that a rock at the top of the water broke our vessel into two parts , and where we found our selves exposed to the mercy of the most inexorable of all the elements . i could never tell what became of the other ships , nor what was the fortune of my companions in this wreck , because 't was in the night , and very dark ; for i was only busied how to save my self : my other shipwrack had given me experience and faith , i had sought for a light plauck during the dangers of the tempest ; and i will say it to my shame , that being far enough removed from the approaches of death , i always appeared very indifferent as to my life , but in this evident danger , i could think of nothing else but how to save my self . i floated for many hours by the means of my plank , with such a tossing and turning over and over , that i can't now think of it without horror : the waves did so often plunge me under , and overturn me , that tho i held out as long as i could , yet at last i lost both knowledge and thinking , and truly i knew not what became of me , nor by what means i was preserved from death ; i only remember that coming to my self i opened my eyes , and found a calm sea , i perceived an isle very near , and i felt my hands so clencht to the plank , that i could hardly loose them , and my singers were so crooked that i could not by any means bring them to themselves ▪ the sight of this island encouraged me very much , and infine , being come on shore , i drag'd my self under a tree , without thinking of any thing but languishing , and expecting death in a little time ; i found under this tree two fruits , about the bigness , and like in colour to our pomegranets , with this difference , that their tast appeared to me much more delicate , substantial and nourishing ; having eaten the first , my spirits recovered , and my heat grew light , and having eaten the second i sound my self sufficiently satisfied , but i was so bruised ▪ that i was in great pain to bear my self up , so i lay down and fell into so deep a sleep , that i was at least 24 hours before i awakt , after this sleep i found that i was not in the least a weary , i saw that my cloaths were dry , and the sun shone , and inspired me with a courage and hope : i found two other fruits , which i did eat , and having applyed my self to find out the elevation of the sun , i judged that i was 33 deg . lat. south , but i knew not the longitude ; having rested my self again i resolved to advance into the isle , to discover if there were any inhabitants , i plainly saw the appearance of some ways , but they led into very thick bushes , where i could not pass without stooping , which gave me very strange thoughts ; having found a tree much higher than the rest , i thought that if i climbed to the top of it , i might discover some place or other , but as i got up i heard a great noise , and i saw two prodigious flying beasts , which came to the top of the tree , obliged me to get down a little faster than i got up : be not surprized at the name of beast , which i here gave to the birds , for they were so very large that i was frighted at them , and speak then as i thought . i got down with all the speed imaginable , but i was no sooner down , but heard so frightful a cry , that i expected every moment to be devoured : in fine , coming to my self , i reflected upon the misery i saw my self reduc'd to , i concluded that it were better to dye forthwith , than to seek to languish any longer , after all , i said , there 's a necessity that i dye by some means or other , and i cannot shun one danger , but run into a greater . i then made a resolute preparation for death , and remembring that my father and mother expir'd upon the sea shore , i made thither , where i had left my plank : i had scarce left my place but i was followed by a great number of animals , which i could not distinguish from one another , nevertheless i had my judgment as ready as could possibly be expected upon such an occasion , i thought i saw certain kinds of horses , but with pointed heads , and claw-footed , i can't tell whether these were not of those beasts , which came to light upon the tree where i was , but they had wings and feathers . i saw certain kinds of great dogs , and many other sorts of animals , which don 't at all resemble any that we have in europe , they made great crys so soon as they perceiv'd me , and as they approacht nearer and nearer they redoubled the noise . i resolved to defend my life , and took my plank and began to exercise it , in turning and returning it , which made 'em very attentive , till two of the largest beasts approacht to come in with me , i turned to one of them , and struck it so roughly that it ran back to the other animals , which set 'em all on howling : i was seized with an extreme fear , at the redoubling of these terrible cries , and in great hast took three fruits of the tree which i have spoken of , and cast my self into the water with my plank ; after having swam such a distance as it was reasonable enough for me to believe i was out of all danger : i turned my eyes toward the isle , and i saw upon the shoar all that great number of animals which i fled from , part of them put themselves readily to swim , and pursued me with that vigour and hast , that they were not long before they came up to me , when i saw that i could not escape , i turned towards them , and presented the end of my plank to them , with success happy enough , for as they prest on to take and bite the end , they made me advance as fast as themselves , this management continued till i arrived at a small kind of a little isle , which floated upon the water ; and which carried me away , swift enough to remove the means of my enemies joyning me : they followed me nevertheless with a courage , or rather with an encreased rage , till they dispaired of being able to come at me again ; but at last my isle happening to stoop on a sudden , they had time of coming up to me again : i scarce knew what to think , and began to make unprofitable reflections in devising the cause of the immobility of the isle , whose motion had been so favourable to me , i saw four of those great flying animals which i have spoken of , which came to the assistance of the others , when they were ready to fall upon me . i covered my self with my plank , to avoid their first attacks , which were so rude that with a stroak with their beak , they pierc'd it thro' , 't was then that my isle raising it self , suddenly with an extreme impetuosity shakt me , and threw me more than 50 paces from it , i believed that it was a kind of whale , which naturalists mention : for one of these monstrous birds placing her self upon its back , thrust her talons into its flesh , it lifted it self up as i thought , above one hundred cubits out of the water , with a noise as terrible as that of thunder . this toss wholly conquer'd my spirits , so that i knew not what became of me then , but my crooked fingers were the cause that i quitted not my plank ; being a little come to my self , i saw the creature which bounded , and it cast water out of its nostrils , with horrible hissings ; and afterwards sunk down again , clear under the water . the birds which pursued me were retired , so that i found my self alone in the midst of the water , without any other assistance than my piece of wood , and without any other thought than that of death , which i well saw could not be avoided ; i was so spent with the fatigues which i had undergone , and so incommoded with the water which i had swallowed down , that no one would think humanity capable of resisting so great evils in this estate , i remembred my fruits and eat two of them , after which i found it impossible to avoid sleeping , so that i was oblig'd to turn me upon my plank , with my face upwards , to be in some manner without danger of being strangled by the waters . i closed my eyes , and knew not how long i tarried in this posture , but i wakned at last by the rays of the sun , which darted very bright upon my face ; and i found that i was driven by the wind north-east , with great swiftness , altho the sea was pretty smooth . i thought my heart and mind in a very calm posture ; and a little after i found my self very near a country , whither the wind had driven me ; my crooked fingers were so clinched to my plank , that i had much ado to disentangle them to get upon shore ; my cloaths were so heavy with the water which they had drunk up , that i could scarce carry them , the tossing of the sea , and salt water which i had drank , had so distemper'd my head , that i found much ado to endure it ; i was like a man , whom the excess of wine , or many turnings had made giddy , and rendred incapable of doing any thing to the purpose , all that i could do was to trail my plank at a certain distance , where i layed me down and soon fell a sleep , my sleep in some measure setled my brain , and dryed my cloaths , which i rub●d to make 'em less incommodious ; i remembred i had yet one of these fruits which i have spoken of , and having eaten it , i perceived that want of nourishment was the principal cause of my extreme weakness ; i then advanced to seek out something else , and after having marched about 200 paces i found many trees , but i perceived no fruit , which made me fall into a profound raving , tho i forbore not all the time to march on , and as i went , i lookt downwards , and saw two fruits upon the earth , which were covered with leaves , i took 'em as a present from heaven , and after i had eaten one of them , i perceiv'd my strength to encrease , which encouraged me to advance on my way , and to examine the place where i might be , which i found to be about 35 deg . south : i saw many signs which perswaded me that the firm land was not far off , the water was very fresh . the winds blew south , and i remarkt that they were very much interrupted ; i even perceived certain extraordinary vapours , in a word , i flattered my self that i saw some appearence of a country , and endeavouring much to get forward , i found a tree laden with great fruit , whose branches were bowed , down to the earth ; the place was all tapistred with flowers of divers colours , and perfumed with very agreeable odours ; as soon as i had eaten of this fruit i fell into a great benumness , and i was so affected , that in looking upon all things about me , i could see nothing distinctly : a little time after i heard many howlings of beasts , which seemed to be very near me , and i soon perceived seven , which were of the bigness and colour of our great bears , besides that every paw appeared as bigg as their whole head , they approacht me , and retired many times without touching me , but at last , they came up all together , on purpose to devour me , and i was all bloody , when two great birds of the form of those which i have mentioned above , came to light upon these animals , and obliged them to retire , and to hide themselves in the next caverns they could meet with : the birds persued them , but catching none of them , they came back to me , and after having given me some wounds with their talons , one of them seized me between her two feet , and lifted me up very high in the air ; the girdle that i had went many times about me , and sav'd my life , by keeping me from being pierced into the entrails , however i was in continual fear ; after a long way these animals rested themselves upon a rock , where that which carried me set me down , and the other seiz'd me after the same manner that the first did . in fine , the pain that they put me to , became in supportable , and having cast me into a kind of dispair , i threw my self vigorously upon his neck , and found strength enough to tear out his eyes with my teeth , he fell at the same time into the water , and having let me go , i soon mounted upon his back , his companion who flew before , to divide the air , perceiving that the other followed not ; and having seen us upon the water , turned back and fell upon me , with a dreadful impetuosity , he pitcht upon my shoulders , and struck such blows at me , as would have been mortal if they had hit me . i always kept a little poniard at my girdle , which i thrust into his belly with much ado , for these birds are almost impenitrable , as we shall see afterwards , having two great scales which environ them , and which defend 'em , like those of tortoises ; whilst i fought against this second enemy , the first slipt from under my thighs , and got from me , which made me lay hold on one of the claws of the last , by which he lift me up very high , and i held fast for fear of falling , he cry'd terribly , and after having raised himself pretty high , he threw himself into the sea again , and by the favour of this element i had the liberty to cast my self upon his neck , and so got upon his back : he howled at the loss of his blood , tumbled and turned himself after a thousand ways to shake me off , and constrain me to leave him . i thought then of nothing else but of holding him fast , to hinder the effect of his effort , because that my plank which was my only assistance , being lost , i saw no mean betwixt quitting him and perishing : at last he staied upon the water without any other motion than an ox , whose throat is cut , confessing by his stilness that i had overcome him , having then some leisure to take breath and to think of my wounds , i could not distinguish any part in all my body which was not torn and bloody ; my cloaths were all rent , not one part escaping , whole , the water of the sea , altho 't was very fresh in that place , yet was salt enough to cause such pain as made me lose my senses . i apprehended sometime afterwards , that some guards from the sea saw part of this combat , and that four were come in a little shalop to see if they could know who i was , they believed me to be without life , and drew me into their boat as a dead man , who had expired in his victory : as soon as they perceiv'd any motion in my heart , they put into my mouth , nose and ears a liquor , which soon made me open my eyes , and see my benefactors ; they made me drink of a sort of water , which gave me new strength , and recovered my spirits ; they washt my body with an odoriferous water , they anointed my wounds and bound them up very commodiously , having thus brought me out of danger , they pursued my enemies , and having drawn the last into the boat , they laid him at my feet , the other had still some motion ; but explaining to them by signs that i had pluckt out his eyes , they pursued him , took him , and laid him upon the other , with great marks of rejoycing , they returned to land , from which they were distant about three hours rowing , and having brought me to shoar , they bore the two fowls at my feet , with acclamations , like to those they are used to make in their greatest victories . chap. iv. a discription of the australian world. if there was any thing in the world which could perswade me of the inevitable fatallity of humane things , and the infalible accomplishments of those events , the chain of which composes the destiny of mankind , it would certainly be this history that i am writing ; there is not on single accident of my life , which has not been serviceable either to direct or support me in this new country , where it was decreed i should one day be driven . my often shipwracks taught me to bear them ; both sexes were necessary for me under pain of being destroyed at my arrival , as i shall show in the sequel of my story . it was my good fortune to be found naked , otherwise i had been known to be a stranger in a land where no one wears any covering , without that terrible combat that i was obliged to maintain against the monstrous fowls i have before mention'd , and which brought me into great reputation amongst those that were wittnesses of it , i should have been forced to have submitted to an examination , that would have been infallibly followed with my death . infine , the more all the circumstances of my voyages and perils shall be considered , the more clearly it will appear that there is a certain order of things in the fate of man , and such a chain of effects that nothing can prevent , and which brings us by a thousand imperceptible turnings , to the end to which we are destined . the custom of the inhabitants of this country is never to receive any person amongst them , whose humour , birth and country , they know not before : but the extraordinary courge with which they had seen me fight ; and the great admiration they conceiv'd at my reviving after it , made me without any inquest be admitted into the neighbouring quarter , where every one came to kiss my hands : they would also have carryed me upon their heads , the greatest mark of high esteem that they show to any person ; but as they perceived it could not be without incomoding me , so they omitted this ceremony . my reception being made , those that had brought and comforted me , carryed me to the house of the heb , which signifies , a house of education ; they had provided me a lodging , and all things necessary , with such a diligence , as surpassed the civility of the most polished europeans : i was scarcely arrived when two hundred young australians came and saluted me in a very friendly manner ; the desire i had to speak to them , made me call to mind some words that i had heard at congo , and among others that of rimlen , which i made use of , it signifies , i am your servant , at this word they believed me to be of their own country , and cryed out with great signs of joy , le cle , le cle , that is , our brother , our brother , and at the same time presented me with two fruits of a red colour , intermixt with blew , i had no sooner eat them , but they refreshed , and strengthend me very much ; they gave me afterwards a kind of a yellow bottle of liquor , that held about a good glass , which i drank with such a pleasure as i had never before felt : i was in this country , and amongst these new faces , like a man fallen from the clouds , and i found it difficult to believe i truly saw what i did ; i imagin'd to my self sometimes , that perhaps i might be dead , or at least in a trance , and when i convinced my self by many reasons , that i was certainly alive , and in my perfect sences ; and yet i could not perswade my self that i was in the same country , or with men of the same nature of our europeans : i was entirely : cured in fifteen days , and in five months learnt enough of the language to understand others , and to explain my self to them . i have here therefore set down the best account of the australian territories that i could get either by the relations of others , or cou'd describe according to the meridan of ptolemy . it begins in the three hundred and fortieth meridian , towards the fifty second degree of southern elevation , it advances on the side of the line , in forty meridians , until it comes to the fortieth degree . the whole land is called hust : the land continues in this elevation , about 15 degrees , and they call it hube ; from the fifteenth meridian the sea gains , and sinks by little and little into twenty five meridians , until it comes to the fifty first degree . and all on the western side is called hump : the sea makes a very considerable gulph there , which they call ilab : the earth afterwards falls back towards the line , and in four meridians advances unto the two and fortieth degree and a half ; and this eastern side is called hue : the earth continues in this elevation about thirty six meridians , which they call huod ; after this long extent of earth , the sea regains , and advances unto the forty-ninth degree , in three meridians , and having made a kind of semicircle in five meridians , the earth returns and goes ●n unto the thirtieth degree , in six meridians , and this western side is called huge . the bottom of the gulph pug , ●nd the other side pur ; the land con●inues about 34 meridians , almost in ●he same elevation , and that is call'd the land of sub , after which the sea rises , and seems to become higher than ordinary , wholly overflowing the earth , and falls again by little and little towards the pole , that earth by degrees giving way unto the sixtyieth meridian , on this side are the countries of hulg , pulg , and mulg ; towards the fifty fourth degree of elevation , appears the mouth of the river sulm , which makes a very considerable gulph : upon the borders of this river live a people which are very like the europians , who are under the obedience of many kings . this is all that i can have a certain knowledge of , as to that side of australia , which is towards the line ; it is limited towards the pole , by prodigious mountains , much higher and more in accessible than the pirhenean , which separate france from spain ; they call them ivas , and they begin towards the fiftieth degree , falling insensibly , for sixty five meridians , unto the sixtieth degree , and then rising again unto the forty eighth , and returning afterwards unto the fifty fifth degree , after which it rises to the forty third , and then ends in the sea. at the foot of these mountains they distinguish these following countrys ; curf , which extends it self from the mountains unto huff ; afterwards curd ; then gurf , durf , jurf , and surf , which last ends in the sea. in the middle of the countrys , between the mountains and the australian coasts lies trum , sum , burd , purd burf , turf , and pulg , which joyns to the sea. thus the australian territories contain twenty seven different countries , which are all very considerable , and are altogether about three thousand legues in length , and four or five hundred in breadth . the vally which is on the other side of the mountains is sometimes twenty degrees broad , and sometimes but six only , it is parted by two rivers , which are very broad at the mouth , one of which runs to the west , and is called sulm , and the other to the east , named hulm . the length of this country is about eight hundred leagues , and its breadth six hundred in some places , but in most but three . all this vast land is called fund ; and is under two or three governors , which very often make cruel wars , one against the other . but what is most surprizing in the australian dominions , is , that there is not one mountain to be seen ; the natives having levelled them all . to this prodigy may by added the admirable uniformity of languages , customs , buildings , and other things which are to be met with in this country . 't is sufficient to know one quarter , to make a certain judgment of all the rest ; all which without doubt proceeds from the nature of the people , who are all born with an inclination of willing nothing contrary to one another ; and if it should happen that any one of them had any thing that was not common , 't would be impossible for him to make use of it . there are fifteen thousand sezains , in this prodigious country : each sezain contains sixteen quarters , without counting the hub , and the four hebs ; there is twenty five houses in each quarter , and every house has four apartments , which lodge four men each ; so that there is four hundred houses in each sezain , and six thousand four hundred persons ; which being multiplied by fifteen thousand sezains , will shew the number of the inhabitants of the whole land , to be about fourscore and 16 millions , withcounting all the youth , and masters lodged in the hebs , in each of which there is at least eight hundred persons ; and as in the fifteen thousand sezains , there is sixty thousand hebs , so the young men , and the masters that teach them , will be found to amount to near forty eight millions . the great house of the sezain , which they call the hab , that is , the house of elevation , is built only with diaphonous and transparent stones , like to our finest crystal , only these stones are diversify'd with a prodigious quantity of figures of all forts of colours , very fine and lively , which by their infinite variety form sometimes images of mankind , sometimes represent the fields in all their beauty , and sometimes suns and other figures , of such a vivacity , as can never be too much admired . the whole building is without any artifice , except the curious cut of this stone , with seats all round it , and sixteen great tables of a much more lively red than that of our scarlet . there is four very considerable entrances , that answer to the four great ways upon which it is situate : all without is filled with very rare inventions . they ascend unto the top of it by a thousand steps , upon which there is a kind of platform , that will easily contain forty persons . the pavement of this stately house is much like our jasper , but the colours thereof are much more lively and are also full of veins , of a very rich blew , and a yellow which surpasses the brightness of gold : no one for a constancy lives in it , but each quarter take their turns to supply the tables for the refreshment of passengers . this great house built in the middle of the sezain , and is about an hundred paces daimeter , and three hundred and thirty in circumference . the house of the four quarters by them called heb , which is the house of education , is built of the same stone that the hab is paved with , except the roof of it , which is made of a transparent stone , through which the light enters into it . the pavement of it something resembles our white marble , but is intermixed with a most lively red and green . this fine building is divided into four quarters , by twelve great crossings , which are made like four semi-diameters : it is about fifty paces diameter , and about an hundred and fifty three paces in circuit . each division is allotted to the youth of that quarter it belongs to ; and there is at least two hundred children , whose mothers , as soon as they have conceived of them , enter there , and depart not till the children are two years of age , and then they go out , leaving them to the care of certain young men , who are there on purpose to instruct them . these young men , whereof there is a very great number , are divided into five companies . the first are employed in teaching first-principles , of which there are six masters . the second make it their business to give the common reasons for natural things , among which there are four masters . the third are such as are remitted to dispute , of whom there is two masters . the fourth are such as can compose , and they have but one master . the fifth and last are those that expect to be chose for lieutenants , that is , to fill the place of the brethren that retire from the world , of whom i shall give a particular account afterwards . these are the peculiar officers of each quarter , which contribute to the maintenance , and educating part of the world , and they carry very regularly every day what is necessary for their subsistence , when they go to the conference held in the house . the common houses , which they call hebs , that is , the habitation of men , are in number twenty five in each quarter , each house twenty five paces diameter , and fourscore paces in circumference . they are divided like the hebs , by two great walls , which make four distinct separations , and end each at an apartment . they are built with white marble , like the pavement of the hebs , except the cross bars of the windows , which are of the same crystal with the habs , for the conveniency of giving light to them . each apartment is inhabited by four persons , whom they call the cle , that is , brethren . there is nothing to be seen in these buildings but four kinds of benches , which serve them to rest themselves on , and some seats for the same use . the partitions that they call huids are near three hundred paces in circumference , and sixty five in diameter : the figure of them is perfectly square , and they are divided into twelve curious allies , each of which goes round the apartments , with a square place in the middle that is six paces diameter . the three first and greatest rows are beautified with trees , which bear such fruits as are in great esteem amongst them . these fruits are as big as the callebashes of portugal , which are seven or eight inches diameter . the inside of them is red , and of a more exquisite taste than any of our most delicate meats , one of which fruits is sufficient to satisfie four men , though never so hungry . the next five are also planted with trees that bear fruits of a charming yellow , full of a most substantial juice , which is very refreshing : the liquor of one of these fruits will quench any ones thirst ; and their custom is to drink three of them at a meal . the four last rows are filled with little trees , which bear a fruit about as large as a pappin , of a bright purple ; its smell is very fine , and so extraordinary the taste , that i can compare nothing to it , that we eat in europe . this fruit hath a propriety of causing sleep according to the proportion they eat thereof , some of which they are accustom'd to eat every night , and if they eat but one , they are sure of sleeping three hours . in each alley they dig two furrows of an indifferent depth , in which there grows roots that bring forth three sorts of fruits , one of which is not unlike our melons ; the second are as big as boonchretins , but of a lovely blue ; and the third much resemble the spanish gourd , but the colour and taste are very different . these fruits are equally in use throughout all parts of this vast country for their nourishment . they have no ovens , nor any way to bake any meat for them : they neither know what kitchin or cook means ; their fruits fully satisfie their appetite , without ever the least offending their stomachs ; they also make them strong and vigorous , and do not overcharge them , or cause any digestion , because they are perfectly ripe , and have nothing green or crude remains in them . there is a tree in the middle of the square which is higher than the rest , that bears a fruit as big as our olives , but the colour red , they call it balf , or tree of beauty , whereof if they eat four , they become excessively gay and sprightly ; if they eat six , they fall into a sleep for twenty four hours , but if they exceed that number , they sleep eternally , which mortal sleep is preceded , with all the signs of the greatest joy and pleasure in the world. 't is very seldom that the australians sing throughout their whole lives , and never dance ; but they have no sooner eat this fruit in such quantity as i before spoke of , but they sing and dance until death puts a period to their excessive mirth . i ought not to forget , that all the trees which i have spoken of are at all times full of ripe fruits , flowers , and buds ; we have an image of this marvellous fruitfulness in out oranges , but with this difference , that the severity of our winters and heats of our summers very much injure them ; whereas in this country it is a very difficult thing to be able to observe any alteration . from what i have said , it is easie to imagin , that this great country is plain , without forests , marshes , or desarts , and equally , inhabited throughout ; nevertheless it descends somewhat towards the line , and there is an insensible ascention on the side of the pole ; but in four or five hundred leagues it gains at least three in height . there is a great quantity of water that runs from the mountains juads , and the australians know how to conduct them so exactly , that they have brought them round all their sezains , quarters , and apartments , which contribute much to the fruitfulness of their grounds . the descent which i spoke of is not only in respect to the continent , but the sea also , which is so shallow for three league , that it is troublesome to go with a boat thereon ; it is not upon the side of the shore a fingers depth , and after a league it is not above a foot deep , and so on in proportion ; from whence it is easie to conceive , that 't is impossible to come to this land from the sea side , without the assistance of some few rivers , which are only known to the inhabitants of this country . this same descent is the cause also that this whole land is turn'd directly towards the sun , to receive its rays , and with so much advantage , that it is almost every where alike fertile ; after such a manner , that we may say , the mountains , which are over against its pole , are so raised by nature , and placed there , only to preserve this happy country from the rigours of the sun. besides , these terrible bulwarks serve to stop the rays of the sun , and reflect them back to the farthest parts of this country ; and 't is upon this account that its inhabitants rejoyce in the possession of a happiness , which all the northern people are destitute of , which is to have neither ther excess of heat in summer , nor cold in winter , or rather to have properly neither winter nor summer . this proposition ought not to surprize the geographers , who having divided the earth into two equal parts , by the equinoxial line , place as much heat and cold on one side , as on the other , ●ounded upon this principle , that the proximity or distance of the sun causes summer or winter throughout the whole earth : but there are also geographers which have corrected this error , and without any knowledge of the australian land ▪ have observed , that if his principle was true , it mu●t of necessity be always hotter in guinea , and in the molu●coes , than in portugal and italy , because the sun is never so far distant : which is contrary to the experience of all those that have made a voyage into that country , who assure us , the greatest heats there are always in the dog-days , and the greatest colds when the sun is in the signs of aquaries and pisces , altho' it is farther from them when it is in capricorn . it is therefore most certain , that winter and summer happen universally throughout all the earth in the same time , altho' with great difference , according to the different situations of the countries . i say moreover , the nearness of the sun contributes so little to the heat of the earth , that if we do but narrowly observe it , we shall find when it is nearest 't is then that the least heat is se●t ; for 't is well known in europe , that the months of may and june are not so hot as july and august ; and there is often frosts in june , when the sun is in its greatest elevation ; and scorching heats in july , when it is gone some distance from them ; it is therefore some other cause than its proximity that heats the earth . it happens very often in its entire absence , even at night , the heat is much greater than in the day , when it is present . but to return to the astralians , they know not what rain is in this country , no more than in africa : nor do they ever hear any thunders & 't is but very rarely that they see any fleeting c●ouds . there is neither flyes , nor caterpillars , nor any other insect . there 's neither spider , nor serpent , nor any venomous beast to be seen . in a word , 't is a land full of delicacies , which are not to be met with in any other part of the world , and which is likewise exempted from all the inconveniencies that other places are troubled with . chap. v. of the constitutions of the australians , and of their customs . all the australians are of both sexes , or hermaphrodi●es , and if it happens that a child is born but of one , they strangle him as a monster . they are nimble , and very active ; their flesh is more upon the red than vermilian ; they are commonly eight foot high , their face pretty long , forehead large , their eyes in the upper part of their heads , and mouth small , their lips of a deep red coral , nose more enclined to be long than round , and beard and hair alway black , which they never cut because they grow but little ; their chin is long , and turns a little again ; their neck slender ; their shoulders large and high ; they have very little breasts , placed very low , a little redder than vermilian ; their arms are nervous and their hands pretty broad and long ; they have a high chest , but flat belly , who appears but little when they are big with child ; their hips high ; their thighs large , and legs long : they are so accustomed to go naked , that they think they cannot speak of covering themselves without being declared enemies to nature , and deprived of reason . every one is obliged at least to present one child to the heb : but they bring them forth in so private a manner , that it is accounted a crime amongst them to speak of the necessary conjuction in the propagation of mankind . in all the time ▪ that i was there , i could never discover how generation work was performed amongst them ; i have only observ'd , that they all lov'd one another with a cordial love , and that they never loved any one more than another . i can affirm , that in 30 years that i have been with them , i nei●her saw quarrel or animosity amongst them . they know not how to distinguish between mine and thine , they have all things in common amongst them , with so much sincerity and disinterestness , which charm'd me so much the more , because i had never seen the like in europe . i always used to speak what i thought ; but i was a little too free in declaring what i did not like in their manners , sometimes to a brother , sometimes to another , even by maintaining with arguments mine own opinions ; i spoke of their nakedness with certain terms of aversion , which extreamly offended them . i one day stopt a brother , and waggishly demanded of him , with a seeming earnestness , where were the fathers of those children that were a ready born , and told him , that i thought it ridiculous for them to affect such a silence in that point . this discourse , and some others of the like nature , gave the australians a kind of hatred for me , and many of them having maintain'd that i was but half a man , had concluded ▪ that they ought to destroy me , which would have been , but for the assistance of a venerable old man , master of the third order in the heb , called suains , who vindicated my cause several times in the assemblies of the hab ; but seeing i still maintained such discourses as offended the brethren , he took me one day by my self , & said in a cold and grave tone : it is no longer doubted but thou art a monster , thy evil genius and insolent discourse , hath made thee detested amongst us . some have a long time design'd to destroy thee , and had it not been for the action which we our selves saw thee do , thou shouldst have been put to death soon after thou arrivedst here . tell me freely , who art thou , and how camest thou here ? the fear that these words put me in , together with the obligation that i had to this man , made me ingeniously declare my countrey , and the adventures that had brought me amongst them . the old man testifyed a great deal of pity for me , and assured me , that if for the time to come i would shew my self more reserv'd in my manners and discourse , what was past should be forgotten . he also told me he should live two years longer to support me ; and his lieutenant being but young , he would choose me in his place . i know well , says he , that being arriv'd in a countrey where thou seest many things contrary to what is practised in thine , thou hast some reason to be surprized and astonished ; but as 't is an inviolable custom with us to suffer no half-man amongst us , as soon as we discover him either by his sex or actions ; and altho' both sexes save thee , yet thy manner of acting condemns thee , and therefore thou must correct thy self , if thou wilt be suffered amongst us . the best council that i can give thee to that end is , that thou come without any fear , and discover all thy doubts to me , and i will give thee all the satisfaction thou canst wish for , provided thou beest discreet . i promis'd him an inviolable fidelity : i swore i would be guided wholly by him ; and protested that for the future i would keep such a guard upon my self , that i would offend no body . the old man accepted all my propositions , and promised me he would serve me as a father as long as i performed those promises i had made to him . and to begin that strict commerce that i intend to keep with thee , continued he , thou shalt know that having seen thy combat , i could not without trouble be perswaded that thou wa●● but a half-man . i saw afterwards that thou hadst all the marks of a perfect man , a large forehead , a long visage ; and have still observed that thou reason'd ●●on many things : 't is these considerations that perswaded me to defend thee against those enemies that thou hast here made thy self . now tell me how they live in thy countrey , if all that inhabit it are men of body and mind like to thee ; if avarice and ambition does not reign amongst them . in fine , explain to me the customs and manners of thy countrey without any disguise ; i demand this one proof of that fidelity and sincerity that thou hast promised me . i was perswaded in the condition i saw my self reduced to , that to dissemble was to expose my life , wherefore i thought i was oblig'd to answer sincerely , and without giving him any cause of distrust : i gave him therefore a particular account of my countrey according to the rules of geography : i made him understand the great continent we dwell in , to which we give the name of europe and africa ; i extended my discourse at large upon the different kinds of animals , which those countries produce ; and this good man admired nothing more than what we the most dispise , flyes , insects , and worms , &c. and could not apprehend how such little animals cou'd enjoy life and arbitrary motion . i made him a particular recital of the several things they were nourished by ; from whence he concluded by a reasoning , which our best physitians have not been ignorant of , that it was impossible that we should be long liv'd . in which i agreed with him , and assured him 't was very rare to see any person amongst us arrive to an hundred years of age , but that nature had seem'd sufficiently to provide for this defect , by means of generation , whereby one man and one woman were able to beget ten or twelve children . he slightly passed by this matter , pushed on with impatience he had to hear me upon others . i confest to him that both sexes in one person was so rare amongst the europeans , that such as happen'd to be born so , past for monsters amongst them ; and as for reasoning , i assur'd him that almost every one was taught it , and that there were publick lectures made in many places . the old man interrupted me then . thou advancest too much , said he to me , take heed thou dost not cut thy self off , mingle not contradictions with thy relations ; thou canst never reconcile the use of reason with the exclusion of both sexes in one person ; and what thou addest , that many reason among you , and that they make publick lectures in divers places , proves only that reasoning is banished from you . the first fruit of reasoning is to know , and this knowledge on necessity carries us to two things . the first , that to be man it is necessary to be entire and compleat . the second , that to this end it is necessary to be able to reason upon every thing that presents it self to us . your pretended men have not the first , since they are all imperfect ; nor have they the second , since there 's so few amongst them able to reason . canst thou say any thing against these consequences ? i answer'd him , that reason taught us a being was perfect when it wanted nothing that constituted its nature , and that therefore to add to it what good things another possest , would not render it more perfect , but rather make it monstrous . the light of the sun is an admirable thing , added i , there is nothing more beautiful than this charming creature , by which we see all others , yet it could never be prudent to say , that man was perfect because he possest not this rich treasure of light ? it is necessary therefore first , to establish what constitues the nature and perfection of man , then we must certainly agree , and may judge infallibly of those that are perfect , and such as are defective . thou arguest justly , replyed the old man , i 'll convince thee therefore by thy own principles . thou knowest assuredly that man is made of two things , a body more perfect then that of other animals , and a mind more clear and bright ; the perfection of the body employs every thing that a body may and can contain without deformity ; and that of the mind requires a knowledge that extends to what ever can be known , or at least a faculty of reasoning which may conduce to this extent of knowledge . tell me then , is there not more perfection in possessing solely what composes a humane body then in being endowed but with one half thereof ? now it it certain , that both sexes are necessary for the perfection of an entire man. wherefore i have reason to say those that have but one , are imperfect . to which i answered , that we ought to consider man as other animals in respect to his body , and that as an animal cannot be called imperfect in its kind , because it is but of one sex , so ever we cannot reasonably say , that man is imperfect , because he also is but of one . and that on the contrary , the confusion of sexes in the same person , ought rather to pass for a monstrous thing , then for a degree of perfection . thy manner of arguing answer'd he supposes you to be just , as i presume you are , that is , beasts ; and if i cannot absolutely say you are such , t is because there remains upon you some marks of humanity ; and as you seem to keep a kind of medium between man and beast , i believe i do you no injury in calling you half-men . as to what thou sayest added he , that we are like to beasts in respect to our bodies , 't is a very great error to distinguish as thou dost between the mind of man and his body ; the union of these two parts are after such a manner that one is comprehended in the other ; so that all the powers imaginable cannot take any thing from man , no not even from his body , which is so absolutely humane , that it can never agree with that of a beast ; and by consequence man in whatsoever belongs to him , is perfectly distinct from beast . my old man in this place seeing that i had a great desire to make some reply , permitted me : therefore said i to him , can it be deny'd that man agrees with the beast in what regards matter , whereof the bodies of each were formed ? is it not equally said of both , that they feel , they cry , and perform all the operations of their senses ? yes , said he , it may be deny'd , and i formally do it . man has nothing as man , that agrees with the beast ; all the chymerical conceptions wherewith thou entertainest thy self are only defects of thy reasoning , which unites what cannot be joyn'd together , and disunities what is inseparable ; for example , when we say that body in general equally respects man and beast ; we mean that the word body may be equally applyed to both , because of some analogy there is in common between them , yet however there is always a most essential difference between them . a beast hath perfect conformity only with another beast , and that because their sexes are separate , upon which account it is necessary , that they reunite for the propagation of their kind ; but this union can never be so perfect to make two animals one perfect being ; neither can they continue long together , without being obliged to a separation . wherefore it is necessary for them to seek again anew for themselves , and they live in a kind of languishment while they are distant one from another . as for us , added he , we are entire men ; wherefore we live without being sensible of any of these animal ardours one for another , and we cannot hear them spoke of without horrour : our love has nothing carnal , nor brutall in it ; we are sufficiently satisfyed in our selves , we have no need to seek any happiness from without , and live contented , as you see we do . i cou'd not hear this man speak without reflecting on that great principle of our philosophy ; that the more perfect a being is , the less need it has of any assistance from without . i made some reflections upon the operations of the sovereign being : i concluded a creature cou'd not better resemble him , then in acting simply and alone like him , in all its productions ; and that an action which was perform'd by the concourse of two persons , cou'd not be so perfect as that which was made by one only . my old man perceived by the suspension of my mind , that i began to be pleas'd with his reasons ; wherefore laying aside the rest of his arguments , and changing the discourse , demanded of me , that in case two persons concurr'd in the production of the same child , to which of them it belong'd to by right . i answer'd him equally to both ; and alledg'd the example of many animals , who made it appear by their reciprocal cares , that their young ones belong'd inseparably to each . but he with indignation rejected the example of animals , and told me , he would have no further conference with me , except i wou'd omit making any farther use of it ; because by that i confirmed him , he said , what he intended to prove to me , that our production savour'd more of beast than man , and therefore he might with justice look upon us as half-men . he added , that this mutual and indivisible possession was lyable to great difficulties , because the will of two cou'd never be so regulated , but one wou'd wish sometimes what was contrary to the other , which wou'd undoubtedly produce many contestations . to which i answer'd , there was great subordination in this possession , and that the mother and child were both subject to the father ; but the word father being wholly unknown to the australians , i was obliged to express it in such terms as he might most probably understand me ; he made me repeat it to him three times , and least he shou'd not apprehend me , he explain'd to me what idea he had conceiv'd of it : after which he was entirely persuaded of the common opinion of the australians , that we cou'd not be men , and cryed to himself with an extraordinary severity , o where is judgment ? where is reason ? where is the man ? where is the man ? which he repeated three times ; i told him , the laws of the country determined it so , and that it was not without foundation , since the father being the principle cause of generation , it was to him , that the issue that might be produced , ought principally to belong . let us discourse in order upon this matter , said he , thou hast advanced that the father and mother act together to produce it ; thou hast made me apprehend , that the mother is the most nearly concern'd in it ; from whence is it then that thou concludest the father ought to be lookt upon as the principle cause ? if there is a precedency , why givest thou it to the father , since the mother seems to me to have the greatest share in it ? wou'd it not be more reasonable to look upon this pretended father as the accidental cause , and the mother , without whom it is impossible it shou'd have being , as the natural and chief cause ? but tell me freely , is this mother so tyed to the father , that she cannot unite her self with any other man ? i answered him with a great deal of sincerity , that it was not only possible , but that it often happened . if so replied he , interrupting me , he that takes the title of father can never be certain he is effectively so ; nothing is more ridiculous therefore , than to look upon him as principal cause , who has concurr'd in the producing a child , since it is always uncertain , whether it was his or no ; and you cannot without injustice take this quality from that of the two persons that you call mother , to speak justly of things as they are in themselves . i found my self shock't by the discourse of this old man ; and altho i cou'd not consent to his reason , which overturn'd all our laws , i cou'd not hinder my self from making a thousand reflections , and confessing that they treated that sex with too much severity , from whom all mankind receiv'd so many obligations : my thoughts furnished me then with an hundred reasons to maintain what my philosopher had asserted ; i found my self forc'd to believe that this great power which man had usurped over woman , was rather the effect of an odious tyranny , than a legitimate authority . the first part of my proposition being found void , we entred upon the second , which was in respect to the understanding of the europeans ; but my old man spoke of it very briefly , thinking i had said all that i cou'd upon the first head . i doubt no longer now , said he , what you europeans are , it is a point which is fully clear'd . nevertheless , added he , as it cannot be deny'd , but thou hast shewn something extraordinary both in thy courage and reasoning ; so it is necessary that i know from whence it might proceed : i assured him , that what he had seen me do in the combat , was rather an effect of my dispair than courage : that we had no such fools to engage with amongst us , but that men fought sometimes amongst themselves , till they had utterly destroy'd one another . they are exactly like the * fondins , said he , and as i was going to proceed : thou hast , added he , been with us long enough to know us , and to be perswaded of the wisdom of our conduct . this word man which carries with it so necessary a consequence of reason and humanity , obliges us to an union which is so perfect amongst us , that we know not what division and discord is ; wherefore thou must confess , either that we are more than men , or that we are less than men , since that you are so far from our perfection . to which i answer'd it could not be deny'd but that the divers climates contributed much to the different inclinations of their inhabitants ; that from thence it happen'd , that some were more eager , others more calm , some dull , others quick , which diversity of temperaments was the ordinary cause of divisions , wars , and all other dissentions , which arm men against one another ; but he laught at this reason , maintaining , that man as man , could never cease to be man , that is , humane , reasonable , affable , without passion , &c. because 't is in this , that the nature of man consists ; and as the sun cannot be a sun when it does not give light ; so a man cannot be a man but he must differ essentially from beasts , in whom madness , gluttony , cruelty , and other vices and passions are a consequence of their imperfect and defective nature , that the who was the subject of these defaults , was no more than a vain and deceitful image of a man , or rather a true beast . i confess , that i could not hearken to this discourse without admiration ! and nothing ever edifyed me more than this purity of morals , inspir'd by the only light of nature and reason . my philosopher having ask'd me what i thought of that way of reasoning ? i answered , that indeed my mind had been cultivated by study , and that nothing was omitted in my education , that might carefully inform my judgment . upon which he demanded , if the like care was not equally taken throughout the world , and having answered that indeed , he had more to say upon that point ; he included after his common manner ; this irregularity caus'd many disorders , disputes , heats and complaints , because he that knew least ( seeing others above him which knew more ) esteem'd himself the more unhappy , that birth had made all alike . as for us , added he , we make a profession of being all equal , our glory consists in being all alike , and to be dignify'd with the same care , and in the same manner ; all the difference that there is , is only in the divers exercises to which we apply our selves , so as to find out new inventions , that the discoverers may contribute them to the publick good. after this , he spoke to me of habits , which he call'd superfluities amongst the europeans , and i assur'd him , that they had as great an horror amongst them to see a person naked , as the australians had to see them in cloaths ; i alledg'd for reasons of this use , modesty , the rigour of the season and custom . to this , as i remember , he answered , that custom so much prevails upon your minds , that one would believe every thing necessary that you practice from your birth , and that you can't change a custom without as great a violence as changing your own nature . i replyed , by insisting upon the reason of divers climates , and told him , that there were some countries amongst the europeans , where the cold was insupportable to the body , which was more delicate than that of the australians , and that there were some that even dy'd upon it , and that it was impossible to subsist without cloaths : in fine , i told him , that the weakness of the nature of either sex was such , that there was no looking upon one that was naked without blushing , and shame , and without being sensible of such emotions , as modesty oblig'd me to pass over in silence . is there a consequence in all that thou hast advanc'd ( said he ) and from whence can this custom come ? is not this to father upon all the world what is contrary to nature ? we are born naked , and we can't be cover'd without believing that 't is shameful to be seen as we are ; but as to what thou say'st concerning the rigour of the seasons , i can't , nay , i ought not to give any credit to it ; for if this country is so insupportable , what is it that obliges him that knows what reason is , to make it his country ? must not he be more silly than a beast , that will tarry in those places where the air is mortal at certain seasons . when nature makes an animal , it gives him the liberty of motion to seek what is good and avoid that which is evil . how opinionative then is man to stay where he is threatned on all sides , and where he must be in a continual torment to preserve himself ? certainly he must have lost all his senses , if ever he had any ; as for the weakness which thou calls modesty , i have nothing to say to it , since thou confessest with so much sincerity that it is a fault , 't is truly a great weakness which will not permit us to look upon one another with resenting the brutal motions which thou speakest of . beasts continually see themselves and one another , but this sight causes no alteration in them : how then can you who believe your selves of a superior order to them be more weak than they ? or else it must be that your sight is weaker than that of animals , since you can't see through a single covering what is under ; for there are some of them that can even penetrate through a wall ; this is all that i can judge of those of thy country , because thou tellest me they have some sparks of reason , but they are so weak , that instead of enlightning them , they only serve to conduct 'em more surely in their error . if 't is true that their country is inhabitable , at least that they make use of cloath and covering for the ends thou hast mention'd , they are just like those persons who instead of getting away from an evident danger , reason finely how they may preserve themselves , by covering themselves without avoiding the occasion ; but if it be true that cloaths render you wise in the eyes of one onother , i know not how to compare you better than to little children who no more know an object when once it is vail'd . as for me i rather believe that 't is deformity amongst you which made you first invent cloathing , and that it not only authorizes it now but also continues it ; for there is nothing in a man finer than himself when he is without defects , and has all the natural qualities which concur to his entire perfection . i harkned to this man rather as an oracle than a philosopher ; all the propositions which he advanced were backt with such invincible reasoning . he said no more on this point , but without giving me time to answer , he past to that of covetousness . i early perceived that he knew no more of it but the name , for having desired him to explain what he ment by it , i understood that his idea of it , was a weakness of mind , which consisted in heaping up fine things without any profit . all the australians forsake somethings that are necessary for their entertainment , but they know not what it is to heap up , nor to keep any thing against to morrow , and their manner of living thus may pass for a perfect image of the state that man at first enjoyed in paradise . as for ambition , he had a gross idea of it ; but he defin'd it a desire of mens being elevated above others . i told him that in europe they held it for a maxim , that the multitude without any order begat confusion , in which there was no gust of the good things in life , and that order suppos'd a head , to which all others were subject . from hence the old man took occasion to explain a doctrine , of which i indeed conceiv'd the meaning ; but 't is impossible to discover the knowledge of it to others in so strong and powerful terms as these which he made use of to make me understand it . he said , that it was the nature of man to be born and live free , and that therefore he could not be subjected without being dispoil'd of his nature ; and that in such a subjection man was made to descend below beasts , because a beast being only made for the service of man , subjection was after some manner natural to it . but one man could not be born for the service of another man ; a constraint in this case would be a sort of violence which would even degrade a man after a certain manner from his proper existence ; he enlarged much to prove that the subjection of one man to another was a subjection of the humane nature , and making a man a sort of slave to himself , which slavery implyed such a contradiction and violence as was impossible to conceive . he added that the essence of man consisting in liberty , it could not be taken away without destroying him , and therefore he that would take away anothers liberty , did tacitly bid him to subsist without his own essence . our conference lasted above four hours , and if the hour of publick assembly had not interrupted as , we were in a disposition to have discours'd much longer . i entred the hab with a mind full of ●ll the reasoning which i had heard , admiring the knowledge and great light wherewith this people were endu'd . the strength of this mans reasons suspended my senses , and i past the time of this assembly in a kind of an astonishment ; it seem'd to me that i saw things after another fashion than before : i was for above eight hours , as it were forc'd to make continual comparisons betwixt what i was , and what i saw ; i could not but admire a conduct so apposite to our defective one , that i was asham'd to remember how far we were from the perfection of these people . i said in my self , can it be true that we are not all made men ? but , added i , if it is not so , what is the difference of these people from us ? they are by the ordinary state of life elevated to a pitch of a vertue which we cannot attain but by the greatest efforts of our most noble ideas . our best morality is not capable of better reasoning , nor more exactness , than what they practice naturally without rules , and without precepts ; this vnion which nothing can alter , this distance from worldly goods , this inviolable purity ; in a word , this adherence to strict reason , which unites them amongst themselves , and carries them to what is good and just , can't but be the fruits of a consummate vertue , than which we can conceive nothing more perfect ; but on the contrary , how many vices and imperfections are we not subject to ? this insatiable thirst after riches , these continual dissentions , these black treasons , bloody conspiracies , and cruel butcheries , which we are continually exercising towards one another ; don 't these things force us to acknowledge that we are guided by passion rather than reason ? is it not to be wisht that in this estate , one of these men which we may call barbarians would come to disabuse us , and appear in so much vertue as they practice purely by their natural light , to confound the vanity which we draw from our pretended knowledge , and by the assistance of which we only live like beasts . chap. vi. of the religion of the australians . there is no subject more curious and secret among the australians , than that of their religion ; 't is a crime of innovation even to speak of it , either by dispute or a form of explanation ; even the mothers do with the first principles of knowledge , inspire into the child that of the hab , that is to say , incomprehensible . they believe that this incomprehensible being is every where , and they have all imaginable veneration for him , but they recommend carefully to the young men to adore him always , without speaking of him , and they are perswaded that it was a very great crime , to make his divine perfections the subject of their discourses , so that one may in a manner say , that their great religion is not to speak of religion . as i had been brought up in maxims very different from theirs , i could have no gust in a worship without ceremonies , nor accommodate my self to a religion where i never heard the name of god mentioned . this caused great disquiet in me for some time , but at length i discover'd my troubles to my old phylosopher , who having heard me , took me by the hand , and conducting me into a walk ; he said to me with a very gave air , is it possible that you should be more a man in the knowledge of the hab than in your other actions ; open thy heart , and i promise thee to conceal nothing from thee . i was ravisht to find such a favourable opportunity to learn the particular faith of these people : i then told my old man , that we had two sorts of the knowledge of god in europe , the one natural , the other supernatural . nature instructed us that there was a soveraign being , the author and preserver of all things : i can see this truth , added i , with my eyes , when i behold the earth view tbe heavens , or reflect upon my self ; when i see such things as are not made but by a superiour cause , i am obliged to acknowledge and adore a being , which cannot be made , and which made all things else . when i consider my self , i am assured that i could not be without a beginning , therefore it follows , that a person like me would not give me to be , and by consequence this puts me upon seeking out a first being , who having had no beginning , must be the original of all other things . when my reason conducted me to this first principle , i concluded evidently , that this being cannot be limited , because limits suppose a necessity of production and dependance . the old man interrupting my discourse in my last words , told me with many fine remarks , that if our europeans could form this reasoning , they were not altogether depriv'd of the most solid knowledge ; i always reasoned thus with my self , added he , as thou hast done , and altho' the way of ariving to this truth by these kind of reflections , be extreamly long , yet i am perswaded that 't is feasible . i confess nevertheless that the great revolutions of many thousand ages may have caused great alteration in what we see ; but my mind permits me not from hence either to conceive an eternity , or apprehend a general production without the conduct of a soveraign being , who is the supream governour ; for this would be an abuse upon him , and charge him with error amongst a thousand revolutions , if we averr that all we see , happned by the fortuitous rancounters which have had no other principles but that of local motion and the justling together of little small bodies . this is to perplex one's self in such difficulties as we can never resolve , and to put us in danger of committing an execrable blasphemy ; this is to give to the creature what belongs to the creator , and by consequence to repay him with an insupportable ingratitude to whom we are obliged for what we are and have , even at what time we conceive that the eternity of atoms is possible ; it is certain the contrary opinion is no less , not to say more probable . this would be as wilful a crime as to admit that atoms are capable of sentiment and knowledge . 't was these considerations that oblig'd us about 45 revolutions since , to suppose a first being , and to teach it as the foundation of all our principles , without suffering that any one should teach any doctrine which should oppose this truth . i harkned to the discourse of this man , with all the attention that i was capable of ; the grace with which he spoke , and the weight which he gave to his words , perswaded me no less than his reasons ; but as i saw he was about to ask me a new question , i prevented him , and said , that altho one shou'd grant the eternity of these little bodies , we have spoken of , yet they could never frame this world , and diversify it as we now see it , according to this indisputable principle ; things continuing in the same state , cannot produce other things different from them . thus these atoms having no difference amongst themselves but number and plurality , could only make formless heaps , and of that same quality with themselves . that which is most difficult to certain mind , ( said he , ) is the great obstruction of this being of beings , which is no more discoverable than if he was not at all ; but i found this reason of little weight , because we have many others which oblige us to believe that he is too far above us to manifest himself to us otherwise than by his works ; if his condust was particular , i should be at a loss to perswade my self that it was his , since an universal being ought to act after an universal manner . but if it be true , replyed i , that you cannot doubt of a first and sovereign origine of all things , why have you not establisht a religion for to adore him ? the europeans who have such a knowledge of him as you have , have set hours for his worship , they have prayers to call upon him , and praises to glorify him with , and his commandments to keep ; you speak very freely of that hab , said he , interrupting me ; yes without doubt answered i , t is a subject most agreeable and entertaining to us , for we ought to find nothing more delightful , than to speak of him on whom we absolutely depend for life and death ; nothing is more just and necessary since 't is by this only that we can execute our remembrance of him , and our reverence towards him . there is nothing more reasonable than that , reply'd he ; but are your opinions the same touching this incomprehensible . there 's a few , answered i , which think not the same , in relation to sovereign perfections . tell me possitively and clearly , said he , with eagerness , what do your reasonings upon this divine being liken him to ? i confest sincerely that our opinions were divided in the conclusions which every one often drew from the same principles : this causes many sharp contestations from whence there often arises the most envenom'd hatreds , and sometimes even bloody wars , and at other times consequences no less fatal . this good old man replyed very briskly , that if i had made any other answer , he would have had no further conference with me , but should have had the greatest contempt for me ; for , said he , 't is most certain that men cannot speak of any thing that 's incomprehensible , without having divers opinions of it ; nay even such as are even contrary one to another . one must be blind , added he , to be ignorant of a first principle , but one must be infinite like him , to be able to speak exactly of it ; for since we know it is incomprehensible , it naturally follows , that we can only speak of it by conjecture ; and that all that may be said on the subject , may perhaps content the curious , but can never satisfy the reasonable man. and we better approve of an absolute silence in the matter , than to expose our selves by putting off a many false notions concerning the nature of a being , which is elevated so very much above our understandings . we assemble therefore together in the hab , only to acknowledge his supream greatness , and adore his soveraign power , and leave each person to their liberty of thinking what they please : but we have made an inviolable law , never to speak of him , for fear of engaging our selves by discourse in such errors as might offend him . i leave it to the learned to judge of a conduct so extraordinary as this is , never to speak in any manner of god. all that i can say of it is , it impresses on the mind an admirable respect for divine things , and produces amongst us such an union , of which we meet with no example any where else . as i perceived the hour of hab , would soon oblige us to part , so i prest him the more earnestly to tell me what were the opinions of the australians concerning the nature of the soul ; wherefore he explain'd to me their notions upon this subject , but he did it in so elevated a manner , that i could retain but little that he said to me of it , altho' whilst he was speaking , i after some manner or other apprehended all his idea's . the most essential of their opinions touching matter , as near as i can remember , runs upon the doctrine of an vniversal genius , which communicates it self in part to each particular person , and which has the vertue when any one dies , of preserving it self , until it be communicated to another . so that this genius is extinguished by the death of any person , without being destroy'd , since it only waits for new organs , and the disposition of a new machine to rekindle it self , as i shall explain more at large , when i shall speak of their philosophy . chap. vii . of the opinion of the australians touching this life . i have only three things to remark upon the sentiments of the australians concerning the present life : the first is in respect to the beginning ; the second , the continuation thereof ; and the third , the end . their manner of receiving life , preserving and ending it . i have already declared , in what manner the australians come into the world ; but as it is one of the principal points of this history , so i believe my self obliged yet to say something more of it . they have so great an aversion for whatsoever regards the first beginning of their lives , that in a year or thereabouts after my arrival amongst them , two of the brethren having heard me speak something of it , with-drew from me , with as many signs of horrour , as if i had committed some great crime . one day when i had discovered my self to my old philosopher , after having censured me a little upon this subject , he entred into a long discourse , and brought many proofs to oblige me to believe , that children grew within them like fruits upon the trees ; but when he saw all his reasons made no impression on my mind , and that i cou'd not forbear smiling , he left me without accomplishing it , reproaching me that my incredulity proceeded from the corruption of my manners . it happen'd another time , about six months after my arrival , that the extraordinary caresses of the brethren , caused some unruly mo●ions in me , which some of them perceiving , were so very much scandaliz'd at it , that they left me with great indignation : wherefore i soon became odious to them all , as i have already said ; and they had infallibly destroy'd me , had it not been for the particular assistance of this good old man. nevertheless , in about thirty two years that i have lived with them , i cou'd never learn their way of generation ; yet be it as it will , their children have neither the meazles nor small pox , nor other the like accidents , which the europeans are subject unto . as soon as an australian had conceived , he quits his apartment , and is carryed to the hab , where he is received with testimonys of an extraordinary bounty , and is nourished without being oblig'd to work . they have a certain high place , upon which they go to bring forth their child , which is received upon certain balsamick leaves ; after which the mother ( or person that bore it ) takes it and rubs it with these leaves , and gives it suck , without any appearance of having suffer'd any pain . they make no use of swadling cloaths , or cradles . the milk it receives from the mother , gives it so good nourishment , that it suffices it without any other food for two years : and the excrements it voids , are in so small a quantity , that it may almost be said , it makes none . they generally speak at eight months ; they walk at a years end , and at two they wean them . they begin to reason at three ; and as soon as the mother quits them , the first master of the first company teaches them to read , and at the same time instructs them in the first elements of a more advanced knowledge . they usually are three years under the conduct of the first master , and after pass under the discipline of the second , who teaches them to write , with whom they continue four years ; and so with the others in proportion , till they are thirty years of age , at which time they are perfect in all sorts of sciences , without observing any difference amongst them , either for capacity , genius , or learning . when they have thus accomplish'd the course of all their studies , they may be chose for lieutenants , that is , to supply the place of those that wou'd leave this life . i have in the fifth chapter spoken of their humour , which is mixt with a certain sweetness full of gravity , that forms the temperament of the most reasonable men , and such as are the fittest for society . they are strong , robust , and vigorous , and their health is never interrupted by the least sickness . this admirable constitution comes without doubt from their birth and excellent nourishment , which they always take with moderation ; for our sicknesses are always the consequences of the corruption of that blood whereof we are form'd , and the excess of the ill food which we are nourished with . in fine , our parents generally communicate to us all the defects that they have contracted by their irregular lives ; their intemperance fills us with such an abundance of superfluous humours , which destroy us how strong soever we may be , if we purge not our selves often . it is the excessive heats that they kindle in their blood by their debauches , which cause in us such risings in the flesh , and all those scorbutick distempers which spread throughout the whole body . their choller gives us a disposition to the same vice , their wantonness augments our concupiscence ; in a word , they make us just what we are , because they give us what they have . the australians are exempted from all these passions ; for their parents never being subject to them , cannot communicate 'em ; and as they have no principle of alteration , so they live in a kind of indifference which they never forsake , except it be to follow the motions that their reason impresses on them . we may very near make the same consequences touching the nourishment of the australians ; for if the europeans have the misfortune only to have such viands for their subsistence as are unhealthful , it commonly happens , that they eat more than nature requires : and 't is these excesses that cause in them such weak stomachs , feavers , and other the like infirmities which are wholly unknown to the australians . their admirable temperance , and the goodness of their fruits , upon which they live , maintains them in such a frame of health , as is never interrupted by any sickness : they are likewise so far from placing any glory in eating , or making sumptuous feasts as we do , that they hide themselves , and only eat in secret ; they sleep very little , because they are persuaded , that sleep is too animal an action , from which man ought if it was possible , wholly to abstain . they all agree , that this life is only a motion full of trouble and agitation ; they are persuaded , that what we call death is their happiness , and that the greatest good of mankind is to arrive to this term , which puts an end to all his pains : from whence they are indifferent for life , and passionately wish for death . the more i seem'd to apprehend death , the more they were confirm'd in the thought that i cou'd be no man , since according to their ideas , i sinned against the first principles of reason . my old man often times spoke to me of it , and these are very near the same reasons he gave me ; we differ from beasts , said he , in that their vnderstandings penetrate not into the bottom of things , they judge of them only by appearance and coulour . 't is from thence they fly their destruction , as the greatest evil , and endeavour to preserve themselves as the greatest good , not considering that since 't is an absolute necessity that they perish ; all the pains they take to prevent it , becomes vain and useless . even to argue , continued he , upon what regards us , it is necessary , that we should consider life as an estate of misery , altho it consist in the union of a spiritual soul with a material body , whereof the inclinations are perfectly opposite the one to the other . so that to desire to live , is to desire to be always enduring the violent shock of these oppositions ; and to desire death , is but to aspire to that rest , which each of those parts enjoys , when they are both in their center . and , as we have nothing dearer to us , than our selves , added he , nor can look upon our selves to be any thing else , but so many compounds , whose dissolution is certain and infallible , we more properly languish than live ; and the case being so with us , would it not be better for us not to be at all , than to be to no other purpose , than to know , that shortly we shall be no more ? the care we take to preserve our selves , is to no purpose , since after all , we must die at last . the consideration of our rarest talents , and most exquisite improvements in knowledge , gives us a second torment , since we can look upon them as no other , than transitory enjoyments , whose acquisition has cost us a thousand pains , and yet , whose loss it is no way in our power to prevent . in fine , all that we reflect upon , both within and without us , contributes to render our life so much the more odious and insupportable to us . i answered to all that , that in my opinion , these arguments proved too much ; and that to give them their full force , it weuld follow , that i must needs be sorry for knowing any thing that surpasses my understanding , which yet is false , because the goodness of judgment consists in being able to rest content with our condition , and to put away those troublesome thoughts that serve only to afflict us , especially when we know not how by any means to remedy them . there is something of solidity in thy answer , replyed he ; but yet it is weak in two particulars : the one is , in supposing we are able to suspend our judgment ; and the other , in thinking it possible we should love our selves without detesting our dissolution : to be able to do the first , is to be able , with open eyes , not to see what is continually before us ; and to be able to do the second , is , to love to be something , without hating to be nothing . 't is a great weakness to imagine , we can possibly live , without being deeply affected with the sense of our own destruction ; and 't is still a greater to torment our selves with the fear of what we know will infallibly come upon us : but it is the utmost degree of folly , to seek after preservatives , in order to avoid what we know to be absolutely inavoidable . to be able to live without the sense of death , is to be able to live without knowing any thing of our selves , since death is inseparable from our nature ; and that to consider our selves , in all our several parts , is to see we have nothing but what is mortal in us . to be capable of fearing death , supposes us able to reconcile two contradictions , since to fear , supposes some doubt in us , whether what we fear will happen or no , and that we certainly know we shall infallibly die , and it is still more absurd to go about to take any preservatives , to prevent it , when we know that to be impossible . i replied , that we might justly fear , not death it self , but its approaches ; and that preservatives were useful , because they might at least stave it off from us for a while . very good , replied he again , but dost thou not see , that since the necessity of dying is indispensible , and the putting it off for a while , can be of no other service to us , than to keep us the longer under continual pain , grief , and anguish . i answered him , that these reasons would be of much more weight among our europeans , than among them who know not what it is to suffer ; whereas the life of the europeans was nothing else but a continued chain of miseries and sufferings . how , says he , have you any other infirmities than those of being mortal , and knowing your selves to be daily advancing towards death ? yes , i assured him , that our people commonly died many deaths , before they came to die for good and all , and that death came not upon our europeans , but by the violence of those diseases that knockt them down , and made them at last faint away under them . this answer was to him a mystery : and as i was endeavouring to make him comprehend our gouts , our head-aches , and our colicks ; i found he understood me not , and therefore to make him apprehend my meaning , i was forced particularly to explain to him the nature of some of those diseases we suffer ; which assoon as he understood , is it possible , cried he , that any one should be in love with such a life as that ? i answered , that our people did not only love it , but used all manner of means to prolong it ; from whence he took a fresh occasion to condemn us , either for insensibility , or extravagance , not being able , as he said , to conceive how a reasonable man that was assured of his death , and that saw himself daily dying , by several sorts of sufferings , and that could not protract his life , but in continual languishment , could possibly forbear desiring death , as his greatest happiness . our opinions , in this matter , are vastly different , says he , from yours : for we , assoon as we come to understand our selves , because we think our selves obliged to love our own selves , and look upon our selves , but as so many victims of a superiour cause , that is able every moment to destroy us , we therefore make very small account of our life , and esteem it but as a happiness , which we can enjoy but as a passenger , whilst it is fleeting and passing from us . the time in which we enjoy it , is burthensome to us , because it serves for nothing but to raise in us a grief for the loss of that happiness , which it more lightly takes from us , than at first it gave it us . in fine , we are weary of living , because we durst not fix our affection upon our selves with all that tenderness , we might otherwise have , for fear of enduring too great violences of reluctance , when we shall be forced to part from a being we have so much doated on . to that i answered him , that reason teaches us , that it was always better to be , than not to be , and that 't was better to live , tho' but for a day , than never to live at all : to which he replyed , that we were to distinguish two things in our being ; one was our general existence , that perishes not , and the other our particular existence , or individuality that perishes . the first is indeed better than privation , and that 't is in that sense , 't is true ; that being is preferable before not being ; but that the second , viz. the being of our individuality , or particular being is oftentimes worse than not being , especially when t is accompanied with a knowledge that renders us unhappy . i answered again , that if being in general were better than not being , it must needs follow , that being likewise in particular , was better than its privation : but he satisfied me , by proposing to me the very state in which i had lately been . tell me , i prithee , says he , when thou consideredst thy condition in the place of which thou toldst us , environned on all sides by death ; could thou possibly esteem thy life at that time a happiness , and could thou value it better than nothing ? is it not true , that the knowledge thou hadst , served then only to augment thy misery ? it is then to no purpose to maintain that knowledge that afflicts me , is not only no happiness to me , but an unhappiness so much the more sensible , as i know it the more perfectly : it is from that principle that flows our true misery , that we know what we are , and what we must be , we know that we are noble , and excellent beings : in a word , worthy of an eternal duration , and yet we see that for all our nobleness and excellence , we depend of a thousand other creatures , that are inferiour to us , which is the cause we look upon our selves , as bweings that were brought up only to be rendered so much the more unhappy , and that it is which makes us chuse rather not to be at all , than to be at the same time so excellent , and so miserable . our ancestors were so strongly perswaded of this truth ; that they sought death with the greatest passion in the world : but because by that means our country begun to grow desolate , and dispeopled , reasons were found out to perswade those which remained , to spare themselves for some time : for it was represented to them , that so very fine and spacious a country , ought not to be left useless ; that we are an ornament of the universe , and therefore ought to endure life , tho' it were but to please that soveraign master that gave it us . upon which , some time after , in order to re-implace those that had sought for rest in a voluntary death , all that remained alive , obliged themselves to present no less than three children to the hebs ; by which means , all the country being well repeopled , an order was published , that no person should have permission to go to his long rest , but such a one who should present another man to the heb , either his own son , or another , who was willing to be his lieutenant , and to supply his place ; and it was oreered , at the same time , that none should have the priviledge , neither to demand such a permission , till he had lived at least 100 years , or could shew some wound that extreamly incommoded him . just as he had finished those words , we were joyned by two brethren , for which i was very sorry , because i never found my old man in so good a humour to discover to me the mysteries of all those things , of which i demanded of him some explication . and now to proceed with our narration , there never is held any assembly at the heb , at which there is not twenty or thirty persons that demand the liberty to return to their rest , and they never refuse any , be they who they will , that produce just reasons for it : and when any one has obtained permission to go out of this life , he presents his lieutenant , who must be at least 36 years of age . the company receives him with joy , and gives him the name of the old man that has a mind to die ; which done , they represent to him the brave actions of his predecessors , and tell him they are confident , he will not degenerate from the vertue of him , whose place he is going to supply . when that ceremony is over , the old man goes merrily to the table , furnished for that effect , with the fruit of rest , where he eats to the number of eight of them , with a smiling and calm countenance ; when he has eaten four of them , his heart begins to dilate , and his spleen to enlarge it self ; so that the extraordinary joy he feels within him , makes him commit several extravagancies , as dancing , leaping , and talking all manner of idle foolish things , which the brethren take no notice of , as coming from a man that has lost his reason : then they present him two more , that quite distract his brain ; after which , his lieutenant , and another person conduct him to the place , he before-hand chose for a sepulchre , where they give him two more of the aforesaid fruits , which plunge him into an eternal sleep . then they close up his tomb , and return back , beseeching the soveraign being , to advance those happy moments , in which they may have the priviledge to enjoy the like rest with their departed brother . in this manner are the australians born , and thus they live and die . chap. viii . of the exercises of the australians . the australians reckon their years from the first point of the solstice of capricorn , to the revolution of the same point , and they judge of it exactly by the shadow of a point fastned to a wall , and opposed directly to the south : and when that shadow is come to the lowest point in all their appartments , then they know , the year is finished . from that point to the equinox in march , they count a sueb , or month ; from that equinox again to the solstice of cancer , they count another month ; from that time to the other equinox , they count a third month ; and their fourth month extends from that equinox to the solstice of capricorn ; so that they have but four months in the year . they call suew what we call weeks , and reckon them by moons ; they divide the day ( which they call suec ) into three parts : the beginning of the day they call mure ; the middle part they call dure , and the latter part they call spure . they make no division of the night , because they pass it wholly in profound sleep , which they procure by eating some r●sting fruits before they go to sleep , which lay them so fast , that nothing is able to wake them so long as their senses remain benummed by the vertue of those fruits . their mure begins at five in the morning , and lasts 'till ten ; their dure follows next , and ends at three in the afternoon ; and then succeeds their spure , which lasts 'till eight at night . the first part of the day is employed for the heb , and the sciences ; the second for work ; and the third for publick exercise . they go the heb every five days ; and this is the order they observe in it : the first quarter passes the mure there , the second the dure , and the third the spure . the second day , the fourth quarter spends the mure there , the fifth the dure , and the sixth the spure . the third day succeeds in the said three parts of the day , the seventh , the eighth , and the ninth ; and the two following days the rest of the quarters in the same order ; so that the sixth day the first quarter begins again ; not in the mure , or morning , but in the dure . by this means it comes to pass , that there are always 400 persons at the hab , besides those of the hebs that follow their respective quarters . thus they pass one third part of the day in the hab , without speaking one word , observing a steps distance between person and person , and are all the while so attentive upon what they are then thinking upon , that nothing is able in the least to distract their thoughts . i was told , they formerly used to make some outward signs , accompanied with wry faces , and odd postures of body , but now they have wholly abolish'd them , as unworthy of reasonable men to do . those days in which they go not to the hab , they are obliged to be at the heb , to treat of the sciences ; which they do with an order and method ▪ most admirably plain , and perfectly agreeing in all its parts . they propose every one in their turn all their difficulties , which they maintain with powerful reasons ; after which , they answer all the objections which their antagonists oppose against them . when the dispute is ended , they , if any thing of importance happen to have been proposed , they write it into the publick book , and every one carefully sets it down too in private . if any of them know any thing that displeases him , or that he thinks may be advantagious to his country , he proposes it to the brethren , who take such resolutions thereupon , as they judge most reasonable , without aiming at any thing but the publick good. they employ the next third part of their day in their gardens , which they cultivate with such art and skill , as is unknown in europe . they know how to give such an agreeable sweetness to their fruits , by watering their trees with certain liquors , that nothing can be eaten more delicious than they . their flower-pots are enamell'd with a thousand sorts of flowers , of different beauties , that seem to vie with one another in fineness and variety of colours , and in the charms of their perfuming smells . their walks are longer than the sight can reach , and so neatly ordered , that nothing of that nature can be more compleat . the whole is cut through in all convenient places with a thousand different sorts of water-works , which are made into basons , chanels , cascades , and all that art can invent for the pleasure of the senses , that those gardens are thereby made such really , as we fancy them to be sometimes in idea , when we let our imagination follow the dictates of our luxurious desires . the last third part of their day is allotted for three sorts of very diverting exercises ; the first consists in producing what they have newly invented , or repeating the experiments of what they had already shewn ; but there seldom passes a day but they propose some new invention , upon which they always take care to register the name of the inventor in their book of publick curiosities , which they esteem one of the greatest honours can be done them ; and in 32 years time , i observed above 5000 of these new inventions recorded , that would pass for so many prodigies among us . their second exercise consists in managing two sorts of arms , one of which is very like our halberds , and the other resembles much our organ-pipes . they use the former with great agility , but yet not with altogether so much dexterity as our europeans . their halberts are so massie and strong , that they will easily run through the bodies of six men , one behind another . they are made of six pieces of wood , seasoned with sea-water , impregnated with some certain drugs , which render them very hard , and yet very light . the other arms which i have compared to our organ-pipes , are composed of ten or twelve pipes , which are furnished with certain springs at one end , which being let go , discharge bullets with so great a force , that they pierce through the bodies of six men , one after another , at one shot , the action of which spring is so quick and rapid , that 't is impossible to fence off its blow , but men find themselves shot before they are aware they were aimed at . as for their halberts they exercise them in throwing thirty or forty paces , and that so dextrously , that in fifteen throws they seldom miss twice of their mark . but their strength is much more prodigious than their art , for they carry , without straining themselves , to the weight of six or seven quintals , or hundred weight ; and pull up trees by the roots , which we could hardly shake ; & i saw one of them , that after he had run through , with his halbert , four half men , as they call us , carried them afterwards upon one of his shoulders , hanging upon his halbert , two before , and two behind . their third exercise consists in throwing certain balls , of three or four different sizes , some of which they throw up into the air , and some at butts , or marks ; those which they cast into the air , to be well thrown , must hit one another in a certain point mark'd out ; and those which are cast against butts , must pass through a hole in the said butt , which they will often do ten or twelve times together . and that which is most to be remarked in these exercises , is , that they perform them with much briskness and gayety , which yet is tempered with a certain air of gravity and majesty , without any disorder or discomposure of mind . the balls they throw one at another , are like our tennis-balls , but softer , and less dangerous : and the art of him that throws them consists in hitting him against whom he plays : and his adversary on the other side , places all his skill in avoiding the stroke aimed at him ; and the pleasure of seeing them is so great , that there is nothing but people will quit , to go to see such a divertisement . for sometimes they capringly leap backward , to let the ball pass by them , and sometimes they turn and bend their bodies so many-several ways , that there is no rope-dancer or tumbler among us can come near them for agility . when he that throws the ball , le ts flie 3 or 4 , one after another , it is an admirable thing to see the dextrous behaviour of him against whom they are directed , who stoops to avoid the one , bends himself to escape another , receives and throws back the third and the fourth with his-hands , and sometimes with his feet ; which several actions he performs almost all in the same instant ; because all the balls being always thrown very straight , it necessarily hapens , either that all of them hit , or that he at whom they are aimed must use an extraordinary dexterity in avoiding , or putting them by . i was counted very dextrous in portugal , but yet i seemed very unhandy among the australians ; and had i not pretended an excuse , by reason of the wounds i had received , i should have made them think my nation to be very dull and unactive people . chap. ix . of the australian language , and of the studies of the australians . the australians have three ways of expressing themselves , as we have in europe , that is , by voice , by signs , and by writing . among these , signs are most familiar with them ; and i have observed them to converse together several hours , without declaring their minds any other way than that . they never speak but when it is necessary to make continued discourses , and to express a long series of propositions : all their words are monosyllables , and they have but one conjugation ; as for example , af , signifies to love ; which is thus conjugated in the present tense , la , pa , ma , i. e. i love , thou lovest , he loves : lla , ppa , mma ; we love , you love , they love. they have but one tense for the time past , lga , pga , mga , i. e. i have loved , thou hast loved , he has loved , &c. the future is , lda , pda , mda , i shall , or will love , &c. llda , ppda , mmda , we shall , or will love , &c. uf in the astralian tongue signifies to work , which they conjugate thus , lu , pu , mu , i work , thou workest , &c. lgu , pgu , mgu , we work , &c. and so in the other tenses . they have no declensions , nor articles , and but very few nouns : they express simple substances by one single vowel , and compound bodies , by the vowels that signifie the chief elements , of which they are composed . they own but five simple bodies or elements , of which the first and noblest in their esteem is the fire , which they express by the single vowel a , the second is the air , which they call e , the third is salt , which they call g , the fourth is water , which they call i , and the fifth is earth , which they call u. all their adjectives and their epithets are expressed by so many single consonants , of which they have a greater number than the europeans . every consonant signifies a quality that belongs to the things signified by the vowels : thus b signifies clear , c hot , d disagreeable , f dry : and by these explications they so perfectly from their words , that assoon as a man hears them pronounced , he presently conceives the nature of things they signifie ; as for example , they call the stars aeb , a word which signifies in one breath , the two chief elements , or simple bodies , of which they are composed , and withal , that they are luminous . they call the sun aab , the birds oef , which signifies at once , that they are composed of a dry , salt and airy substance . they call a man vez , which signifies a substance , partly airy , and partly earthy , tempered with some moisture ; the same method they observe in the composition of other names . the advantage of this way of speaking is , that by this means a man becomes a philosopher , by learning the first words he pronounces , and that one can name nothing at the same time , which would pass for a miraculous thing with any one that knew not their alphabet , nor the composition of their words . and if their way of speaking be admirable , their method of writing is much more : they use only points to express their vowels , which points are distinguish'd only by their situation . they have five places for them , the uppermost signifying a , the second e , and so forward . as for example . a , e , i , o , u. and though it seems to us very difficult to distinguish them , yet use has made it very easie to them : they have 36 consonants , 24 of which are remarkable ; they are little strokes that are made round about the points , and signifie according to the order of their several places ; as for example , e b signifies clear air , i c hot water , i x cold water , u l moist earth , a f dry fire , e s white air , and so all the rest : they have about 18 or 19 more , which we have no consonants in europe that can express . the more we consider that way of writing , the more secrets we shall find in it to admire . b signifies clear , or bright , c hot , x cold , l moist , f dry , s white , n black , t green , d disagreeable , p sweet , q pleasant , r bitter , m desirable , g evil , z high , h low , j consonant red , a join'd with 2 , peaceable . thus assoon as they hear , or pronounce a word , they apprehend at the same time the nature of the thing signified by it ; as when they write this word ipin , they presently understand by it an apple , both sweet and delicious , and izd , a bad and disagreeable fruit , &c. when they teach a child , they explain to him all the elements , and the nature of all things signified by the words he pronounces . which is of wonderful advantage , as well to the publick , as to particular persons : because as soon as they know how to read , which is commonly at three years old , they apprehend at the same time the properties of all manner of beings . they attain to perfection in reading at ten years ; and are skilled in all the secrets of their letters at fourteen . they understand all the difficulties of philosophy at twenty , and from twenty , to twenty five , they apply themselves to the contemplation of the stars ; and they divide that study into three parts ; the first concerns the revolution of the stars , the second , their distinction , and the third , their qualities , with their reasonings thereupon , which are quite different from those of our europeans , upon that subject . but this being a matter purely philosophical , it is no proper place here to enter into any particular explication of it . from twenty five till twenty eight years of age , they imploy themselves in studying the history of their country ; and 't is only in that one point they shew a weakness of mind , like to that of other people , as well in respect of the great antiquity to which they extend their original , as of the fabulous things they relate of the first men from which they pretend themselves descended . for they count above 12000 revolutions of solstices since the beginning of their republick . they pretend to derive their original from haab , that is , a god , who , they say , produced three men , from whom all the rest descended . they have some records written upon old barks of trees , that contain 8000 revolutions of their history , which are written in the form of annals ; the rest is comprehended in 48 volumes , of a prodigious bigness ; but all that is reported in them , has more of the appearance of romantick prodigies , than of real historical events , and is more wonderful than credible . for if all they relate be true , the stars are multiplied by two thirds more than they were at first ; the sun grown bigger by one half ; and the moon on the contrary , shrunk much less ; the sea has changed its place ; and a thousand other like things have happened contrary to all appearance of probability . as for us europeans , and the rest of mankind , they make our race to begin not 'till 5000 revolutions after them , and the original which they give us , is altogether ridiculous ; for they report , that a serpent of an unmeasurable bigness , and of an amphibious nature , which they call ams , throwing himself upon a woman , while she was asleep , and having enjoyed her , without doing her any other mischief , the woman waking towards the end of the action , was struck with such a horror at it , that in a fright she threw her self into the sea ; but that the serpent leaping in after her , swam by her , and keeping her above water , carried her to a neighbouring island , where the woman recovering her fright , and being moved with the strange friendship shown her by that animal , repented of her despair , and was wrought upon to use all endeavours to preserve her life , and accordingly sought about that desart for all that might contribute to her nourishment ; and the serpent on his side , brought her all he could find . at last this woman was delivered of two children , the one a boy , and the other a girl . upon which the serpent redoubled bis care , and never ceased going up and down to look for provisions to feed the mother and the children ; and when he could not meet with the fruits which they ordinarily fed upon , he would take fish , and sometimes small animals ▪ and bring them to eat . but as those children grew up , they shewed every day more and more visible marks of malice and brutality , which so grieved the mother , that nothing could appease her sorrow . the serpent thereupon taking notice of her trouble , and thinking she pined after her own country , after he had endeavoured to comfort ber without any effect , he made her understand by signs , that if she had a mind to return to her own country people , he was ready to assist her in her return , as he had done in bringing her where she was now . upon this , the woman threw her self into the water , more out of design to try the good will of the serpent , than out of any other motive ; at the same instant the serpent leapt after , and holding her fast imbraced under him , carried her back in a few hours into her own country ; after which he return●d back to his two young children , who when they were grown up , coupled together , and multiplied to a great number , living only by hunting and fishing ▪ like ▪ beasts of pr●y : and when the island , hy this means , grew over-stock'd with people , they found out a way to transport themselves into ▪ other countries , and to fill them with their productions , together with all those disorderly qualities ▪ and their pernicious effects , that are experienced in all countries peopled by that serpentine race . and this is the goodly pedigree the australians are pleased to give us ; but to return to them . when they come to the age of thirty years , they are priviledged to argue upon all sorts of subjects , excepting that of haab , that is , god : when they are thirty five years old , they are capable of being made lieutenants in their hebs , and to make a body of a family with their brethren , in a separate apartment ; after twenty five years more , they may return to the heb , to assist in the instruction of the youth : but in that they commonly observe the rank of eldership ; except some old man that has a mind to die , be pleased voluntarily to yield them his place . chap. x. of the living creatures , or animals , of the southern world. there is none that are but never so little versed in the knowledge of foreign countries , but knows there are some peculiar animals in them as different from those of other regions , as the lands that bear them . as for example , england breeds no wolves ; nor can any serpents live in ireland , let them be transported from what other place soever . the woods and forests of the same country are infested neither with worms nor spiders . the isles of the orcades have no flies ; candia has no venemous creatures ; and poison it self , when transported into the isles of the trinity , loses its venome , and is no longer mortal when in those countries . it is certain , that the biggest animals are not always the most hurtful ; and those small vermine , which the australians can hardly tell how to conceive , though they have nothing rare in them but their life , yet do so much mischief in divers parts of europe , that they often cause famine , plague , and other considerable calamities , as might be proved by infinite number of experiences ; for which reason i must needs reckon it to be one of the greatest happinesses of the australians , that they are exempted from all manner of insects . there is not to be found any venomous beast in all their countrey ; and therefore they often lie down , and sleep on the bare ground , not only without any danger , but with great pleasure : and 't is from thence they likewise gather a great part of those fair and delicious fruits that there abound . they used for a long time , to keep three sorts of four-footed beasts , and they still keep so many sorts in several parts : the least of them may be compared to our apes , but their faces are not hairy , their eyes are even with their head , their ears are pretty long , and their mouth and nose are like a man's . they have longer claws than other apes , with five fingers each ▪ with which they hold and carry what they will , with as much ease and dexterity as men. they are very active , and turn their bodies into a great many postures , that require as much dexterity as agility : the love they have to men is so great , that they will starve themselves , and die for grief , if they be separated from them . when they are in the presence of any man , they never cease giving him all the divertisement they can , by their various motions and postures . they are now banisht out of a great many sezains , because they were too troublesome , and particularly in their religious assembly in the hab ; for as they could not keep them from going thither without locking them up , and running the risk of finding them dead with pining , when they came home ; so on the other side , they could not let them go thither , without exposing themselves to be continually disturbed at their devout contemplations , and without a visible profanation of so venerable a place . the animals of the second sort , are something like our hogs , save only that their hair is as soft as silk , and their snouts are longer by half than those of swine . they call them hums ; they have the instinct to work , and turn up the earth in right lines , with as much , or more dexterity than our best husbandmen , and have no need of any leader , to guide them in beginning , continuing , and ending their furrows ; yet they have destroyed them in most of the sezains , because of the nastiness they fill all places with , and because they are useful but seven or eight days in a year ; and that they must be kept shut up all the rest of the year , to prevent the dammages , and distastful annoyances they will otherwise cause . the third sort of animals are like our dromedaries , save only that their heads are more like those of horses , their back-bones are sunk inwards their whole length , and the birds that are raised above it , form a kind of heart , whose point is turned downwards , in the upper hollow of which , two men may easily lie down ; these beasts are called suefs , and will carry with ease eight men of that country , that weigh at least as much as twelve europeans , and they are used likewise for the carriage of heavy burdens , and of such things as are most necessary in the commerce of life . besides these animals , there are four sorts of birds , which well deserve our reflection ; the first are called effs , who flutter about like tame hens , and are about their bigness ; they are of a charming carnation colour , however they begin now to banish them out of the sezains , because they do a great deal of mischief in the flower-pots and gardens . the second and third sorts are like our tom-tits , and yellow-hammers , but a little bigger ; and so tame , that they are often fain to drive them away forcibly off from peoples bodies ; and their voices are so sweet , that they are preferred before the sweetest consorts of musick ; they flutter about the brethren , and follow them every where ; they go into the very hab , where they cause a certain chearfulness and calmness of spirit , by their chirping , which they call pacd , that is to say , divertisement of blessedness : they never eat but with the brethren , nor take any rest but when they are perched somewhere upon them . and they have this property , that they smell the birds of prey at a great distance , and peck the brethren to give them notice of it . the fourth sort of birds are about the bigness of our oxen ; they have a long-pointed head , and a bill of a full foot long , and sharper than a razor ; they have right bullocks eyes standing out of their heads , two great ears , red and white feathers , a neck , not slender , but very large , a body twelve foot long , and four foot broad , with a tale turning up , and furnished with long feathers , a stomach under their feathers as hard as iron , and of proof against all blows ; and lastly , they have feet , rather slender than thick , that are armed with five horrible talons , strong enough to hold and carry off with ease 300 weight : these horrible birds are called urgs , and live only by prey . and accordingly at certain set seasons , they make so cruel a war upon the australians , that they sometimes carry off 4 or 500 of them in a day : assoon as they have tasted of man's flesh , their greediness after it so mightily encreases , that they omit no stratagem or invention to get more of it ; for sometimes they place themselves down from the middle region of the air twelve or fourteen of them together , and throwing themselves cross the arms of the australians , seldom fail to carry off every one his man. as these animals are the greatest enemies the australians have , they have used , and still daily use incredible endeavours to exterminate them , so far as to have destroyed whole islands of 30 , and 35 leagues compass , and raised mountains of a league high , to drive them away : but in spight of all they have yet done , or can do , i see no likelihood they will ever be able to secure themselves from them : for the islands where they harbour are so numerous in that country , and are so full of such vastly high rocks , that it is impossible ever to destroy them : but we shall speak more amply of these birds in the next chapter . i cannot forbear telling you here , that the australians are so far from eating flesh , that they cannot conceive how any man can find in his heart to do it ; the reasons they alledge for it , are , first , that sort of nourishment cannot agree with humanity , that ought naturally to be averse from all cruelty : secondly , because the flesh of animals very much resembling that of men , it follows , that they which can have the stomach to eat of the flesh of the former , will easily be induced to eat without difficulty of the latter two : thirdly , because the digestion of it is dangerous , and we cannot eat the flesh of an animal , without contracting some of its inclinations : fourthly , because the flesh of a brute is so modified for that brute's nature , that we cannot eat of it , without becoming proportionably more or less like that brute , as we eat more or less of its flesh : fifthly , because a beast is a thing so much beneath us , that it were better for a man not to be at all , than to debase his noble nature , so far as to adulterate it with the mixture of that of a beast , by making it his food . the australians likewise hate fish , no less than land-creatures , and there are but very few to be seen in their seas or rivers , because the birds of prey we just now mentioned , feed upon them , and make a continual war upon them : and for my part i never eat any other fish there but a certain sort of eels of three or four ells long , and some small finny-footed creature , like our hedge hoggs , of a colour as black as ebony . chap. xi . of some rare commodities in australia , or the southern world , that might be useful to europe . they are in a great error that think europe to be a country that has no need of its neighbours ; the new commodities which we have received by our commerce with asia and america since this last hundred years , are a certain proof of it ; and it is not to be doubted , but if we could have the like traffick with the australians ▪ we should still gain more considerable advantages than by any other known commerce . i shall only mention four of those advantages which we should infallibly reap by such a trade . among the beasts that i have described , the hums would render us inestimable service , because they would ease our men of the extraordinary pains they are fain to take in digging and plowing up the earth ; but the suefs would prove still much more profitable to us than they , for they are beasts more gentle and tractable than oxen , and may be kept so cheap , that two pounds of grass or herbs will keep one of them three days . they can endure a whole day without eating , and in the most difficult journies , they will travel 18 or 20 leagues out-right , without any need of stopping to bait . it is easie to guess what profit the merchants would get by these creatures , for they would not need to be at the tenth part of the charge they now are at for the carriage of their goods , two of these animals being able to carry as much as a large waggon drawn by six horses . the australians , that have no need of any traffick , are excusable for making no more account of these beasts , but the europeans would find it worth their while to get some of them brought over , whatever price they cost . but yet all this is nothing to the gain the europeans might draw from those birds of prey of which i have spoken ; for those birds , though they are very cruel when wild , yet may be tamed , and made as gentle as any of our most domestick animals . when i came first into australia , they had one of them which they kept in one of the sezains , that carried a man on his back with more ease than a spanish courser . they are to be mounted behind their wings , and the feathers on their back supply the place of a very commodious cushion ; and instead of a bridle , one need but tie a piece of whipcord about their bills , with which one may guide them whither and how one pleases . in this manner a man may travel forty or fifty leagues out right , and then after about two hours resting to bait , he may go as many more ; and so he may easily travel 100 leagues a day , without any incommodity , without fear , without danger , and without being troubled with the opposition of rivers , woods , mountains , or any other obstacle , or ill rencounter in his way . but two reasons , however , obliged the australians to leave off the use of them , which would be of no force in europe . the first , is because those birds are extremely hot with lust , after carnal conjunction , which was the cause that sometimes they would carry their australian riders into some island , where they smelt a female of their kind , where they were devoured by the wild birds . the second , was because they were persuaded , that the tame birds of that kind were the chief occasion that enticed the wild ones to come in such numbers into their country , where they made such havock . which considerations could have no place in our northern countries , whither none would be transported but tame ones , and where there would be no wild ones at all . these are the most considerable remarks i have made upon the animals of the southern countries . next , as for the fruits it bears , they surpass all imagination in beauty and deliciousness : the fruit ▪ which they call the fruit of rest , or repose , is indued with some properties that to us would appear miraculous . it s faculty in procuring rest when we please , and the vertue of its juice in healing , in very little time , all manner of wounds , induce me to believe there 's no ail , or distemper in europe , for which it would not prove a soveraign remedy . i was informed afterward , that it was with that all my wounds were cured , i had received at my coming ; and though i afterward received in several fights many sore blows more , some whereof made great wounds in my body and some broke and shattered my bones , yet by vertue of that only juice , i was always cured in three days ▪ which if known , and used in europe , would cut short that numherless number of drugs and remedies , that cost so dear among us , and which yet after all , kill more patients than they cure . while i lived in portugal , i was subject to several infirmities , and the terrible shocks i had suffered by my disasters upon the sea , had very much weakned me ; and yet when i came into australia , and began to live upon the fruits of the earth , that are the only food there , i can boldly affirm , that i felt not the least indisposition , nor infirmity ; and tho' my absence at such a dreadful distance from my own country , and the extraordinary odd and strange customs of the people i conversed with , and which i was obliged to conform to , gave me no small cause to be melancholick , and tormented me with many a bitter reflection , yet as soon as i tasted but one of the fruits of repose , all my resentments were calmed , and my courage and usual briskness came to me again , my blood danced in my veins , and i found my self in such a disposition both of body and mind , that there was nothing i could desire to render my contentment more compleat than it was . of what inestimable price would such fruits be in europe , where grief and vexation kill the greatest part of mankind , and troubles cause languishments far worse , and far more formidable than death . but can there be any thing imagined more desirable , than to live splendidly and fare very delicately , without being at any charge , since for that end , one need not have any greater provision than three or four of those fruits , which are incomparably more delicate , and of a much richer relish and nourishment , than our most succulent meats , and most artfully seasoned dishes , nor any other drink , than a sort of natural nectar , that is found running in streams in that country , where every one may eat and drink his fill , with the greatest pleasure in the world , without being obliged , either to till the earth , or cultivate any trees . i have admired an hundred times how nature comes to be so partially liberal to that country , to give away as 't were in sporting , and with a careless prodigality those things she is so nigardly of in our regions . but among other things , i cannot pass in silence , that abundance of fine crystal that is there to be found , and which the australians know how , with such admirable skill and symmetry to cut , and put together , that it is very hard to find where the stones joyn , so exactly they seem to be all of a piece . this crystal is so transparent , that 't were impossible to distinguish any po●es in it , if the rich figures nature forms in it of divers colours , did not convince us it had some . but that , which in my opinion surpasses all the most prodigious rarities in the world , is a hab , which is to be seen in the seizain , or district of haf ▪ which is made all out of one entire piece of crystal , which could not be done , but by cutting it out of a great rock of the same matter . this wonderful hab ▪ or temple , surpasses all the rest in height and breadth ; for it is 200 foot high , and 150 foot wide ; the figures with which this crystal is interspersed , are bigger than those observed in the other , and it is visible that they are all entire , without being patched up with any inlaid pieces : they assured me , that it had been oftentimes debated among them , whether it would not be better to destroy it , than to keep it standing , because it tempts the curiosity of those that dwell afar off , and causes distraction of thoughts in them that assemble in it : however it is yet standing , and i can hardly believe that ever they can find in their hearts ' to vote the demolition of so rich and rare a piece as that . the greatest difficulty i find in procuring a traffick in these commodities between europe and australia , consists in finding out some way , either to force , or otherwise to dispose of such a communication ; for after having well considered the whole matter , there appear to me unsurmountable difficulties in such an enterprise ; for the australians being a people that neither cover any thing ; there is no likelihood of bringing them to a compliance , by the allurements of gain , of rewards , or of pleasure , nor any practicable means left for us to overcome that strange aversion they have for us , which is so great , that they cannot endure to hear us mentioned ▪ without declaring the passion they have to destroy us . and then besides all those things that we usually carry into the new discovered countries , and which procures us access to their inhabitants , pass in the esteem of the australians , for childrens play-things , and meer trifles , and bawbles ; they look upon our gawdy stuffs , and richest silks , as spiders webs , they know not so much as what the names of gold or silver signifie ; and in a word , all that we count precious appear in their esteem to be but ridiculous ; and therefore there remains no other way to introduce our selves among them , but by open force ; and in that matter they have a great advantage over us , which would frustrate all our attempts that way ; for the sea in those parts is so very shallow , that it will hardly carry a boat , at two or three leagues distance from their shoars , unless it be in certain particular creeks , where there are some veins of water which cannot be known , but by long experience . besides all which obstacles , they keep so exact a guard upon all their coasts , that it is impossible to surprise them , nor yet to attack them with any hopes of success , as will appear by the following relation of some of their wars . chap. xii . of the ordinary wars of the australians . it is by a constant decree establish'd in the world , that we should possess no happiness without some pains , nor be able to keep it without some difficulty ; and therefore it is no wonder if the australians be forced sometimes to maintain great wars to defend a country against the invasions of those foreign nations , that being sensible of the advantages wherewith it is blessed , make all possible efforts to open themselves a way into it . the most formidable of all those neighbouring nations are the fondins , a fierce and warlike people , who are always ready to make an irruption upon them , in those parts where they are least expected . which obliges the australians to keep several thousand men continually in arms , to guard the shoars , and the avenues of the mountains next the sea , where they have constantly upon guard 20000 men in the compass of about sixty leagues of country . the first of those guards that discovers an enemy approaching ▪ immediately gives the signal agreed upon ; which signal consists in throwing up a kind of flying squib or serpent , that flies very high , and makes a noise to be heard two leagues ; upon which , all the rest to the right and left hand , give the same signals , so that in 24 ▪ hours , all the coast takes the alarm , and the half of the guards run to the place where the alarm began , with such celerity , that in less than six hours time , there will assemble between 30. and 40000 men ; and when they find themselves strong enough to repulse the enemy , they take away the first signal , upon which , all the rest cease , and no more succours march up to them . but that which seems to me most admirable in them , is to see them without any commanders to lead them , and without having any previous discourse or communication one with another , or receiving any direction or instruction ; they know how to post themselves with so much order and discipline , that one would think they were all so many admirable experienced captains , that were all inspired with the same design , and agreed upon the means how to execute it . i assisted against two irruptions , made by the fondins into the country . the first was made about 17 years after my arrival in the country , and the other was made the last year of my stay there . the fondins assembled an army of about 100000 men , and attempted to break through a passage that was not so watchfully guarded as the rest , 30000 of them were already passing by favour of the night ; and had it not been for the indiscretion of some hot-headed fools among them that made a great noise , they had all entred into the country , before the australians could have perceived them ; but that noise having betrayed them , the australians seeing the extream danger , which they were in , doubled their signals , in which case all the sezains are bound to take arms , and march with all expedition on to their assistance ; yet the fondins , who poared in in throngs , met with but 300 australians , that firmly opposed them ; but they did it so vigorously , that they put a sto● for a considerable while to a party of the●● enemies ; but at last , being surrounded on every side by the rest of them that were gotten further into the country , they were all cut in pieces : but however , by selling their lives so dear , and keeping the enemy in play for above two hours , they gave the two sezains time to come up with them ; so that while the rest were just defeated , another fresh body of about 1500 men was drawn together to dispute their passage any further ; the fondins having passed over the bellies of the first party , threw themselves into the country , to the number of above 60000 , crying out , ham , ham , which in their tongue , is victory , victory . notwithstanding which , the 1500 australians kept themselves in a body as firm as a rock , forming a front on all sides of them ; but the fondins surrounding them at last , made a most horrible slaughter of them . in the mean while the day began to break , and a party of the fondins , being obstinately set upon , defeating the said 1500 australians , kindled fires round about them , either to burn them , or hinder them at least from escaping : but the rest of the australians which cam● running thither from all parts , formed at last a body of 25000 men , among whom i was ; and dividing themselves into three parts , and least of them , which consisted of between 5 and 6000 men , endeavoured to seize the passage , by which the fondins made their irruption ; the fondins apprehensive of such a design , had left 20000 men to guard it , who charged the australians with so much fury for five hours together , that they would have totally defeated them , if it had not been for a re-inforcement of 3000 men , who came in , and maintained the fight five hours longer , with a horrible slaughter on both sides : during which time , the two other bodies fought with the same vigour against the rest of the fondins , and the butchery was so great in that place , that the field of battle was become like a mash of mortar , composed of earth and blood , in which the combatants sunk up to the knees ; and the fondins , however , began already to grow weary , when a new reinforcement of 20000 australians arrived ; who having forced their way without much opposition through the fondins , joyned our troops : and now , finding our selves much stronger than our enemies , we detached away 10000 men to the assistance of our brethren at the passage , a great many of which were already knockt on the head by the fondins , with great stones , which they threw down at them from the tops of the mountains , where they lay im ambuscade . on our side , we having fresh troops , renewed a fierce fight against men that were already almost spent , which quickly forced them to give way , and betake themselves to flight ; but when they saw the passage shut up against them , and that they were inevitably lost , they turned back upon us that were pursuing their rear , and fighting like desperate men , opened themselves a passage thro' our troops , which were weary of killing them . and having thus forced their way thro' us , they began to fly in disorder cross the country , dispersing themselves on this side , and that side , in the wide fields . the fight lasted till the middle of the next night ; and as the australians that still were marching with fresh reinforcements from all parts , met every where in their passage some flying fondins , still defending themselves with a great deal of bravery ; but as soon as they perceived the approach of this new reinforcement ▪ they turned their backs , and fled . when the fight was over , the australians that had fought , refresht and rested themselves , and the rest took care to perform the last duties to the brethren , who were killed in the battle : they found above 19000 australians killed upon the place , and about 12000 were wounded , in the number of which , i may reckon my self , since i had an arm broke , and one of my thighs run through : each one knew the dead that belonged to him , and had them carried back to their respective quarters . the necessary orders were likewise given to convey all the bodies of the fondins , to the place where they had made their irruption ; and they found of them above 90000 , which they piled up one upon another . thus passed the first battle of the australians against the fondins , at which i was present , and which i accordingly describe , as an eye-witness : i could not perceive they observed any other rule on our side in their fighting , except it were to resolve to let themselves be killed , than to suffer their ranks to be broken : as for their defensive armour , they wear a sort of light back and breast plate , as thin as paper , but yet so hard , that no blows that are not struck at them with an extraordinary vigour , are able to pierce them . as for their provisions for the mouth , on such occasions , they are supplied every one in particular , from the respective quarter , or district , to which he belonged , the brethren carrying them to their hab in the morning , and the brethren of the next hab carrying them to theirs , and then those of the next to theirs , and so on , till they be conveyed to the place where the men are , for whose use the fruit is designed . the second australian battle , in which i was , happened 17 years after that , upon the following occasion . the fondins had seized upon a very considerable island , about 10 leagues from the sezain , or district of grief ; it was about 18 leagues in length , and 14 in breadth , the ground there being very good , they had fortified themselves there , and were grown very populous . the mildness of the air joyned with the plenty and fruitfulness of the place , drawing thither daily a confluence of new colonies , from whence they made hold afterwards to make incursions into the continent of the australians ; upon which , those people having taken a resolution to drive them out of that island , they wrote only to the 500 next sezains , who detached for that purpose each of them 400 men , so that in a trice they raised an army of 200000 men ; they immediate-prepared a kind of great flat ferry-boat , and built like a platform , which contained 300 men in front , and 400 on each side , so that it was capable of wafting over 12000 men , ready ranged , in order of battel , which they made to be advanced in that manner towards the island . besides which , they equipped 600 other small vessels , that carried each 100 men , and 400 others , laden with ammunition and provisions . amongst all the engines of war , i saw there , i took notice of one , which consisted of several ladders , which stuck certain pointed irons into the walls of any town they were applied against , which by the help of a spring , enlarged themselves like a hook , as soon as they had made their passage into the wall , and then afterwards being turned about with a wheel , these engines would shake down , and overthrow the strongest walls . i was upon the ferry-boat , or platform , when they began to advance against the fondins , which had been preparing themselves for three months before , for a vigorous defence : they were provided with all sorts of provisions , and their army was composed of 300000 fighting men , all resolved to overcome , or die . in the mean time , the australiaas being come within view of the island of the fondins , made a stop to consult which way they might be●t assault their enemies : and it was concluded in council , that they should land 20000 men in the night out of their smaller vessels , to surround the island , and to engage the fondins to fight , whilst 10000 more should throw themselves into the water , and swim over into the island with the instruments , necessary to beat down their walls : which resolution was executed with so much order and celerity , that the fondins had no time to bethink themselves how to prevent the blow . the 10000 attackt the first wall ; and having beaten it down , 2000 of them swam over , and attacked the second wall ; in which , when they had made some breaches , the sentinels hearing the noise , went , and immediately alarmed the next court of guard : but the ardour of the australian was so great , that before their enemies could have notice of their approach , they had already passed to the number of 500 beyond the wall , who kept firm in a body to cover the ascent of the others , who mounted with such a surprizing expedition , that in an hours time , 20000 of them passed over the wall in spite of all the opposition of the fondins . in the mean while , their king being informed that the australians were in earnest entring his island , took with him 6000 chosen men out of a body of reserve , and advanced at the head of them , to view the enemy . the australians on their side gave mighty shouts to give notice to the rest of their party behind , that they had passed the wall , so that when the fondins had begun an obstinate fight , the australians that were not yet passed the wall , climbed upon all sides , and in spite of all the resistance the fondins could make , scaled , and passed it , to the number of 50000 , who made themselves masters of a part of the wall , as the day began to appear , upon which the vessels advanced to the shoar , and landed 20000 more , who likewise passed after their companions over the walls ; so that the fondins , who by that time had got together above 100000 men , seeing the evident danger that threatned them , drew themselves all close up into one united body , with a resolution to venture all for all , and fell so fiercely upon a body of the enemies that made head against them , that they would have entirely defeated them , if another body of australians that had beaten down above 200 fathoms , or 400 yards of wall , had not come up timely to their assistance , which was a detachment of 6000 soldiers from the platform ; who being all fresh , and in a good condition , charged the fondins in the rear , and made such a dreadful slaughter of them , that there hardly escaped 2000 , who fled , and saved themselves in a small adjoyning fortress , and so the australians became masters of the field : but however , before they would attack the fortresses that stood further within the island , they first made sure of all the passages and outworks of it , that they cut off all possibility from the fondins , of escaping their hands : they spent two days in that work , and two more in looking for the bodies of the brethren that were slain in the fight , of which they reckoned 42000 , to whom they paid the usual honour of burial ; after which , they likewise took the number of the fondins that were killed , which amounted to 12000. when they had so done , they marched about to all the towns in the island , and took five of them by assault in one day , most unmercifully killing all they met . and here i cannot but with regret , take notice to you , that i do not believe any country in the world can produce more lovely and beautiful women than there were to be seen in this , which made me in spight of all the violence i used to my natural inclination , in order to conform my self to the cruel and pittiless customs and proceedings of the australians , not able to forbear shewing some marks of compassion , when i saw the throats of so many fair and charming creatures , so miserably , and unmercilesly cut , which much scandalized those brethren that observed my tenderness : but the matter was much aggravated , when breaking into a house that seemed more considerable than the rest , i found in it a venerable matron , with two daughters , of between 25 or 26 years of age , of a most accomplish'd beauty , that threw themselves down at my feet ; for their charms so strongly transported me , that being almost bereft of my reason , and my judgment , i inconsiderately advanced towards one of those young ladies , whom i grasped affectionately in my arms , to lift her up , when two australians came in , just at that moment , and surprized me in the action . i saw by the fire , that flasht in their eyes , and by the indignation which appeared in their faces , that i was a lost man ; nevertheless they contented themselves only with cutting the throats of those ladies in my presence , i knew not afterwards , neither what to resolve upon , nor what would become of me , nor durst i look an australian in the face ; and as soon as any one came near me , i held down my eyes , and confusion shewed it self in my face . in this perplexity , i returned on board to the vessel , where i feined my self wounded , that they might not take it ill , that i had quitted the army , and i remained , with a spirit so dejected and sad , that i could scarce support my self . in the mean time , the plain country , and all the towns being scattered , they resolved to attack the strong places , of which they invested three at once , and all the works of a siege among these people , being to dig the earth round about the place which they attack , 300 men were employed in that work for three days ; at the end of which they came to the walls , notwithstanding the sallies of the fondins ; then they undermined them , and dismantled those cities in a trice , to the great astonishment of all the inhabitants ; they gave at the same time a general assault , and all the valour of the fondins , who defended themselves very couragiously , did not hinder them from taking the strong places in four days time : the slaughter was there general , and they spared neither women , old people , nor children , all were enveloped in one common massacre ; those that were in the other fortresses , did not stay to be besieged , they went out the night before they were to be invested , and the next day , were to be seen on the banks of the sea , more than 200000 people , of all ages and sexes , some of which threw themselves head-long into the water , others cast themselves upon the mercy of their enemies , others with hands lifted up to heaven , expected death , which they saw inevitable . thus this fine island was dispeopled , the australians , collected into many heaps the bodies of the fondins , and left them upon the banks of the sea , without burying , exposing them to the birds , who devoured them . besides these australians , who were killed at the first assault of the isle ( of which we have spoken ) there was found 18000 more , which were transported out of the country upon many vessels : they carried back the wounded in the same manner , which were to the number of 30000 men. as the australians are very dilligent at the assemblies of hab , and of heb , as well at home , as abroad , so soon as the isle was taken , they met together , to praise god , and to consider of several other affairs , of which the principal were how to dispose of me , and how to destroy the island . i was accused upon five articles , every one of which deserved death ; and having had my hearing , i was sent back into my sezain . after that , they came to a resolution to demolish the island , with two armies of fifty thousand men each : and this prodigious masse of earth was destroyed , and covered with water , in ten of their months . a work which the europeans could never have finished in ten years , and which is more , would never have dared to undertaken . this is what i have seen of the war between the australians and the fondins . besides these enemies , the australians have those to fight withal , which they call sea-monsters ; this is the name they give the europeans , because they are ignorant of their country , and they never see them come but by sea in ships . they never call them any thing else but sea-monsters , or half-men . the old philosopher , who was so much my friend , and who took such delight , a little before he died , to hear me talk of my country , told me , that he had seen some people approach their coasts , who were made just after the proportion that i spoke of ; that he admired the fabrick of their ships , and that he was always desirous to know more of the country of these half-men , and that he found a great deal of pleasure in what i had told him , and what he believed before . he told me , among other disputes which they had had with these half-men , they had at one time met with so resolute men , that they were three whole days before they could take seven of their ships : i saw these vessels upon the shoar ; for the australians keep all their prizes , as trophies of their glory and valour . when i came thither , about six months before , they had defeated a whole fleet of them ; and i saw a great many bodies hung upon the masts , whom by their cloaths , i know to be french , spaniards , and portuguese . my old man , who saw the battle , told me , he never saw the like of it , except what i did against the wild birds . the pilot having observed some little rivolets of water deep enough , came up within half a mile of the shoar , but not finding there but two foot of water , he was forced to stop ; he immediately caused a thousand men to land , to view the country . they came with a great deal of bravery , and easily forced the sea-guards , who presently gave the signal , the enemy were come . but the enemy having boarded a sezain which they met , and falling a plundering , the sea-guards did so redouble their signals , that before the europeans could have done plundering , there appeared eight thousand australians upon the shoar . the europeans fired a great many pieces of cannon , but few did execution . in the mean time the australians surrounded those-few that had landed , in a little house , which they had before forced open , and in which they defended themselves for some time , but at last they were forced to submit to number , and not one man escaped to carry the news to the fleet. after that the australians made a considerable turn to secure the passage of the river , in which they are admirable , by filling dextrously the mouth of the river with such heaps of earth , as it was impossible for the enemy of pass . after this , they endeavoured to board them , but the europeans made so good use of their cannon and small arms , that of eight thousand australians , there was six thousand killed before one man could board them . and my old man assured me , that he never had seen so much bravery in any of their enemies . notwithstanding all this , the australians being constantly supplied with fresh men , they began a new attack with twelve thousand men , who were very bravely received , but not with such a loss as the former ; they boarded the ships with a wonderful courage ; yet the europeans firing from all parts upon them , they had killed above four thousand , when on a suddain the australians were reinforced with two thousand fresh men , who finding the enemy already quite fatigued , immediately defeated them . there was in all , three thousand seamen , and as many soldiers , who had all their throats cut , in less than an hour . but the ordinary fights which the australians have against the birds , of which we have spoken , are much more troublesome ; because coming , and going by the air , there is no means neither to stop , nor destroy them . they fight against these terrible beasts three several ways ; because they are attacked by them in as many ; for sometimes they hide themselves in the trees , sometimes they fly out of sight , to throw themselves upon their prey in a minute . the little birds , of which i have spoke before , will perceive them a great way off , and strike their bills with several doleful cries , to give notice to the australians , to put themselves upon their guard. yet these beasts , notwithstanding all their precautions , seldom miss their blow . i remember once , as i was going to heb , in the company of my philosopher , armed according to our custom , with halberts , casques , and cuirasses , after our mode , we had scarce gone half our way , when the little birds began to cry , and fly about us , in a frightful manner , to give us notice of our danger . in short , we immediately perceived some of these great birds , who came to attack us . we then crowded one upon the other , covering our selves with our arms , and making our selves ready for defence . one of these dreadful beasts snatched my halbert out of my hand , with a force no man alive was able to resist . the other five fell so furiously upon my companions , that they had an incredible difficulty to save themselves ; and just as i turned my head , to see how i might come to their help , i my self was carried off ; and i had been infallibly lost , if five of my other brethren had not come to my assistance , and cleared me from the claws of the beast that held me . but then many more of our brethren coming in , the birds flew away . but that which is most terrible is , that these horrible beasts assemble themselves sometimes to the number of four , or five hundred , forming a body of an army ; where it seems they observe a sort of a discipline , in their combats with the australians . they camp in all places indifferently where they find food . the australians canton themselves into their houses , none dare stir out ; they put up the signal to give notice , that the enemy is there , and every one to take care of themselves . the regularity , which they observe to fight with these birds , is greater than that which they observe to fight the fondins ; they stand close togehter , and so order it , that they have a front on every side . they have their sarbecans , of which i spoke before ; in short , they are made of halberts and cutlaces : so soon as the birds perceive them coming against them , they seperate themselves , some flying on one side , and some on the other , the greatest part of them out of sight ; but this is only to joyn themselves the closer , to fall together upon the australians ; who , notwithstanding all their precautions , always lose some men in their first attacks . i was present at three fights with them , we lost at the first 6 men , at the second eight , at the third three ; and in the three fights altogether we killed but seven of the birds . it is impossible to tell you with what force they fall upon men , and what furious strokes they will give with their bills ; i saw an action in the last combat , that 's worth relating , an urg took away the halbert of one of my companions , and another seized his person ; i would have defended him with my halbert , but a third urg carried him off : my neighbour stuck to him , and the same bird carried away both : another took hold of one of them , but another urg threw himself furiously at him ; and as he was carrying him of , i joyned my self to him to stop him , but we had all four been carried off , if we had not knocked down one of the birds , for the others immediately quitted us after that , and we found one of the australians , which they let fall dead and strangled , by being pinched too hard by them ; they observe that when the sea hath been tempestuous for four or five days , these birds are in a sort of a rage , because they cannot take the fish , which they do at other times for their usual nourishment . i have told you before , that the australians have , and do yet continue to make extraordinary efforts to destroy these terrible enemies . they demolished 30 years ago three considerable islands , where these birds harbour , of two leagues in length , and at present they are about destroying another that is six leagues from their country . the most proper season for this is the tropick of capricorn , and they continue to the aequinox of march , at which time birds beginning to grow warm , begin their threatning , but without effect , till the sun enters into the sign of taurus . 't is then that they come to attack the australians in troops , with so much fury , that whatever they are able to do , cannot hinder them from losing several men ; the heat of these engagements will sometimes continue for six hours together , without intermission for thirty days , and after that , they go away by small parcels , till the month of october , where they return again with the same fury . chap. xiii . of the return of sadeur , to the island of madagascar . i write that which follows of the isle of madagascar , and i begin to flatter my self , that this history may go home with me , even to mine own country . it is easie to judge by all that i have said of the incomparability of the humours and interests of the australians , with the people of europe ; that i owed the preservation of my life to nothing but the desperate action which i did when first i came into the australian country , and to the continual violence i did my self , to conform to their manner of litving , and to the care the good old man took of me , who was always my protector ; notwithstanding this , as our nature will shew it self , what-ever disguises we put 〈◊〉 there often fell from me some words or actions , which shewed what i really was . the good old philosopher made an hundred harangues in my defence , while he was alive , and to stop the designs that their brothers had formed against me ; he set out my fighting as an unheard of prodigy , and which alone rendered me worthy of their protection , notwithstanding all my faults . he maintained that since they had taken me into their protection , though i was a stranger , they could not now take away my life without manifest injustice , since what i did amiss proceeded from my nature ; he added after all , that since i was a stranger , they ought not to condemn me till they could hear what i could say in my own defence . when he died , he redoubled his entreaties , and reasons , to oblidge them to preserve me , and named me to be his lieutenant , after an exhortation , truly paternal , which he made to me , and all the brothers accepted it , with their common consent . in fine , he supported me till the war of the fondins , of which i have spoke , where my ruin was fixed , and resolved on . the accusation that was formed against me , may be reduced to five principal heads : the first was , that i had not fought with the others , since i could not produce an ear of the fondins : secondly , that i had testified a great grief , in seeing the destruction of their enemies : thirdly , that i had embraced a fundine : fourthly , that i had eaten the meat of the fundines : and lastly , that i had made questions full of malice to the brothers . to understand these accusations , you must know , that it is a custom of the australians to cut off the ears of those that they kill in fight , and make a girdle of them ; he that brings most is esteemed most couragious ; and there was some that in the taking of the island , that brought off 200. as for my part , i was so far from having killed any of them , that i testified an extream regret , to see the bloody butchery of those unhappy people ; i have told you already of the tenderness which i shewed to a pretty fondin lady , whom i found in an house with her mother . the australians , looked upon this as the greatest crime i could commit , and there was none of them afterwards but abhorred me . they charged me besides , that i had the boldness ro propose the preservation of some of the fundines women , to be made use of as slaves , and that i had openly declared , that i preferred the life of one fondin woman , before all the booty i could pretend to in the island . so soon as they had heard these accusations against me , they proposed to death to me , but with so imperious an air , that i had nothing else to do but to accept of it : and for as much as they kept a great silence , when i came to the table to eat , according to the custom ▪ i began to speak , and told the brothers assembled , that i had such essential obligations to them , that i could not leave them without communicating to them a grand secret , which i had for the easie destruction of the urges i added , that i was really guilty of the crimes of which i was accused ; but since all those crimes came from my nature , which all people knew to be like that of the fundins ; i appeal to their consciences , if being resolved to suffer me to live among them , knowing me for a fundine ; they ought not also to pardon those faults , which were inseparable from those of my species : it s true , said i , that i have testified a great deal of kindness to those people that were like me ; it is true , that i could cut their throats ; 't is true , that i shew'd a compassion for those who are even as my self : and if i had not done this , i must have renounced my nature , and their own reason , which judges so well of things , would have justly condemned me of cruelty . if an australian should happen to be amongst the fundines , would not he be inexcusable , if in a war against his own nation , he shew'd not some kindness to them . but after all , do not believe that i am so desirous to preserve my life , i am glad to retire , i only demand a delay of a few days , to have time to shew you , that this poor stranger , whom you have protected , is not ungrateful for the benefits received of you . they went out of the hab , according to the accustomed manner , without giving any answer , so that i saw i had no other way left , but industriously to study out some way of returning into my own country . in this cogitation , all the adventures of my former voyage , which brought me to the place where i now was , ran in my mind . i had always before my eyes the opportunity which was so favourable to me ; and i imagined , that if i could , after any fashion , shift away from the sight of these australians , my return would be secured ; and after i had revovled in my mind , a great many several methods and designs , this was the resolution which i took and executed . i made a cord of the bark of a tree , which is named s chuch ; i rubbed it with the juice of the fruit repose , mingled with a little sea-water , which render'd it as hard as iron ; i afterward rubbed it with another juice , which made it flexible , and at last made a kind of rope , which i tied fast to a tree , where the urgs used to perch ; i never ceased to go and come , expecting with impatience the success which i had promised my self from this design . at last my little birds having advertised me to retire , i saw two urgs very high in the air , which lighted exactly upon the tree where i had stretched my cord , and one of them was taken by the end of the foot. the brothers , who saw that he was taken , ran presently to knock him down ; but i entreated them to let me alone with him , assuring them , that they should in a little while see something more surprising than what they now beheld . my beast seeing himself taken , continued two days in a very ill humour when i approached him , but at last , when he saw no appearance of escaping , and that hunger and famine pressed him , he begun to be more gentle , and to suffer me to approach to give him meat ; i fed him all alone , and he began to know me ; i made much of him , and he suffered it ; i lift up his huge feet , i looked upon his talons , i opened his beak , and mounted upon his back : in fine , i did whatsoever i would with him : i said then to my self , since i was first driven into this countrey by the persecution of these beasts , why may i not depart hence too by their assistance ? i had great hope of my bird , and my hope increased as his kindness increased towards me . in the mean time they spoke of my conduct at the hab with praise , and seeing that they admired it , i made a speech and told them , that i begun now to look upon my self as one whose being was in a manner ceas'd ; that since it was the custom of our nation , that when any one was at the point of death , to live with great reservedness , and that my spirit would not permit me to be the same that i had been , and that knowing that i should cease to be in a little time , i would employ the moments that remained to study out some last action which should edifie them much more than my first . these reasons did very much satisfie the assembly , and they were resolved to let me finish my life as i pleased , without speaking any more either of my words or actions . and since i ought to be reckoned in the number of the dead , they themselves named me lieutenant , and regarded me no more but as a dying person , who was at liberty to finish his life as himself thought fit . this order gave me so much consolation , that i then looked upon my deliverance for most assured . i passed almost the whole day with my bird , and i omitted no way to shew him all the kindness i possibly could . i perceived one day that he had a great pain , and i found that the cord which setter'd him had cut the skin of his foot , and was entred a good way into his flesh ; the wound was very considerable , and i used all means possible to cure him ; i poured in the juice of a fruit to consolidate the wound , i bound it up handsomly , and in eight days he became perfectly well . his kindness upon this augmented so much towards me , that he would not suffer me to go from him : and i on the other side was never content but when i was with him : i let him by little and little go loose alone , and he was so far from flying away , that he made continual efforts to follow me every where : i was desirous to try whether he could carry me flying , and i found that he did it with pleasure , and a surprizing swiftness . after this i made a girdle of many leaves , which i rubbed with the juice of the fruit of repose , to make it of proof against water ; i made afterward a kind of bag , and having filled it with the most nourishing fruits of the countrey , and some bottles of the liquor which they drink there , with which i put also the manuscript of this history , i put them all up very neatly , and girded them round about me . besides this , i made a little wallet which i filled with fruit for the nourishment of my beast , and have tied it neatly upon his back , i resolved to depart the night following , which was the 15th of the solstice of capricorn 35 years and some months after my first arrival into the australian countrey , and in the fifty seventh year of mine age. that my bird then might the more easily take his flight , i made him get up upon a tree , and seating my self under his wings , i made him begin his flight very high in the air , for fear of being perceived by those that guarded the sea , but the great cold of the middle region of the air quickly obliged me to descend a little lower . in the mean time we had been above six mile already on our way , whether my beast became again sensible of his wound , or whether too long a rest had rendred him more heavy , i perceived he was extreamly fatigued , and could hold out no longer : i then so ordered him to light down upon the water , and as he sunk a little too deep , i leaped off to ease him , well knowing that my girdle would support me , and keep me out of danger . this poor animal fearing then that i would be lost , or would quit him , began to cry and turn towards me with an agitation that shewed his pain and uneasiness ; but being my self more weary than he , i leaned my head upon his feathers , and having given him some of the fruits in the wallet , i fell into a sound sleep . i found the day very fine and clear at my awaking , and made my bird eat again , and took a repast my self ; i mounted again upon him nimbly enough , with design to advance the more swiftly on our way : but whatsoever efforts he made , he was never able to take his flight , because the strange heaviness of my body made him sink too low in the water ; we were forced then , whether we would or no , to remain in the place where we now were , and any one may judge what pain and trouble i was then in : nevertheless , having considered that my beast went very well , and swiftly in the water , i tied my self to his tail , and he drew me far enough to discover a little island which appeared almost out of sight . as the night approached , and my bird being very weary , i staid to feed him , and eat my self also with him ; but i was very much astonished to see him stop short ; for whether it was that he regretted his former condition , or whether he could not live in a different air from that of his own climate , or whether he was only concerned at the trouble he saw me in , he would not stir a bit further . night came upon us a little after , and he slept soundly , but i could not so much as shut mine eyes : i deliberated a long time upon what i should do , and after a great many thoughts , i judged it most convenient to slip the wallet from off his back , and to separate my self entirely from him , though with a great deal of regret . after i had done this , seeing my girdle and my bag supported me perfectly well , i began to go away from my beast , and to go forward by the favour of a south-wind which assisted me ; insomuch that at day-break i found my self arrived without any inconvenience in the island which i discovered the night before . then i went out of the water , and sat me down upon the land , and i eat some of my fruit , with such a sensible pleasure tempered with that consolation that i never yet enjoy'd the like . sleep seized me afterwards , and i slept about six hours , and waking i resolved to continue my voyage , and to advance , always bearing towards the north , for fear of being in danger to be lost in the great sea which separates the old world from the new. but i was scarce got into the water when i heard the noise of the flying of the great birds which i have spoken of . my very heart trembled at this noise , and i thought my self lost at first , but my fear was presently turned into joy , when i found that it was my own beast that was looking for me , and who came to cast himself at my feet with so many caresses and so many marks of sorrow because i had left him : i was touched with the most tender compassion that ever i had in my life , and because i knew he had tired himself very much in seeking me , i staid in the island a day and a night , to rest , and gave him some fruits out of my wallet ; he had scarce begun to eat when ten great beasts , almost of the colour of our wolves came up towards us ▪ my bird who perceived them before me , set upon them with great impetuosity and fury , and taking up one and carrying it up into the air , he let it fall upon another and knockt it on the head , upon which all the rest immediately fled , but before they could get to their holes , he catched a third , of which he eat half and brought the rest to me . the night following i slept with him six or seven hours , but my bird did not sleep till after me , and awaked very near as soon as i ; he no sooner had his eyes open , but he fell upon one of the beasts that he had slain and made his breakfast of it : i eat also some of my fruits , and presently got upon a little rock and mounted his back as before , we advanced with a surprizing swiftness , and had made a great deal of way , when two birds of the same bigness came to encounter us , and launching themselves against us , began to attack us with great blows , of their beaks and talons . it was impossible for this poor creature to make his part good , as well because his burden put him out of a state of defence as that the two birds were each of them as strong as himself ; i had received already some blows which made me all bloody , and also seeing that we were both of us in equal danger , and that in hindering him to save his life , i could not secure mine own , i leaped off from his back , and cast my self into the water , where i lay some time to look upon the combat ; my bird held himself upon the defensive , and contented himself to present his talons and his beak to guard off the blows as much as he could . but at last a mist which begun to spread it self insensibly quite deprived me of the sight of this spectacle . i fell then into a deep grief , and made many reflections upon my unhappy estate , and i was reduced to it by mine own fault . australia represented it self to me with all its advantages , and the island which i had newly left , seemed to me extremely commodious , and i thought i might have past the rest of my days there without fear or danger , because my bird would have guarded me against all that durst attacque me . i then remembred that i was the cause of mine own unhappiness . that which compleated my misfortune was , that i knew not what to do , not being able to see thirty yards before me . these sad thoughts perplexed my mind , when i heard a great noise like a ship that spread all its sails , i begun to cry out , when i was perceived by the marriners who shot at me , and i was wounded in many places , but slightly . in the mean time the vessel approaching , they knew by my voice and my actions , that i was a man ▪ they took me on board , and used me with great compassion , they looked upon my wounds , and washed them with oil and wine and having poured upon them a precious balm they bound them up very neatly . because they appeared to be europeans i spoke latine to them , i understood that they were french , and that their vessel parted a little while ago from the isle of madagascar with design to cruise for a booty . the captain who was a man of quality having understood that i was an european came to see me , and spoke to me with a great deal of kindness , gave me a suit of his apparel , took me into his company , and made me eat at his table . the first entertainment i had with him lasted for three hours . i recounted to him the history of my birth , of my education , of my shipwracks , and of my arrival in australia . he heard me with a great deal of attention , & was astonish'd that i could survive so many evils that i had suffered . i heard that he spoke in french to the company all that i had said in latin , and all of them admired that i should escape so many dangers . he had afterwards the discretion to let me eat without asking me any more questions ; but since i had lost the use of the european meats , i found no taste in them , and my stomach would scarce endure them . i took then of my fruits which begun to wax old , and my little bottles which began to dry , i offered one to the captain who tasted it , and protested that he had never drank any thing so delicious . he desired a second of me , and drank to the mr. pilot , he would have a third , and afterwards a fourth , and never ceased , till my girdle was quite empty . there was no body but admired both the colour and delicacy of the fruits , and they could scarce believe they were natural . our repast being over , i was obliged to begin my history again , and recount as well as i could possibly , the particulars of the australian countrey , the manners and customs of the inhabitants , and the rest . the captain was at a great loss to believe me , but i reported so many circumstances of the things which i advanced , that he could no longer doubt of it . he oftentimes protested that he would willingly run the danger of his life to see those things which i had seen . and upon what i said to him concerning the situation and bounds of the countrey , he declared that he saw plainly that his friends who were gone thither would infallibly perish . in the mean time having resolved to return to madagascar , we set sail , and after eight days sailing , we arrived at the port of tombolo , which is something southerly to the isle of madagascar , that is to say , south-west . the captain had a great kindness for me , and would have let me leave him , to gratifie the governour of tombolo , who had a mind to see me . chap. xiv . of sadeurs stay in the isle of madagascar . tombolo is a port that hath a little city indifferently strong , in which there is about five or six thousand inhabitants , of which the greater part are french , some portugals , others english , and a very few hollanders ; the rest are the natives of the countrey , who are very hard to be civiliz'd . it is under the tropick of capricorn , in the 65th meridian , according to ptolomy . this countrey is not only barren , but unhealthful , so far as i am able to judge . they have no provision but what is brought from other places , and the natural inhabitants of the countrey are not yet subjected , nor have any fixed abode . here again i recounted my history at length to the governour , and had many conferences with him , yet being tired with staying so long for a ship to return into europe , i prayed the governour to give me some men to conduct me up the river which they call sildem , to enter higher into the countrey to make some discoveries . the governour assured me that he had had the same curiosity formerly himself , but that he was diverted from it by the certain information he had that the inhabitants of the countrey were such salvages , that they spared no person ; and he added , that about three months before they entrapped two souldiers , and that he had heard by a salvage , that they had tied them by the feet , and hanged them in trees at five or six paces distance , then knocked them one against the other , that by hurting and beating one against another , they might be bruised to death ; and that round about them there was a great number of children who expected when the blood and brains of those miserable people should fall to the ground , on purpose to gather them up , and eat them . and that these barbarous people having seen them render up their last gasp in these cruel torments , had taken down their bruised bodies beaten all black , and devoured them without any other dressing . these cruelties hindred me from desiring to know more particularly either the countrey or the inhabitants . i began then to be extreamly troubled , when there arrived at the port a french vessel , which brought a kind of a chaloop along with him , which they had seized upon in a ferry-place as it was passing into an island of the southern countrey . there was no body on board but a venerable old man accompained with the six rowers which served him in the room of valetts . this man looked very much like an australian ; his forehead and chin were squarer than they were long , his hair and all his beard black , and his body of a brown colour . as soon as i saw him i was touched with compassion for him , and had an extream desire to know who he was . the governour made no difficulty to give me leave to see him , being desirous that i should draw out by his means some knowledge of the countrey , which yet he hardly believed could be done . i came then to the old man , and having testified to him by many signs that i was in the same captivity with himself , he began to shew some signs of comfort . after three or four enterviews , i found a way to make my mind known to him after this manner . we agreed by signs to frame certain words to explain our thoughts . i formed two hundred in one night which he comprehended easily ; having formed in two months time a kind of language sufficiently capable to make us understand one another . i told him all my history , my shipwracks , my arrival in australia , the stay i had made there , and the manner of my escape . having engaged him by all this freedom and openness to put confidence in me ; he made no difficulty to discover several considerable circumstances of his countrey to me . he told me that he lived in the middle of an island , that the climate was very healthful , the land very fertile , and the people well accomplished . that they had two strong barricadoes that separated them on the east and west from two barbarous people ; to wit , two prodigious mountains ; that of the east was called harnor , that of the west canor : and that on the sea-side , nature had walled them in with such banks of sand , that they could not get over them without the experience of many years , he added that their countrey was about six thousand miles about , that the government was aristocratical , and that they chose every three years six governours ; the first for the north-sea , the second for the south-sea , the third for mount harnor , the fourth for mount canor , and two others for the rest of the countrey ; that these governours had power of life and death over all people within their district of what condition soever they were . for the rest , that they cultivated the earth , and sowed and reaped as they did in europe ; that the beasts which served them for labour were of the bigness of elephants . that in general the people of this countrey loved their liberties more than their lives , that he was one of the governours of which he had told me , whose unhappy loss was caused by a tempest that rose against all appearance as he was going to visit some banks of sand which encreased extraordinarily , that the tempest having carried him a great way off he fell into the hands of pirates , who delivered him to the governour of tombolo . we passed whole days in this agreeable conversation , when there arrived two ships from the mogul that were to depart in a few days for leghorn . i was a little troubled to be deprived of the conversation of a man so agreeable and reasonable , nevertheless not being willing to lose so fair an occasion , i told him that i was resolved to take this opportunity to return into my own countrey . this news did sensibly afflict him , yet he declared that my design was too reasonable to be opposed , and some days after going to take my leave of him , he answered me coldly , that he should leave me first , and prayed me that i would preserve that friendship for him in my heart , of which i had given him so many testimonies of since our acquaintance . a little while after , he cast himself at my feet , to signifie the esteem which he had for me , and having cryed out five or six times in his language , two of his valletts ran to him and strangled him ; and afterwards ran with their heads so forcibly one against the other , that they beat out their brains and both fell dead upon the place . the four others , though they were at a distance , did the same in a moment , so that they were all found dead together , which extreamly surprized the governour and all that were with him . these are the contents of sadeurs memoirs written with his own hand . his history ends here , and in all appearance being embarqued presently after the death of the old man of which we have spoken , he had no leisure to write the adventures of his return in europe . books lately printed for john dunton , at the raven in the poultrey . the second volume of the athenian mercury ; with a general title , preface and index to it , is now publisht , stictht up in marble paper . price 2s . 6d . the tigurine liturgy , publisht with the approbation of several bishops . sadeurs new discovery of terra incognita australis ; translated from the french copy : printed at paris by publick authority . proposals for printing of a book of william leybourn's , author of the late cursus mathematicus , and of divers other mathematical tractates , who hath now by him a miscellaneous manuscript ready for the press , which he intends to title pleasure with profit , it consisting of recreations , numerical , geometrical , mechanical , optical , astronomical , horometrical , crytographical , siatical , magnetical , automatical , chymical , historical ; published for the ingenious to make further scrutiny into these ( and the like ) sublime sciences . this book , when printed , will contain above 100 sheets , with near 200 cuts : and to the end that this work may come to publick view in the author's life-time , he presents the following overture ( for the promotion of it ) to all masters , heads , provosts , fellows , scholars , &c. of both universities ; to all publick and private school-masters , ushers , and scholars under them ; to all gentlemen of inns of court or chancery ; and to all other private gentlemen of what degree soever . the proposals are as followeth ; viz. 1. the subscribers to give 13 s. and 6 d. for each book in quires , whereof 6 s. is to be paid at the time of subscription , and 7 s. 6 d. at the delivery of the book . 2. to encourage all persons that shall contribute to the procuring subscriptions for six , they shall have a seventh gratis . 3. all who intend to assist in the advancement of this useful work , are desired to send in their subscriptions with all speed , unto the persons hereunder named , where printed receipts shall be given them ; and if they arise to a competent number , the book shall be finish'd by midsummer next . the undertakers are dorman newman , rich. baldwin , and john dunton . the agreement in doctrine , among the dissenting ministers in london , subscribed decemb. 16. 1692. the fifth edition of the second spira . a conference between a modern atheist and his friend : by the methodizer of the second spira ; printed in the same size , that they might be bound up together . an earnest call to family-catechism and reformation : by a reverend divine . several ministers and private christians perusing this piece , earnestly moved for its publication , which the reverend author at length consented to , the following proposals are now made , for the general dispersing of it ; viz. that whatever gentlemen will be so publick spirited , as to give fifty of them away , they shall have that number for 20 s. stitch'd up in blew paper , and ready cut : but as for others who buy lesser numbers , they must not expect them under six-pence per book . theodore john's confession of the christian faith , before he was baptized . the day of jubilee ; or , a plain and a practical discourse of the saints gathering together , and of their meeting the lord in glory at his second coming , on 1 thes . 4. 17. by j. brandon rector of winchamstead in berks. the late tryals of several witches : published by cotton mather , the fourth edition of the new martyrology ; or , blooody assizes . with additions , so large , as renders it a new secret history of the late times . the sense of the uni●ed nonconforming ministers , against s●me of mr. davis's erroneous opi●ions . ca●uistical morning exercises , the fourth volume . head of agreement , assented to by the united ministers . the country concurrence with the london united ministers . by s. chandler . the 2d e●ition of gosp●l truth stated . a defence of gospel-truth ; being a reply to mr. chancy's first part. a discourse shewing what repentance of national sins god requires . the vanity of childhood and youth . the life of mr. thomas brand , by dr. annsley . the mourners companion . by j. shower . a practical discourse on sickness and recovery . early religion , or a discourse of the duty of youth . fall not out by the way : or , a perswasion to a friendly correspondence between brethren of the same faith. all three by j. rogers , m. a. the life and death of the reverend mr. eliot . by cotton mather . mr. barker's flores intellect both parts . a compleat history of the remarkable penitents that have been executed at tyburn , and elsewhere for these last thirty years . together with mr. increase mather's sermon to a condemned malefactor about an hour before his execution . mr. quick's young man's claim to the sacrament . a practical discourse on the late earthquakes . mr. crow's vanity of judicial astrology . mr. oaks's funeral sermon . mr. kent's funeral sermon . by mr. sam. slater . the celestial race . by mr. bush . mr. baxter's sermon on a person that died suddenly . all the eight volumes of the athenian gazette , with a general , full preface and index to them , or single mercuries to this time . the first volume of the compleat library , with two alphabetical tables . the second volume of the compleat library for december , january , february , and march ; that for april is now in the press . a mourning ring in memory of your departed friend . the second edition . the young students library , published by the athenian society . — a scheme of enquiries , published by the athenian society . — an ode to the athenian society . — the visions of the soul , by a member of the athenian society . the entire sett of athenian gazettes , with the supplements to them , bound up altogether for the year 1691. with an alphabetical table for the whole year . the history of the athenian society . an account of the divisions amongst the quakers in pensylvania . — a further account of the divisions of the quakers in pensylvania . the principles , doctrines , laws and orders of the quakers . the character of a williamite , by a divine of the church of england . price 6 d. the character of a jacobite , by a person of quality . price 6 d. the first and second volume of the post boy robb'd of his mail , or the packet broke open ; to which are added several ingenious letters lately sent to the gentlemen concerned in this frollick ; as also copies of those private letters which lately past between ; with observations upon each letter . religio bibliopolae , in imitation of dr. brown's religio medici . the double descent ; a poem . the divine captain . by mr. hickringal . infant-baptism stated , in an essay to vindicate its lawfulness from the testimony of holy scripture ; with an account of a conference publickly held with an antipoedo-baptist of no small fame . by j. r. a presbyter of the church of england . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a70052-e1400 * a kind of barbarians who border'd upon the australians . the vvorld encompassed by sir francis drake being his next voyage to that to nombre de dios formerly imprinted; carefully collected out of the notes of master francis fletcher preacher in this imployment, and diuers others his followers in the same: offered now at last to publique view, both for the honour of the actor, but especially for the stirring vp of herock spirits, to benefit their countrie, and eternize their names by like noble attempts. drake, francis, sir, d. 1637. 1628 approx. 251 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 59 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2006-02 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a20784 stc 7161 estc s105366 99841095 99841095 5654 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a20784) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 5654) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 988:03) the vvorld encompassed by sir francis drake being his next voyage to that to nombre de dios formerly imprinted; carefully collected out of the notes of master francis fletcher preacher in this imployment, and diuers others his followers in the same: offered now at last to publique view, both for the honour of the actor, but especially for the stirring vp of herock spirits, to benefit their countrie, and eternize their names by like noble attempts. drake, francis, sir, d. 1637. vaughan, robert, engraver. fletcher, francis, 16th cent. [4], 108 p. [2] plates : port., map printed [by g. miller] for nicholas bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the royall exchange, london : 1628. compiler's dedication signed: francis drake. printer's name from stc. the portrait comes in two versions: (1) signed by robert vaughan, with english verses beginning "the worlde suruaied .."; (2) an anonymous copy in reverse, with latin verse beginning "drake perorati novit ..". the role of sir francis drake (the nephew) as compiler has been disputed: see wagner, henry r. sir francis drake's voyage around the world. san francisco, 1926, p. 286. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng drake, francis, -sir, 1540?-1596 -early works to 1800. voyages around the world -early works to 1800. 2005-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-08 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-12 judith siefring sampled and proofread 2005-12 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion avxiliio di vino sic parvis magna drake perorati novit quem terminus orbis , et quem bis mundi vtdit vterque polus ; si taceant homines , facient te sidera notum , sol nescit comitis non memor esse sui . the vvorld encompassed by sir francis drake , being his next voyage to that to nombre de dios formerly imprinted ; carefully collected out of the notes of master francis fletcher preacher in this imployment , and diuers others his followers in the same : offered now at last to publique view , both for the honour of the actor , but especially for the stirring vp of heroick spirits , to benefit their countrie , and eternize their names by like noble attempts . london , printed for nicholas bovrne and are to be sold at his shop at the royall exchange . 1628. to the trvly noble robert earle of vvarvvicke . right honourable , fame and enuie are both needlesse to the dead because vnknowne , sometimes dangerous to the liuing when too well knowne : reason enough that i rather chuse to say nothing , then too little , in the praise of the deceased author , or of your lordship my desired fautor . columbus did neatly checke his emulators , by rearing an egge without assistance . let the slighter of this voyage applie . if your lordship vouchsafe the acceptance , 't is yours , if the the epistle reader can picke out either vse or content , 't is his , and i am pleased . example being the publique , and your lordships fauor the priuate aime , of your humbly deuoted , francis drake . the voyage abovt the world , by sir francis drake . ever since almighty god commanded adam to subdue the earth , there haue not wanted in all ages , some heroicall spirits , which in obedience to that high mandate , either from manifest reason alluring them , or by secret instinct inforcing them thereunto , haue expended their wealth , imployed their times , and aduentured their persons , to finde out the true circuit thereof . of these , some haue endeauored to effect this their purpose , by conclusion and consequence , drawne from the proportion of the higher circles ; to this nethermost globe , being the center of the rest . others not contented with schoole points . and such demonstrations ( for that a small errour in the beginning , groweth in the progresse to a great inconuenience ) haue added thereunto their owne history and experience . all of them in reason haue deserued great commendation of their owne ages , and purchased a iust renowne with all posterity . for if a surueyer of some few lordships , whereof the bounds and limits were before knowne , worthily deserue his reward , not onely for his trauell , but for his skill also , in measuring the whole and euerie part thereof : how much more , aboue comparison , are their famous trauells by all meanes possible to be eternized , who haue bestowed their studies and indeauor , to suruey and measure this globe allmost vnmeasurable ? neither is here that difference to be obiected , which in priuate possessions is of value : whose land suruey you ? forasmuch as the maine ocean by right is the lords alone , and by nature left free , for all men to deale withall , as very sufficient for all mens vse , and large enough for all mens industry . and therefore that valiant enterprise , accompanied with happy successe , which that right rare and thrice worthy captaine francis drake atcheiued , in first turning vp a furrow about the whole world , doth not onely ouermatch the ancient argonautes , but also outreacheth in many respects , that noble mariner magellanus and by farre surpasseth his crowned victory . but hereof let posterity iudge . it shall , for the present , be deemed a sufficient discharge of duty , to register the true and whole history of that his voyage , with as great indifferency of affection as a history doth require , and with the plaine euidence of truth , as it was left recorded by some of the chiefe , and diuers other actors in that action . the said captaine francis drake , hauing in a former voyage , in the yeares 72. and 73. ( the description whereof is already imparted to the veiw of the world ) had a sight , and onely a sight of the south atlantik , and thereupon either conceiuing a new , or renewing a former desire , of sailing on the same , in an english bottom ; he so cherished thenceforward , this his noble desire and resolution in himselfe , that notwithstanding he was hindered for some yeares , partly be secret enuie at home , and partly by publique seruice for his prince and countrie abroad , ( wherof ireland vnder walter earle of essex giues honorable testimonie ) yet , against the yeare 1577. by gratious commission from his soueraigne , and with the helpe of diuers friends aduenturers , he had fitted himselfe with fiue ships . 1. the pellican . admirall . burthen 100. tonnes . captaine generall . francis drake . 2. the elizabeth . vice admirall . burthen 80. tonnes . captaine iohn winter . 3. the marigold . a bark of 30. tonnes . captaine iohn thomas . 4. the swanne . a fliboat of 50. tonnes . captaine iohn chester . a new and accurate mappe of the world , drawne according to the best and latest discoveries that have beene made . 5. the christopher . a pinnace of 15. tonnes . captaine . thomas moone . these ships he mand with 164. able and sufficient men , and furnished them also with such plentifull prouision of all things necessary , as so long and dangerous a voyage did seeme to require : and amongst the rest , with certaine pinnaces ready framed , but caried aboard in peices , to be new set vp in smoother water , when occasion serued . neither had he omitted , to make prouision also for ornament and delight , carying to this purpose with him , expert musitians , rich furniture ( all the vessels for his table , yea many belonging euen to the cooke-roome being of pure siluer ) and diuers shewes of all sorts of curious workmanship , whereby the ciuilitie and magnificence of his natiue contrie , might , amongst all nations whithersoeuer he should come , be the more admired . nou. 15 being thus appointed we set saile out of the sound of plimmouth , about 5. of the clocke in the afternoone nouember 15. of the same yeare , nou. 16 and running all that night southwest , by the morning were come as farre as the lyzard , where meeting the winde at southwest ( quite contrarie to our intended course ) we were forced , with our whole fleet to put in to falmouth . nou. 17. 18. the next day , towards euening , there arose a storme , continuing all that night , and the day following ( especially betweene 10. of the clocke in the forenoone , and 5. in the after noone ) with such violence , that though it were in a verygood harbor , yet 2. of our ships viz. the admirall ( wherein our generall himselfe went ) and the marigold , were faine to cut their maine masts by board , and for the repairing of them , and many other dammages in the tempest sustained ( as soone as the weather would giue leaue ) to beare backe to plimmouth againe , where wee all arriued the 13. day after our first departure thence . nou. 28 whence ( hauing in few daies supplied all defects ) with happier sayles we , once more put to sea decem. 13. 1577. december . 13 as soone as we were out of sight of land , our generall gaue vs occasion to coniecture in part , whither he intended , both by the directing of his course , and appointing the randeuous ( if any should bee seuered from the fleet ) to be the iland mogadore . and so sailing with fauorable windes , the first land that wee had sight of , was cape cantine in barbarie december 25. christmas day in the morning . dec. 25 the shoare is faire white sand , and the inland contrie very high and mountainous , it lieth in 32. deg . 30. mi. north latitude , and so coasting from hence southward , about 18. leagues , we arriued the same day at mogadore the iland before named . this mogadore , lies vnder the dominion of the king of fesse in 31. deg . 40. mi. about a mile off from the shoare , by this meanes making a good harbor betweene the land and it . it is vninhabited , of about a league in circuit , not very high land , all ouergrowne with a kinde of shrub brest high , not much vnlike our priuet , verie full of doues and therefore much frequented of goshaukes , and such like birds of prey , besides diuers sorts of sea-foule very plentie . at the south side of this iland are three hollow rocks , vnder which are great store of very wholesome but very vglie fish to looke to . lying here about a mile from the maine , a boate was sent to sound the harbor , and finding it safe , and in the very entrance on the north side about 5. or 6. fathome water ( but at the souther side it is very dangerous ) we brought in our whole fleet december 27. and continued there till the last day of the same moneth , imploying our leasure , the meane while , decemb. in setting vp a pinnace , one of the 4. brought from home in peices with vs. our abode here was soone perceiued by the inhabitants of the contrie , who comming to the shoare , by signes and cries made shewe , that they desired to be fetched aboard , to whom our generall sent a boate , into which 2. of the chiefest of the moores were presently receiued , and one man of ours , in exchange , left a land , as a pledge for their returne . they that came aboard were right courteously entertained , with a daintie banquet , and such gifts as they seemed to be most glad of , that they might thereby vnderstand , that this fleete came in peace and friendship , offering to traffique with them , for such commodities as their contrie yeelded , to their owne content . this offer they seemed most gladly to accept , and promised , the next day , to resort againe , with such things as they had to exchange for ours . it is a law amongst them to drinke no wine , notwithstanding by stealth it pleaseth them well to haue it abundantly , as here was experience . at their returne ashoare , they quietly restored the pledge which they had stayed , and the next day , at the houre appointed , returning againe , brought with them camells , in shewe loaden with wares to be exchanged for our commodities , and calling for a boate in haste , had one sent them , according to order , which our generall ( being at this present absent ) had giuen before his departure to the iland . our boate comming to the place of landing ( which was among the rocks ) one of our men called iohn fry , mistrusting no danger , nor fearing any harme pretended by them , and therefore intending to become a pledge , according to the order vsed the day before , readilie stept out of the boate and ranne a land , which oportunitie ( being that which the moores did looke for ) they tooke the aduantage of , and not onely they which were in sight , layed hands on him to carrie him away with them , but a number more , which lay secretly hidden , did forth with breake forth from behinde the rocks , whither they had conueyed themselues ( as it seemeth the night before ) forcing our men to leaue the rescuing of him that was taken as captiue , and with speed to shift for themselues . the cause of this violence , was a desire which the king of fesse had , to vnderstand what this fleet was , whether any forerunner of the kings of portugall or no , and what newes of certaintie the fleet might giue him . and therefore after that he was brought to the kings presence , and had reported that they were englishmen , bound for the straights , vnder the conduct of generall drake , he was sent back againe with a present to his captaine and offer of great curtesie and freindship , if he would vse his contry but in this meane time , the generall being grieued with this shew of iniurie , and intending , if he might , to recouer or redeeme his man , his pinnace being ready , landed his company , and marched somewhat into the countrie , without any resistance made against him : neither would the moores , by any meanes come nigh our men , to deale with them any way ; wherefore hauing made prouision of wood , as also visited an old for t , built sometime by the king of portugall , but now ruined by the king of fesse , we departed december 31. dec. 31 towards cape blanck , in such sort , that when fry returned , he found to his great griefe , that the fleet was gone : but yet , by the kings fauor , he was sent home into england not long after , in an english merchants ship . shortly after our putting forth of this harbour , we were met with contrary windes and foule weather , which continued till the fourth of ianuary : yet we still held on our course , and the third day after , ian. 7 fell with cape de guerre in 30. deg . min. where wee lighted on 3. spanish fishermen called caunters , whom we tooke with our new pinnace , and caried along with vs , till we came to rio del oro , ian. 13 iust vnder the tropick of cancer : where with our pinnace also we took a caruell . from hence , till the fifteenth day , ian. 15 we failed on towards cape barbas , where the marigold tooke a caruell more , and so onward to cape blanck till the next day at night . ian. 16 this cape lieth in 20. deg . 30. min. shewing it selfe vpright like the corner of a wall , to them that come towards it from the north , hauing , betweene it and cape barbas , lowe , sandy , and very white land all the way . here we obserued the south guards , called the crosiers 9. deg . 30. min. aboue the horizon . within the cape , we tooke one spanish ship more riding at anchor ( all her men being fled ashoare in the boate saue two ) which , withall the rest we had formerly taken , we caried into the harbor , 3. leagues within the cape . here our generall determined , for certaine dayes to make his abode , both for that the place afforded plenty of fresh victualls , for the present refreshing of our men , and for their future supply at sea ( by reason of the infinite store of diuers sorts of good fish , which are there easie to be taken , euen within the harbor , the like whereof , is hardly to be found againe , in any part of the world ) as also , because it serued very fitly , for the dispatching of some other businesses that we had . during the time of our abode in this place , our generall being ashoare was visited by certaine of the people of the country , who brought downe with them a woman a moore ( with her little babe hanging vpon her dry dugge , hauing scarce life in herselfe , much lesse milke to nourish her child ) to be sould as a horse , or a cow and calfe by her side , in which sort of merchandise our generall would not deale . but they had also amber-greece , with certaine gummes of some estimation , which they brought to exchange with our men for water ( whereof they haue great want ) so that comming with their allforges ( they are leathern bags holding liquor ) to buy water , they cared not at what price they bought it , so they might haue to quench their thirst . a very heauie iudgement of god vpon that coast ! the circumstances whereof considered , our generall would receiue nothing of them for water , but freely gaue it them that came to him , yea and fed them also ordinarily with our victualls , in eating whereof , their manner was not onely vnciuill , and vnsightly to vs , but euen inhumane and loathsome in it selfe . and hauing washed and trimd our ships , and discharged all our spanish prises , excepting one caunter ( for which we gaue to the owner one of our owne ships viz. the christopher ) and one caruell formerly bound to saint iago , which we caused to acompanie vs hither , where shee also was discharged : ian. 22 after 6. dayes abode here , we departed , directing our course for the ilands of cape verde , where ( if any where ) we were of necessity to store our fleet with fresh water , for a long time , for that our generall intended from thence to runne a long course ( euen to the coast of brasill ) without touch of land . and now , hauing the winde constant at north east & east north east , which is vsuall about those parts , because it bloweth almost continually from the shoare . ianuary the 27. we coasted bonavista , and the next day after , we came to anchor vnder the wester part ( towards saint iago ) of the iland maio , ian. 28 it lyeth in 15. deg . oo . high land , sauing that the north-west part stretcheth out into the sea , the space of a league very low , and is inhabited by subiects to the king of portugall . ian. 29 here landing , in hope of traffique with the inhabitants for water , we found a towne , not farre from the waters side , of a great number of desolate and ruinous houses , with a poore naked chappell or oratory , such as small cost and charge might serue and suffice , being to small purpose , and as it seemeth onely to make a shew , and that a false shew , contrary to the nature of a scarcrow , which feareth birds from comming nigh ; this entiseth such as passe by to hale in , and looke for commodity , which is not at all to be found there ; though in the inner parts of the iland it be in great abundance . for when wee found the springs and wells which had beene there ( as appeared ) stopped vp againe , and no other water , to purpose , to bee had to serue our need , we marched vp to seeke some more conuenient place to supply our want , or at least to see whether the people would be dealt withal , to helpe vs therein . in this trauelling , we found the soile to be very fruitfull , hauing euery where plenty of figgetrees , with fruite vpon most of them . but in the vallies and low ground , where little low cottages were built , were pleasant vineyards planted , bearing then , ripe and most pleasant grapes . there were also tall trees , without any branch till the top , which bare the coco nuts . there were also great store of certaine lower trees , with long and broad leaues , bearing the fruit which they call plantanes , in clusters together like puddings , a most dainty and wholesome fruit . all of these trees were euen laden with fruit , some ready to be eaten , others comming forward , others ouer-ripe . neither can this seeme strange , though about the middest of winter with vs , for that the sunne doth neuer withdraw himselfe farther off from them , but that with his liuely heate he quickeneth and strengtheneth the power of the soyle and plant ; neither euer haue they any such frost and cold , as thereby to loose their greene hew and appearance . we found very good water in diuerse places , but so farre off from the roade , that wee could not with any reasonable paines enioy it . the people would by no meanes be induced to haue any conference with vs , but keeping in the most sweet and fruitfull vallies among the hils , where their townes and places of dwelling were , gaue vs leaue without interruption to take our pleasure in suruewing the iland , as they had some reason , not to endanger themselues , where they saw they could reape nothing sooner then damage and shame , if they should haue offered violence to them which came in peace to do them no wrong at all . this iland yeeldeth other great commodities , as wonderfull heards of goats , infinite store of wilde hens , and salt without labour ( onely the gathering it together excepted ) which continually in a maruellous quantitie is increased vpon the sands by the flowing of the sea , and the heate of the sunne kerning the same . so that of the increase thereof they keepe a continuall traffique with their neighbours in the other adiacent ilands . ian. 30 wee set sayle thence the 30. day . being departed from maio , ian. 31 the next day wee passed by the iland of saint iago , ten leagues west of maio in the same latitude , inhabited by the portugals and moores together . the cause whereof is said to haue beene in the portugals themselues , who ( continuing long time lords within themselues , in the said iland ) vsed that extreame and vnreasonable crueltie ouer their slaues , that ( their bondage being intollerable ) they were forced to seeke some meanes to helpe themselues , and to lighten that so heauy a burden ; and thereupon chose to flie into the most mountany parts of the iland : and at last , by continuall escapes , increasing to a great number , and growing to a set strength , do now liue , with that terror to their oppressors , that they now endure no lesse bondage in mind then the forcatos did before in body : besides the dammage that they daily suffer at their hands in their goods and cattell , together with the abridging of their liberties in the vse of diuerse parts of the fruitfull soile of the said iland : which is very large , maruellous fruitfull ( a refuge for all such ships as are bound towards brasill , ginny , the east indies , binny , calecut . &c. ) and a place of rare force , if it were not for the cause afore-recited , which hath much abated the pride , and cooled the courage of that people , who ( vnder pretence of traffique and friendship ) at first making an entrance ceased not , practising vpon the poore ilanders ( the ancient remainder of the first planters thereof , as it may seeme from the coast of guinea ) vntil they had excluded them from all gouernment and liberty , yea almost life . on the south-west of this iland , we tooke a portugall laden the best part with wine , and much good cloth , both linnen and woollen , besides other necessaries , bound for brasill , with many gentlemen and marchants in her . as we passed by with our fleet , in sight of 3. of their townes , they seemed very ioyfull that wee touched not with their coast ; and seeing vs depart peaceably , in honour of our fleet and generall , or rather to signifie that they were prouided for an assault , shot off two great peeces into the sea , which were answered by one giuen them againe from vs. south west from saint iago in 14. deg . 30. min. about twelue leagues distant , yet , by reason of the height seeming not aboue three leagues lyeth another iland , called of the portugals fogo , viz. the burning iland , or fierie fornace , in which riseth a steepe vpright hill , by coniecture at least six leagues , or eighteene english miles from the vpper part of the water : within the bowels whereof , is a consuming fire , maintained by sulphury matter , seeming to be of a maruellous depth , and also very wide . the fire sheweth it selfe but foure times in an houre , at which times it breaketh our with such violence and force , and in such maine abundance , that besides that it giueth light like the moone a great way off , it seemeth , that it would not stay till it touch the heauens themselues . herein are ingendred great store of pumice stones , which being in the vehement heate of the fire caried vp without the mouth of that fiery body , fall downe , with other grosse and slimy matter vpon the hill , to the continuall increasing of the same . and many times these stones falling downe into the sea are taken vp and vsed , as we our selues had experience by sight of them swimming on the water . the rest of the iland is fruitfull notwithstanding , and is inhabited by portugals , who liue very commodiously therein , as in the other ilands thereabout . vpon the south side , about two leagues off this iland of burning , lyeth a most sweet and pleasant iland , the trees thereof are alwaies greene and faire to looke on , the soile almost full set with trees , in respect wherof it s named the braue iland , being a store-house of many fruits and commodities , as figges alwayes ripe , cocos , plantons , orenges , limons , cotton , &c. from the bancks into the sea do runne in many places the siluer streames of sweet and wholsome water , which with boats or pinnaces may easily be taken in . but there is no conuenient place or roade for ships , neither any anchoring at all . for after long triall , and often casting of leades , there could no ground be had at any hand , neither was it euer knowne ( as is reported ) that any line would fetch ground in any place about that iland . so that the top of fogo burneth not so high in the aire , but the roote of braua ( so is the iland called ) is buried and quenched as low in the seas . the onely inhabitant of this iland is an heremit , as we suppose , for we found no other houses but one , built as it seemed for such a purpose ; and he was so delighted in his solitarie liuing , that he would by no meanes abide our comming , but fled , leauing behind him the relicks of his false worship ; to wit , a crosse , with a crucifix , an altar with his superaltar , and certaine other idols of wood of rude workemanship . here we dismissed the portugals taken neere saint iago , and gaue to them in exchange of their old ship , our new pinnace built at mogadore : feb. 1 with wine , bread , and fish for their prouision , and so sent them away , febr. 1. hauing thus visited , as is declared , the ilands of cape verde , and prouided fresh water as we could , feb. 2 the second of febr. we departed thence , directing our course towards the straights , so to passe into the south sea ; in which course wee sayled 63. dayes without sight of land ( passing the line equinoctiall feb. 17 the 17. day of the same moneth ) till we fell with the coast of brasill , the fift of april following . apr. 5 during which long passage on the vast gulph , where nothing but sea beneath vs and aire aboue vs was to be seene , as our eies did behold the wonderfull workes of god in his creatures , which he hath made innumerable both small and great beasts , in the great and wide seas : so did our mouthes taste , and our natures feed on , the goodnesse thereof in such fulnesse at all times , and in euery place , as if he had commanded and enioyned the most profitable and glorious works of his hands to waite vpon vs , not alone for the reliefe of our necessities , but also to giue vs delight in the contemplation of his excellence , in beholding the variety and order of his prouidence , with a particular tast of his fatherly care ouer vs all the while . the truth is , wee often met with aduerse winds , vn welcome stormes , and to vs ( at that time ) lesse welcome calmes , and being as it were in the bosome of the burning zone , we felt the effects of sultring heat , not without the affrights of flashing lightnings , and terrifyings of often claps of thunder ; yet stil with the admixture of many comforts . for this we could not but take notice of , that whereas we were but badly furnished ( our case considered ) of fresh water ( hauing neuer at all watred ( to any purpose , or that we could say wee were much the better for it ) from our first setting forth out of england till this time , nor meeting with any place where we might conueniently water , till our comming to the riuer of plate , long after ) continually , after once we were come within foure degrees of the line on this side , viz. after feb. 10. and till we were past the line as many degrees towards the south , viz. till feb. 27. there was no one day went ouer vs but we receiued some raine , whereby our want of water was much supplyed . this also was obseruable , that of our whole fleet , being now 6. in number , notwithstanding the vncouthnes of the way , and what euer other difficulties , by weather or otherwise wee met withall , not any one , in all this space , lost company of the rest ; except onely our portugall prise for one day , who march 28. was seuered from vs , but the day following march 29. shee found vs againe , to both here owne , and our no little comfort : shee had in her 28. of our men , and the best part of all our prouision for drinke ; her short absence caused much doubting and sorrow in the whole companie , neither could shee then haue been finally lost , without the ouerthrow of the whole voyage . among the many strange creatures which we sawe , we tooke heedfull notice of one , as strange as any ; to wit , the flying fish , a fish of the bignes and proportion , of a reasonable or middle sort of pilchards : hee hath finnes , of the length of his whole body , from the bulk to the top of the taile , bearing the forme , and supplying the like vse to him , that wings doe to other creatures . by the helpe of these finnes , whē he is chased of the bonito , or great mackrel ( whom the aurata or dolphin likewise pursueth ) and hath not strength to escape by swimming any longer , hee lifteth vp himselfe aboue the water , and flieth a pretty height , sometimes lighting into boates or barkes as they saile along : the quills of their wings are so proportionable , and finelie set together , with a most thinne and dainty filme , that they might seeme to serue , for a much longer and higher flight , but the drienes of them is such , after some 10. or 12. strokes , that hee must needs into the water againe to moisten them , which else would grow stiffe and vnfit for motion . the inrease of this little and wonderfull creature is in manner infinite , the fry whereof lieth vpon the vpper part of the waters , in the heate of the sun , as dust vpon the face of the earth , which being in bignesse of a wheat straw , and length an inch more or lesse , do continually exercise themselues in both their faculties of nature : wherein , if the lord had not made them expert indeed , their generation could not haue continued , being so desired a prey to so many , which greedily hunt after them , forcing them to escape in the ayre by flight , when they cannot in the waters liue in safety . neither are they allwayes free , or without danger , in their flying ; but as they escape one euill , by refusing the waters so they sometimes , fall into as great a mischiefe , by mounting vp into the ayre , at that , by meanes of a great and rauening foule , named of some a don or spurkite , who feeding chiefely , on such fish as he can come by at aduantage , in their swimming in the brim of the waters , or leaping aboue the same , presently ceaseth vpon them with great violence , making great havock , especially amongst these flying fishes , though with small profit to himselfe . there is another sort of fish , which likewise flieth in the ayre , named a cuttill : it s the same , whose bones the goldsmithes commonly vse , or at least not vnlike that sort , a multitude of which , haue at one time , in their flight , fallen into our ship , amongst our men . passing thus , in beholding the most excellent works of the eternall god in the seas , as if we had beene in a garden of pleasure . april 5 aprill 5. we fell with the coast of brasill , in 31. deg . 30. min. towards the pole antartick , where the land is lowe neere the sea , but much higher within the countrie ; hauing in depth not aboue 12. fathome , 3. leagues off from the shoare : and being descried by the inhabitants , we sawe great and huge fires , made by them in sundry plaes . which order of making fires , though it be vniuersall , as well among christians as heathens , yet is it not likely that many doe vse it to that end , which the brasilians doe : to wit , for a sacrifice to deuills , whereat they ▪ intermixe many and diuers ceremonies of coniurations , casting vp great heapes of sand , to this end , that if any ships , shall go about to stay vpon their coasts , their ministring spirits may make wrack of them , whereof the portugalls by the losse of diuers of their ships , haue had often experience . in the reports of magellanes voyage , it is said , that this people pray to no maner of thing , but liue only according to the instinct of nature , which if it were true , there should seeme to be a wonderfull alteration in them , since that time , being fallen from a simple and naturall creature , to make gods of deuills ; but i am of the minde , that it was with them then , as now it is , onely they lacked then the like occasion , to put it in practise which now they haue : for then , they liued as a free people among themselues , but now , are in most miserable bondage and slauery , both in body , goods , wife , and children , and life it self to the portugalls , whose hard and most cruell dealings against them , forceth them to flie , into the more vnfruitful parts of their owne land , rather there to starue , or at least liue miserably with libertie , then to abide such intollerable bondage , as they lay vpon them vsing the aforesaid practises with deuills , both for a reuenge against their oppressors , and also for a defence , that they haue no further entrance into the country . and supposing indeed , that no other had vsed trauell by sea in ships , but their enemies onely , they therefore vsed the same at our comming : notwitstanding , our god made their deuilish intent of none effect ; for albeit there lacked not ( within the space of our falling with this coast ) forcible stormes and tempests , yet did we sustaine no dammage , but onely the seperating of our ships , out of sight for a few dayes . here our generall would haue gone ashore , but we could finde no harbor in many leagues . and therefore coasting along the land , towards the south , aprill 7. apr. 7 we had a violent storme , for the space of 3. houres , with thunder , lightning , and raine in great abundance , accompanied with a vehement south winde , directly against vs , which caused a seperation of the christopher ( viz. the caunter which wee tooke at cape blank , in exchange for the christopher , whose name she henceforward bore ) from the rest of the fleet . after this , we kept on our course , sometime to the sea ward , sometimes toward the shoare , but alwayes southward , as neere as we could : apr. 14 till aprill 14. in the morning , at which time wee passed by cape saint mary , which lies in 35. deg . neere the mouth of the riuer of plate : and running within it about 6. or 7. leagues along by the maine , we came to anchor in a bay , vnder another cape which our generall afterwards called cape ioy apr. 16 by reason that the second day after our anchoring here , the christopher ( whom we had lost in the former storme ) came to vs againe . among other cares which our generall tooke in this action , next the maine care of effecting the voyage it selfe , these were the principall and chiefly subordinate : to keepe our whole fleet ( as neere as possible we could ) together ; to get fresh water which is of continuall vse ; and to refresh our men wearied with long toyles at sea , as oft as we should find any opportunitie of effecting the same . and for these causes it was determined , and publique notice thereof giuen at our departure from the ilands of cape verde ; that the next randeuous both for the recollecting of our nauy ( if it should be despersed ) as also for watering , and the like , should be the riuer of plate : whither we were all to repaire with all the conuenient speed that could be made , and to stay one for another , if it should happen that we could not arriue there all together ; and the effect wee found answerable to our expectations , for here our seuered ship ( as hath beene declared ) found vs againe , and here we found those other helps also so much desired . the countrey hereabout is of a temperate and most sweet aire , very faire and pleasant to behold , and besides the exceeding fruitfulnesse of the soile , it s stored with plentie of large and mightie deere . notwithstanding that in this first bay wee found sweet and wholsome water euen at pleasure ; yet the same day after the arriuall of the caunter , apr. 16 we remoued some twelue leagues farther vp into another ; where we found a long rocke , or rather iland of rocks , not farre from the maine ; making a commodious harbor , especially against a southerly wind : vnder them we anchored , and rode till the 20. day at night ; in which meane space we killed diuers seales , or sea-wolues ( as the spaniard cals them ) which resorted to these rocks in great abundance . they are good meat , and were an acceptable food to vs for the present , and a good supply of our prouision for the future . apr. 20 hence april 20. we waighed againe and sayled yet further vp into the riuer , euen till we found but three fadome depth , and that we roade with our ships in fresh water ; but wee staid not there , nor in any other place of the riuer , because that the winds being strong , the shoales many , and no safe harbour found , we could not without our great danger so haue done . haling therefore to seaward againe , apr. 27 the 27. of the same moneth ( after that we had spent a iust fortnight in that riuer , to the great comfort of the whole fleet ) we passed by the south side thereof into the maine . the land here lieth south , south-west , and north n. e. with shole water , some three or foure leagues off into the sea ; it s about 36. deg . 20. min. and somewhat better south latitude . apr. 27 at our very first comming forth to sea againe , to wit , the same night our flyboate the swanne lost company of vs : whereupon , though our generall doubted nothing of her happy comming forward againe to the rest of the fleete ; yet because it was grieuous to haue such often losses , and that it was his duty as much as in him lay , to preuent all inconueniences besides , that might grow ; he determined to diminish the number of his ships , thereby to draw his men into lesse roome ; that both the fewer ships might the better keepe company , and that they might also bee the better appointed with new and fresh supplies of prouision and men , one to ease the burthen of another : especially , for that he saw the coast ( it drawing now toward winter here ) to bee subiect to many and grieuous stormes : and therefore he continued on his course , to find out a conuenient harbour for that vse ; searching all that coast from 36. to 47. degrees ( as diligently as contrary winds and sundry stormes would permit ) and yet sound none for the purpose . may 8 and in the mean time viz. may 8. by another storme the caunter also was once more seuered frō vs. may 12 may 12. wee had sight of land , in 47. deg . where wee were forced to come to anchor in such roade as we could find for the time . neuerthelesse our generall named the place cape hope ; by reason of a bay discouered within the hedland , which seemed to promise a good and commodious harbour . but by reason of many rockes lying off from the place , wee durst not aduenture with our ships into it without good and perfect discouery before hand made . our generall , especially in matters of moment , was neuer wont to relye onely on other mens care , how trusty or skilfull soeuer they might seeme to be ; but alwayes contemning danger and refusing no toyle , he was wont himselfe to be one whosoeuer was a second at euery turne , where courage , skill , or industry was to be imployed ; neither would hee at this time intrust the discouery of these dangers to anothers paines , but rather to his owne experience in searching out and sounding of them . may 13 a boat being therefore hoised forth , himselfe with some others the next morning , may 13. rowed into the bay ; and being now very nigh the shore , one of the men of the countrey shewed himselfe vnto him seeming very pleasant , singing and dancing , after the noise of a rattle which he shooke in his hand , expecting earnestly his landing . but there was sudainly so great an alteration in the weather , into a thick and misty fogge ; together with an extreame storme and tempest , that our generall , being now 3. leagues from his ship , thought it better to returne , then either to land , or make any other stay : and yet the fogg thickened so mightily , that the sight of the ships was bereft them , and if captaine thomas ( vpon the abundance of his loue and seruice to his generall ) had not aduentured , with his ship to enter that bay , in this perplexitie , where good aduise would not suffer our ships to beare in , while the windes were more tolerable , and the ayre cleerer ; we had sustained some great losse , or our generall had beene further endangered , who was now quickly receiued abord his ship ; out of which , being within the bay , they let fall an anchor , and rode there ( god be praised ) in safety : but our other ships , riding without , were so oppressed with the extremitie of the storme , that they were forced to run off to sea for their owne safegard , being in good hope onely of the good successe of that ship , which was gone in to releiue our generall ; before this storme arose , our caunter , formerly lost , was come in the same day vnto vs into the roade , but was put to sea againe , the same euening , with the rest of the fleete . may 14 the next day may 14. the weather being faire , and the windes moderate , but the fleet out of sight , our generall determined to goe ashore , to this end , that he might , by making of fires , giue signes to the dispersed ships , to come together againe into that roade : whereby at last , they were all assembled , excepting the swanne , lost long time before , and excepting our portugall prise , called the mary ; which waighing in this last storme , the night before , had now lost company , and was not found againe in a long time after . in this place ( the people being remoued vp into the country , belike for feare of our comming ) we found neere vnto the rocks , in houses made for that purpose , as also in diuers other places , great store of ostriches at least to the number of 50. with much other foule ; some dried and some in drying for their prouision , as it seemed , to carrie with them to the place of their dwellings . the ostriches thighs were in bignes equall to reasonable legs of murton , they cannot flie at all ; but they runne so swiftly , and take so long strides , that it is not possible for a man in running by any meanes to take them , neither yet to come so nigh them , as to haue any shot at them either with bow or peece : whereof our men had often proofe on other parts of that coast for all the countrey is full of them ; we found there the tooles or instruments which the people vse in taking them . among other meanes they vse in betraying these ostriches , they haue a great and large plume of feathers , orderly compact together vpon the end of a staffe ; in the forepart bearing the likenesse of the head , necke , and bulke of an ostrich ; and in the hinder part , spreading it selfe out very large , sufficient ( being holden before him ) to hide the most part of the body of a man : with this it seemeth they staulke , driuing them into some straite or necke of land close to the sea side ; where spreading long and strong nets , with their dogs which they haue in readinesse at all times , they ouerthrow them , and make a common quarry . the countrey is very pleasant , and seemeth to be a fruitfull soyle . being afterwards driuen to fall with this place againe , we had great acquaintance and familiarity with the people , who reioyced greatly in our comming , and in our friendship , in that wee had done them no harme . but because this place was no fit or conuenient harbor for vs , to do our necessary busines ; neither yet to make prouision , of such things as we wanted , as water , wood , and such like , we departed thence the 15. of may. may 15 at our departure hence , we held our course south and by vvest , and made about 9. leagues in 24. houres ; bearing very little sayle , that our fleet might the easier gett vp with vs , which by reason of the contrary windes , were cast a sterne of vs. in 47. deg . 30. min. we found a bay , which was faire , safe , and beneficiall to vs , very necessary for our vse ; into which we haled , and anchored may 17 may 17. and the next day may 18 may 18. we came further into the same bay , where we cast anchor , and made our abode full fifteene dayes . the very first day of our arriuall here , our generall hauing set things in some order , for the dispatch of our necessary busines , being most carefull for his two ships which were wanting , sent forth to the southward , captaine winter in the elizabeth viceadmiral ; himself in the admiral , going forth northward , into the sea , to see , if happily they might meete with either of them : at which time , by the good prouidence of god , hee himselfe met with the swanne , formerly lost at our departure from the riuer of plate , and brought her into the same harbor , the same day : where being afterward vnloaden , and discharged of her fraight , shee was cast off , and her iron worke , and other necessaries being saued , for the better prouision of the rest ; of the remainder was made fire wood , and other implements which we wanted . but all this while , of the other ship which wee lost so lately , in our extremitie , we could haue no newes . while we were thus employed , after certaine dayes of our stay in this place , being on shoare , in an iland , nigh vnto the maine , where at lowe water was free passage on foot , from the one to the other ; the people of the country did shew themselues vnto vs , with leaping , dancing , and holding vp their hands , and making ourcries after their manner : but being then high water , we could not go ouer to them on foot . wherefore the generall caused immediatly a boat to bee in readinesse , and sent vnto them such things as he thought would delight them ; as kniues , bells , bugles , &c. whereupon they beeing assembled together vpon a hill , halfe an english mile from the waters side ; sent downe two of their company , running one after the other with a great grace , trauersing their ground as it seemed after the manner of their warres , by degrees descending towards the waters side very swiftly . notwithstanding drawing nigh vnto it , they made a stay , refusing to come neere our men : which our men perceiuing , sent such things as they had tyed with a string vpon a rod , and stucke the same vp a reasonable distance from them , where they might see it . and assoone as our men were departed from the place , they came and tooke those things , leauing instead of them , as in recompence , such feathers as they vse to weare about their heads , with a bone made in manner of a tooth-pick , carued round about the top , and in length about six inches , being very smoothly burnished . whereupon our generall , with diuers of his gentlemen and companie , at low water went ouer to them to the maine . against his comming they remained still vpon the hill , and set themselues in a ranke , one by one ; appointing one of their company to runne before them from the one end of the ranke to the other , and so backe againe , continually east and west , with holding vp his hands ouer his head , and yeelding forward his body in his running toward the rising and setting of the sunne : and at euery second or third turne at the most , erected his body , aginst the midst of the ranke of the people , lifting himselfe vaulting-wise from the ground towards the moone , being then ouer our heads : signifying thereby , as we conceiued , that they called the sunne and moone ( whom they serue for gods ) to witnesse , that they meant nothing towards vs but peace . but when they perceiued that we ascended the hill apace , and drew nigh vnto them , they seemed very fearefull of our comming . wherefore our generall not willing , to giue them any way any occasion to mislike , or be discomfited , ●etyred his company ; wherby they were so allured , and did so therein confirme themselues of vs , that we were no enemies , neither meant them harm , that without al feare diuers came down with great speed after vs , presently entring into traffique with our men . notwithstanding they would receiue nothing at our hands but the same must be first cast vpon the ground , vsing this word , zussus , for exchange tóytt to cast vpon the ground . and if they misliked any thing , they cryed coróh . coróh , speaking the same with ratling in the throat . the wares we receiued from them were arrowes of reeds , feathers , and such bones as are afore described . this people go naked , except a skin of furre which they cast about their shoulders , when they sit or lye in the cold : but hauing any thing to do , as going or any other labour , they vse it as a girdle about their loynes . they weare their haire very long , but lest it might trouble them in their trauell , they knit it vp with a roll of ostrich feathers , vsing the same rolls and haire together for a quiuer for their arrowes , and for a store house , in which they carry the most things which they carry about them . some of them within these rolls sticke on either side of their heads ( for a signe of honour in their persons ) a large and plaine feather shewing like hornes afarre off : so that such a head vpon a naked body ( if diuels do appeare with hornes ) might very nigh resemble diuels . their whole brauery and setting out themselues standeth in painting their bodies with diuers colours , and such workes as they can deuise . some wash their faces with sulphure , or some such like substance : some paint their whole bodies black , leauing onely their neckes behind and before white , much like our damosels that weare their squares , their neckes and breasts naked . some paint one shoulder blacke , another white ▪ and their sides and legs interchangeably , with the same colours , one still contrary to the other . the black part hath set vpon it white moones , and the white part blacke suns , being the marks and characters of their gods , as is before noted . they haue some commodity by painting of their bodies , for the which cause they vse it so generally : and that i gather to be the defence it yeeldeth against the piercing and nipping cold . for the colours being close layd on vpon their skinne , or rather in their flesh , as by continuall renewing of these iuyces which are layed on , soakt into the inner part thereof , doth fill vp the pores so close that no aire or cold can enter , or make them once to shrinke . they haue cleane , comely , and strong bodies : they are swift of foot , and seeme very actiue . neither is any thing more lamentable ( in my iudgement ) then that so goodly a people , and so liuely creatures of god , should bee ignorant of the true and liuing god. and so much the more is this to be lamented , by how much they are more tractable , and easie to be brought to the sheepfold of christ : hauing in truth a land sufficient to recompence any christian prince in the world , for the whole trauell and labour , cost and charges bestowed in that behalfe : with a wonderfull enlarging of a kingdome , besides the glory of god by encreasing of the church of christ . it s wonderfull to heare , being neuer knowne to christians before this time , how familiar they became in short space with vs ; thinking themselues to be ioyned with such a people , as they ought rather to serue , then offer any wrong or iniurie vnto . presuming that they might be bold with our generall as with a father , and with vs as with brethren and their neerest friends ; neither seemed their loue lesse towards vs. one of the chiefest among them hauing on a time receiued a cap of our generals head , which he did daily weare , remouing himselfe but a little from vs , with an arrow pierced his legge deepely , causing the bloud to streame out vpon the ground : signifying thereby , how vnfainedly he loued him , and giuing therin a couenant of peace : the number of men which here did frequent our companie , were about fiftie persons . within , in the southermost part of this bay , there is a riuer of fresh water , with a great many profitable ilands ; of which , some haue alwaies such store of seales or sea-wosues as were able to maintaine a huge army of men . other ilands being many and great , are so replenished with birds and foule , as if there were no other victuals , a wonderfull multitude of people might be nourished by the increase of them for many posterities . of these we killed some with shot , and some with status , and tooke some with our hands , from mens heads and shoulders vpon which they lighted . we could not perceiue that the people of the countrey had any sort of boate or canowe , to come to these ilands . their owne prouision which they eate , for ought we could perceiue , was commonly raw . for we should sometimes find the remnants of seales all bloudy which they had gnawne with their teeth like dogs : they go all of them armed , with a short bow of about an ell in length in their hands , with arrowes of reeds , and headed with a flint stone , very cunningly cut and fastned . this bay by reason of the plenty of seales therein found ( insomuch that we killed two hundred in the space of one houre ) we called seale , bay . and hauing now made sufficient prouision of victuals and other necessaries , as also happily finished all our businesses , iune 3 iune 3. we set saile from thence ; and coasting along towards the pole antartick iune 12. iune 12 we fell with a little bay , in which we anchored for the space of two dayes spent in the discharging of our caunter , the christopher , which wee here layed vp . iune 14 the 14. day we waighed againe , and kept on our course southward till the 17. iune 17 and then cast anchor in another bay in 50. deg . 20. min. lacking but little more then one degree , of the mouth of the straights , through which lay , our so much desited passage into the south sea . here our generall on good aduise determined to alter his course ; and turne his sterne to the northward againe , if happily god would grant we might find our ship and friends whom we lost in the great storme , as is before said . forasmuch as ( if we should enter the straight without them in our company ) it must needs go hard with them ; and we also in the meane time as well by their absence , as by the vncertaintie of their state , must needs receiue no small discomfort . iune 18 and therefore iune 18. in the morning putting to sea againe , with hartie and often prayers wee ioyned watchfull industry to serue gods good prouidence : and held on our purpose to runne backe toward the line into the same height , in which they were first disseuered from vs. iune 19 the 19. day of iune toward night , hauing sayled within a few leagues of port saint iulian , we had our ship in sight : for which we gaue god thankes with most ioyfull minds . and forasmuch as the ship was farre out of order , and very leake , by reason of extremity of weather which she had endured , aswell before her loosing company as in her absence : our generall thought good to beare into port saint iulian with his fleet , because it was so nigh at hand , and so conuenient a place : intending there to refresh his wearied men , and cherish them which had in their absence tasted such bitternesse of discomfort , besides the want of many things which they sustained . iune 20 thus the next day the 20. of iune we entred port saint iulian : which standeth in 49. deg . 30. min. and hath on the south side of the harbour picked rockes like towers , and within the harbour many ilands , which you many ride hard aboard off , but in going in you must borrow of the north shoare . being now come to anchor , and all things fitted and made safe aboard , our generall with certaine of his companie , ( viz. thomas drake his brother , iohn thomas , robert winter , oliuer the master gunner , iohn brewer , and thomas hood ) iune 22 iune 22. rowed further in with a boate to find out some conuenient place which might yeeld vs fresh water , during the time of our abode there , and furnish vs with supply for prouision , to take to sea with vs at our departure . which worke as it was of great necessitie , and therefore carefully to be performed ; so did not he thinke himselfe discharged of his duty , if he himselfe bestowed not the first trauell therein , as his vse was at all times in all other things , belonging to the relieuing of our wants , and the maintenance of our good estate , by the supply of what was needfull . presently vpon his landing he was visited by two of the inhabitants of the place , whom magellane named patagous , or rather pentagours from their huge stature , and strength proportionable : these as they seemed greatly to reioyce at his arriuall , so did they shew themselues very familiar , receiuing at our generals hands whatsoeuer he gaue them , and taking great pleasure in seeing master oliuer master gunner of the admirall , to shoot an english arrow : trying with him to shoot at length , but came nothing neere him . not long after , came one more of the same laste , but of a sowerer sorte , for he , misliking of the familiarity which his fellowes had vsed , seemed very angry with them , and stroue earnestly to withdrawe them , and to turne them to become our enemies ; which our generall with his men not suspecting in thē , vsed them as before : and one mr. robert winter , thinking of pleasure to shoote an arrow at length , as mr. oliuer had done before , that he which came last also might haue a sight thereof , the string of his bow brake ; which , as before it was a terror vnto them , so now broken , it gaue them great incouragement , and boldnes , and as they thought , great aduantage in their treacherous intent and purpose ; not imagining that our calliuers , swords , and targets , were any munition or weapon of warre . in which perswasion ( as the generall with his companie were , quietly without any suspition of euill , going downe towards his boate ) they sodainely being prepared , and gotten by stealth behinde them , shot their arrowes ; and cheifely at him which had the bowe , not suffering him to string the same againe , which he was about to haue done , as well as hee could : but being wounded in the shoulder at the first shot , and turning about , was sped with an arrow , which peirced his lunges , yet he fell not . but the mr. gunner being ready to shoote of his calliuer , which tooke not fire in leuelling thereof , was presently slaine out right . in this extremitie , if our generall had not beene both expert in such affaires , able to judge , and giue present direction in the danger thereof , and had not valiantly thrust himselfe into the dance , against these monsters , there had no one of our men , that there were landed , escaped with life . he therefore , giuing order that no man should keepe any certaine ground , but shift from place to place , encroaching still vpon the enemie , vsing their targets , and other weapons for the defence of their bodies , and that they should breake so many arrowes , as by any meanes they could come by , being shot at them ; wherein he himselfe was very diligent , and carefull also in calling on them , knowing that their arrowes being once spent , they should haue these enemies at their deuotion and pleasure , to kill or saue , and this order being accordingly taken , himselfe i say with a good courage and trust in the true and liuing god , taking and shooting off , the same peece , which the gunner could not make to take fire , dispatched the first beginner of the quarrell , the same man which slewe our mr. gunner . for the peece being charged with a bullet , and haile shot , and well aimed , tare out his bellie and gutts , with great torment , as it seemed by his cry , which was so hideous and horrible a roare , as if ten bulls had ioyned together in roaring , wherewith the courage of his partners was so abated , and their hearts appalled , that notwithstanding , diuerse of their fellowes and countriemen appeared out of the woods , on each side : yet they were glad , by flying away , to saue themselues , quietly suffering our men either to depart or stay . our generall chose rather to depart , then to take further reuenge of them , which now he might , by reason of his wounded man , whom for many good parts he loued dearely ; and therefore would rather haue saued him , then slaine an hundred enemies , but being past recouery , he died the 2. day , after his being brought aboard againe . that night our mr. gunners body being left ashoare , for the speedier bringing of the other aboard , our generall himselfe the next day , with his boate well appointed , turned to the shoare , to fetch it likewise : which they found lying where it was left , but stript of his vppermost garment , and hauing an english arrow stucke in his right eye . both of these dead bodies were layd together in one graue , with such reuerence , as was fit for the earthen tabernacles of immortall soules ; and with such commendable ceremonies , as belong vnto souldiers of worth , in time of warre , which they most truly and rightfully deserued . magellane was not altogether deceiued , in naming them giants ; for they generally differ from the common sort of men , both in stature , bignes , and strength of body , as also in the hideousnesse of their voice : but yet they are nothing so monstrous , or giantlike as they were reported ; there being some english men , as tall , as the highest of any that we could see , but peraduenture , the spaniards did not thinke , that euer , any english man would come thither , to reproue them ; and therevpon might presume the more boldly to lie : the name pentagones , fiue cubits viz. 7. foote and halfe , describing the full height ( if not some what more ) of the highest of them . but this is certaine , that the spanish cruelties there vsed , haue made them more monstrous , in minde and manners , then they are in body ; and more inhospitable , to deale with any strangers , that shall come hereafter . for the losse of their friends ( the remēbrance wherof is assigned and conueighed ouer from one generation to another , among their posteritie ) breedeth an old grudge , which will not easily be forgotten , with so quarrellsome and revengefull a people . notwithstanding the terrour which they had conceiued of vs , did henceforward so quench their heate , and take downe their edge , that they both forgate reuenge , and seeming by their countenance , to repent them of the wrong they had offered vs , that meant them no harme , suffered vs to doe what we would , the whole space of two monethes after this , without any interruption or molestation by them , and it may perhaps be a meanes , to breede a peace in that people , towards all that may hereafter this , come that way . to this euill , thus receiued at the hands of infidells , there was adioyned , and grew another mischiefe , wrought and contriued closely amongst our selues , as great , yea farre greater , and of farre more greiuous consequence then the former : but that it was , by gods prouidence , detected and preuented in time , which else had extended it selfe , not onely to the violent shedding of innocent blood , by murthering our generall and such others as were most firme and faithfull to him : but also to the finall ouerthrow of the whole action intended , and to diuers other most dangerous effects . these plotts had beene layd before the voyage beganne in england : the very modell of them was shewed , and declared to our generall in his garden at plimmouth , before his setting sayle , which yet he either would not credit , as true or likely , of a person whom he loued so deerely , and was perswaded of to loue him likewise vnfainedly , or thought by loue and benefits , to remoue and remedy it , if there were any euill purposes conceiued against him . and therfore , he did not onely continue ( to this suspected & accused person ) al countenance , credit , and courtesies , which he was wont to shew & giue him , but encreased them , vsing him in a manner as another himselfe , and as his most inmost friend : lodging him with himselfe ; giuing him the second place , in all companies , in his presence ; leauing in his hand , the state as it were of his owne person ; in his absence ; imparting vnto him all his counsells ; allowing him free liberty in all things , that were reasonable ; and bearing often , at his hands great infirmities ; yea despising , that any priuate iniury , should breake so firme a friendship , as he meant towards him . and therefore , was he often times not a little offended , euen with those , who ( vpon conscience of their duty , and knowledge that otherwise they should indeed offend ) disclosed from time to time vnto him , how the fire increased , that theatned his owne , together with the destruction of the whole action . but at length , perceiuing that his lenity and fauours did little good ; in that the heat of ambition was not yet allayed , nor could be quenched , as it seemed , but by blood ; and that the manifold practises grew dayly more and more , euen to extremities ; he thought it high time , to call these practises into question , before it were too late , to call any question of them into hearing . and therefore setting good watch ouer him , and assembling all his captaines , and gentlemen of his comapany together ; he propounded to them , the good parts which were in the gentleman , the great good will , and inward affection , more then brotherly , which he had euer , since his first acquaintance borne him , not omitting the respect , which was had of him , among no meane personages in england ; and afterwards deliuered the letters , which were written to him , with the particulars from time to time , which had beene obserued , not so much by himselfe , as by his good friends ; not onely at sea , but euen at plimmouth ; not bare words but writings ; not writings alone , but actions , tending to the ouerthrowe of the seruice in hand , and making away of his person . proofes were required and alleaged , so many , and so euident , that the gentleman himselfe , stricken with remorse of his inconsiderate and vnkinde dealing , acknowledged himselfe to haue deserued death , yea many deathes ; for that he conspired , not onely the ouerthrow of the action , but of the principall actor also , who was not a stranger or il-willer , but a deare and true friend vnto him : and therefore in a great assembly openly besought them , in whose hands iustice rested , to take some order for him ; that he might not be compelled , to enforce his owne hands , against his owns bowells , or otherwise to become his owne executioner . the admiration and astonishment hereat , in all the hearers euen those which were his neerest friends , and most affected him was great , yea in those , which for many benefits receiued from him , had good cause to loue him : but yet the generall was most of all distracted ; and therefore withdrewe himselfe , as not able to conceale his tender affection , requiring them , that had heard the whole matter , to giue their iudgements , as they would another day answer it vnto their prince , and vnto almightie god , judge of all the earth . therefore they all , aboue 40. in number , the chiefest of place and judgement in the whole fleet , after they had discussed diuersly of the case , and alleaged whatsoeuer came in their mindes , or could be there produced by any of his other friends , with their owne hands , vnder seale , adiudged that : he had deserued death : and that it stoode , by no meanes with their safety , to let him liue : and therefore , they remitted the manner thereof , with the rest of the circumstances to the generall . this judgement , and as it were assise , was held a land , in one of the ilands of that port ; which afterwards , in memory hereof was called , the iland of true iustice and iudgement . now after this verdict was thus returned vnto our generall ( vnto whom , for his company , her maiestie before his departure , had committed her sword , to vse for his safety , with this word : we doe account that he which striketh at thee drake striketh at vs ) he called for the guilty party , and caused to be read vnto him , the seuerall verdicts which were written , and pronounced of him , which being acknowledged for the most part ( for none had giuen heauier sentence against him , then he had giuen against himselfe ) our generall proposed vnto him this choice : whether he would take , to be executed in this iland ? or to be sett aland on the maine ? or returne into england , there to answer his deed before the lords of her maiesties councell ? he most humbly thanked the generall for his clemencie , extended towards him in such ample sort : and crauing some respit , to consult thereon , and so make his choice aduisedly : the next day he returned this answer , that : albeit he had yeelded in his heart , to entertaine so great a sinne ; as whereof now he was iustly condemned : yet he bad a care , and that excelling all other cares , to die a christian man , that whatsoeuer did become of his clay body , he might yet remaine assured of an eternall inheritance , in a farre better life . this he feared , if he should be set a land among infidels , how he should be able to maintaine this assurance , feeling in his owne frailtie , how mighty the contagion is of lewde custome . and therefore he besought the generall most earnestly , that he would yet haue a care , and regard of his soule ; and neuer jeopard it amongst heathen and sauage infidells . if he should returne into england , he must first haue a ship , and men to conduct it , with sufficient victuals : two of which though they were had , yet for the third , he thought no man would accompanie him , in so bad a message to so vile an issue , from so honorable a seruice . but if that there were , which could induce their mindes , to returne with him ; yet the very shame of the returne , would be as death , or grieuouser if it were possible : hecause be should be so long a dying , and die so often . therefore he professed , that with all his heart , he did embrace the first branch of the generals proffer ; desiring onely this fauour , that they might receiue the holy communion , once againe together before his death ; and that he might not die , other then a gentlemans death . though sundry reasons were vsed by many , to perswade him to take either of the other wayes : yet when he remained resolute in his former determination , both parts of his last request were granted : and the next conuenient day , a communion was celebrated , by mr. francis fletcher , preacher and pastor of the fleet at that time . the generall himselfe communicated in this sacred ordinance , with this condemned penitent gentleman ; who shewed great tokens of a contrite and repentant heart , as who was more deepely displeased with his owne act , then any man else . and after this holy repast , they dined also at the same table together , as cheerefully in sobriety , as euer in their liues they had done aforetime : each cheering vp the other , and taking their leaue , by drinking each to other , as if some journey onely had beene in hand . after dinner , all things being brought in a readines , by him that supplied the roome of the prouost marshall ; without any dallying , or dolaying the time , he came forth , and kneeled downe , preparing at once , his necke for the axe , and his spirit for heauen : which hauing done , without long ceremony , as who had before digested this whole tragedy , he desired all the rest to pray for him , and willed the executioner to doe his office , not to feare nor spare . thus hauing by the worthie manner of his , death ( being much more honorable by it , then blameable for any other of his actions ) fully blotted out , what euer staine , his fault might seeme to bring vpon him ; he left vnto our fleete , a lamentable example of a goodly gentleman , who in seeking aduancement vnfit for him , cast away himselfe : and vnto posteritie a monument , of i know not what , fatall calamitie , incident to that port , and such like actions , which might happilie afford a new paire of paralells , to be added to plutarchs : in that the same place , neere about the same time of the yeare , witnessed the execution of 2. gentlemen , suffring both for the like cause , employed both in like seruice , entertained both in great place , endued both with excellent qualities , the one 58. yeare after the other . for on the maine , our men found a gibbet , fallen downe , made of a spruce mast , with mens bones vnderneath it , which they coniectured to be the same gibbet , which magellane commanded to be erected , in the yeare 1520. for the execution , of iohn carthagene the bishop of burgos cosen , who by the kings order , was ioyned with magellane in commission , and made his vice-admirall . in the iland , as we digged to burie this gentleman , we found a great grinding stone , broken in two parts , which wee tooke and set fast in the ground , the one part at the head , the other at the feet , building vp the middle space , with other stones and turfes of earth , and engraued in the stones , the names of the parties buried there , with the time of their departure , and a memoriall of our generalls name in latine , that it might the better be vnderstood , of all that should come after vs. these things thus ended , and set in order , our generall discharging the mary viz. our portugall prise , because shee was leake and troublesome , defaced her ; and then left her ribs and keele vpon the iland : where for two moneths together we had pitched our tents . and so hauing wooded , watered , trimmed our ships , dispatched all our other businesses , and brought our fleet into the smallest number , euen 3. onely , besides our pinnaces , that we might the easier keepe our selues together , be the better furnished with necessaries , and be the stronger mand , against what soeuer need should be , august 17. we departed out of this port , and being now in great hope , of a happie issue to our enterprise , which almighty god hitherto had so blest and prospered , we set our course for the straights . southwest . august 20. we fel with the cape ; neere which lies the entrance into the straight , called by the spaniards capo virgin maria , appearing 4. leagues before you come to it with high and steepe gray cliffes , full of blacke starres , against which the sea beating , sheweth as it were the spoutings of whales , hauing the highest of the cape , like cape vincent in portugall : at this cape , our generall caused his fleet , in homage to our soueraigne lady the queenes maiesty , to strike their top-sailes vpon the bunt , as a token of his willing and glad minde , to shewe his dutifull obedience to her highnes , whom he acknowledged to haue full interest and right , in that new discouery ; and withall , in remembrance of his honorable friend and fauorer , sir christopher hatton , he changed the name of the shippe , which himselfe went in , from the pellican to be called the golden hinde . which ceremonies being ended , together with a sermon , teaching true obedience , with prayers and giuing of thankes for her maiesty , and most honorable counsell , with the whole body of the common weale , and church of god , we continued our course on into the said frete , where passing with land in fight on both sides , we shortly fell with so narrow a straite , as carrying with it much winde , often turnings , and many dangers , requireth an expert judgement , in him that shall passe the same , it lieth west north west & east south east : but hauing left this straite a sterne , we seemed to be come out of a riuer of two leagues broade , into a large and maine sea , hauing the night following , an iland in sight , which ( being in height nothing inferior to the iland fogo , before spoken of ) burneth ( like it aloft ) also in the aire , in a wonderfull sort , without intermission . it hath formerly beene receiued as an vndoubted truth , that the seas , following the course of the first mouer , from east to west , haue a continuall current through this straite , but our experience found the contrary : the ebbings and flowings here , being as orderly ( in which the water rises and falls more then 5. fathomes , vpright ) as on other coasts . the 24 of august being bartholomew day , we fell with 3. ilands , bearing triangle-wise one from another , one of them was very faire and large , and of a fruitfull soile , vpon which being next vnto vs , and the weather very calme , our generall with his gentlemen , and certaine of his mariners , then landed ; taking possession thereof in her maiesties name , and to her vse , and called the same elizabeth iland . the other two , though they were not so large , nor so faire to the eye , yet were they to vs exceeding vsefull , for in them wee found great store of strange birds , which could not flie at all , nor yet runne so fast , as that they could escape vs with their liues : in body they are lesse then a goose , and bigger then a mallard , short and thicke set together , hauing no feathers , but insteed thereof , a certaine hard and matted downe ; their beakes are not much vnlike the bills of crowes , they lodge and breed vpon the land , where making earthes , as the conies doe , in the ground , they lay their egges , and bring vp their young ; their feeding and prouision to liue on , is in the sea , where they swimm in such sort , as nature may seeme to haue granted them no small prerogatiue in swiftnesse , both to prey vpon others , and themselues to escape from any others that seeke to cease vpon them , and such was the infinite resort of these birds to these ilands , that in the space of 1. day , we killed no lesse then 3000. & if the increase be according to the number , it is not to be thought , that the world hath brought forth , a greater blessing in one kinde of creature in so small a circuit , so necessarily and plentifully seruing the vse of man , they are a very good and wholesome victuall : our generall named these ilands , the one bartholomew , according to the day ; the other saint georges , in honour of england , according to the ancient custome there obserued . in the iland of saint george , we found the body of a man , so long dead before , that his bones would not hold together , being moued out of the place whereon they lay . from these ilands , to the entrance into the south sea , the frete is very crooked ; hauing many turnings , and as it were shuttings vp , as if there were no passage at all , by meanes whereof , we were often troubled with contrary windes , so that some of our ships , recouering a cape of land , entring another reach , the rest were forced to alter their course , and come to anchor where they might . it is true which magellane reporteth of this passage : namely that there be many faire harbours , and store of fresh water ; but some ships , had need to be fraughted with nothing else , besides anchors and cables , to finde ground , in most of them , to come to anchor ; which when any extreame gusts , or contrary windes doe come ( whereunto the place is altogether subiect ) is a great hindrance to the passage and carrieth with it no small danger . the land on both sides is very high and mountainous , hauing on the north and west side the continent of america , and on the south and east part , nothing but ilands : among which , lye innumerable fretes or passages into the south sea . the mountaines arise with such tops , and spires into the aire , & of so rare a height , as they may well be accounted amongst the wonders of the world ; enuironed as it were , with many regions of congealed clouds , and frozen meteors , wherby they are continually fed and increased , both in height and bignes , from time to time , retaining that which they haue once receiued , being little againe diminished by the heate of the sun , as being so farre from reflexion , and so nigh the cold and frozen region . but notwithstanding all this , yet are the lowe and plaine groundes verie fruitful , the grasse greene and naturall ; the hearbs that are of very strange sorts , good and many ; the trees for the most part of them alwaies greene ; the ayre of the temperature of our countrey , the water most pleasant ; and the soile agreeing to any graine which we haue growing in our countrie : a place no doubt , that lacketh nothing , but a people to vse the same to the creators glory , and the encreasing of the church : the people inhabiting these parts , made fires as we passed by in diuers places . drawing nigh the entrance of the south sea , wee had such a shutting vp to the northwards , and such large and open fretes toward the south , that it was doubtfull which way wee should passe , without further discouerie : for which cause , our generall hauing brought his fleete to anchor vnder an iland ; himselfe , with certaine of his gentlemen , rowed in a boate to descrie the passage ; who hauing discouered a sufficient way towards the north , in their returne to their ships , met a cannowe vnder the same iland , where wee rode then at anchor , hauing in her diuers persons . this cannowe or boate was made of the barke of diuers trees , hauing a prowe and a sterne standing vp , and semicirclewise yeelding inward , of one forme and fashion ; the body whereof was a most dainty mould , bearing in it most comely proportion , and excellent workmanship ; in so much as to our generall and vs , it seemed neuer to haue beene done , without the cunning and expert iudgement of art ; and that not for the vse of so rude and barborous a people , but for the pleasure of some great and noble personage , yea of some prince : it had no other closing vp or caulking in the seames , but the stitchin with thongs , made of seale-skins , or other such beast , and yet so close that it receiued very little or no water at all . the people are of a meane stature , but well set and compact , in all their parts and limmes ; they haue great pleasure in painting their faces , as the others haue , of whom we haue spoken before . within the said iland they had a house of meane building , of certaine poles , and couered with skinnes of beast ; hauing therein fire , water , and such meate , as commonly they can come by : as seales , mussels , and such like . the vessels wherein they keepe their water , and their cups in which they drinke , are made of barkes of trees , as was their canow : and that with no lesse skill ( for the bignesse of the thing ) being of a very formall shape and good fashion . their working tooles , which they vse in cutting these things and such other , are kniues made of most huge and monstrous mussell shels ( the like whereof haue not beene seene or heard of lightly by any trauellers ; the meate thereof beeing very sauourie and good in eating ) which , after they haue broken off the thinne and brittle substance of the edge , they rub and grinde them vpon stones had for the purpose , till they haue tempered and set such an edge vpon them , that no wood is so hard but they will cut it at pleasure with the same : whereof we our selues had experience . yea they cut therewith bones of a maruellous hardnesse ; making of them fisgies to kill fish , wherein they haue a most pleasant exercise with great dexteritie . sept. 6 the sixth of september we had left asterne vs all these troublesome ilands , and were entred into the south sea , or mare del zur : at the cape whereof , our generall had determined with his whole company to haue gone ashore , and there after a sermon to haue left a monument of her maiestie ingrauen in mettall , for a perpetuall remembrance ; which he had in a readinesse for that end prepared : but neither was there any anchoring , neither did the wind suffer vs by any meanes to make a stay . onely this by all our mens obseruations was concluded ; that the entrance , by which we came into this straite , was in 52. deg . the middest in 53. deg . 15. m and the going out in 52. deg . 30. m. being 150. leagues in length : at the very entry , supposed also to be about 10. leagues in bredth . after we were entred ten leagues within it , it was found not past a league in breadth : farther within , in some places very large , in some very narrow , and in the end found to be no straite at all , but all ilands . now when our generall perceiued that the nipping cold , vnder so cruell and frowning a winter , had empaired the health of some of his men ; hee meant to haue made the more hast againe toward the line , and not to saile any farther towards the pole antartick , lest being father from the sunne , and neerer the cold , we might happily be ouertaken with some greater danger of sickness . but god giuing men leaue to purpose , reserueth to himselfe the disposition of all things : making their intents of none effect , or changing their meanings oft times cleane into the contrary , as may best serue for his owne glory and their profit . sept. 7 for september 7. the second day after our entrance into the south sea ( called by some mare pacificum , but prouing to vs rather to be mare furiosum . ) god by a contrary wind and intollerable tempest , seemed to set himselfe against vs : forcing vs not onely to alter our course and determination , but with great trouble , long time , many dangers , hard escapes , and finall separating of our fleet , to yeeld ourselues vnto his will. yea such was the extremitie of the tempest , that it appeared to vs as if he had pronounced a sentence , not to stay his hand , nor to withdraw his iudgement till he had ▪ buried our bodies and ships also , in the bottomlesse depth of the raging sea . sept. 15 in the time of this incredible storme the 15. of september , the moone was ecclipsed in aries , and darkened about three points , for the space of two glasses : which being ended , might seeme to giue vs some hope of alteration and change of weather to the better . notwithstanding , as the ecclipticall conflict , could adde nothing to our miserable estate , no more did the ending thereof ease vs any thing at all ; nor take away any part of our troubles from vs : but our ecclipse continued still in its full force , so preuailing against vs , that for the space of full 52. dayes together , we were darkened more then the moone by 20. parts , or more then we by any meanes could euer haue preserued , or recouered light of our selues againe , if the sonne of god which layed this burthen vpon our backs , had not mercifully borne it vp with his owne shoulders , and vpheld vs in it by his owne power , beyond any possible strength or skill of man. neither indeed did we at all escape , but with the feeling of great discomforts through the same . for these violent and extraordinarie flawes ( such as seldome haue been seene ) still continuing , or rather increasing , sept. 30 september 30. in the night , caused the sorrowfull separation of the marigold from vs , in which was captaine iohn thomas , with many others of our deare friends : who by no means that we could conceiue could helpe themselues , but by spooming along before the sea . with whom albeit wee could neuer meet againe , yet ( our generall hauing aforehand giuen order , that if any of our fleet did loose company , the place of resort to meet againe should be in 30. deg . or thereabouts , vpon the coast of peru , toward the equinoctiall ) wee long time hoped ( till experience shewed our hope was vaine ) that there we should ioyfully meet with them : especially for that they were well prouided of victuals , and lackt no skilfull and sufficient men ( besides their captaine ) to bring forwards the ship to the place appointed . from the seuenth of september ( in which the storme began ) till the seuenth of october we could not by any meanes recouer any land ( hauing in the meane time beene driuen so farre south , octob. 7 as to the 57. deg . and somewhat better ) on this day towards night , somewhat to the northward of that cape of america ( whereof mention is made before in the description of our departure from the straite into this sea ) with a sorrie saile wee entred a harbour : where hoping to enioy some freedome and ease , till the storme was ended , we receiued within few houres after our comming to anchor , so deadly a stroake and hard entertainement , that our admirall left not onely an anchor behind her , through the violence and furie of the flawe ; but in departing thence , also lost the company and sight of our vice-admirall , the elizabeth : partly through the negligence of those that had the charge of her , partly through a kind of desire that some in her had to be out of these troubles , and to be at home againe : which ( as since is knowne ) they thence forward by all meanes assayed and performed . octob. 8 for the very next day october 8. recouering the mouth of the straits againe ( which wee were now so neere vnto ) they returned backe the same way by which they came forward , and so coasting brasill , they arriued in england iune 2. the yeare following . so that now our admirall if she had retained her old name of pellican , which she bare at our departure from our countrey , she might haue beene now indeed said to be as a pellican alone in the wildernesse . for albeit our generall sought the rest of his fleet with great care , yet could we not haue any sight or certaine ne wes of them by any meanes . from this bay of parting of friends , we were forcibly driuen backe againe into 55. deg . towards the pole antarticke . in which height we ranne in among the ilands before mentioned , lying to the southward of america , through which we passed from one sea to the other , as hath beene declared . where comming to anchor , wee found the waters there to haue their indraught and free passage , and that through no small guts , or narrow channels , but indeed through as large frets or straights , as it hath at the supposed streights of magellane through which we came . among these ilands , making our abode with some quietnesse for a very little while , ( viz. two dayes ) and finding diuers good and wholesome herbs together with fresh water ; our men which before were weake , and much empaired in their health , began to receiue good comfort : especially by the drinking of one herbe ( not much vnlike that herbe which wee commonly call penny-lease ) which purging with great facilitie affoorded great helpe and refreshing to our wearied and sickly bodies . but the winds returning to their old wont , and the seas raging after their former manner , yea euery thing as it were setting it selfe against our peace and desired rest , here was no stay permitted vs , neither any safety to be looked for . for such was the present danger by forcing and continuall slawes , that we were rather to looke for present death then hope for any deliuery , if god almightie should not make the way for vs. the winds were such as if the bowels of the earth had set all at libertie ; or as if all the clouds vnder heauen had beene called together , to lay their force vpon that one place : the seas , which by nature and of themselues are heauie , and of a weightie substance , were rowled vp from the depths , euen from the roots of the rockes , as if it had beene a scroll of parchment , which by the extremity of heate runneth together : and being aloft were carried in most strange manner and abundance , as feathers or drifts of snow , by the violence of the winds , to water the exceeding tops of high and loftie mountaines . our anchors , as false friends in such a danger , gaue ouer their holdfast , and as if it had beene with horror of the thing , did shrinke downe to hide themselues in this miserable storme ; committing the distressed ship and helpelesse men to the vncertaine and rowling seas , which tossed them , like a ball in a racket . in this case , to let fall more anchors , would auaile vs nothing ; for being driuen from our first place of anchoring , so vnmeasurable was the depth , that 500. fathome would fetch no ground : so that the violent storme without intermission ; the impossibility to come to anchor ; the want of opportunitie to spread any sayle , the most mad seas ; the lee shores ; the dangerous rocks ; the contrary and most intollerable winds ; the impossible passage out ; the desperate tarrying there ; and ineuitable perils on euery side , did lay before vs so small likelihood to escape present destruction , that if the speciall prouidence of god himselfe had not supported vs , we could neuer haue endured that wofull state : as being inuironed with most terrible and most fearefull iudgements round about . for truly , it was more likely that the mountaines should haue beene rent in sunder , from the top to the bottome , and cast headlong into the sea , by these vnnaturall winds ; then that , we , by any helpe or cunning of man , should free the life of any one amongst vs. notwithstanding the same god of mercy which deliuered ionas out of the whales belly , and heareth all those that call vpon him faithfully , in their distresse ; looked downe from heauen , beheld our teares , and heard our humble petitions , ioyned with holy vowes . euen god ( whom not the winds and seas al one , but euen the diuels themselues and powers of hell obey ) did so wonderfully free vs , and make our way open before vs , as it were by his holy angels still guiding and conduting vs , that more then the affright and amaze of this estate , we receiued no part of damage in all the things that belonged vnto vs. but escaping from these straites and miseries , as it were through the needles ey ( that god might haue the greater glory in our deliuery ) by the great and effectuall care and trauell of our generall , the lords instrument therein ; we could now no longer forbeare , but must needes finde some place of refuge , aswell to prouide water , wood , and other necessaries , as to comfort our men , thus worne and tired out , by so many and so long intollerable toyles : the like whereof , it s to be supposed , no traueller hath felt , neither hath there euer beene , such a tempest ( that any records make mention of ) so violent , and of such continuance , since noahs flood , for as hath beene sayd it lasted from september 7. to october 28 , full 52. dayes . not many leagues therefore to the southwards of our former anchoring , we ranne in againe among these ilands ; where we had once more better likelihood to rest in peace : and so much the rather , for that wee found the people of the countrie , trauelling for their liuing , from one iland to another , in their canowes , both men , women , and young infants wrapt in skins , and hanging at their mothers backs ; with whom we had traffique , for such things as they had , as chaines of certaine shells and such other trifles ; here the lord gaue vs three dayes to breath our selues , and to prouide such things as we wanted , albeit the same was with continuall care , and troubles to auoid imminent dangers , which the troubled seas and blustering windes , did euery houre threaten vnto vs. but when we seemed to haue stayed there too long , we were more rigorously assaulted by the not formerly ended , but now more violently renewed storme ; and driuen thence also with no small danger ; leauing behind vs the greater part of our cable with the anchor ; being chased along by the winds , and buffeted incessantly in each quarter by the seas ( which our generall interpreted , as though god had sent them of purpose to the end which ensued ) till at length wee fell with the vttermost part of land towards the south pole , and had certainely discouered how farre the same doth reach southward , from the coast of america aforenamed . the vttermost cape or hedland of all these ilands , stands neere in 56. deg . without which there is no maine , nor iland to be seene to the southwards : but that the atlanticke ocean , and the south sea , meete in a most large and free scope . it hath beene a dreame through many ages , that these ilands haue beene a maine , and that it hath beene terra incognita ; wherein many strange monsters liued . indeed it might truly , before this time , be called incognota , for howsouer the mappes and generall descriptions of cosmographers , either vpon the deceiueable reports of other men , or the deceitfull imaginations of themselues ( supposing neuer herein to be corrected ) haue set it downe , yet it is true , that before this time , it was neuer discouered , or certainely knowne by any traueller , that wee haue heard of . and here as in a fit place , it shall not be amisse , to remoue that error in opinion , which hath beene held by many , of the impossible returne , out of mar del zur , into the west ocean ; by reason of the supposed easterne current , and leuant windes : which ( say they ) speedily carrie any thither , but suffer no returne . they are herein likewise altogether deceiued : for neither did we meete with any such current , neither had we any such certaine windes , with any such speed to carry vs through ; but at all times , in our passage there , we found more opportunity to returne backe againe , into the west ocean , then to goe forward into mar del zur , by meanes either of current , or windes to hinder vs , whereof we had experience more then we wished : being glad oftentimes , to alter our course , and to fall asterne againe , with francke winde ( without any impediment of any such surmised current ) farther in one afternoone , then we could fetch vp , or recouer againe in a whole day , with a reasonable gale . and in that they alleage the narrownes of the frete , and want of sea-roome , to be the cause of this violent current ; they are herein no lesse deceiued , then they were in the other without reason : for besides , that it cannot be sayd , that there is one onely passage , but rather innumerable it is most certaine , that a sea-board all these ilands , there is one large and maine sea , wherein if any will not be satisfied , nor belieue the report of our experience and ey-sight , hee should be aduised to suspend his iudgement , till he haue either tried it himselfe , by his owne trauell , or shall vnderstand , by other trauellers , more particulars to confirme his minde herein . now as wee were fallen to the vttermost part of these ilands octob. 28 octob. 28. our troubles did make an end , the storme ceased , and all our calamities ( onely the absence of our friends excepted ) were remoued , as if god , all this while , by his secret prouidence , had lead vs to make this discouery ; which being made , according to his will he stayed his hand , as pleased his maiestie therein , and refreshed vs as his seruants . at these southerly parts we found the night , in the latter end of october , to be but 2. houres long : the sunne being yet aboue 7. degrees distant from the tropick : so that it seemeth , being in the tropick , to leaue very little , or no night at all in that place . there be few of all these ilands , but haue some inhabitants , whose manners , apparell , houses , canowes and meanes of liuing , is like vnto those formerly spoken of , a little before our departure out of the straight . to all these ilands , did our generall giue one name , to wit elizabethides . octob. 30 after two daies stay , which wee made in and about these ilands , the 30. of october we set saile ; shaping our course right north west , to coast alongst the parts of peru ( for so the generall mappes set out the land to lie ) both for that we might , with conuenient speed , full with the height of 30. deg . being the place appointed , for the rest of our fleete to re-assemble ; as also , that no opportunity might be lost , in the meane time to finde them out , if it seemed good to god to direct them to vs. in this course , we chanced ( the next day ) with two ilands , being as it were store houses , of most liberall prouision of victualls for vs , of birds ; yeelding not onely sufficient and plentifull store , for vs who were present , but enough , to haue serued all the rest also , which were absent . thence ( hauing furnished our selues to our content ) we continued our course nouember 1. still northwest , as wee had formerly done , but in going on , we soone espied , that we might easily haue beene deceiued : and therefore casting about , and steering vpon another point , wee found , that the generall mappes did erre from the truth , in setting downe the coast of peru , for 12. deg . at least to the northward , of the supposed straite ; no lesse then is the northwest point of the compasse , different from the northeast , perceiuing hereby , that no man , had euer by trauell , discouered any part of these 12. deg . and therefore the setters forth of such descriptions , are not to be trusted ; much lesse honored , in their false and fraudulent coniectures ; which they vse , not in this alone , but in diuers other points of no small importance . we found this part of peru , all alongst to the height of lima , which is 12. deg . south of the line , to be mountainous and very barren , without water or wood , for the most part , except in certaine places , inhabited by the spaniards , and few others , which are very fruitfull and commodious . after we were once againe thus fallen with the land , we continually coasted along , til we came to the height of 37. d. or thereabout : and finding no conuenient place of abode , nor likelihood to heare any newes of our ships , we ranne off againe with an iland , which lay in sight , named of the spaniards mucho , by reason of the greatnesse and large circuit thereof . nou. 25 at this iland comming to anchor , nouemb. 25. we found it to be a fruitfull place , and well stored with sundrie sorts of good things : as sheepe and other cattell , maize , which is a kinde of graine whereof they make bread , potatoes , with such other rootes : besides that , it is thought to be wonderfull rich in gold and to want no good thing for the vse of mans life . the inhabitants are such indians , as by the cruell and most extreame dealing of the spaniards , haue beene driuen to flie from the maine , here to releeue and fortifie themselues . with this people , our generall thought it meet to haue traffique , for fresh victuals and water : and for that cause , the very same night of our arriuall there , himselfe with diuers of his company went ashoare , to whom the people with great courtesie came downe , bringing with them such fruits and other victuals as they had , and two very fat sheepe , which they gaue our generall for a present . in recompence whereof , hee bestowed vpon them againe many good and necessarie things ; signifying vnto them , that the end of his comming was for no other cause but by way of exchange , to traffique with them for such things as wee needed , and they could spare : and in particular , for such as they had alreadie brought downe vnto vs , besides fresh water , which wee desired of them . herein they held themselues well contented , and seemed to be not a little ioyful of our comming : appointing where we should the next morning haue fresh water at pleasure , and withall signifying that then also they would bring vs downe such other things as we desired to serue our turnes . nou. 26 the next day therefore very early in the morning ( all things being made readie for traffique , as also vessels prepared to bring the water ) our generall taking great care for so necessarie prouision , repaired to the shoare againe ; and setting aland two of his men , sent them with their barricoes to the watering place , assigned the night before . who hauing peaceably past on one halfe of the way , were then with no small violence set vpon by those traiterous people , and suddenly slaine : and to the end that our generall with the rest of his company should not onely be stayed from rescuing them , but also might fall ( if it were possible ) into their hands in like manner , they had layed closely behind the rockes an ambushment of ( as we guessed ) about 500. men , armed and well appointed for such a mischiefe . who suddenly attempting their purpose ( the rocks being very dangerous for the boate , and the sea-gate exceeding great ) by shooting their arrowes hurt and wounded euery one of our men , before they could free themselues , or come to die vse of there weapons to do any good . the general himself was shot in the face , vnder his right eye , and close by his nose , the arrow piercing a maruellous way in , vnder basis cerebri , with no small danger of his life ; besides that , he was grieuously wounded in the head . the rest , being nine persons in the boate , were deadly wounded in diuers parts of their bodies , if god almost miraculously had not giuen cure to the same . for our chiefe surgeon being dead , and the other absent by the losse of our vice-admirall , and hauing none left vs but a boy , whose good will was more then any skill hee had , we were little better then altogether destitute of such cunning and helpes as so grieuous a state of so many wounded bodies did require . notwithstanding god , by the good aduice of our generall , and the diligent putting too of euery mans helpe , did giue such speedy and wonderfull cure , that we had all great comfort thereby , and yeelded god the glory thereof . the cause of this force and iniurie by these ilanders , was no other but the deadly hatred which they beare against their cruell enemies the spaniards , for the bloudy and most tirannous oppression which they had vsed towards them . and therefore with purpose against them ( suspecting vs to bee spaniards indeed , and that the rather , by occasion that though command was giuen to the contrary , some of our men in demanding water , vsed the spanish word aqua ) sought some part of reuenge against vs. our generall notwithstanding he might haue reuenged this wrong ; with little hazard or danger ; yet being more desirous to preserue one of his owne men aliue , then to destroy 100. of his enemies , committed the same to god : wishing this onely punishment to them , that they did but know whom they had wronged , and that they had done this iniurie not to an enemie , but to a friend , not to a spaniard , but to an englishman ; who would rather haue beene a patron to defend them , then any way an instrument of the least wrong that should haue beene done vnto them . the weapons which this people vse in their warres , are arrowes of reeds , with heads of stone , very brittle and indented ▪ but darts of a great length , headed with iron or bone . the same day that we receiued this dangerous affront , in the afternoone we set sayle from thence ; and because we were now nigh the appointed height , wherein our ships were to be looked for , as also the extremity and crasie state of our hurt men aduising vs to vse expedition , to finde sone conuenient place of repose , which might afford them some rest , and yeeld vs necessary supply of fresh victuals for their diet ; we bent our course , as the wind would suffer vs , directly to run in with the maine . nou. 30 where falling with a bay , called philips bay , in , 32. deg . or thereabout , nouemb. 30. we came to anchor : and foorthwith manned and sent our boate to discouer what likelihood the place would offer to affoord vs such things as we stood in need of . our boate doing her vttermost endeuour in a diligent search , yet after long trauell could find no appearance of hope for reliefe , either of fresh victuals or of fresh water : huge heards of wild buffes they might disecrne , but not so much as any signe of any inhabitant thereabout . yet in their returne to vs , they descried within the bay , an indian with his canow as he was a fishing : him they brought aboard our generall , canow and all as he was in it . a comely personage , and of a goodly stature ; his apparell was a white garment , reaching scarcely to his knees , his armes and legges were naked ; his haire vpon his head verie long ; without a beard , as all the indians for the most part are . he seemed verie gentle , of mild and humble nature , being verie tractable to learne the vse of euery thing , and most gratefull for such things as our generall bestowed vpon him . in him we might see a most liuely patterne of the harmelesse disposition of that people ; and how grieuous a thing it is that they should by any meanes be so abused as all those are , whom the spaniards haue any command or power ouer . this man being courteously entertained , and his paines of comming double required ; after we had shewed him , partly by signes , and partly by such things as we had , what things we needed , and would gladly receiue by his meanes , vpon exchange of such things as he would desire ; wee sent him away with our boate and his owne canow ( which was made of reed straw ) to land him where he would . who being landed , and willing our men to stay his returne , was immediatly met with by two or three of his friends ; to whom imparting his newes , and shewing what gifts he had receiued , he gaue so great content , that they willingly furthered his purpose ; so that , after certaine houres of our mens abode there , hee with diuers others ( among whom was their head or captaine ) made their returne ; bringing with them their loadings of such things as they thought would do vs good : as some hennes , egges , a fat hogge , and such like . all which ( that our men might be without all suspition of all euill to be meant or intended by them ) they sent in one of their canowes , a reasonable distance from off the shoare , to our boate , the sea-gate being at that present very great , and their captaine hauing sent backe his horse , would needs commit himselfe to the credit of our men , though strangers , and come with them to our generall , without any of his owne acquaintance or countriemen with him . by his comming as we vnderstood , that there was no meane or way , to haue our necessities relieued in this place ; so he offered himselfe to be our pilote , to a place and that a good harborough , not farre backe to the southward againe : where , by way of traffique , we might haue at pleasure , both water , and those other things which we stood in need of . this offer our generall very gladly receiued , and so much the rather , for that the place intended , was neere about the place appointed , for the randenoues of our fleete . omitting therefore our purpose , of pursuing the buffes formerly spoken of , of which we had otherwise determined , if possible to haue killed some ; this good newes of better prouision , and more easie to come by , drew vs away : and so the 5. day after our arriuall , viz. decem. 4 december 4. we departed hence , and the next day decemb. 5 december 5. by the willing conduct of our new indian pilote , we came to anchor in the desired harbor . this harbor the spaniards call valperizo , and the towne adioyning saint iames of chinli it stands in 35. deg . 40. min. where albeit we neither met with our ships , not heard of them , yet there was no good thing which the place afforded , or which our necessities indeed for the present required , but we had the same in great abundance : amongst other things we found in the towne diuerse storehouses of the wines of chilie ; and in the harbour , a ship called the captaine of moriall , or the grand captaine of the south , admirall to the ilands of salomon ; loaden for the most part , with the same kinde of liquors : onely there was besides , a certaine quantity of fine gold of baldiuia and a great crosse of gold beset with emeranlds , on which was nailed a god of the same mettall , wee spent some time in refreshing our selues , and easing this ship of so heauy a burthen : and on the 8. day of the same moneth ( hauing in the meane time , sufficiently stored our selues with necessaries , as wine , bread , bacon &c. for along season ) we set saile , returning backe towards the line ; carrying againe our indian pilote with vs , whom our generall bountifully rewarded , and enriched with many good things , which pleased him exceedingly , and caused him , by the way , to be landed in the place where he desired . our necessities being thus to our content releeued , our next care was the regaining ( if possible ) of the company of our ships , so long seuered from vs : neither would any thing haue satisfied bur generall , or vs so well , as the happy meeting , or good newes of them , this way therefore ( all other thoughts for the present set apart ) were all our studies and endeauours bent , how to fit it so , as that no opportunity of meeting them might be passed ouer . to this end , considering that we could not conueniently runne in with our ship ( in search of them ) to euery place , where was likelihood of being a harbour ; and that our boate was too little , and vnable to carry men enough , to encounter the malice or treachery of the spaniards ( if we should by any chance meete with any of them ) who are vsed to shew no mercy , where they may ouermaster ; and therefore meaning not to hazard our selues to their cruell courtesie ; we determined , as we coasted now towards the line , to search diligently for some conuenient place , where we might , in peace and safety , stay the trimming of our ship , and the erecting of a pinnace , in which wee might with better security , then in our boate , and without endangering of our ship , by running into each creeke , leaue no place vntried , if happily we might so finde againe our friends and countrimen . for this cause december 19. dec. 19 we entred a bay , not farre to the southward of the towne of cyppo now inhabited by the spaniards , in 29. deg 30. min. where hauing landed certaine of our men , to the number of 14. to search what conueniency the place was likely to afford , for our abiding there ; we were immediatly descried by the spaniards , of the towne of cyppo , aforesayd , who speedily made out 300. men at least wherof 100. were spaniards , euery one well mounted vpon his horse ; the rest were indians , running as dogs , at their heeles , all naked , and in most miserable bondage . they could not come any way so closely , but god did open our eyes to see them , before there was any extremity of danger , whereby our men being warned , had reasonable time to shift themselues as they could ; first from the maine , to a rocke within the sea ; and from thence into their boate : which being ready to receiue them , conueighed them with expedition , out of the reach of the spaniards fury , without the hurt of any man. onely one richard miniuy , being ouer bold and carelesse of his owne safety , would not be intreated by his friends , nor feared by the multitude of his enemies , to take the present benefit of his owne deliuery : but chose either to make 300. mē by out-brauing of them to become afraide , or else himselfe to die in the place ; the latter of which indeed he did , whose dead body being drawne by the indians from the rocke to the shoare , was there manfully by the spaniards beheaded , the right hand cut off , the heart pluct out , all which they carried away in our sight , and for the rest of his carcase , they caused the indians to shoote it full of arrowes , made but the same day , of greene wood , and so left it to be deuoured of the beastes and foules but that we went ashoare againe and buried it : wherein as there appeareth a most extreame and barbarous cruelty , so doth it declare to the world , in what miserable feare the spaniard holdeth the gouernment of those parts ; liuing in continuall dread of forreigne inuasion by strangers , or secret cutting of their throats , by those whom they kept vnder them in so shamefull slauery , i meane the innocent and harmelesse indians . and therefore they make sure to murther what strangers soeuer they can come by , and suffer the indians by no meanes to haue any weapon longer then they be in present seruice : as appeared by their arrowes cut from the tree the same day , as also by the credible report of others who knew the matter to be true . yea they suppose they shew the wretches great fauour , when they do not for their pleasures whip them with cords , and day by day drop their naked bodies with burning bacon : which is one of the least cruelties , amongst many , which they vniuersally vse against that nation and people . this being not the place we looked for , nor the entertainement such as we desired ; dec. 20 we speedily got hence againe , and decemb . 20. the next day , fell with a more conuenient harbour , in a bay somewhat to the northward of the forenamed cyppo , lying in 27. deg . 55. win . south the line . in this place we spent some time in trimming of our ship , and building of our pinnace , as we desired : but still the griefe for the absence of our friends remained with vs , for the finding of whom , our generall hauing now fitted all things to his mind , intended ( leauing his ship the meane while at anchor in the bay ) with his pinnace and some chosen men , himselfe to returne backe to the southwards againe ; to see if happily he might either himselfe meete with them , or find them in some harbour , or creeke ; or heare of them by any others , whom he might meete with , with this resolution he set on , but after one daies sayling , the winde being contrary to his purpose , he was forced , whether he would or no to returne againe . within this bay , during our abode there , we had such abundance of fish , not much vnlike our gurnard in england , as no place had euer afforded vs the like ( cape blanck onely vpon the coast of barbary excepted ) since our first setting forth of plymmouth , vntill this time , the plenty whereof in this place was such , that our gentlemen sporting themselues day by day , with 4. or 5. hookes and lines , in 2. or 3. houres , would take sometimes 400. sometimes more at one time . ian. 19 all our businesse being thus dispatched , ianuary 19. we set sayle from hence ; and the next place that we fell withall , ian. 22 ian. 22. was an iland standing in the same height , with the north cape of the prouince of mormorena , at this iland we found 4. indians with their canowes , which tooke vpon them to bring our men to a place of fresh water , on the foresayd cape ; in hope whereof , our generall made them great cheere ( as his manner was towards all strangers ) and set his course by their direction , but when we came vnto the place , and had trauelled vp a long way into the land , wee found fresh water indeed , but scarce so much as they had drunke wine in their passage thither . as we sayled along , continually searching for fresh water ; we came to a place called tarapaca , and landing there we lighted on a spaniard who lay asleepe , and had lying by him 13. barres of siluer , waighing in all , about 4000. spanish duccatts : we would not ( could wee haue chosen ) haue awaked him of his nappe : but seeing we , against our wills , did him that iniury , we freed him of his charge , which otherwise perhaps would haue kept him waking , and so left him to take out ( if it pleased him ) the other part of his sleepe , in more security . our search for water still continuing , as we landed againe not farre from thence , we met a spaniard with an indian boy , driuing 8. lambes or peruvian sheepe : each sheepe bare two leathren bagges , and in each bagge was 50. pound waight of refined siluer , in the whole 800. waight : we could not indure to see a gentleman spaniard turnd carrier so ; and therefore without intreaty , we offered our seruice , and became drouers : onely his directions were not so perfect , that we could keepe the way which hee intended ; for almost as soone as hee was parted from vs , we with our new kinde of carriges , were come vnto our boates . farther beyond this cape fore-mentioned lie certaine indian towns , frō whence as we passed by , came many of the people in certaine bawses made of seales skins ; of which two being ioyned together of a iust length , and side by side , resemble in fashion or forme a boate : they haue in either of them a small gutt , or some such thing blowne full of winde ; by reason whereof it floateth , and is rowed very swiftly , carrying in it no small burthen . in these vpon sight of our ship , they brought store of fish of diuerse sortes , to traffique with vs , for any trifles wee would giue them : as kniues , margarites , glasses , and such like , whereof , men of 60. & 70. yeares old , were as glad as if they had receiued some exceeding rich commodity ; being a most simple and plaine dealing people . their resort vnto vs was such , as considering the shortnesse of the time , was wonderfull to vs to behold . not farre from this , viz. in 22. deg . 30. min. lay mormorena , another great towne of the same people , ouer whom 2. spaniards held the gouerment , with these our generall thought meet to deale ; or at least to try their courtesy , whether they would , in way of traffique , giue vs such things as we needed or no , and therefore ian. 26 ian. the 26. we cast anchor here , we found them ( more for feare then for loue ) somewhat tractable , and receiued from them by exchange many good things , very necessarie for our vses . amongst other things which we had of them , the sheepe of the countrey ( viz. such as we mentioned before bearing the leatherne bags ) were most memorable . their height and length was equall to a pretty cow , and their strength fully answerable , if not by much exceeding their size or stature . vpon one of their backes did sit at one time three well growne and tall men , and one boy , no mans foot touching the ground by a large foot in length , the beast nothing at all complaining of his burthen in the meane time . these sheepe haue neckes like camels ; their heads bearing a reasonable resemblance of another sheepe . the spaniards vse them to great profit . their wooll is exceeding fine , their flesh good meate , their increase ordinarie , and besides they supply the roome of horses for burthen or trauell : yea they serue to carry , ouer the mountaines , maruellous loades , for 300. leagues together , where no other carriage can be made but by them onely . hereabout , as also all along , and vp into the countrey throughout the prouince of cusko , the common ground wheresoeuer it bee taken vp , in euery hundred pound weight of earth , yeeldeth 25. s. of pure siluer , after the rate of a crowne an ounce . the next place likely to affoord vs any newes of our ships ( for in all this way from the height where wee builded our pinnace , there was no bay or harbour at all for shipping ) was the port of the towne of arica , standing in 20. deg . whither we arriued the 7. of february feb. 7 : this towne seemed to vs to stand in the most fruitfull soile that we saw all alongst these coasts : both for that it is situate in the mouth of a most pleasant and fertile vally , abounding with all good things ; as also in that it hath continuall trade of shipping , as well from lyma as from all other parts of peru. it is inhabited by the spaniards . in two barks here , we found some forty and odde barres of siluer ( of the bignesse and fashion of a brickbatte , and in waight each of them about 20. pounds ) of which wee tooke the burthen on our selues to ease them , and so departed towards chowley ; with which wee fell the second day following , feb. 9 viz. febr. 9. and in our way to lima , we met with another barke at ariquipa , which had begun to loade some siluer and gold , but hauing had ( as it seemed from arica by land ) some notice of our coming , had vnloaden the same againe before our arriuall . yet in this our passage we met another barke loaden with linnen : some of which we thought might stand vs in some stead , and therefore tooke it with vs. feb. 15 at lima we arriued febr. 15. and notwithstanding the spaniards forces , though they had thirtie ships at that present in harbour there , whereof 17. ( most of them the especiall ships in all the south sea ) were fully ready , we entred and anchored all night in the middest of them , in the calao : and might haue made more spoile amongst them in few houres if we had beene affected to reuenge , then the spaniard could haue recouered againe in many yeares . but wee had more care to get vp that company which we had so long mist , then to recompence their cruell and hard dealing by an euen requitall , which now wee might haue tooke . this lima stands in 12. deg . 30. min. south latitude . here albeit no good newes of our ships could bee had , yet got we the newes of some things that seemed to comfort , if not to counteruaile our trauells thither , as namely , that in the ship of one mighell angell there , there were 1500. barres of plate , besides some other things ( as silkes , linnen , and in one a chest full of royals of plate ) which might stand vs in some stead in the other ships ; aboard whom we made somewhat bold to bid our selues welcome . here also we heard the report of some things that had befallen in & neere europe , since our departure thence ; in particular of the death of some great personages : as , the king of portugall , and both the kings of morocco and fesse , dead all three in one day at one battell : the death of the king of france , and the pope of rome : whose abhominations as they are in part cut off from some christian kingdomes , where his shame is manifest , so do his vassals and accursed instruments labour by all meanes possible to repaire that losse , by spreading the same the further in these parts , where his diuellish illusions and damnable deceiuings are not knowne . and as his doctrine takes place any where , so do the manners that necessarily accompanie the same infinuate themselues together with the doctrine . for as its true that in all the parts of america , where the spaniards haue any gouernment , the poisonous infection of popery hath spread it selfe ; so on the other side it is as true , that there is no citie , as lima , panama , mexico , &c. no towne or village , yea no house almost in all these prouinces , wherein ( amongst other the like spanish vertues ) not onely whoredome , but the filthinesse of sodome , not to bee named among christians , is not common without reproofe : the popes pardons being more rife in these parts then they be in any part of europe , for these filthinesses whereout he sucketh no small aduantage . notwithstanding the indians , who are nothing neerer the true knowledge of god then they were afore , abhorre this most filthie and loathsome manner of liuing ; shewing themselues in respect of the spaniards , as the scythians did in respect of the grecians : who in their barbarous ignorance , yet in life and behauiour , did so farre excell the wise and learned greekes , as they were short of them in the gifts of learning and knowledge . but as the pope and antichristian bishops labour by their wicked factors with tooth and naile to deface the glory of god , and to shut vp in darknesse the light of the gospell ; so god doth not suffer his name and religion to be altogether without witnesse , to the reprouing both of his false and damnable doctrine , as also crying out against his vnmeasurable and abhominable licentiounesse of the flesh , euen in these parts . for in this city of lima , not two monethes before our comming thither , there were certaine persons , to the number of twelue apprehended , examined , and condemned for the profession of the gospell , and reproouing the doctrines of men , with the filthie manners vsed in that city : of which twelue , sixe were bound to one stake and burnt , the rest remained yet in prison , to drinke of the same cup within few dayes . lastly , here we had intelligence of a certaine rich ship , which was loaden with gold and siluer for panama , that had set forth of this hauen the second of february . the very next day therefore in the morning ( viz. the 16. of the said moneth feb. 16 ) wee set sayle , as long as the wind would serue our turne , and towed our ship as soone as the wind failed ; continuing our course toward panama , making stay no where , but hastening all wee might , to get sight if it were possible , of that gallant ship the cacafuego , the great glory of the south sea ; which was gone from lima 14. dayes before vs. we fell with the port of paita in 4. deg . 4o . min. febr. 20 feb. 20. with port saint hellen and the riuer and port of guiaquill , febr. 24 febr. 24. we past the line febr. 28 the 28. and the first of march march 1 wee fell with cape francisco : where , about midday , we descried a sayle a head of vs , with whom after once we had spoken with her , we lay still in the same place about sixe dayes ; to recouer our breath againe which we had almost spent with hasty following , and to recall to mind what aduentures had past vs since our late comming from lima ; but especially to do iohn de anton a kindnesse , in freeing him of the care of those things with which his ship was loaden . this ship we found to bee the same of which we had heard , not onely in the calao of lima , but also by diuers occasions afterward ( which now we are at leasure to relate , viz. by a ship which we tooke betweene lima and paita : by another which we took loaden with wine in the port of paita : by a third loaden with tackling and implements for ships ( besides eightie pound waight in gold ) from guiaquill . and lastly , by gabriel aluarez , with whom we talked somewhat neearer the line ) we found her to be indeed the cacafuego : though before we left her , she were new named by a boy of her owne the cacaplata . we found in her some fruite , conserues , sugars , meale and other victuals , and ( that which was the especiallest cause of her heauy and slow sayling ) a certaine quantitie of iewels and precious stones , 13. chests of ryals of plate ; 80. pound waight in gold ; 26. tunne of vncoyned siluer ; two very faire gilt siluer drinking boules , and the like trifles , valued in all at about 360000. pezoes . we gaue the master a little linnen and the like , for these commodities ; and at the end of sixe dayes we bad farewell and parted . hee hastening somewhat lighter then before to panama , we plying off to sea , that we might with more leasure consider what course hence forward were fittest to be taken . and considering that now we were come to the northward of the line ( cape francisco standing in the entrance of the bay of panama , in 1. deg . of north latitude ) and that there was no likelihood or hope that our ships should be before vs that way by any meanes : seeing that in running so many degrees from the southermost ilāds hitherto , we could not haue any signe or notice of their passage that way , notwithstanding that we had made so diligent search , and carefull enquirie after them , in euery harbour or creeke almost as we had done ; and considering also that the time of the yeare now drew on , wherein we must attempt , or of necessitie wholly giue ouer that action which chiefly our generall had determined : namely , the discouery of what passage there was to be found , about the northerne parts of america , from the south sea , into our owne ocean ( which being once discouered , and made knowne to be nauigable , we should not onely do our countrie a good and notable seruice , but we also our selues , should haue a neerer cut and passage home : where otherwise , we were to make a very long and tedious voyage of it , which would hardly agree with our good liking , we hauing beene so long from home already , and so much of our strength seperated from vs ) which could not at all be done , if the opportunity of time were now neglected : we therefore all of vs willingly harkened , and consented to our generalls aduice : which was , first to seeke out some conuenient place , wherein to trimme our ship , and store our selues with wood and water and other prouisions , as we could get : and thenceforward to hasten on our intended journey , for the discouery of the said passage , through which we might with joy returne to our longed homes . from this cape before we set onward march the 7. march 7 shaping our course towards the iland of caines , with which we fell march 16. march 16 setling our selues for certaine dayes , in a fresh riuer , betweene the maine and it ; for the finishing of our needfull businesses as it is aforesaid . while we abode in this place , we felt a very terrible earthquake , the force whereof was such , that our ship and pinnace , riding very neere an english mile from the shoare , were shaken and did quiuer as if it had beene layd on drie land : we fond here many good commodities which wee wanted , as fish , fresh water , wood &c. besides alagartoes , munckeyes and the like , and in our iourny hither , we met with one ship more ( the last wee met with in all those coastes ) loaden with linnen , china silke and china-dishes , amongst which wee found also a faulcon of gold , handsomly wrought , with a great emerald set in the brest of it . march 24 from hence we parted the 24. day of the moneth forenamed , with full purpose to runne the neerest course , as the winde would suffer vs , without touch of land a long time ; and therefore passed by port papagaia ; the port of the vale , of the most rich and excellent balmes of lericho ; quantapico ; and diuerse others : as also certaine gulphes hereabouts , which without intermission , send forth such continuall and violent windes , that the spaniards , though their ships be good , dare not venture themselues too neere the danger of them . notwithstanding , hauing notice that we should be troubled with often calmes , and contrary windes , if we cotinued neere the coast , and did not runne of to sea to fetch the winde ; and that if we did so , we could not then fall with land againe when we would : our generall thought it needfull , that we should runne in with some place or other , before our departure from the coast ; to see if happily wee could , by traffique , augment our prouision of victuals , and other necessaries : that being at sea , we might not be driuen to any great want or necessitie albeit wee had reasonable store of good things aboard vs already . the next harbor therefore which we chanced with , apr. 15 on april 15. in 15. deg . 40. min. was guatulco so named of the spaniards who inhabited it , with whom we had some entercourse , to the supply of many things which we desired , and chiefely bread &c. and now hauing reasonably , as wee thought prouided our selues , we departed from the coast of america for the present : but not forgetting , before we gate a-shipboard , to take with vs also a certaine pot ( of about a bushell in bignesse ) full of ryalls of plate , which we found in the towne : together with a chaine of gold , and some other iewells , which we intreated a gentleman spaniard to leaue behinde him , as he was flying out of towne . apr. 16 from guatulco we departed the day following , viz. aprill 16. setting our course directly into the sea : whereon we sayled 500. leagues in longitude , to gee a winde : and betweene that and lune 3. 1400. leagues in all , till we came into 42. deg . of north latitude , where in the night following , we found such alteration of heate , into extreame and nipping cold , that our men in generall , did grieuously complaine thereof ; some of them feeling their healths much impaired thereby , neither was it , that this chanced in the night alone , but the day following carried with it , not onely the markes , but the stings and force of the night going before ; to the great admiration of vs all , for besides that the pinching and biting aire , was nothing altered ; the very roapes of our ship were stiffe , and the raine which fell , was an vnnatural congealed and frozen substance , so that we seemed rather to be in the frozen zone , then any way so neere vnto the sun , or these hotter climates . neither did this happen for the time onely , or by some sudden accident , but rather seemes indeed , to proceed from some ordinary cause , against the which the heate of the sun preuailes not , for it came to that extremity , in sayling but 2. deg . farther to the northward in our course : that though sea-men lack not good stomaches , yet it seemed a question to many amongst vs , whether their hands should feed their mouthes , or rather keepe themselues within their couerts , from the pinching cold that did benumme them . neither could we impute it to the tendernesse of our bodies , though we came lately from the extremitie of heate , by reason whereof we might be more sensible of the present cold : insomuch as the dead and sencelesse creatures , were as well affected with it as our selues , our meate as soone as it was remooued from the fire , would presently in a manner be frozen vp ; and our ropes and tackling , in few dayes were growne to that stiffenesse , that what 3. men afore were able with them to performe , now 6. men with their best strength , and vttermost endeauour , were hardly able to accomplish : whereby a sudden and great discouragement seased vpon the mindes of our men , and they were possessed with a great mislike , and doubting of any good to be done that way , yet would not our general be discouraged , but as wel by comfortable speeches , of the diuine prouidence , and of gods louing care ouer his children , out of the scriptures ; as also by other good and profitable perswasions , adding thereto his own cheerfull example , he so stirred them vp , to put on a good courage , and to quite themselues like men , to indure some short extremity , to haue the speedier comfort , and a little trouble , to obtaine the greater glory ; that euery man was throughly armed with willingnesse , and resolued to see the vttermost , if it were possible , of what good was to be done that way . the land in that part of america , bearing farther out into the west , then we before imagined , we were neerer on it then wee were aware ; and yet the neerer still wee came vnto it , the more extremitie of cold did sease vpon vs. iune 5 the 5. day of iune , wee were forced by contrary windes , to run in with the shoare , which we then first descried ; and to cast anchor in a bad bay , the best roade we could for the present meete with : where wee were not without some danger , by reason of the many extreme gusts , and flawes that beate vpon vs ; which if they ceased and were still at any time , immediatly vpon their intermission , there followed most vile , thicke , and stinking fogges ; against which the sea preuailed nothing , till the gusts of wind againe remoued them , which brought with them , such extremity and violence when they came , that there was no dealing or resisting against them . in this place was no abiding for vs ; and to go further north , the extremity of the cold ( which had now vtterly discouraged our men ) would not permit vs : and the winds directly bent against vs , hauing once gotten vs vnder sayle againe , commanded vs to the southward whether we would or no. from the height of 48. deg . in which now we were , to 38. we found the land by coasting alongst it to bee but low and reasonable plaine : euery hill ( whereof we saw many , but none verie high ) though it were in iune , and the sunne in his neerest approch vnto them being couered with snow . iune 17 in 38 deg . 30. min. we fell with a conuenient and fit harborough , and iune 17. came to anchor therein : where we continued till the 23. day of iuly following . during all which time , notwithstanding it was in the height of summer , and so neere the sunne ; yet were wee continually visited with like nipping colds , as we had felt before : insomuch that if violent exercises of our bodies , and busie imployment about our necessarie labours , had not sometimes compeld vs to the contrary , we could very well haue beene contented to haue kept about vs still our winter clothes ; yea ( had our necessities suffered vs ) to haue kept our beds ; neither could we at any time in whole fourteene dayes together , find the aire so cleare as to be able to take the height of sunne or starre . and here hauing so fit occasion , ( notwithstanding it may seeme to be besides the purpose of writing the history of this our voyage ) we will a little more diligently inquire into the causes of the continuance of the extreame cold in these parts : as also into the probabilities or vnlikelihoods of a passage to be found that way . neither was it ( as hath formerly beene touched ) the tendernesse of our bodies , comming so lately out of the heate , whereby the poores were opened , that made vs so sensible of the colds we here felt : in this respect , as in many others , we found our god a prouident father , and carefull physitian for vs. we lacked no outward helpes nor inward comforts , to restore and fortifie nature , had it beene decayed or weakened in vs ; neither was there wanting to vs the great experience of our generall , who had often himselfe proued the force of the burning zone ; whose aduice alwayes preuailed much to the preseruing of a moderate temper in our constitutions : so that euen after our departure from the heate wee alwayes found our bodies not as sponges , but strong and hardned , more able to beare out cold , though we came out of excesse of heate , then a number of chamber champions could haue beene , who lye on their feather-beds till they go to sea , or rather whose teeth in a temperate aire do beate in their heads , at a cup of cold sack and sugar by the fire . and that it was not our tendernes , but the very extremitie of the cold it selfe , that caused this sensiblenes in vs , may the rather appeare in that the naturall inhabitants of the place ( with whom we had for a long season familiar intercourse , as is to be related ) who had neuer beene acquainted with such heate ; to whom the countrey , ayre , and climate was proper ; and in whom custome of cold was as it were a second nature : yet vsed to come shiuering to vs in their warme furres ; crowding close together body to body , to receiue heate one of another , and sheltring themselues vnder a lee bancke , if it were possible , and as often as they could , labouring to shroude themselues vnder our garments also , to keepe them warme . besides how vnhandsome and deformed appeared the face of the earth it selfe shewing trees without leaues , and the ground without greennes in those moneths of iune and iuly . the poore birds and foules not daring ( as we had great experience to obserue it ) not daring so much as once to arise from their nests , after the first egge layed , till it with all the rest be hatched , and brought to some strength of nature , able to helpe it selfe . onely this recompence hath nature affoorded them , that the heate of their owne bodies being exceeding great , it perfecteth the creature with greater expedition , and in shorter time then is to be found in many other places . as for the causes of this extremity they seeme not to be so deeply hidden , but that they may at least in part be guessed at : the chiefest of which we conceiue to be the large spreading of the asian and american continent , which ( somewhat northward of these parts ) if they be not fully ioyned , yet seeme they to come very neere one to the other . from whose high and snow-couered mountaines , the north and north-west winds ( the constant visitants of those coasts ) send abroad their frozen nimphes , to the infecting of the whole aire with this insufferable sharpnesse : not permitting the sunne , no not in the pride of his heate , to dissolue that congealed matter and snow , which they haue breathed out so nigh the sunne , and so many degrees distant from themselues . and that the north and north-west winds are here constant in iune and iuly , as the north wind alone is in august and september ; we not onely found it by our owne experience , but were fully confirmed in the opinion thereof , by the continued obseruations of the spaniards . hence comes the generall squalidnesse and barrennesse of the countrie ; hence comes it , that in the middest of their summer , the snow hardly departeth euen from their very doores , but is neuer taken away from their hils at all ; hence come those thicke mists and most stinking fogges , which increase so much the more , by how much higher the pole is raised : wherein a blind pilot is as good as the best director of a course . for the sunne striuing to performe his naturall office , in eleuating the vapours out of these inferior bodies ; draweth necessarily abundance of moisture out of the sea : bat the nipping cold ( from the former causes ) meeting and opposing the sunnes indeuour , forces him to giue ouer his worke imperfect : and instead of higher eleuation , to leaue in the lowest region , wandring vpon the face of the earth and waters , as it were a second sea : through which its owne beames cannot possibly pierce , vnlesse sometimes when the sudden violence of the winds doth helpe to scatter and breake through it ; which thing happeneth very seldome , and when it happeneth is of no continuance . some of our marriners in this voyage had formerly beene at wardhouse , in 72. deg . of north latitude ; who yet affirmed , that they felt no such nipping cold there in the end of summer , when they departed thence , as they did here in those hottest moneths of iune and iuly . and also from these reasons we coniecture ; that either there is no passage at all through these northerne coasts ( which is most likely ) or if there be , that yet it is vnnauigable . adde hereunto , that though we searched the coast diligently , euen vnto the 48. deg . yet found we not the land , to trend so much as one point in any place towards the east , but rather running on continually northwest , as if it went directly to meet with asia ; and euen in that height when we had a franke wind , to haue carried vs through , had there beene a passage , yet we had a smooth and calme sea , with ordinary flowing and reflowing , which could not haue beene , had there beene a frete : of which we rather infallibly concluded then coniectured , that there was none . but to returne . iune 18 the next day after our comming to anchor in the aforesaid harbour , the people of the countrey shewed themselues ; sending off a man with great expedition to vs in a canow . who being yet but a little from the shoare , and a great way from our ship , spake to vs continually as he came rowing on . and at last at a reasonable distance staying himselfe , he began more solemnely a long and tedious oration , after his manner : vsing in the deliuerie thereof , many gestures and signes ; mouing his hands , turning his head and body many wayes ; and after his oration ended , with great shew of reuerence and submission , returned back to shoare againe . he shortly came againe the second time in like manner , and so the third time : when he brought with him ( as a present from the rest ) a bunch of feathers , much like the feathers of a blacke crow , very neatly and artificially gathered vpon a string , and drawne together into a round bundle , being verie cleane and finely cut , and bearing in length an equall proportion one with another ; a speciall cognizance ( as wee afterwards obserued ) which they that guard their kings person , weare on their heads . with this also he brought a little basket made of rushes , and filled with an herbe which they called tabáh . both which being tyed to a short rodde , he cast into our boate . our generall intended to haue recompenced him immediatly with many good things , he would haue bestowed vpon him : but entring into the boate to deliuer the same , he could not be drawne to receiue them by any meanes : saue one hat , which being cast into the water out of the ship , he tooke vp ( refusing vtterly to meddle with any other thing , though it were vpon a board put off vnto him ) and so presently made his returne . after which time , our boate could row no way , but wondring at vs as at gods , they would follow , the same with admiration . the 3. day following , viz. ian. 21 the 21. our ship hauing receiued a leake at sea , was brought to-anchor neerer the shoare , that her goods being landed , she might be repaired : but for that we were to preuent any danger , that might chance against our safety , our generall first of all landed his men , with all necessary prouision , to build tents and make a fort for the defence of our selues and goods : and that wee might vnder the shelter of it , with more safety ( what euer should befall ) end our businsse ; which when the people of the country perceiued vs doing , as men set on fire to war , in defence of their countrie , in great hast and companies , with such weapons as they had , they came downe vnto vs ; and yet with no hostile meaning , or intent to hurt vs : standing when they drew neere , as men rauished in their mindes , with the sight of such things as they neuer had seene , or heard of before that time : their errand being rather with submission and feare to worship vs as gods , then to haue any warre with vs as with mortall men . which thing as it did partly shew it selfe at that instant , so did it more and more manifest it selfe afterwards , during the whole time of our abode amongst them . at this time , being willed by signes to lay from them their bowes and arrowes , they did as they were directed , and so did all the rest , as they came more and more by companies vnto them , growing in a little while , to a great number both of men and women . to the intent therefore , that this peace which they themselues so willingly sought , might without any cause of the breach thereof , on our part giuen , be continued ; and that wee might with more safety and expedition , end our businesses in quiet ; our generall with all his company , vsed all meanes possible , gently to intreate them , bestowing vpon each of them liberally , good and necessary things to couer their nakednesse , withall signifying vnto them , we were no gods but men , and had neede of such things to couer our owne shame ; teaching them to vse them to the same ends : for which cause also wee did eate and drinke in their presence , giuing them to vnderstand , that without that wee could not liue , and therefore were but men as well as they . notwithstanding nothing could perswade them , nor remoue that opinion , which they had conceiued of vs , that wee should be gods. in recompence of those things which they had receiued of vs , as shirts linnen cloth , &c. they bestowed vpon our generall , and diuerse of our company , diuerse things , as feathers , cawles of networke , the quiuers of their arrowes , made of fawne-skins , and the very skins of beasts that their women wore vpon their bodies . hauing thus had their fill of this times visiting and beholding of vs , they departed with ioy to their houses , which houses are digged round within the earth , and haue from the vppermost brimmes of the circle , clefts of wood set vp , and ioyned close together at the top , like our spires on the steeple of a church : which being couered with earth , suffer no water to enter , and are very warme , the doore in the most part of them , performes the office also of a chimney , to let out the smoake : it s made in bignesse and fashion , like to an ordinary scuttle in a ship , and standing slopewise : their beds are the hard ground , onely with rushes strewed vpon it , and lying round about the house , haue their fire in the middest , which by reason that the house is but low vaulted , round and close , giueth a maruelous reflexion to their bodies to heate the same . their men for the most part goe naked , the women take akinde of bulrushes , and kembing it after the manner of hempe , make themselues thereof a loose garment , which being knitte about their middles , hanges downe about their hippes , and so affordes to them a couering of that , which nature teaches should be hidden : about their shoulders , they weare also the skin of a deere , with the haire vpon it . they are very obedient to their-husbands , and exceeding ready in all seruices : yet of themselues offring to do nothing , without the consents , or being called of the men . as soone as they were returned to their houses , they began amongst themselues a kind of most lamentable weeping & crying out ; which they continued also a great while together , in such sort , that in the place where they left vs ( being neere about 3. quarters of an english mile distant from them ) we very plainely , with wonder and admiration did heare the same : the women especially , extending their voices , in a most miserable and dolefull manner of shreeking . notwithstanding this humble manner of presenting themselues , and awfull demeanour vsed towards vs , we thought it no wisedowe too farre to trust them ( our experience of former infidels dealing with vs before , made vs carefull to prouide against an alteration of their affections , or breach of peace if it should happen ) and therefore with all expedition we set vp our tents , and entrenched our selues with walls of stone : that so being fortified within our selues , we might be able to keepe off the enemie ( if they should so proue ) from comming amongst vs without our good wills : this being quickly finished we went the more cheerefully and securely afterward , about our other businesse . against the end of two daies ( during which time they had not againe beene with vs ) there was gathered together a great assembly of men , women , and children ( inuited by the report of them which first saw vs , who as it seemes , had in that time , of purpose dispersed themselues into the country , to make knowne the newes ) who came now the second time vnto vs , bringing with them as before had beene done , feathers and bagges of tobàh for presents , or rather indeed for sacrifices , vpon this perswasion that we were gods. when they came to the top of the hill , at the bottome whereof wee had built our fort , they made a stand ; where one ( appointed as their chiefe speaker ) wearied both vs his hearers , and himselfe too , with a long and tedious oration : deliuered with strange and violent gestures , his voice being extended to the vttermost strength of nature , and his words falling so thicke one in the neck of another , that he could hardly fetch his breath againe : as soone as he had concluded , all the rest , with a reuerend bowing of their bodies ( in a dreaming manner , and long producing of the same ) cryed oh : thereby giuing their consents , that all was very true which he had spoken , and that they had vttered their minde by his mouth vnto vs ; which done , the men laying downe their bowes vpon the hill , and leauing their women and children behinde them , came downe with their presents ; in such sort , as if they had appeared before a god indeed : thinking themselues happy , that they might haue accesse vnto our generall , but much more happy , when they sawe that he would receiue at their hands , those things which they so willingly had presented : and no doubt , they thought themselues neerest vnto god , when they sate or stood next to him : in the meane time the women , as if they had beene desperate , vsed vnnaturall violence against themselues , crying and shreeking piteously , tearing their flesh with their nailes from their cheekes , in a monstrous manner , the blood streaming downe along their brests ; besides despoiling the vpper parts of their bodies , of those single couerings they formerly had , and holding their hands aboue their heads , that they might not rescue their brests from harme , they would with furie cast themselues vpon the ground , neuer respecting whether it were cleane or soft , but dashed themselues in this manner on hard stones , knobby , hillocks , stocks of wood , and pricking bushes , or what euer else lay in their way , itterating the same course againe and againe : yea women great with child , some nine or ten times each , and others holding out till 15. or 16. times ( till their strengths failed them ) exercised this cruelty against themselues : a thing more grieuous for vs to see , or suffer could we haue holpe it , then trouble to them ( as it seemed ) to do it . this bloudie sacrifie ( against our wils ) being thus performed , our generall with his companie in the prefence of those strangers fell to prayers : and by signes in lifting vp our eyes and hands to heauen , signified vnto them , that that god whom we did serue , and whom they ought to worship , was aboue : beseeching god if it were his good pleasure to-open by some meanes their blinded eyes ; that they might in due time be called to the knowledge of him the true and euerliuing god , and of iesus christ whom he hath sent , the saluation of the gentiles . in the time of which prayers , singing of psalmes , and reading of certaine chapters in the bible , they sate very attentiuely : and obseruing the end at euery pause , with one voice still cryed , oh , greatly rejoycing in our exercises . yea they tooke such pleasure in our singing of psalmes , that whensoeuer they resorted to vs , their first request was commonly this , gnaáh , by which they intreated that we would sing . our general hauing now bestowed vpon them diuers things , at their departure they restored them all againe ; none carrying with him any thing of whatsoeuer hee had receiued , thinking themselues sufficiently enriched and happie , that they had found so free accesse to see vs. against the end of three daies more ( the newes hauing the while spread it self farther , and as it seemed a great way vp into the countrie ) were assembled the greatest number of people , which wee could reasonably imagine , to dwell within any conuenient distance round about . amongst the rest , the king himselfe , a man of a goodly stature and comely personage attended with his guard , of about 100. tall and warlike men , this day , viz. iune 26 iune 26. came downe to see vs. before his comming , were sent two embassadors or messengers to our generall , to signifie that their hióh , that is , their king was coming and at hand . they in the deliuery of their message , the one spake with a soft and low voice , prompting his fellow ; the other pronounced the same word by word after him , with a voice more audible : continuing their proclamation ( for such it was ) about halfe an houre . which being ended , they by signes made request to our generall , to send something by their hands to their hióh or king , as a token that his comming might be in peace . our generall willingly satisfied their desire ; and they , glad men , made speedy returne to their hióh : neither was it long before their king ( making as princely a shew as possibly he could ) with all his traine came forward . in their coming forwards they cryed continually after a singing manner with a lustie courage . and as they drew neerer and neerer towards vs , so did they more and more striue to behaue themselues with a certaine comelinesse and grauity in all their actions . in the forefront came a man of a large body and goodly aspect bearing the septer or royall mace ( made of a certaine kind of blacke wood , and in length about a yard and a halfe ) before the king . whereupon hanged two crownes , a bigger and a lesse , with three chaines of a maruellous length , and often doubled ; besides a bagge of the herbe tabáh . the crownes were made of knitworke , wrought vpon most curiously with feathers of diuers colours , very artificially placed , and of a formall fashion : the chaines seemed of a bony substance : euery linke or part thereof being very little , thinne , most finely burnished , with a hole pierced through the middest . the number of linkes going to make one chaine , is in a manner infinite : but of such estimation it s amongst them , that few be the persons that are admitted to weare the same : and euen they to whom its lawfull to vse them , yet are stinted what number they shall vse ; as some ten , some twelue , some twentie , and as they exceed in number of chaines , so are they thereby knowne to be the more honorable personages . next vnto him that bare his scepter , was the king himselfe with his guard about him : his attire vpon his head was a cawle of knitworke , wrought vpon somewhat like the crownes , but differing much both in fashion and perfectnesse of worke ; vpon his shoulders he had on a coate of the skins of conies , reaching to his wast : his guard also had each coats of the same shape , but of other skins : some hauing cawles likewise stucke with feathers , or couered ouer with a certaine downe , which groweth vp in the countrey vpon an herbe much like our lectuce ; which exceeds any other downe in the world for finenesse , and beeing layed vpon their cawles by no winds can be remoued : of such estimation is this herbe amongst them , that the downe thereof is not lawfull to be worne , but of such persons as are about the king ( to whom also it is permitted to weare plume of feathers on their heads , in signe of honour ) and the seeds are not vsed but onely in sacrifice to their gods . after these in their order , did follow the naked sort of common people ; whose haire being long , was gathered into a bunch behind , in which stucke plumes of feathers , but in the forepart onely single feathers like hornes , euery one pleasing himselfe in his owne deuice . this one thing was obserued to bee generall amongst them all ; that euery one had his face painted , some which white , some blacke , and some with other colours , euery man also bringing in his hand one thing or other for a gift or present : their traine or last part of their company consisted of women and children , each woman bearing against her breast a round basket or two , hauing within them diuers things , as bagges of tobâh , a roote which they call petáh , whereof they make a kind of meale , and either bake it into bread , or eate it raw ; broyled fishes like a pilchard ; the seed and downe aforenamed , with such like : their baskets were made in fashion like a deepe boale , and though the matter were rushes , or such other kind of stuffe , yet was it so cunningly handled , that the most part of them would hold water ; about the brimmes they were hanged with peeces of the shels of pearles , and in some places with two or three linkes at a place , of the chaines forenamed : thereby signifying , that they were vessels wholly dedicated to the onely vse of the gods they worshipped : and besides this , they were wrought vppon with the matted downe of red feathers , distinguished into diuers workes and formes . in the meane time our generall hauing assembled his men together ( as forecasting the danger , and worst that might fall our ) prepared himselfe to stand vpon sure ground , that wee might at all times be ready in our owne defence , if any thing should chance otherwise then was looked for or expected . wherefore euery man being in a warlike readinesse , he marched within his fenced place , making against their approach a most warlike shew ( as he did also at all other times of their resort ) whereby if they had beene desperate enemies , they could not haue chosen but haue conceiued terrour and feare , with discouragement to attempt any thing against vs , in beholding of the same . when they were come somewhat neere vnto vs , trooping togetehr , they gaue vs a common or a generall salutation : obseruing in the meane time a generall silence . whereupon he who bare the scepter before the king , being prompted by another whom the king assigned to that office , pronounced with an audible and manly voice , what the other spake to him in secret : continuing , whether it were his oration or proclamation , at the least halfe an houre . at the close whereof , there was a common amen , in signe of approbation giuen by euery person : and the king himselfe with the whole number of men and women ( the little children onely remaining behind ) came further downe the hill , and as they came set themselues againe in their former order . and being now come to the foot of the hill and neere out for t , the scepter bearer with a composed countenance and stately carriage began a song , and answerable thereunto , obserued a kind of measures in a dance : whom the king with his guard and euery other sort of person following , did in like manner sing and daunce , sauing onely the women who danced but kept silence . as they danced they still came on : and our generall perceiuing their plaine and simple meaning , gaue order that they might freely enter without interruption within our bulwarke : where after they had entred they yet continued their song and dance a reasonable time : their women also following them with their wassaile boales in their hands , their bodies bruised , their faces torne , their dugges , breasts , and other parts bespotted with bloud , trickling downe from the wounds , which with their nailes they had made before their comming . after that they had satisfied or rather tired themselues in this manner , they made signes to our generall to haue him sit down ; vnto whom both the king and diuers others made seuerall orations , or rather indeed if wee , had vnderstood them , supplications , that hee would take the prouince and kingdome into his hand , and become their king and patron : making signes that they would resigne vnto him their right and title in the whole land , and become his vassals in themselues and their posterities : which that they might make vs indéed beleeue that it was their true meaning and intent ; the king himselfe with all the rest with one consent , and with great reuerence , ioyfully singing a song , set the crowne vpon his head ; inriched his necke with all their chaines ; and offering vnto him many other things , honoured him by the name of hyóh . adding thereunto ( as it might seeme ) a song and dance of triumph : because they were not onely visited of the gods ( for so they still iudged vs to be ) but the great and chiefe god was now become their god , their king and patron , and themselues were become the onely happie and blessed people in all the world. these things being so freely offered , our generall thought not meet to reiect or refuse the same : both for that he would not giue them any cause of mistrust , or disliking of him ( that being the onely place , wherein at this present , we were of necessitie inforced to seeke reliefe of many things ) and chiefely , for that he knew not to what good end god had brought this to passe , or what honour and profit it might bring to our countrie in time to come . wherefore in the name and to the vse of her most excellent maiesty , he tooke the scepter crowne and dignity , of the sayd countrie into his hand ; wishing nothing more , then that it had layen so fitly for her maiesty to enioy , as it was now her proper owne , and that the riches and treasures thereof ( wherewith in the vpland countries it abounds ) might with as great conueniency be transported , to the enriching of her kingdome here at home , as it is in plenty to be attained there : and especially , that so tractable and louing a people , as they shewed themselues to be , might haue meanes to haue manifested their most willing obedience the more vnto her , and by her meanes , as a mother and nurse of the church of christ , might by the preaching of the gospell , be brought to the right knowledge , and obedience of the true and euerliuing god. the ceremonies of this resigning , and receiuing of the kingdome being thus performed , the common sort both of men and women , leauing the king and his guard about him , with our generall , dispersed themselues among our people , taking a diligent view or suruey of euery man ; and finding such as pleased their fancies ( which commonly were the youngest of vs ) they presently enclosing them about , offred their sacrifices vnto them , crying out with lamentable shreekes and moanes , weeping , and scratching , and tearing their very flesh off their faces with their nailes , neither were it the women alone which did this , but euen old men , roaring and crying out , were as violent as the women were . we groaned in spirit to see the power of sathan so farre preuaile , in seducing these so harmelesse soules , and laboured by all means , both by shewing our great dislike , and when that serued not , by violent withholding of their hands from that madnesse , directing them ( by our eyes and hands lift vp towards heauen ) to the liuing god whom they ought to serue : but so mad were they vpon their idolatry , that forcible withholding them wou'd not preuaile ( for as soone as they could get liberty to their hands againe , they would be as violent as they were before ) till such time , as they when they worshipped , were conueyed from them into the tents , whom yet as men desides themselues , they would with fury and outrage seeke to haue againe . after that time had a little qualified their madnes , they then began to shew & make knowne vnto vs their griefes and diseases which they carried about them , some of them hauing old aches , some shruncke sinewes , some old soares and canckred vlcers , some wounds more lately receiued , and the like , in most lamentable manner crauing helpe and cure thereof from vs : making signes , that if we did but blowe vpon their griefes , or but touched the diseased places , they would be whole . their griefes we could not but take pitty on them , and to our power desire to helpe them : but that ( if it pleased god to open their eyes ) they might vnderstand we were but men and no gods , we vsed ordinary meanes , as lotions , emplaisters , and vnguents most fitly ( as farre as our skills could guesse ) agreeing to the natures of their griefes , beseeching god , if it made for his glory , to giue cure to their diseases by these meanes . the like we did from time to time as they resorted to vs. few were the dayes , wherein they were absent from vs , during the whole time of our abode in that place : and ordinarily euery third day , they brought their sacrifices , till such time , as they certainely vnderstood our meaning , that we tooke no pleasure , but were displeased with them : whereupon their zeale abated , and their sacrificing , for a season , to our good liking ceased ; not-withstanding they continued still to make their resort vnto vs in great abundance , and in such sort , that they oft-times forgate , to prouide meate for their owne sustenance ; so that our generall ( of whom they made account as of a father ) was faine to performe the office of a father to them , relieuing them with such victualls , as we had prouided for our selues , as , muscles , scales , and such like , wherein they tooke exceeding much content ; and seeing that their sacrifices were displeasing to vs , yet ( hating ingratitude ) they sought to recompence vs , with such things as they had , which they willingly inforced vpon vs , though it were neuer so necessarie or needfull for themselues to keepe . they are a people of a tractable , free , and louing nature , without guile or treachery ; they bowes and arrowes ( their only weapons , and almost all their wealth ) they vse very skillfully , but yet not to do any great harme with them , being by reason of their weakenesse , more fit for children then for men , sending the arrow neither farre off , nor with any great force : and yet are the men commonly so strong of body , that that , which 2. or 3. of our men could hardly beare , one of them would take vpon his backe , and without grudging carrie it easily away , vp hill and downe hill an english mile together : they are also exceeding swift in running , and of long continuance ; the vse whereof is so familiar with them , that they seldome goe , but for the most part runne . one thing we obserued in them with admiration : that if at any time , they chanced to see a fish , so neere the shoare , that they might reach the place without swimming , they would neuer , or very seldome misse to take it . after that our necessary businesses were well dispatched , our generall with his gentlemen , and many of his company , made a journy vp into the land , to see the manner of their dwelling , and to be the better acquainted , with the nature and commodities of the country . their houses were all such as wee haue formerly described , and being many of them in one place , made seuerall villages here and there . the inland we found to be farre different from the shoare , a goodly country , and fruitfull soyle , stored with many blessings fit for the vse of man : infinite was the company of very large and fat deere , which there we sawe by thousands , as we supposed , in a heard : besides a multitude of a strange kinde of conies , by farre exceeding them in number : their heads and bodies , in which they resemble other conies , are but small ; his tayle like the tayle of a rat , exceeding long ; and his feet like the pawes of a want or moale ; vnder his chinne , on either side , he hath a bagge , into which he gathereth his meate , when he hath filled his belly abroade , that he may with it , either feed his young , or feed himselfe , when he lists not to trauaile from his burrough : the people eate their bodies , and make great account of their skinnes , for their kings holidaies coate was made of them . this country our generall named albion , and that for two causes ; the one in respect of the white bancks and cliffes , which lie toward the sea : the other , that it might haue some affinity , euen in name also , with our owne country , which was sometime so called . before we went from thence , our generall caused to be set vp , a monument of our being there ; as also of her maiesties , and successors right and title to that kingdome , namely , a plate of brasse , fast nailed to a great and firme post ; whereon is engrauen her graces name , and the day and yeare of our arriuall there , and of the free giuing vp , of the prouince and kingdome , both by the king and people , into her maiesties hands : together with her highnesse picture , and armes in a piece of sixpence currant english monie , shewing it selfe by a hole made of purpose through the plate : vnderneath was likewise engrauen the name of our generall &c. the spaniards neuer had any dealing , or so much as set a foote in this country ; the vtmost of their discoueries , reaching onely to many degrees southward of this place . and now , as the time of our departure was perceiued by them to draw nigh , so did the sorrowes and miseries of this people , seeme to themselues to increase vpon them ; and the more certaine they were of our going away , the more doubtfull they shewed themselues , what they might doe ; so that we might easily iudge that that ioy ( being exceeding great ) wherewith they receiued vs at our first arriuall , was cleane drowned in their excessiue sorrow for our departing : for they did not onely loose on a sudden all mirth , ioy , glad countenance , pleasant speeches , agility of body , familiar reioycing one with another , and all pleasure what euer flesh and bloud might bee delighted in , but with sighes and sorrowings , with heauy hearts and grieued minds , they powred out wofull complaints and moanes , with bitter teares and wringing of their hands , tormenting themselues . and as men refusing all comfort , they onely accounted themselues as cast-awayes , and those whom the gods were about to forsake : so that nothing we could say or do , was able to ease them of their so heauy a burthen , or to deliuer them from so desperate a straite , as our leauing of them did seeme to them that it would cast them into . howbeit seeing they could not still enioy our presence , they ( supposing vs to be gods indeed ) thought it their duties to intreate vs that being absent , we would yet be mindfull of them , and making signes of their desires , that in time to come wee would see them againe , they stole vpon vs a sacrifice , and set it on fire erre we were aware ; burning therein a chaine and a bunch of feathers . we laboured by all meanes possible to withhold or withdraw them but could not preuaile , till at last we fell to prayers and singing of psalmes , whereby they were allured immediatly to forget their folly , and leaue their sacrifice vnconsumed , suffering the fire to go out , and imitating vs in all our actions ; they fell a lifting vp their eyes and hands to heauen as they saw vs do . iuly 23 the 23. of iuly they tooke a sorrowfull farewell of vs , but being loath to leaue vs , they presently ranne to the tops of the hils to keepe vs in their sight as long as they could , making fires before and behind , and on each side of them , burning therein ( as is to be supposed ) sacrifices at our departure . not farre without this harborough did lye certaine ilands ( we called them the ilands of saint iames ) hauing on than plentifull and great store of seales and birds , with one of which wee fell iuly 24 iuly 24. whereon we found such prouision as might competently serue our turne for a while . we departed againe the day next following , viz. iuly 35. iuly 25. and our generall now considering , that the extremity of the cold not only continued but increased , the sunne being gone farther from vs , and that the wind blowing still ( as it did at first ) from the northwest , cut off all hope of finding a passage through these northerne parts , thought it necessarie to loose no time ; and therefore with generall consent of all , bent his course directly to tunne with the ilands of the moluccas . and so hauing nothing in our view but aire and sea , without sight of any land for the space of full 68. dayes together , wee continued our course through the maine ocean , till september 30. sept. 30. following , on which day we fell in kenne of certaine ilands , lying about eight degrees to the northward of the line . from these ilands present'y vpon the discouery of vs , came a great number of canowes , hauing each of them in some foure , in some sixe , in some fourteene or fifteene men , bringing with them coques , fish , potatos , and certaine fruites to small purpose . their canowes were made after the fashion , that the canowes of all the rest of the ilands of moluccas for the most part are : that is of one tree , hollowed within with great art and cunning , being made so smooth both within and without , that they bore a glosse , as if it were a harnesse most finely burnished : a prowe and sterne they had of one fashion , yeelding inward in manner of a semicircle , of a great height , and hanged full of certaine white and glistering s●●●ls for brauery : one each side of their canows , lay out two peeces of timber about a yard and halfe long , more or lesse according to the capacitie of their boate . at the ends whereof was fastned crossewise a great cane , the vse whereof was to keepe their canowes from ouerthrowing , and that they might be equally borne vp on each side . the people themselues haue the neather parts of their eares cut round or circlewise , hanging downe very low vpon their cheeks , wherein they hang things of a reasonable weight : the nailes on the fingers of some of them , were at least an inch long , and their teeth as blacke as pitch ; the colour whereof they vse to renew by often eating of an herbe , with a kind of powder , which in a cane they carrie about them to the same purpose . the first sort and company of those canowes beeing come to our ship ( which then by reason of a scant wind made little way ) very subtilly and against their natures , began in peace to traffique with vs , giuing vs one thing for another very orderly , intending ( as we perceiued ) hereby to worke a greater mischiefe to vs : intreating vs by signes most earnestly to draw neerer towards the shore , that they might ( if possible ) make the easier prey both of the ship and vs. but these passing away , and others continually resorting , wee were quickly able to guesse at them what they were : for if they receiued any thing once into their hands , they would neither giue recompence nor restitution of it , but thought what euer they could finger to bee their owne : expecting always with browes of brasse to receiue more , but would part with nothing : yea being reiected for their bad dealing , as those with whom we would haue no more to do , vsing vs so euilly , they could not be satisfied till they had giuen the attempt to reuenge themselues , because we would not giue them whatsoeuer they would haue for nothing : and hauing stones good store in their canowes , let flie a maine of them against vs. it was farre from our generals meaning to requite their malice by like iniurie . yet that they might know that be had power to doe them harme ( if he had listed ) he caused a great peece to be shot off not to hurt them but to affright them . which wrought the desired effect amongst them , for at the noise thereof , they euery one leaped out of his canow into the water , and diuing vnder the keele of their boates , staied them from going any way till our ship was gone a good way from them . then they all lightly recouered into their canowes , and got them with speed toward the shoare . notwithstanding other new companies ( but all of the same mind ) continually made resort vnto vs. and seeing that there was no good to be got by violence , they put on a shew of seeming honestie , and offering in shew to deale with vs by way of exchange ; vnder that pretence they cunningly fell a filching of what they could , and one of them puld a dagger and kniues from one of our mens girdles , and being required to restore it againe , he rather vsed what meanes he could to catch at more . neither could we at all be to ridde of this vngracious company , till we made some of them feele some smart as well as terror : and so we left that place by all passengers to be knowne hereafter by the name of the island of theeues . octob. 3 till the third of october wee could not get cleare of these consorts , but from thence we continued our course without sight of land till the octob. 16 16. of the same moneth , when we fell with foure ilands standing in 7. deg . 5. min. to the northward of the line . octob. 21 we coasted them till the 21. day , and then anchored and watered vpon the biggest of them called mindanao . octob. 22 the 22. of october as we past betweene two ilands , about sixe or eight leagues south of mindanao , there came from them two canows to haue talked with vs , and we would willingly haue talked with them , but there arose so much wind that put vs from them to the southwards . octob. 25 october 25. we passed by the iland named talao in 3. deg . 40. min. we saw to the northward of it three or foure other ilands , octob. 30 teda , saeln saran , ( three ilands so named to vs by an indian ) the middle whereof stands in 3. deg . we past the last saue one of thes ▪ & nouemb. 1 the first day of the following moneth in like manner , we past the i le suaro in 1. deg . 50. min , and nou. 3 the third of nouember we came in sight of the ilands of the moluccaes as we desired . these are foure high piked ilands , their names , tirenáte , tidóre , matchan , baetchan , all of them very fruitfull , and yeelding abundance of cloues , whereof wee furnished our selues of as much as we desired at a very cheape rate . at the east of them lyes a very great iland called gillola . we directed our course to haue gone to tidore but in coasting along a little iland belonging to the king of terenate , nou. 4 nouemb . 4. his deputy or viceroy with all expedition came off to our ship in a canow , and without any feare or doubting of our good meaning came presently aboard . who after some conference with our generall , intreated him by any meanes to runne with terenate , not with tidore , assuring him that his king would be wondrous glad of his comming , and be ready to do for him what he could , and what our generall in reason should require : for which purpose he himselfe would that night bee with his king to carry him the newes : with whom if he once dealt , he should find , that as he was a king so his word should stand ; wheras if he dealt with the portingals ( who had the command of tidore ) he should find in them nothing but deceit and treachery . and besides that if he went to tidore before he came to terenate , than would his king haue nothing to doe with vs , for he held the portingall as an enemy . on these perswasions our generall resolued to runne with terenate , where the next day very early in the morning we came to anchor : and presently , our general sent a messenger to the king with a veluet cloake , for a present and token that his comming should be in peace : and that he required no other thing at his hands , but that ( his victuals being spent in so long a voiage ) he might haue supply from him by way of traffique and exchange of marchandise ( whereof he had store of diuers sorts ) of such things as he wanted . which he thought he might be the bolder to require at his hands , both for that the thing was lawfull , and that he offered him no preiudice or wrong therein , as also because he was intreated to repaire to that place by his viceroy at mutir , who assured him of necessarie prouision in such manner as now he required the same . before this , the viceroy according to his promise had beene with the king , signifying vnto him what a mighty prince and kingdome we belonged vnto , what good things the king might receiue from vs , not onely now , but for hereafter by way of traffique : yea what honour and benefit it might be to him , to be in league and friendship with so noble and famous a prince as we serued : and farther what a discouragement it would be to the portugals his enemies to heare and see it : in hearing whereof the king was so presently moued to the well liking of the matter , that before our messenger could come halfe the way , he had sent the viceroy with diuers others of his nobles and councellors to our generall , with speciall message that he should not onely haue what things he needed , or would require with peace and friendship , but that be would willingly entertaine amitie with so famous and renowned a princes as was ours , and that if it seemed good in her eyes to accept of it , he would sequester the commodities and traffique of his whole iland from others , especially from his enemies the portugals ( from whom he had nothing but by the sword ) and reserue it to the intercourse of our nation , if we would embrace it : in token whereof he had now sent to our generall his signet , and would within short time after , come in his owne person with his brethren and nobles with boats or canowes into our ship , and be a meanes of bringing her into a safer harbour . while they were deliuering their message to vs , our messenger was come vnto the court , who being met by the way by certaine noble personages , was with great solemnitie conueied into the kings presence : at whose hands he was most friendly and graciously entertained , and hauing deliuered his errand together with his present vnto the king , the king seemed to him to iudge himselfe blame-worthy , that he had not sooner hasted in person to present himselfe to our generall , who came so farre and from so great a prince ; and presently with all expedition , he made ready himselfe with the chiefest of all his states and councellors to make repaire vnto vs. the manner of his comming as it was princely , so truly it seemed to vs very strange & maruellous : seruing at the present not so much to set out his owne royall and kingly state ( which was great ) as to do honour to her highnesse to whom we belonged ; wherein how willingly he imployed himselfe , the sequell will make manifest . first therefore , before his comming , did he send off 3. great and large canowes ; in each whereof , were certaine of the greatest personages that were about him , attired all of them in white lawne , or cloth of calecut , hauing ouer their heads , from one end of the canow to the other , a couering of thinne and fine mats , borne vp by a frame made of reedes , vnder which euery man sate in order according to his dignity ; the hoary heads , of many of them , set forth the greater reuerence due to their persons , and manifestly shewed , that the king vsed the aduice of a graue and prudent counsell , in his affaires . besides these , were diuerse others , young and comely men , a great number attired in white as were the other , but with manifest differences : hauing their places also vnder the same couering , but in inferior order , as their calling required . the rest of the men were souldiers , who stood in comely order round about on both sides ; on the outside of whom , againe did sit the rowers in certaine galleries , which being 3. on each side all alongst the canow , did lie off from the side thereof , some 3. or 4. yards , one being orderly builded lower then the other : in euery of which galleries was an equall number of banckes , whereon did sit the rowers , about the number of fourescoure in one canow : in the forepart of each canow , sate two men , the one holding a tabret , the other a piece of brasse , whereon they both at once stroke ; and obseruing a due time and reasonable space betweene each stroake by the sound thereof , directed the rowers to keepe their stroake with their oares ; as on the contrary , the rowers ending their stroake with a song , gaue warning to the others to strike againe ; and so continued they their way with maruelous swiftnesse : neither were their canowes naked or vnfurnished of warlike munition , they had each of thē , at least one small cast piece of about a yard in length mounted vpon a stocke , which was set vpright ; besides euery man except the rowers , had his sword , dagger , and target , and some of them some other weapons , as , lances , calliuers , bowes , arrowes , and many darts . these canowes comming neere our ship in order , rowed round about vs one after another ; and the men as they passe by vs , did vs a kinde of homage with great solemnity , the greatest personages beginning first , with reuerend countenance and behauiour , to bow their bodies euen to the ground : which done , they put our owne messenger aboard vs againe , and signified to vs , that their king ( who himselfe was comming ) had sent them before him , to conduct our ship into a better roade , desiring a halser to be giuen them forth , that they might employ their seruice as their king commanded , in towing our ship therewith to the place assigned . the king himselfe was not farre behinde , but he also with 6. graue and ancient fathers in his canow approaching , did at once together with them , yeeld vs a reuerend kinde of obeysance in farre more humble manner , then was to be expected ; he was of a tall stature , very corpulent and well set together , of a very princely and gratious countenance ; his respect amongst his owne was such , that neither his viceroy of mutir aforenamed , nor any other of his counsellers , durst speake vnto him but vpon their knees , not rising againe till they were licenced . whose comming as it was to our generall , no small cause of goodliking , so was he receiued in the best manner we could , answerable vnto his state : our ordinance thundred , which wee mixed with great store of small shot , among which sounding our trumpets , and other instruments of musick , both of still and loud noise , where with he was so much delighted , that requesting our musick to come into the boate , hee ioyned his canow to the same , and was towed at least a whole houre together , with the boate at the sterne of our ship : besides this , our generall sent him such presents , as he thought , might both requite his curtesy already receiued , and worke a farther confirmation , of that goodliking and friendship already begunne . the king being thus in musicall paradise , and enioying that wherewith he was so highly pleased ; his brother named moro with no lesse brauery , then any of the rest , accompanied also with a great number of gallant followers , made the like repaire , and gaue vs like respect ; and his homage done he fell asterne of vs , till we came to anchor : neither did our generall leaue his curtesie vnrewarded , but bountifully pleased him also before we parted . the king as soone as we were come to anchor , craued pardon to be gone , and so tooke leaue , promising vs , that the next day he would come aboard , and in the meane time would prepare and send such victualls , as were requisite and necessary for our prouision . accordingly the same night , and the morrow following , we receiued what was there to be had , by way of traffique , to wir , rice in pretty quantity , hennes , sugar canes , imperfect and liquid sugar , a fruit which they call figo ( magellane calls it a figge of a span long , but is no other then that which the spaniards and portingalls haue named plantanes ) cocoes and a kind of meale which they call sago , made of the toppes of certaine trees , tasting in the mouth like soure curdes , but meltes away like sugar ; whereof they make a kinde of cake which will keepe good at least 10. yeares ; of this last we made the greatest quantity of our prouision : for a few cloues wee did also traffique , whereof for , a small matter , wee might haue had greater store , then we could well tell where to bestow : but our generalls care was , that the ship should not be too much pestered or annoyed therewith . at the time appointed , our generall ( hauing set all things in order to receiue him ) looked for the kings returne , who failing both in time and promise , sent his brother to make his excuse , and to intreat our generall to come on shoare ; his brother being the while to remaine aboard , as a pawne for his safe restoring : our generall could willingly haue consented , if the king himself had not first broke his word : the consideration whereof , bred an vtter disliking in the whole company , who by no meanes would giue consent , he should hazard himselfe , especially , for that the kings brother had vttered certaine words , in secret conference with our generall aboard his cabbin , which bred no small suspition of ill intent ; our generall being thus resolued not to goe ashoare at that time , reserued the viceroy for a pledge , and so sent certaine of his gentlemen to the court , both to accompany the kings brother , and also with speciall message to the king himselfe . they being come somewhat neere vnto the castle , were receiued by another brother of the kings , and certaine others of the greatest states , and conducted with great honour towards the castle , where being brought into a large and faire house , they saw gathered together a great multitude of people , by supposition at least 1000. the chiefe whereof , were placed round about the house , according as it seemed to their degrees and calling , the rest remained without . the house was in forme foure square , couered all ouer with cloth of diuerse colours , not much vnlike our vsuall pentadoes borne vpon a frame of reedes , the sides being open from the groundsell to the couering , and furnished with seates round about : it seemes it was there councell-house and not commonly employed to any other vse . at the side of this house , next vnto the castle was seated the chaire of state , hauing directly ouer it , and extending very largely euery way , a very faire and rich canopy , as the ground also for some 10. or 12. pases compasse , was couered with cloth of arras . whilest our gentlemen attended in this place the comming of the king , which was about the space of halfe an houre , they had the better opportunity to obserue these things ; as also that before the kings comming , there were already set threescore noble graue and ancient personages , all of them reported to be of the kings priuy councell : at the neather end of the house were placed a great company of yong men , comely personage and attire . with out the house on the right side , stood foure ancient comely hoare-headed men , cloathed all in red downe to the ground , but attired on their heads not much vnlike the turkes ; these they called romans , or strangers , who lay as lidgiers there to keepe continuall traffique with this people : there were also two turkes one italian as lidgiers : and last of all one spaniard , who being freed by the kings out of the hands of the portugals , in the recouering of the iland , serued him now in stead of a souldier . the king at last comming from the castle , with 8. or 10. more graue senators following him , had a very rich canopy ( adorned in the middest with embossings of gold ) borne ouer him , and was garded with 12. lances the points turned downeward : our men ( accompanied with moro the kings brother ) arose to meet him , and he very gratiously did welcome and entertaine them . he was for person , such as we haue before described him , of lowe voice , temperate in speech , of kingly demeanour , and a moore by nation . his attire was after the fashion of the rest of his countrey , but farre more sumptuous , as his condition and state required : from the wast to the ground , was all cloth of gold , and that very rich ; his legges bare , but on his feet a paire of shooes of cordiuant died red : in the attire of his head , were finely wreathed in diuerse rings of plated gold , of an inch , or an inch and halfe in breadth , which made a faire and princely shew , somewhat resembling a crowne in forme ; about his necke hee had a chaine of perfect gold , the linkes very great and onefold double ; on his left hand was a diamond , an emerald , a ruby , and a turky , 4 , very faire and perfect jewells , on his right hand in one ring , a big and perfect turky , and in another ring many diamonds of a smaller size , very artificially set and couched together . as thus he sate in his chaire of state , at his right side there stood a page with a very costly fanne ( richly embrodered and beset with saphires ) breathing & gathering the aire to refresh the king , the place very hot , both by reason of the sunne , and the assembly of so great a multitude . after a while our gentlemen men hauing deliuered their message , and receiued answer , were licenced to depart , and were safely conducted backe againe , by one of the chiefe of the kings councell , who had charge from the king himselfe to performe the same . our gentlemen obseruing the castle as well as they could , could not couceiue it to be a place of any great force : two onely canons they there saw , and those at that present vntrauersable because vnmounted . these with all other furniture of like sort which they haue , they haue gotten them from the portingals , by whom the castle it selfe was also builded , whiles they inhabited that place and iland . who seeking to settle a tyrannous gouernment ( as in other places so ) ouer this people , and not contenting themselues with a better estate then they deserued ( except they might ( as they thought ) make sure worke by leauing none of the royall bloud aliue , who should make challenge to the kingdome ) cruelly murthered the king himselfe ( father to him who now raignes ) and intended the like to all his sonnes . which cauelty instead of establishing , brought such a shaking on their vsurped estate , that they were faine , without couenanting to carrie away goods , munition , or any thing else to quitte the place and the whole iland to saue their liues . for the present king with his brethren in reuenge of their fathers murther , so bestirred themselues , that the portingall was wholly driuen from that iland , and glad that he yet keepes footing in tidore . these foure yeares this king hath beene increasing , and was ( as was affirmed ) at that present , lord of an hundred ilands thereabout ; and was euen now preparing his forces to hazard a chance with the portingals for tidore it selfe . the people are moores , whose religion consists much in certaine superstitious obseruations of new moones , and certaine seasons , with a rigid and strickt kind of fasting . we had experience hereof in the viceroy and his retinue , who lay aboard vs all the time for the most part during our abode in this place : who during their perscribed time , would neither eate not drinke , not so much as a cup of cold water in the day ( so zealous are they in their selfe deuised worship ) but yet in the night would eate threetimes , and that very largely . this terenate stands in 27. min. north latitude . while we rode at anchor in the harbour at terenate , besides the natiues there came aboard vs another , a goodly gentleman , very well accompanied with his interpreter , to view our ship , and to conferre with our generall : he was apparelled much after our manner , most neate and courtlike : his carriage the most respectiue , and full of discreet behauiour that euer we had seene ; hee told vs that he was himselfe but a stranger in those ilands , being a naturall of the prouince of paghia in china ; his name , pausaos of the familie of hombu : of which familie there had 11. raigned in continuall succession these two hundred yeares , and king bonog by the death of his elder brother ( who dyed by a fall from his horse ) the rightfull heire of all china , is the twelfth of this race : he is of 22. yeares of age : his mother yet liuing : he hath a wife , and by her sonne : he is well beloued , and highly honoured of all his subjects , and liues in great peace from any feare of forreine inuasion : but it was not this mans fortune to enioy his part of this happinesse both of his king and countrey , as hee most desired . for being accused of a capitall crime whereof ( through free ) yet he could not euidently make his innocency appeare , and knowing the peremptory iustice of china , to be irreuocable , if he should expect the sentence of the iudges ; he before hand made suite to his king , that it would please him to commit his trial to gods prouidence and iudgement , and to that end to permit him to trauell on this condition , that if the brought not home some worthy intelligence , such as his maiestie had neuer had before , and were most fit to be knowne , and most honorable for china , he should for euer liue an exile , or else dye for daring to set foot againe in his owne countrey : for he was assured that the god of heauen had care of innocency . the king granted his suite , and now he had beene three yeares abroad , and at this present came from tidore ( where he had remained two moneths ) to see the english generall , of whom he heard such strange things , and from him ( if it pleased god to afford it ) to learne some such intelligence as might make way for his returne into his countrey : and therefore he earnestly intreated our generall , to make relation to him of the occasion , way , and manner of his coming so far from england thither , with the manifold occurrences that had happened to him by the way . our generall gaue ample satisfaction to each part of his request : the stranger hearkened with great attention and delight to his discourse , and as he naturally excelled in memory ( besides his helpe of art to better the same ) so he firmely printed it in his mind , and with great reuerence thanked god , who had so vnexpectedly brought him , to the notice of such admirable things . then fell he to intreate our generall with many most earnest and vehement persuasions , that be would be content to see his countrey before his departure any farther westward , that it should be a most pleasant , most honourable , and most profitable thing for him that he should gaine hereby the notice , and carrie home the description of one of the most ancient , mightiest and richest kingdomes in the world . hereupon he tooke occasion to relate the number and greatnesse of the prouinces , with the rare commodities and good things they yeelded : the number , statelinesse , and riches of their cities , with what abundance of men , victuals , munition , and all manner of necessaries and delightfull things they were stored with : in particular , touching ordnance and great gunnes ( the late inuention of a scab-shind f●●er amongst vs in europe ) he related that in suntien ( by some called quinzai ) which is the chiefest citie of all china , they had brasse ordnance of all sorts ( much easier to be trauersed then ours were , and so perfectly made that they would hit a shillng ) aboue 2000. yeares agoe . with many other worthy things which our generals owne experience ( if it would please him to make triall ) would ( better then his relation ) assure him of . the brize would shortly serue very fitly to carrie him thither , and he himselfe would accompanie him all the way . he accounted himselfe a happie man , that he had but seene and spoken with vs ; the relation of it might perhaps serue him to recouer fauour in his countrey : but if he could preuaile with our generall himselfe to go thither , he doubted not but it would be a meanes of his great aduancement , and increase of honour with his king : notwithstanding our generall could not on such perswasions be induced , and to the stranger parted sorrie , that he could not preuaile in his request , yet exceeding glad of the intelligence he had learned . nou. 9 by the ninth of nouember hauing gotten what prouision the place could affoord vs , wee then set sayle : and considering that our ship for want of trimming was now growne foule , that our caske and vessels for water were much decayed ; and that diuers other things stood in need of reparation : our next care was , how wee might fall with such a place where with safetie we might a while stay for the redressing of these inconueniences . the calmenesse of the winds , which are almost continuall before the comming of the brize ( which was not yet expected ) perswaded vs it was the fittest time that we could take . nou. 14 with this resolution wee sayled along till nouember 14. at what time we arriued at a little iland ( to the southward of celébes standing in 1. deg . 40 , min. towards the pole antarticke : which being without inhabitants , gaue vs the better hope of quiet abode . we anchored and finding the place conuenient for our purposes ( there wanting nothing here which we stood in need of , but onely water which wee were faine to fetch from another iland somewhat farther to the south ) made our abode herefor 26. whole dayes together . the first thing we did , we pitched our tents and intrenched ourselues as strongly as we could vpon the shoare , lest at any time perhaps we might haue beene disturbed by the inhabitants of the greater iland which lay not farre to the westward of vs ; after we had prouided thus for our security , wee landed our goods , and had a smiths forge set vp , both for the making of some necessarie shipworke , and for the repairing of some ironhooped caskes , without which they could not long haue serued our vse : and for that our smiths coales were all spent long before this time ; there was order giuen and followed for the burning of charcoale , by which that want might be supplyed . we trimd our ship , and performed our other businesses to our content . the place affording vs not onely all necessaries ( which we had not of our owne before ) thereunto , but also wonderfull refreshing to our wearied bodies , by the comfortable reliefe and excellent prouision that here we found , whereby of sickely , weake , and decayed ( as many of vs seemed to be before our comming hither ) we in short space grew all of vs to be strong , lusty , and healthfull persons . besides this , we had rare experience of gods wonderfull wisedome in many rare and admirable creatures which here we saw . the whole iland is a through growne wood , the trees for the most part are of large and high stature , very straight and cleane without bowes , saue onely in the very top . the leaues whereof are nor much vnlike our broomes in england : among these trees , night by night did shew themselues an infinite smarme of fierie-seeming-wormes flying in the aire , whose bodies ( no bigger then an ordinary flie ) did make a shew , and giue such light as if euery twigge on euery tree had beene a lighted candle : or as if that place had beene the starry spheare . to these wee may adde the relation of another almost as strange a creature , which here we saw , and that was an innumerable multitude of huge bats or reare-mice , equalling or rather exceeding a good henne in bignesse . they flie with maruellous swiftnesse , but their flight is very short ; and when they light , they hang onely by the bowes with their backes downeward . neither may wee without ingratitude ( by reason of the special vse we made of them ) omit to speake of the huge multitude , of a certaine kinde of crayfish , of such a size , that one was sufficient to satisfie foure hungry men at a dinner , being a very good and restoratiue meate ; the especiall meane ( as we conceiued it ) of our increase of health . they are as farre as we could perceiue , vtter strangers to the sea , liuing always on the land , where they worke themselues earths , as do the conies , or rather they dig great and huge caues , vnder the rootes of the most huge and monstrous trees , where they lodge themselues by companies together . of the same sort and kind , we found in other places , about the iland celébes some that for want of other refuge , when we came to take them , did clime vp into trees to hide themselues , whether we were enforced to clime after them , if we would haue them , which wee would not sticke to do rather then to be without them : this iland we called crab-iland . all necessary causes of our staying longer in this place being at last finished , our generall prepared to be in a readinesse , to take the first aduantage of the comming of the brize or winde which we expected ; and hauing the day before , furnished our selues with fresh water from the other iland , and taken in prouision of wood and the like : dec. 12 december 12. we put to sea , directing our course toward the west : dec. 16 the 16. day wee had sight of the iland celebes or silébis , but hauing a bad winde , and being intangled among many ilands , incumbred also with many other difficulties , and some dangers , & at last meeting with a deep bay , out of which we could not in three daies turne out agnine , wee could not by any meanes recouer the north of silébis , or continue on our course farther west , but were inforced to alter the same toward the south ; finding that course also to be both difficult and very dangerous , by reason of many shoales , which lay farre off , here and there among the ilands , insomuch , that in all our passages from england hitherto , we had neuer more care to keepe our selues afloate , ian. 9 and from sticking on them : thus were we forced to beate vp and downe with extraordinary care and circumspection till ianuary 9. at which time , we supposed that we had at last attained a free passage , the land turning euidently in our sight about to westward , and the wind being enlarged , followed vs as we desired with a reasonable gale . when loe on a sudden , when we least suspected no shew or suspition of danger appearing to vs , and we were now sailing onward with full sailes , in the beginning of the first watch of the said day at night , euen in a moment our ship was laid vp fast vpon a desperate shoale , with no other likelihood in appearance , but that wee with her must there presently perish : there being no probability how any thing could be saued , or any person scape aliue . the vnexpectednesse of so extreame a danger , presently roused vs vp to looke about vs , but the more we looked , the lesse hope we had of getting cleere of it againe , so that nothing now presenting it selfe to our mindes , but the ghastly appearance of instant death , affording no respit or time of pausing , called vpon vs to turne our thoughts another way , to renounce the world to deny our selues , and to commend our selues into the mercifull hands of our most gratious god : to this purpose wee presently fell prostrate , and with ioyned prayers sent vp vnto the throne of grace , humbly besought almighty god , to extend his mercy vnto vs in his sonne christ iesus ; and so preparing as it were our necks vnto the blocke , we euery minute expected the small stroake to be giuen vnto vs. notwithstanding that we expected nothing but imminent death , yet ( that we might not seeme to tempt god , by leauing any second meanes vnattempted which he afforded ) presently as soone as prayers were ended our generall ( exhorting vs to haue the especiallest care of the better part , to wit , the soule , and adding many comfortable speeches , of the ioyes of that other life , which wee now alone looked for ) incouraged vs all to bestirre our selues , shewing vs the way thereto by his owne example ; and first of all the pump being well plyed , and the ship freed of water , we found our leaks to be nothing increased , which thought it gaue vs no hope of deliuerance , yet it gaue vs some hope of respit , insomuch , as it assured vs that the bulke was sound , which truly we acknowledged to be an immediate prouidence of god alone , insomuch , as no strength of wood and iron could haue possibly borne so hard and violent a shocke , as our ship did , dashing herselfe vnder full saile against the rockes , except the extraordinary hand of god , had supported the same . our next assay was for good ground and anchor-hold , to sea , ward of vs ( whereon to hale ) by which meanes if by any , our generall put vs in comfort , that there was yet left some hope ro cleere our selues : in his owne person , he therefore vndertooke the charge of sounding , and but euen a boates length from the ship , he found that the bottom could not by any length of line be reached vnto : so that the beginnings of hope , which wee were willing to haue conceiued before , were by this meanes quite dasht againe ; yea our misery seemed to be increased , for whereas at first wee could looke for nothing but a present end , that expectation was now turned , into the awaiting for a lingring death , of the two , the farre more fearefull to be chosen : one thing fell out happily for vs , that the most of our men did not conceiue this thing , which had they done , they would in all likelihood haue beene so much discouraged , that their sorrow would the more disable them , to haue sought the remedy : our generall with those few others , that could iudge of the euent wisely , dissembling the same , and giuing in the meane time cheerfull speeches , and good incouragements vnto the rest . for whiles it seemed to be a cleere case , that our ship was so fast moared , that shee could not stirr ; it necessary followed , that either we were there to remaine on the place with her ; or else leauing her to commit our selues in most poore end helplesse state , to seeke some other place of stay and refuge , the better of which two choices , did carry with it the appearance of worse then 1000. deathes . as touching our ship , this was the comfort that shee could giue vs , that shee her selfe lying there confined already vpon the hard and pinching rocks , did tell vs plaine , that shee continually expected her speedy dispatch , as soone as the sea and windes should come , to be the seuere executioners of that heauy iudgement , by the appointment of the eternall iudge already giuen vpon her , who had committed her there to adamantine bonds in a most narrow prison , against their comming for that purpose : so that if we would stay with her , we must perish with her ; or if any by any yet vnperceiueable meanes , should chance to be deliuered , his escape must needs be a perpetuall misery , it being farre better to haue perished together , then with the losse and absence of his friends , to liue in a strange land : whether a solitary life ( the better choice ) among wild beastes , as a bird on the mountaines without all comfort , or among the barbarous people of the heathen , in intollerable bondage both of body and minde . and put the case that her day of destruction should be deferred , longer then either reason could perswade vs , or in any likelihood could seeme possible ( it being not in the power of earthly things , to indure what shee had suffred already ) yet could our abode there profit vs nothing , but increase our wretchednesse , and enlarge our sorrows , for as her store and victualls were not much ( sufficient to sustaine vs onely some few daies , without hope of hauing any increase , no not so much as of a cup of cold water ) so must it ineuitably come to passe , that we ( as children in the mothers wombe ) should be driuen euen to eate the flesh from of our owne armes , shee being no longer able to sustaine vs ; and how horrible a thing this would haue proued , is easy by any one to be perceiued . and whither ( had we departed from her ) should we haue receiued any comfort ; nay the very impossibility of going , appeared to be no lesse , then those other before mentioned : our boate was by no meanes able at once , to carry aboue 20. persons with any safety , and we were 58. in all , the neerest land was six leagues from vs , and the winde from the shoare directly bent against vs : or should we haue thought of setting some ashoare , and after that to haue fetched the rest , there being no place thereabout without inhabitants , the first that had landed must first haue fallen into the hand of the enemie , and so the rest in order , and though perhaps we might escape the sword , yet would our life haue beene worse then death , not alone in respect of our wofull captiuity , and bodily mifseries , but most of all in respectt of our christian liberty , being to be depriued of all publique meanes of seruing the true god , and continually grieued with the horrible impieties and diuellish idolatries of the heathen . our miserie beeing thus manifest , the very consideration wherof must needs haue shaken flesh and bloud , if faith in gods promises had not mightily sustained vs , we past the night with earnest longings that the day would once appeare , the meane time we spent in often prayers , and other godly exercises , thereby comforting our selues ; and refreshing our hearts , striuing to bring our selues to an humble submission vnder the hand of god , and to a referring our selues wholly to his good will and pleasure . the day therefore at length appearing , and it being almost full sea about that time , after we had giuen thankes to god for his forbearing of vs hitherto , and had with teares called vpon him to blesse our labours ; we againe renewed our trauell , to see if we could now possibly find any anchor-hold , which we had formerly sought in vaine . but this second attempt proued as fruitlesse as the former , and left vs nothing to trust to , but prayers and teares , seeing it appeared impossible that euer the forecast counsell , pollicie , or power of man could euer effect the deliuery of our ship , except the lord onely miraculously should do the same . it was therefore presently motioned , and by generall voice determined to commend our case to god alone , leauing our selues wholly in his hand ; to spill or saue vs as seeme best to his gracious wisedome . and that our faith might bee the better strengthened , and the comfortable apprehension of gods mercie in christ , be more clearely felt ; we had a sermon and the sacrament of the bodie and bloud of our sauiour celebrated . after this sweet repast was thus receiued , and other holy exercises adioyned were ended , lest we should seeme guilty in any respect for not vsing all lawfull meanes we could inuent ; we fell to one other practise yet vnassayed , to wit , to vnloading of our ship by casting some of her goods into the sea : which thing as it was attempted most willingly , so was it dispatched in very short time . so that euen those things which we before this time , nor any other in our case could be without , did now seeme as things onely worthy to be despised , yea we were herein so forward , that neither our munition for defence , nor the very meale for sustentation of our liues could find fauour with vs , but euerie thing as it first came to hand went ouerboard assuring our selues of this , that if it pleased god once to deliuer vs out of that most desperate strait wherein we were , he would fight for vs against our enemies , neither would he suffer vs to perish for want of bread . but when all was done , it was not any of our endeuours , but gods onely hand that wrought our deliuerie ; t was he alone that brought vs euen vnder the very stroake of death ; t was he alone that said vnto vs , returne againe ye sonnes of men ; t was he alone that set vs at liberty againe , that made vs safe and free , after that we had remained in the former miserable condition , the full space of twentie houres , to his glorious name be the euerlasting praise . the manner of our deliuery ( for the relation of it will especially be expected ) was onely this . the place whereon we sate so fast , was a firme rocke in a cleft , whereof it was we stucke on the larbord side ' at low water there was not aboue sixe foote depth in all on the starbord , within little distance as you haue heard no bottome to be found , the brize during the whole time that we thus were stayed , blew somewhat stiffe directly against out broad side , and so perforce kept the ship vpright : it pleased god in the beginning of the tyde , while the water was yet almost at lowest , to slacke the stiffenesse of the wind ; and now out ship who required thirteene foot water to make her fleet , and had not at that time on the one side aboue seuen at most , wanting her prop on the other side , which had too long alreadie kept her vp , fell a heeling towards the deepe water , and by that meanes freed her keele and made vs glad men . this shoale is at least three or foure leagues in length , it lies in 2. deg . lacking three or foure minutes south latitude . the day of this deliuerance was the tenth of ianuary . ian. 10 of all the dangers that in our whole voyage we met with , this was the greatest , but it was not the last as may appeare by what ensueth . neither could we indeed for a long season free our selues from the continuall care and feare of them ; nor could we euer come to any conuenient anchoring , but were continually for the most pare tost amongst the many ilands and shoales ( which lye in infinite number round about on the south parts of celébes ) till the eight day of the following moneth . ian. 12 ian. 12. being not able to beare our sayles by reason of the tempest and fearing of the dangers , we let fall our anchors vpon a shoale in 3. deg . 30. min. ian. 14 ian. 14. we were gotten a little farther south , where at an iland in 4. deg . 6. min. we againe cast anchor and spent a day in watering and wooding . after this wee met with foule weather , westerly winds , and dangerous shoales for many dayes together : insomuch that we were vtterly weary of this coast of sillebis , thought best to beare with timor . the southermost cape of sillebis stands in 5. deg . that side the line . but of this coast of sillebis we could not so easily cleare our selues . ian. 20 the 20. of ianua . wee were forced to runne with a small iland not farte from thence ; where hauing sent our boate a good distance from vs to search out a place where we might anchor : wee were suddenly enuironed with no small extremities , for there arose a most violent , yea an intollerable flaw and storme out of the southwest against vs , making vs ( who were on a lee shoare amongst most dangerous and hidden shoales ) to feare extreamely not onely the losse of our boate and men , but the present losse of our selues , our ship and goods , or the casting of those men whom god should spare into the hands of infidels . which misery could not by any power or industry of ours haue beene auoided , if the mercifull goodnesse of god had not ( by staying the outragious extremities wherewich we were set vpon ) wrought our present deliuery , by whose vnspeakeable mercy our men and boate also were vnexpectedly , yet safely , restored vnto vs. wee gate off from this place as well as we could , and continued on our course till the 26. day , ian. 26 when the winde tooke vs , very strong against vs , west and west southwest , so as that wee could beare no more saile , till the end of that moneth was full expired . febr. 1 february 1. we saw very high land , and as it seemed well inhabited , we would faine haue borne with it to haue got some succour , but the weather was so ill , that we could finde no harbour , and we were very fearefull of aduenturing our selues too farre , amongst the many dangers which were neere the shoare . febr. 3 the third day also we saw a little iland , but being vnable to beare any faile , but onely to ly at hull , we were by the storme carried away , and could not fetch it . febr. 6 february 6. we saw fiue ilands , one of them towards the east , and foure towards the west of vs , one bigger then another , at the biggest of which we cast anchor , and the next day watred and wooded . febr. 8 after we had gone hence on february 8. we descried two canowes , who hauing descried vs as it seemes before , came willingly vnto vs , and talked with vs , alluring and conducting vs to their towne not farre off , named baratiua it stands in 7. deg . 13. min. south the line . the people are gentiles of handsome body , and comely statute , of ciuill demeanour , very iust in dealing , and courteous to strangers , of all which we had euident proofe , they shewing themselues most glad of our coming and cheerfully ready to relieue our wants , with whatsoeuer their country could afford . the men goe all naked saue their heads and secret parts , euery one hauing one thing or other hanging at his eares . their women are couered from the middle to the foote , weating vpon their naked armes bracelets , and that in no small number , some hauing nine at least vpon each arme , made for the most part of horne or brasse , whereof the lightest ( by our estimation ) would weigh 2. ounces . with this people linnen cloth ( whereof they make roles for their heads , and girdles to weare about their loynes ) is the best marchandise and of greatest estimation : they are also much delighted with margaretas ( which in their language they call saleta ) and such other like trifles . their iland is both rich and fruitfull , rich in gold , siluer , copper , tinne , sulpher , &c. neither are they onely expert to try those mettalls , but very skillfull also in working of them artificially , into diuerse formes and shapes , as pleaseth them best . their fruites are diuerse likewise and plentifull , as , nutmegges , ginger , long pepper , limons , cucumbers , cocoes , figoes , sagu , with diuerse other sorts , whereof we had one in reasonable quantity , in bignesse forme and huske , much like a bay-berry , hard in substance , but pleasant in tast , which being sod becometh soft , and is a most profitable and nourishing meate : of each of these wee receiued of them , whatsoeuer wee desired for our need ; insomuch that ( such was gods gratious goodnesse to vs ) the old prouerbe was verified with vs , after a storme commeth a calme , after warre peace , after scarcity followeth plenty ; ) so that in all our voyage ( terenate onely excepted ) from our departure out of our owne countrey hitherto , wee found not any where greater comfort and refreshing , then we did at this time in this place ; in refreshing and furnishing our selues , here we spent 2. dayes , and departed hence february 10. febr. 10 when we were come into the height of 8. deg . 4. min , febr. 12 feb. 12. in the morning we espied a greene iland to the southward ; not long after , two other ilands on the same side , and a great one more towards the north : they seemed all to be well inhabited , bur wee had neither need nor desire to goe to visit them , and so we past by them . feb. 14 the 14. day wee saw some other reasonable bigge ilands , and febr. 16 february 16 , we past betweene foure or fiue bigge ilands more which lay in the height 9. deg . 40. min. feb. 18. 19. the 18. we cast anchor vnder a little iland , whence we departed againe the day following ; we wooded here , but other reliefe except two turtles we receiued none . febr. 22. the 22. day we lost sight of three ilands on our starboard side , which lay in to ▪ deg . and some odde minutes . after this , we past on to the westward without stay or any thing to be taken notice of , march 9 till the 9. of march when in the morning wee espied land , some part thereof very high in 8. de . 20. m. south latitude : here we anchored that night , and the next day weighed againe , march 10 and bearing farther north , and neerer the shoare , we came to anchor the second time . march 11 the eleuenth of march we first tooke in water , and after sent our boate againe to shoare , march 12 where we had traffique with the people of the country ; whereupon the same day , we brought our ship more neere the towne : and hauing setled our selues there that night , the next day our generall sent his man ashoare , to present the king with certaine cloth , both linnen and woollen , besides some silkes , which hee gladly and thankfully receiued , and returned rice , cocoes , hennes , and other victualls in way of recompence . this iland we found to be the iland iaua , the middle whereof stands in 7. deg . and 30. min. beyond the equator . march 13 the 13. of march our general himself with many of his gentlemen , and others went to shoare , and presented the king ( of whom he was ioyfully and louingly receiued ) with his musicke , and shewed him the manner of our vse of armes , by training his men with their pikes & other weapons , which they had before him : for the present we were entertained as we desired , and at last dismissed with a promise of more victuals to bee shortly sent vs. in this iland there is one chiefe , but many vnder-gouernors , or petty kings , whom they call raias , who liue in great familiaritie and friendship one with another . march 14 the 14. day we receiued victuals from two of them , and the day after that , to wit , the march 15 15. three of these kings in their owne persons came aboard to see our generall , and to view our ship and warlike munition . they were well pleased with what they saw , and with the entertainement which we gaue them . and after these had beene with vs , and on their returne had as it seemes related what they found , raia donan the chiefe king of the whole land bringing victuals with him for our reliefe : he also the next day after came aboard vs. few were the dayes that one or more of these kings did misse to visit vs , insomuch that we grew acquainted with the names of many of them , as of raia pataiára , raia cabocapálla , raia mangbángo , ria bocabarra , raia timbánton : whom our generall alwayes entertained with the best cheere that wee could make , and shewed them all the commodities of our ship , with our ordnance and other armes and weapons , and the seuerall furnitures belonging to each , and the vses for which they serued . his musicke also and all things else whereby he might do them pleasure , wherein they tooke exceeding great delight with admiration . march 21 one day amongst the rest , viz , march. 21. raia donan comming aboard vs , in requitall of our musick which was made to him , presented our generall with his country musick , which though it were of a very strange kind , yet the sound was pleasant and delightfull : the same day , he caused an oxe also to be brought to the waters side , and deliuered to vs , for which he was to his content rewarded by our generall , with diuerse sorts of very costly silks which he held in great esteeme . though our often giuing entertainement in this manner , did hinder vs much in the speedy dispatching of our businesses , and made vs spend the more dayes about them , yet here we found all such conuenient helpes , that to our contents we at last ended them : the matter of greatest importance which we did ( besides victualing ) was the new trimming and washing of our ship , which by reason of our long voyage was so ouergrowne with a kind of shell-fish sticking fast vnto her , that it hindred her exceedingly , and was a great trouble to her sayling . the people ( as are their kings ) are a louing , a very true , and a iust dealing people . we traffiqued with them for hens , goats , cocoes , plantons , and other kinds of victuals , which they offered vs in such plenty that we might haue laden our ship if we had needed . march 26 we tooke our leaues and departed from them the 26. of march , and set our course west south west , directly towards the cape of good hope , or bon esperance , and continued without touch of ought , but aire and water , may 21 till die 21. of may , when we espied land ( to with a part of the maine of africa ) in some places very high , under the latitude of 31. deg . and halfe . iune . 15 wee coasted along till iune 15. on which day , hauing very faire weather , and the winde at southeast , wee past the cape itselfe so neere in sight , that we had beene able with our pieces to haue shot to land . iuly 15 iuly 15. we fell with the land againe about rio de sesto , where we saw many negroes in their boates a fishing , whereof 2. came very neere vs but we cared not to stay , nor had any talke or dealing with them . iuly 22 the 22. of the same moneth , we came to sierra leona , and spent two dayes for watering in the mouth of tagoine , and then put to sea againe iuly 24 ; here also we had oisters , and plenty of lemmons , which gaue vs good refreshing . august 15 we found our selues vnder the tropick of cancer august 15. hauing the winde at northeast , and we 50. leagues off from the neerest land . aug. 16 the 22. day we were in the height of the canaries . sept. 26 and the 26. ( which was monday in the iust and ordinary reckoning of those that had stayed at home in one place or countrie , but in our cōputation was the lords day or sonday ) we safely with joyfull minds and thankfvll hearts to god , arriued at plimoth , the place of our first setting forth after we had spent 2. years 10. moneths and some few odde daies beside , in seeing the wonders of the lord in the deep , in discouering so many admirable things , in going through with so many strange aduentures , in escaping out of so many dangers , and ouercomming so many difficulties in this our encompassing of this neather globe , and passing round about the world , which we haue related . soli rerum maximarum effectori , soli totius mundi gubernatori , soli suorum conseruatori , soli deo sit semper g●●ria . finis . a most delectable and true discourse, of an admired and painefull peregrination from scotland, to the most famous kingdomes in europe, asia and affricke with the particular descriptions (more exactly set downe then hath beene heeretofore in english) of italy sycilia, dalmatia, ilyria, epire, peloponnesus, macedonia, thessalia, and the whole continent of greece, creta, rhodes, the iles cyclades ... and the chiefest countries of asia minor. from thence, to cyprus, phænicia, syria ... and the sacred citie ierusalem, &c. lithgow, william, 1582-1645? 1616 approx. 287 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 68 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a05594 stc 15711 estc s108584 99844242 99844242 9033 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a05594) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 9033) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 807:07) a most delectable and true discourse, of an admired and painefull peregrination from scotland, to the most famous kingdomes in europe, asia and affricke with the particular descriptions (more exactly set downe then hath beene heeretofore in english) of italy sycilia, dalmatia, ilyria, epire, peloponnesus, macedonia, thessalia, and the whole continent of greece, creta, rhodes, the iles cyclades ... and the chiefest countries of asia minor. from thence, to cyprus, phænicia, syria ... and the sacred citie ierusalem, &c. lithgow, william, 1582-1645? the second impression, [8], 126, [2] p. printed by nicholas okes, and are to be sold by thomas archer, at his shop in popes head palace, london : 1616. running title reads: the trauels of william lithgow in europe, asia, and affricke. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions 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such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels -early works to 1800. 2003-03 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-04 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-11 ben griffin sampled and proofread 2004-11 ben griffin text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a most delectable and trve discourse , of an admired and painefull peregrination from scotland , to the most famous kingdomes in europe , asia and affricke . with the particular descriptions ( more exactly set downe then hath beene heeretofore in english ) of italy , sycilia , dalmatia , ilyria , epire , peloponnesus , macedonia , thessalia , and the whole continent of greece , creta , rhodes , the iles cyclades , with all the ilands in the ionean , aegean , and adriaticke seas , thracia , the renowmed citie constantinople , cholchis , bythinia , and the blacke sea , troy , phrygia , and the chiefest countries of asia minor. from thence , to cyprus , phaenicia , syria , mesopotamia , arabia petrea , and the desart of egypt , the red sea , grand cayro , the whole prouince of canaan , the lake of sodom and gomorha , the famous riuers , nilus , euphrates , and iordan , and the sacred citie ierusalem , &c. coelum non animum . the second impression , corrected and enlarged by the authour william lithgovv . london , printed by nicholas okes , and are to be sold by thomas archer , at his shop in popes head palace . 1616 to all noble-minded gentlemen , and heroicke spirits in court , citie , and countrey . courteous reader , of these my double paines of a two-fold pilgrimage : first , in my personall progresse , to these famous places ; and next , a second peregrination of minde , in reuiewing the same in the map of my owne memory . i haue , for thy more easie vnderstanding , diuided them in sixe seuerall parts : accept them therefore with the same loue that i offer them to thee , since they cost thee nothing but the reading , how deere soeuer they are to mee . i could haue furnished this history with more new-coind language , but i detest the ornament of such an ecclypsed shadow , that would obumbrate the beames of a glorious subiect : let other fantasticall braines dote , and prosecute the path of smooth inuented phrases , and new deuised diriuations ; to soare aloft with the waxed feathers of flitghthered eloquence , wanting matter , which is the heart of the worke : i haue in my owne disposition , and for thy better satisfaction ( gentle reader ) set downe the same in the vulgar tongue of this northerne i le ; protesting , if ( peraduenture ) i finde thy kind acceptance , i shall produce to thy eyes , the second lampe of this new light , which shall sh●w thee the distance of miles from place to place , and the valew of money in euery kingdome , dukedome , republique , territory , or iland , wheresoeuer i haue beene ; with the particular narration of the great tributes and charges a trauellour must defray in such a voyage ; which for the present i haue abridged , and partly omitted , for diuers weighty causes . as for these gnawing wormes , which carpe the merites of brauer spirits , and contemne that vertue in others , that they cannot attaine vnto themselues , i craue they would forbeare their sinistruous censure , vntill such time , that by their owne industry , they atchieue the like attempts : wishing such like vomiters of venome no greater punishment , then to be plagued with the experience of that which i sustained in my trauailes . thine as thou merites , w. lithgow . to my deere friend , countriman and condisciple , william lithgovv . rest noble spirits in your natiue soiles , whose high-bred thoughts on deare-bought fights are bent ; renowned lithgovv by his braue attempt hath eas'd your bodies of a world of toyles . not like to some , who wrongfully retaine gods rarest gifts within themselues ingrost , but what thou hast attain'd with care and cost , thou yeeldst it gratis to the world againe . vpon the bankes of wonder-breeding clide , to these designes thy heart did first assent ; one way , indeed , to giue thy selfe content , but more to satisfie a world beside . thy first attempt in excellence of worth , beyond the reach of my conceits confinde , but this thy second pilgrimage of minde , where all thy paines are to the world set forth in subiect , frame , in methode , phrase , and stile , may match the most vnmacthed in this i le : but this renownes thee most , t' haue still possest a constant heart within a wandring brest . robert allen . to his most affectionate friend , w. lithgow . no arabs , turkes , moores , sarazens , nor strangers , woods , wildernesse , and darke vmbrag'ous caues , no serpents , beasts , nor cruell fatall dangers , nor sad regrates of ghostly groning graues , could thee affright , disswade , disturbe , annoy to venture life to winne a world of ioy . this worke , which pompe-expecting eyes may feed ▪ to vs , and thee , shall perfect pleasure breed . w. a. a dire made by the pilgrime in the i le nigroponti , when hee was constrained by greekes to keepe centinell sixe dayes ( according to the times ) who then stood in feare of two turkish gallies . carmina secessum scribentis , & otia quaerunt me mare , me venti , me fera iactat hyems . i wander in exile , as though my pilgrimage were sweet comedian scoenes of loue vpon a golden stage . ah i , poore i , distressd , oft changing to and fro , and forc'd to sing sad obsequies of this my swan-like woe . a vagabonding guest , transported here and there , led with the mercy-wanting windes of feare , griefe , and despaire . thus euer-mouing i , to restlesse iourneyes thral'd , obtaines by times triumphing frownes , a calling vnrecal'd : was i praeordain'd so , like tholos ghost to stand , three times foure houres in twenty foure , with musket in my hand . ore-blasted with the stormes of winter-beating snow , and frosty-poynted haile-stones hard on me poore wretch to blow . no architecture loe but whirling-windy skies , ore-seel'd with thundring claps of clouds , earths center to surprise . i , i , it is my fate , alots this fatall crosse , and reckons vp in characters the time of my times losse . my destiny is such , which doth predestine me to be a mirrour of mis-haps , a mappe of miserie . extreamely doe i liue , extreames are all my ioy i finde in deepe extreamities , extreames extreame annoy . now all alone i watch with argoes eyes and wit. a cypher twixt the greekes and turkes vpon this rocke i sit . a constrain'd captiue i , mongst incompassionate greekes , bare-headed downeward bowes my head , and libertie still seekes . but all my sutes are vaine , heauen sees my woefull state : and makes me say , my worlds eye-sight is bought at too high rate . would god i might but liue to see my natiue soyle : thrice happy in my wish , to end my endlesse toyle : yet still when i record the pleasant bankes of clide , where orchards , castles , townes , and woods , are planted by his side . and chiefly lanerke thou the latter age. philosophers , poets , historiographers , and learned diuines , how they haue peregrinated to know the life of states , and the fashions of farre countries would be an endlesse taske for me to relate . many ( i confesse ) long to see the remotest regions of the earth , but dare not vndertake the dangers of sight , the chargeable expences of tributarie iourney , the hard indurance of flint-stones for a soft feather-bed , the extremities of thirst , nor the parching heate of the sunne , hunger in the belly , nor the moist distilling dew to bee a humide couerlet to their tender skin , with innumerable other insuing miseries . but ixion-like , mistaking iuno , would by a meere imagination , run out the sleeping course of an endlesse peregrination . for my part , what i haue reaped , is by a deere-bought knowledge , as it were , a small contentment , in a neuer contenting subiect , a bitter pleasant taste of a sweet-seasoned sowre , and all in all , what i found was more then ordinaray reioycing , in an extraordinary sorrow of delights . the contemplation of this delightfull and painfull pilgrimage , did incite my minde to aduenture vpon my meditated attempts ; not onely for my owne contentment , but also to animate other forward spirits to the like resolute designes . the commodity of which being by mee duly pondered and weighed ( as it were ) in the ballance of my owne contemplating thoughts , from paris , anno domini 1610. i attempted my voyage , bequeathing my procéedings to the protection of god , my body to turmoiling paines , my hands to the burdon , and my féete to the hard bruising way : and as vnwilling to make relation of my passing through france , sauoy , the ligurian alpes , and almost all italy , fith it is manifested vnto many in this iland both by sight and report , i would shunne , so farre as possible i can , all prolixitie of knowne , and therefore vnnecessary discourse . upon the 40 day after my departure from paris , i arriued at rome , of which i will memorize some rarest things , & so procéed . this cittie of rome , now extant , is not that old rome which romulus founded , for after the monarchy of the romanes had attained to the full height , the gothes , a base and vnknowne people , displaying their banner against this glorious and imperiall citie , , in the end razed , and subuerted thier palaces , equalizing the walles with the ground . after the which detriment and ouer-throw ( the late subdued romanes recouering their ruinous habitation ) were inforced to withdraw the scituation of the towne a little more downeward , neere the bankes of tybris : and transported the stones of these ransacked buildings , to re-edifie their new dwelling places . hic vbi nunc roma est , olim fuit ardua silua , tantaque res paucis , pascua bobus erat . many haue wrote of the singularities of old rome , and i will also receite some decayed monuments thereof , which i haue séene : the speciall obiect of antiquitie i saw , being neuer a whit decayed to this day , is the templum omnium deorum , but now , omnium sanctorum , builded in a rotundo , and open at the toppe , with a large round , like to the queire of the holy graue . a pretty way from this , are the remainants of that ancient amphitheater beautified with great columnes , of a wonderfull bignesse and height ; the reason why it was deuised , the ghosts of the slaughtered sabines may testifie . to be briefe , i saw the decaied house of worthy cicero , the high capitoll , the palace of cruell nero , the statues of marcus aurelius , alexander and his horse bucephalus . the gréene hill like vnto mount cauallo , that was made of the pottars shards at one time , which brought the tributary gold to this imperiall seate , the seuen hilles whereon shee standes , and their seuen pyramides , the castle s. angello , which adrian first founded , and their doubtfull transported reliques from ierusalem , with many other things i diligently remarked , some whereof were friuolous , some ambiguous , and some famous . besides all these , i sawe one most sight-worthy-spectacle , which was the librarie of the ancient romanes , being licentiated to enter with two gentlemen , sir william kerre , and iames aughtermuty my countrey-men ; where , when i was come , i beheld a world of old bookes , the first whereof was an infinite number of gréeke bibles , subscribed with the hands of these fathers , who ( as they say ) translated them out of the hebrew tongue . i saw also the academies of aristotle , wherein he treateth of the soule , health , life , nature , and qualities of men , with the medicaments of galen for the diseases and infirmities of man : the familiar epistles of cicero , the aeneidos of virgill , the saphick verses of that lesbian sapho , the workes of ouid , plinie , plutarch , titus liuius , horatius , strabo , plato , homer , terentius , cato , hippocrates , iosephus , pythagoras , diodorus siculus , eusebius , saint augustine , saint ambrose , saint cyprian , saint gregory , and likewise the workes of other excellent philosophers , diuines , and poets : all wrot with their owne hands , and sealed with their owne names , and manuall subscriptions . i saw also the forme of the first ancient writing , which was vpon leaues of trées , cakes of lead , with their fingers on ashes , barkes of trees , with strange figures , and vnknowne letters , that was brought from egypt : for the egyptians first deuised the vse thereof , and the sight of infinite obligatorie writings , of emperours , kings , and princes , which i omit to relate , referring the same to be registred by the next beholder . bidding adiew to my company , and this librarie , i longed to view the gorgeous , mosaicall worke of saint peters church : the matter was no sooner conceiued , but i went to the doore , yet afraid to enter , because i was not accustomed with the carriage and ceremonies of such a sanctum sanctorum . but at the last , abandoning all scrupolositie , i came in boldly , and on my right hand as i entred within the doore , i espied the portrayed image of saint peter , erected of pure brasse , and sitting on a brasen chaire . the fashion of the people is this , entring the church , they goe straight to this idoll , and saluting with many crosses his sencelesse body , kisse his feet , and euery one of his seuerall toes : next , they lay their heads vnder the soale of his right foot ; and arising , rubbe their beades on his hard costed belly : thus adoring that breathlesse masse of mettall , more then though it were a liuing creature . o wonderfull and strange spectacle ! that these onely titular christians , should become worse of knowledge then ethnicke pagans , to worship and reuerence the workmanship of mens hands . woe and shame bee vnto you all blinde hereticall papists , why should you make to your selues idols and images of iron , siluer , gold , stéele , brasse , stone , earth and trée ; and notwithstanding would excuse the matter with a superstitious reason , aledging , you do it onely in remembrance , where otherwise it is a damnable signe of wilfull obdurate ignorance . may not the prohibition of the second commandement of gods law , confound the error of this idolatry , ingrafted in your hardened hearts . what vertue can bee in a lumpe of brasse ? or what comfort in the deuices of handy-craftsmen ? alas , nothing but eternall sorrow and condemnation . this was one of the lamentable errours i saw in the romane-sea , amongst many other thousands . when the foolish listranes or licaoneans would haue sacrificed buls to the honour of paul and barnabas , they rent their clothes , and ran in among the people , crying , and saying ; o men why doe yee these things ? wee are euen men subiect to the like passions that you be : how is it then , that the apostles being aliue , would haue no acknowledging by any homage of man ; yet when they are dead , the romanists wil worship their counterfeit similitude , in stone , or tree . what vnworthy-fained traditions , and superstitious idolatrie ? what strange new deuising trickes they vse , to plant idle monasteriall loyterers ? how many manner of wayes these belly-minded slaues epicure-like leade their liues ? and what a sea of abhominable villany they swimme into , practising euen vnnaturall vices , i meane of their wrongfully called religious bishops , priests , friers , curates , and all the hypocriticall crew , of these peruerse iebusites ; no heart can expresse , nor the most eloquent tongue , can sufficiently vnfold . but for feare of excommunication , from that antichristian curtezan , i dare not perseuer longer heerein : although i can , yea , and so truely bewray their all-corrupted estate , that i neede no information of any romane-nouice-traueller . of whose sight and experience , would god all the papists in brittaine had the like eie-witnessing approbation as i haue had , i am certainely perswaded , with teares and sighes , they would heauily bemone the terrible fall of that babylonian whoore , which ( in a prophane estimation ) is their holy mother church . for i sincerely sweare to thée , o faithfull christian ( as the italian vsually doth in his humours ) by the golden-tripled crowne of my ghostly father , paulo papa quinto , whatsoeuer , sacriledge , incest , or villanie a papist committeth ; let him come heere , and fill the bribing hands of the simoniacall mineons , of the thrice-crowned priest , ( for roma non captat ouem sine lana . ) and hee shall haue indulgences , dispensations , adioyned pennances , or absolued offences , for hundreds , thousands , lesse or more yeares . the period of time , after eight and twenty daies abode , wishing my departure , i hardly escaped from the hunting of these bloud-sucking inquisitors , of whom the most part were mine owne countrymen : for i may iustly affirme it , man hath no worser enemy , then his owne supposed friend . and the italian saith in his prouerb : god keep me from the hurt of my friends , for i know well how to keepe my from mine enemies . from thence bound eastward , i visited naples , the commendation of which , i onely reuolue in this verse ; inclyta parthenope gignit comitesque ducesque among many other remarkable things , neere to this citie ( as lacus auernus , sibillaes caue , purcoli ; the sulphurean mountaine , capua and cuma , where banished aeneas from troy , and carthage arriued ) i saw the monument of virgils buriall , and affixed these lines therevpon ; in mantua from mothers wombe , i first conceiued breath ; parthenope reserues the tombe , my sepulchre of death . in the meane while , hauing alwaies a regard , of my hasty dispatching from christendome , i returned , addressing my selfe to venice for transportation . but by your leaue , let me lay downe before your eyes , some notable illusions of madonna di loretta , which i found in my wayfaring iourney , to amplifie my former discourse , concerning the errours of the roman church , and as yet was neuer englished in our language . before i came neere to loretta , by tenne miles , i ouertooke a caroch , wherein were two gentlemen of rome , and their two concubines ; who , when they espied me , saluted me kindly , enquiring of what nation i was , whither i was bound , and what pleasure i had to trauell alone ? after i had to these demands giuen satisfaction , they intreated me to come vp in the caroch , but i thankefully refused , and would not , replying the way was faire , the weather seasonable , and my body vnwearied . at last they perceiuing my absolute refusall , presently dismounted on the ground , to recreate themselues in my company : and incontinently , the two yong vnmarried dames , came forth also , and would by no perswasion of me , nor their familiars , mount againe ; saying , they were all pilgrimes , and bound to loretta ( for deuotions sake ) in pilgrimage , and for the penance enioyned to them by their father confessour . truely , so farre as i could iudge , their pennance was small , being carryed with horses , and the appearance of deuotion much lesse : for lodging at riginati , after supper , each youth led captiue his deerest darling to an vnsanctified bed , and left mee to my accustomed repose . when the morning star appeared , wee embraced the way marching towards loretta , and these uermilion nymphs , to let mee vnderstand they trauelled with a cheerefull stomacke , would oft run races , s●ipping like wanton lambes on grassie mountaines , and quenching their follies in a sea of vnquenchable fantasies . approaching neare the gate of the uillage , they pulled off their shooes and stockings , walking bare-footed through the stréetes , to this ten thousand times polluted chappell , mumbling pater nosters , and aue mariaes on their beades . when they entred into the church , wherein the chappell standeth , i stood at the entry beholding many hundreds of bare-footed blinded bodies , créeping on their knées and hands : thinking themselues not worthy to go on foote , to this idely supposed nazaretane house , like to this saying ; lauretum nudis pedibus , plebs crebra frequentat , quam mouet interius religionis amor . unto this falsly patronized chappell , they offer yearely many rich gifts , amounting to an vnspeakable value , as chaines , and rings of gold and siluer , rubies , diamonds , silken tapestries , and such like . the iesuiticall and penitentiall fathers , receiue all , but who so enioy all , let camera reuerenda romana , grant certification to this lorettan auariciousnesse , who fill their coffers twice in the yeare therewith . my foure pilgrimes , hauing performed their ceremoniall customes , came backe laughing , and asked why i did not enter ? but i , as vnwilling to shew them any further reason , demanded what the matter was ? o ( said the italians ) iurando per il cielo è iddio sacratissimo ; this is the house wherein the uirgin mary dwelt in galilee : and to the confirmation of these words shewed mee a booke , out of which i extracted these annotations . this chappell , they hold it to bee the house , in which mary was annunced by gabriel , and wherein shee conceiued iesus , by operation of the holy ghost . and in the meanetime , that deuotion waxed scant , amongst the christians of the primitiue church in the holy land ; many strangers tyrannizing ouer the territories of canaan , as heraclius , costroes king of persia , sarazens , and harancone king of egypt ; it came to passe in the yeare of our lord , one thousand two hundred foure score and eleuen yeares , and in the time of pope nicholas the fourth , that it being shaken off the foundation , was transported miraculously by angels in the night , from nazareth in galilee , to torsalto in slauonia . and in the morning , sheepeheards comming to the place of pastorage , found this house , wherewith being astonished , they returned in hast , and told s. george allesandro , the prior of torsalto , who in that meane while was lying sicke . hee being stricken in admiration with these newes , caused himselfe to be borne thither , and laid before the altar , and falling in a maruellous trance , the uirgin mary by a heauenly uision appeared to him , saying , after this manner . behold , thou hast often pierced the heauens , with inuocations for thy reliese , and now i am come , not onely to restore thee to thy health , but also to certifie thee , that thou doubt nothing of this house ; for it is holy in respect of mee , the chaste immaculate virgin , ordained before all eternitie , to be the mother of the most high : it was in this chamber my mother anna conceiued me , nourished me , and brought me vp , in singing psalmes , hymnes , and prayses , to the glory of god ; and also i kept in this roome the blessed infant iesus , very god , and very man , without any grieuance or paine , brought him vp with all dilligent obseruation : and when cruell herod sought the babes life , by the aduertisement of the angell , i , and my husband ioseph , who neuer knew my body , fled with him downe to egypt . and after his passion , death , and ascension to heauen , to make a reconciliation of humane nature , with the court celestiall : i stayed in this house with iohn , and the other disciple : who considering after my death , what high mysteries had beene done in it , consecrated and conuerted the same to a temple , for a comemoration of christ sufferings , the chiefe of martyres . also that resplending image thou seest , was made by saint luke , ( my familiar ) for eternizing the memory of my portraiture as i was aliue , by the commandement of him , who doth all things , and shall conserue this sacred image to the worlds end : that crosse of cedar , which standeth at the side of the little westerne window , was made by the apostles : these cindars in the chimney touch not , because they are the fragments of the last fire i made on earth : and that shelfe whereon my linnen cloathes and prayer bookes lay , let no man come neere it : for all these places are sanctified and holy . wherefore my sonne , i tell thee , awake , and go recite the same which i haue told thee vnto others ; and to confirme thy beliefe therein , the queene of heauen giueth thee freely thy health . frier alexander , being rauished ( say they ) with this uision , went and reported it to nicholas frangipano , lord of that country : and incontinently hee sent this prior and other foure friers to nazareth , whereby he might know the truth thereof , but in that iourney they dyed . the uirgin mary perceiuing their incredulity , caused angels the second time to transport the house ouer the gulfe of venice , to a great wood neere by the sea side , in the territorie of riginati . which , when the countrey-men had found , and remarking the splendor of the illuminating image , dispersed these newes abroad . and the cittizens of riginati , hauing seene what great miracles was daily done , by the vertue of this chappell , imposed to it this name , madonna di loretta . a little while after the people resorting to it with rich giftes , there haunted in the wood many theeues and cut-throates , who robbed and murdered the pilgrimes : which innocent spilt bloud , pricking her to the heart , shee made the angels transport it the third time , and set it on the toppe of a little mountaine , belonging to two brethren in heritage : but they vpon a day quarrelling , and discording , about the vtilitie of the offerings to this house , the angels did remoue it the fourth time , and placed it in a high broad way , where it standeth vnremoued to this day . this was confirmed by the papall authoritie to bee of an vndoubted truth , after a hundred and fifty thrée yeares deliberation . loe , as briefly as i could , haue i laid open to thy iudicious eies , the transportations , originall , and papisticall opinions of loretta . protesting i haue added nothing to the authors description , but onely collected these speciall warrants , omitting other infinite foolish toyes , conceiued for their blind-folded credulitie . o strange and wonderfull frailetie of men ! what damnable imperfections domineere ouer their braine-sicke knowledge : sathan , thou prince of darknesse , hast so ouer-sylled the dimmed eyes of their wretched soules , that notwithstanding gods eternall word , ordained to call them ( through the spotlesse bloud of christ iesus ) to bee the heires and adopted sonnes of saluation : yet thou all-abhominable enemy of mankind , ouerthrowest both their spirituall and naturall vnderstanding in a bottomelesse ocean of darke ignorance ; promising to thy obdurate souldyers , to build castles in the aire ; and contrarywise are busie , digging downe dungeons , to welcome thy hellish eternized guests , with horrible torments , and neuer-ceasing flames of euerlasting fire . what wilfull-hearted man , can be so apt to beleeue , that our blessed lady , had such estimation of morter and stones , as to haue ( although shee had , had power ) caused angels to transport a rotten house so often ? no , i say , beléeue it who so will , questionlesse the iudgements of god in the truth of his all-seeing iustice , shall reward their too credulous minds accordingly : then shall they know their foolish and superstitious errours . leauing this , and returning to my purpose , i embarked at ancona , in a frigato ; and by accident heere i encountred with a most curteous , and discrete gentleman , iames arthur , whose company was to mee most acceptable ; our acquaintance being first made , at the beginning of the same voyage , vpon the mountaines of terrara in burgundy : hee had also beene at rome , and bound to visite venice , in his returning home to his natiue countrey of north britaine . this citie of ancona , in the time of traianus the emperour , flourished mightily in fame , and reputation , and yet a gallant place to this day ; contemnunt omnes anconae moenia turcas . along this adriaticke coast , i saw no remarkeable thing , saue the two citties rimini and rauenna : which were famous in the daies of octauius caesar , but now somewhat impouerished , in regard of diuers incursions sustained . sayling by the mouth of rubicon , called now pissatello ( which iulius caesar passed ouer , against the ordinance of the senate , and afterward seazed vpon rome , putting pompeius to flight ) i saw the place where the bloudy battell was fought betweene the french and spaniards , anno domini one thousand fiue hundred and twelue , but the victorie fell to the gaules , with the losse of nineteene thousand men on euery side , and they haue erected singular monuments there , in a perpetuall memory thereof . after three daies sayling ( hauing passed by malamucko , which is the hauen of the great venetian shippes ) wee arriued at saint markes place in venice . cingitur vrbs venetum pelago , ditissima nummis ▪ venice is a garden of riches , and worldly pleasures , the chiefe floure of common-weales , and the perfite mirrour of ciuill and politicke gouernement . this sequestrat citie , is scituate in the bosome of neptune , and diuided from the world , with a part of his maine body , which inuironeth the iland : the prouision of their magnificent arsenall , artillerie , munition , and armour , the diuision of stréets with channels , the innumerable bridges of stone , and timber , their accustomable kinde of liuing , apparell , curtesies , and conuentions ; and finally , the glory of gallants , galleries , gallies , galleasses , and gallouns , were a thing impossible for me briefly to relate . wherefore since the scituation thereof , and the decorements of their beautifull palaces , are so well knowne by the better sort , i desist , concluding thus ; this incomparable mansion is the onely paragon of all cities in the world . in the time of my staying heere , i went forth to lumbardy , and visited the famous cities of padua , verona , and ferrara . the commendation of which is celebrated in these verses : extollit paduam , iuris studium , & medicinae . verona , humanae dat singula commoda vitae . exhaurit loculos ferrarea ferrea plenos . i commend the deuotion of venice and genua , beyond all the other cities in italy : for the venetians haue banished the iesuites out of their territories and ilands ; and the genueses haue abandoned the society of iewes , and exposed them from their iurisdiction . the iewes and the iesuites are brethren in blasphemies ; for the iewes are naturally subtill , hatefull , auaritious , and aboue all the greatest calumniators of christs name : and the ambitious iesuites , are flatterers , bloudy-gospellers , treasonable tale-tellers , and the onely railers vpon the sincere life of good christians . wherefore i end with this verdict , the iew , and the iesuite is a pultrone and a parasite . a description of the adriaticall and ionean ilands , how they haue beene first named , and now gouerned , of istria , dalmatia , slauonia , epire , peloponnesus , and athens , of a monster borne in lesina , and what dangers befell him in his voyage to creta . after 24 dayes attendance , and expecting for passage , i imbarked in a carmoesalo , being bound to zara noua in dalmatia : scarcely had we lost the sight of venice , but wee incountred with a deadly storme at seroco è leuante . the maister had no compasse to direct his course , neither was hee expert in nauigation ; because they vse commonly , either on the south or north sides of the gulfe , to hoyse vp sailes at night , and against breake of day they haue full sight of land , taking their directions from the topped hilles of the maine continent . the tempest increasing , and the windes contrary , wee were constrained to seeke vp for the port of parenzo in istria . istria was first called giapidia , according to pliny : cato affirmeth , that it was istria of one isiro ; but by the moderne writers , l'ultima regione di italia . by ptolomeus it is said to be of length 120 miles , and 40 large . that part which bordereth with the sea , belongeth to the venetians , but the rest within land holdes of the emperour , and the archduke of austria . the countrey it selfe aboundeth in cornes , wines , and all manner of fruits , necessary for humane life . néere to this hauen wherein we lay , expecting roome windes ; i saw the ruines of old iustinopoli , so called of iustinian the emperour , who builded it vpon an iland of a miles length , & three acres broad . and to passe betwixt the citie and the firme land , there were seuen bridges made . it was anciently strong , but now altogether decayed . the principall cities in istria at this day , are these , parenzo , humago , pola , rouigno . the winds fauouring vs , we weighed anchors , and sailed by the iles brioni , so much estéemed for the fine stones they produce , called istriennes : which serue to beautifie the uenetian palaces . about mid-day i saw mount di caldaro , on the foot of which , the ancient citie of pola is situated , hauing a harbour wherein small shippes may lie . true it is , this port is not much frequented , in respect of a contagious lake neere to it , which infecteth the aire with a filthy exhalation . i saw hard by this place , the ruines of the castell di oriando ; the arke triumphant , and the reliques of a great amphitheater . this pola was called by pliny , iulia pietas , and it standeth on the south-east part of istria . continuing our course , wee passed the perilous gulfe of carnaro , and sailed close by the i le sangego , called formerly illirides : this i le is of circuit foure score , and of length thirty miles . our fresh water waxing scant , and the windes falling out contrary to our expectation , we sought in to valdogosta in the i le of osero , which is a safe hauen for ships and gallies . this osero was first named asphorus , and then absirtites , of a captaine absertus , who came from colchos , accompanied with many people , to bring backe medeas to his father acetus . whose purpose being frustrated , staied still , and inhabited this land , as witnesseth apollonius rhodius . a fit opportunity obtained , vpon the eight day we arriued in the roade of zara in dalmatia ; for there the carmoesalo stayed , and i was exposed to séeke passage for ragusa . by the way i recall the great kindnesse of that dalmatian master , for offering my condition , i found him more then courteous , and would haue no more but the halfe of that which was his bargaine at venice . besides this , hee also entertained mee three dayes , with a most bountifull and kinde acceptance : my solitary trauelling he oft bewailed , wishing me to desist , and neuer attempt such a voyage ; but i giuing him absolute and constant answeres , appeased his imagined sorrow . the affable dealing of this stranger made me remember the kindnesse of my aforesaid countrey-man , m. arthur , whose externall shew ( for that time wee trauelled sociably together ) gaue me the déepe measure of his internall affection : for as man oweth no lesse to his natiue countrey , then what his breath and bloud are worth ; so i , for many weighty considerations ( and especially for that high respect ) indeuoured my selfe to the vtmost of my power , to attempt this fastidious wandring , whereby i might manifest to my natiues , that zeale i bore , in vndertaking such dangers ( as it were ) for that neuer-conquered kingdomes sake ; leauing him to bee the last witnesse of that innated duety , which i did owe vnto my deerest nation , whether i returned or died in my atchieuements . i also recall our discontented parting at venice , ingendred diuers languishing conceits , which i stroue to mitigate by odde deuised merriments ; yet notwithstanding could not well expell his melancholy : for often at our encontrings before into italy and france , i haue heard him sigh in a most melancholious humour , which ( as i did coniecture ) was for some loue-sicke passion , or some such like male-contentment , that had enforced him in pilgrimage , two times to crosse the snowy alpes . zara is the capitall citie of dalmatia , called of old iadara : the inhabitants are gouerned by a camarlingo , in the behalfe of venice : the walles whereof are strongly rampired with earth , surpassing the toppes of the stone-worke : and fortified also with high bulwarkes , and planted canons on eleuated rampires of earth : which are aboue forty cubits higher then the walles and bulwars , standing in the foure seuerall corners of the citie , there lie continually in it , a great garrison of soldiers , to defend the towne and citizens , who are maintained by the duke of venice : for he is seignior thereof . they haue endured many inuasions of the turkes , especially in the yeare 1570 , when for the space of fouretéene moneths they were daily molested and besieged , but the victory fell euer to the christians . if the turkes could winne this place , they might easily command the adriaticall seas , in regard of that faire hauen which is there , to receiue shippes and gallies : which maketh the venetians not a little fearefull . yet they licentiate the neighbouring infidels to traffique with them ; but when they enter the gates , they must deliuer their weapons to the corporall of the squadron company . neither may they stay within all night , vnder the paine of imprisonment . dalmatia was called so of mauritius the emperour . the foure principall prouinces whereof are these , atheos , senebico , spallato , and tragurio . a part of which belongeth to venice , another part to the duke of austria , and the third part vnto the turkes . zara is distant from venice 200 miles . from zara i embarked in a small frigot , bound for lesina , with fiue slauonian mariners : who sometimes sailed , and sometimes rowed with their oares . in our way we past by the i le of brazza , which is of no great quantity , but fertile enough for the inhabitants , and kept by a gentleman of venice . it lieth in the mouth of the gulfe narento , that diuideth dalmatia from slauonia : many conceiue in effect , that these two kingdomes are all one : but i hold the contrary opinion , both by experience , and by ancient authors . hauing passed capo di costa , which is the beginning of slauonia , i saw vpon my right hand , a round rocke of a great height , in forme of a pyramide : it is cognominated by easterne mariners , pomo , anciently salyro , for the good faulcons that are bred therein . it standeth in the middest of the gulfe betweene slauonia and italy . a little beyond that rocke i saw the thrée iles trimiti : the chiefest whereof is called teucria , but they are vulgarly called the iles of diomedes , who was king of etolla . they are right opposite to mount gargano , now called s. angelo , and distant from the maine land of pulia in italy about nine miles . the poore slauonians beeing fatigated in their hunger-starued-boat , with extraordinary paines , ( for wee had thrée dayes calme , which is not vsually séene in these seas ) were inforced to repose all night in the barren i le of saint andrew this i le is of circuit foure miles , but not inhabited . the excessiue raine that fell in the euening , made vs goe on shore to séeke the couerture of some rocke ; which found , wee lay all night on hard stones , and with hungry bellies : for our prouision was spent . the breach of day giuing comfort to our distressed bodies with fauourable windes at the garbo è ponente , we set forward , and about mid-day we arriued in the port of lesina , of which the ile taketh the name . this i le of lesina is of circuit 150 miles , and is the biggest iland in the adriaticke sea : it is excéeding fertile , and yéeldeth all things plentifully that is requisitite for the sustenance of man. this citie is vnwalled , and of no great quantitie , but they haue a strong fortresse , which defendeth the towne , the hauen , and the vessels in the road . the gouernor who was a venetian , after he had enquired of my intended voyage , most courteously inuited mee three times to his table , in the time of my fiue dayes staying there . and at the last méeting hée reported the story of a maruellous mis-shapen creature borne in that iland , asking , if i would go thither to sée it : wherewith ( when i perfectly vnderstood the matter ) i was contented : the gentleman honoured mee also with his company , and a horse to ride on , where when wee came , the captaine called for the father of that monster , to bring him forth before vs. which vnnaturall childe being brought , i was amazed in that sight , to behold the deformitie of nature ; for below the middle part there was but one body , and aboue the middle there was two liuing soules , each one separated from another with seuerall members . their heads were both of one bignesse , but different in phisnomy : the belly of the one ioyned with the posterior part of the other , and their faces looked both on one way , as if the one had carried the other on his back , and often before our eyes , he that was behinde , would lay his hands about the necke of the formost . their eyes were excéeding bigge , and their hands greater then an infants of three times their age : the excrements of both creatures issued forth at one place , and their thighes and legges of a great growth , not semblable to their age , being but sixe and thirty dayes old ; and their féet were proportionably made like the foote of a cammell , round , and slouen in the middest . they receiued their food with an insatiable desire , and continually mourned with a pittifull noyse ; that sorrowfull man told vs , that when the one slept , the other awaked , which was a strange disagréement in nature . the mother of them bought déerely that birth , with the losse of her owne life ; and as her husband reported , vnspeakable was the torment she endured , in that woefull-wrestling paine . i was also informed afterwardes , that this one , or rather two-fold wretch , liued but a short while . leauing this monstrous shapen monster to the owne strange and almost incredible natiuity , we returned to lesina . but by the way of our backe-comming , i remember that worthy gentleman shewed mee the ruines of an old house , where the noble king demetrius was borne ; and after i had yéelded my bounden and dutifull thankes vnto his generous minde , i hired a fisher-boat to go ouer to clyssa , being 12 miles distant . this i le of clyssa is of length twenty , and of circuit thréescore miles : it is beautified with two profitable sea-ports , and vnder the seigniorie of venice . there are indifferent good commodities therein ; vpon the south-side of this iland lyeth the ile pelagusa . departing from thence in a carmoesalo bound to ragusa , wee sailed by the thrée iles , brisca , placa , igezi ; and when we entred in the gulfe of cataro , we fetched vp the sight of the i le melida , called of old meligna : before wee could attaine vnto the hauen , wherein our purpose was to stay all night , we were assailed on a sudden with a deadly storme : in so much , that euery swallowing waue threatned our death , and bred in our breasts an intermingled sorrow of feare and hope . the windes becomming calme , and our desired safety enioyed , we set forward in the gulfe of cataro , and sailed by the i le curzola : in this iland i saw a walled towne called curzola , which hath two strong fortresses to guard it . it is both commodious for the traffique of merchandise they haue , and also for the fine wood that groweth there , whereof the venetian shippes and gallies are made : an iland no lesse delightfull then profitable ; and the two gouernors thereof are changed euery eightéene moneths , by the state of venice . it was of old called , curcura , melana , and of some corcira nigra , but by the modernes , curzola . continuing our course , we passed by the iles , sabionzello , torquolla , and catza augusta , appertaining to the republicke of ragusa . they are all three well inhabited , and fruitfull , yeelding cornes , wines , and certaine rare kinds of excellent fruits . it is dangerous for great vessels to come neere their coasts , because of the hidden shelues that lye off in the sea , called augustini , where diuers shippes haue been cast away in foule weather ; vpon the second day after our loosing from clyssa , we arriued at ragusa . ragusa is a common-weale , gouerned by senators , and a senate councell : it is wonderfull strong , and also well guarded , being situate by the sea side , it hath a fine hauen , and many goodly ships thereunto belonging . the greatest traffique they haue , is with the genueses : their territorie in the firme land is not much , in respect of the neighbouring turkes , but they haue certaine commodious ilands , which to them are profitable : and notwithstanding , of the great strength , and riches they possesse , yet for their better safegard , and liberty , they pay a yeerely tribute vnto the great turke , amounting to foureteene thousand chickenes of gold : yea , and also they pay yeerely a tributarie pension vnto the venetians , for the iles reserued by them in the adriaticall gulfe . the most part of the ciuill citizens , haue but the halfe of their heads bare , but the baser sort are all shauen . this citie is the metropolitan of the kingdome of slauonia : slauonia was first called liburnia , next , iliria , of iliro the son of cadmus : but lastly , named slauonia , of certaine slaues , that came from sarmatia passing the riuer danubio , in the time of the emperour iustinian . so much as is called slauonia , extendeth from the riuer arsa in the west , the riuer drino in the east , on the south bordereth with the gulfe of venice , and on the north with the mountaines of croatia : these mountaines diuide also ragusa from bosna . the next two speciall cities in that kingdome , are sabenica , and salona . the slauonians are of a robust nature , martiall , and valiant fellowes , and a great helpe to maintaine the right and liberty of the venetian state . from ragusa i embarked in a tartareta , loaden with cornes , and bound to corfu , being thrée hundred miles distant . in all this way we found no iland , but sayled along the maine land of the ilirian shore : hauing passed the gulfe of cataro , and capo di fortuna , i saw castello nouo , which is a strong fortresse , situate on the top of a rocke : wherein one barbarisso , the captaine of solyman , starued to death foure thousand spaniards . hauing left iliria and valona behind vs , wee sayled by capo di polone . this high land is the furthest part of the gulfe of venice , and opposite against capo di sancta maria , in pulia , each one in sight of an other , and foureteene leagues distant . continuing our nauigation , we entred into the sea ionium , and sayled along the coast of epire , which was the famous kingdome of the epirotes . this is the first land of greece , and vpon the sixt day after our departure from ragusa , wée arriued at corfu . corfu is an iland , no lesse beautifull , then inuincible : it lyeth in the sea ionean , the inhabitants are greekes , and the gouernours venetians : this ile was much honoured by homer , for the pleasant gardens of alcino , which were in his time : it is of circuit one hundred and twenty , and fifty miles in breadth . the citie corfu , from which the ile hath the name , is situate at the foote of a mountaine , whereupon are builded two strong fortresses , and inuironed with a naturall rocke : the one is called fortezza noua , and the other fortezza vechia : they are well gouerned , and circumspectly kept , least by the instigation of the one captaine , the other should commit some treasonable effects : and for the same purpose , the gouernours of both castles , at their election before the senatours of venice , are sworne ; neither priuately nor openly , to haue mutuall conference ; nor to write one to another , for the spare of two yeares , which is the time of their gouernement . these castles are inaccessible , and vnconquerable , if that the keepers bee loyall , and prouided with naturall and martiall furniture . they are vulgarly called , the forts of christendome , by the greekes , but more iustly , the strength of venice : for if these castles were taken by the turkes , the trade of the venetian marchants would bee of none account ; yea , the very meane to ouerthrow venice it selfe . from thence , i embarked in a greekish carmoesalo , with a great number of passengers , greekes , slauonians , italians , armenians , and iewes , that were all mindfull to zante , and i also of the like intent ; being in all forty eight persons : hauing roome , winds , and a fresh gale , in foure and twenty houres , wee discouered the ile cephalonia : in this meane while the captaine of the uessell , espied a saile comming from the sea , hee presently being moued therewith , sent a mariner to the top , who certified him she was a turkish gally of biserta , prosecuting a straight course to inuade our barke . which sudden affrighting newes , ouerwhelmed vs almost in dispaire . resolution being , by the amazed maister , demanded of euery man what was best to do ; some replyed one way , and some another : insomuch that the most part of the passengers , gaue counsell , rather to render , then fight ; being confident , their friends would pay their ransome , and so releiue them . but i , the wandring pilgrime , pondring in my pensiue breast , my solitary estate , the distance of my country and friends , could conceiue no hope of deliuerance . upon the which troublesome and fearefull appearance of slauery , i absolutely arose , and spoke to the maister , saying : the halfe of the carmoesalo is your owne , and the most part also of the loading ( all which hée had told mee before ) wherefore my counsell is , that you prepare your selfe to fight , and goe encourage your passengers , promise to your mariners double wages , make ready your two peeces of ordinance , your muskets , powder , lead , and halfe-pikes : for who knoweth , but the lord may deliuer vs from the thraldome of these infidels . my exhortation ended , hee was greatly animated therewith , and gaue me thankes ; whereupon , assembling the passengers and mariners , hee gaue good comfort , and large promises to them all : so that their affrighted hopes were conuerted to a couragious resolution ; seeming rather to giue the first assault , then to receiue the second wrong . to performe the plots of our defence , euery man was busie in the worke , some below in the gunner-roome , others cleansing the muskets , some preparing the powder and balles , some dressing the halfe-pikes , and others making fast the dores aboue : for so the maister resolued to make combate below , both to saue vs from small shot , and besides for boording vs on a sodaine . the dexterous courage of all men was so forward to defend their liues and liberty , that truely in my opinion wee seemed thrise as many as we were . all things below and aboue being cunningly perfected , and euery one ranked in order with his harquebuse and pike , to stand on the centenall of his owne defence , wee recommended our selues into the hands of the almighty , and in the meane while attended their fiery salutations . in a furious spleene , the first hola of their courtesies , was the progresse of a martiall conflict , thundring forth a terrible noise of gally-roaring péeces . and wee in a sad reply , sent out a backe-sounding eccho of fiery-flying shots , which made an equiuox to the clouds , rebounding backe-ward in our perturbed breasts , the ambiguous sounds of feare and hope . after a long and doubtfull fight , both with great and small shot ( night parting vs ) the turkes retired till morning , and then were mindefull to giue vs the new rancounter of a second alarme . but , as it pleased him , who neuer faileth his , to send downe an vnresistable tempest ; about the breake of day we escaped their furious designes , and were enforced to seeke into the bay of largostolo in cephalonia ; both because of the violent weather , and also for that a great leake was stricken into our ship . in this fight there were of vs killed three italians , two greekes , and two iewes , with eleuen others deadly wounded , and i also hurt in the right arme , with a small shot . but what harme was done by vs amongst the infidels , wee were not assured thereof ; saue onely this , we shot away their middle mast , and the hinder part of the puppe : for the greekes are not expert gunners , neither could our harquebusadoes much annoy them , in respect they neuer boorded : but howsoeuer it was , being all disbarked on shore , we gaue thankes to the lord for our vnexpected safety , and buried the dead christians in a greekish church-yard , and the iewes were interred by the sea-side . this bay of lorgostolo is two miles in length , being inuironed with two little mountaines : vpon the one of these two , standeth a strong fortresse , which defendeth the passage of the narrow gulfe . it was here that the christian gallies assembled , in the yeare 1571 when they came to abate the rage of the great turkes armado ; which , at that time lay in peterasso , in the firme land of greece , and had made conquest the yeare before , of noble cyprus from the venetians . this i le of cephalonia was formerly called ithaca , and greatly renowmed , because it was the heretable kingdome of the worthy vlysses , who excelled all other greekes in eloquence and subtlety of wit. secondly , by strabo it was named dulichi : and thirdly , by ancient authours cephalonia , of cephalo , who was captaine of the army of cleobas anfrittion : the which anfrittion , hauing conquered the iland , gaue it in a gift to cephalo : the land it selfe is full of mountaines , yet excéeding fertile , yeelding maluasie , muskadine , vino leatico , raisins , oliues , figges , hony , sweet-water , pine , molbery , date , and chypre-trees , and all others forts of fruits in aboundance . the commodity of which redounds yearely to the veneians ; for they are signiors thereof . leauing this weather-beaten carmoesalo , laid vp to a full sea , i tooke purpose to trauell through the iland : in the first daies iourney , i past by many fine uillages , and pleasant fields , especially the vale alessandro , where the greekes told me , their ancestors were vanquished in battell by the macedonian conquerour . they also shewed me , on the top of mount gargasso , the ruines of that temple , which had beene of old dedicate to iupiter : and vpon the second day i hired two fisher-men in a little boat , to carry mee ouer to zante , being twenty fiue miles distant . the i le of zante was called zachinthus , because so was called the son of dardanus , who raigned there . and by some , hyria . it hath a citie of a great length , bordering along the sea side ; and on the top of a hill , aboue the towne , standeth a large , and strong fortresse ( not vnlike to the castle of milaine ) wherein the prouiditore dwelleth , who gouerneth the iland . this citie is subiect yearely to fearefull earth-quakes , especially in the months of october and nouember , which oftentimes subuert their houses , bringing harme and domage to them . this i le produceth good store of raisin de corinth , commonly called currance , oliues , pomgranates , cytrones , orenges , lemmons , granadiers and mellones . the ilanders are greekes , a kind of subtile people , and great dissemblers ; but the signiory thereof belongeth to venice . and if it were not for that great prouision of corne , which is daily transported from the firme land of greece to them , the inhabitants in a short time would famish . bidding farewell to zante , i embarked in a frigato , going to peterasso in morca , which of old was called peloponnesus : and by the way in the gulfe lepanto , ( which diuideth etolia and morca : the chiefest citie in etolia is called lepanto : from thence westward by the sea-side , is delphos famous for the oracle of apollo ) wee sayled by the iles echinidi , but by the moderne writers , curzolari ; where the christians obtained the victorie against the turkes , for there did they fight , after this manner . in the yeare 1571 , and the sixth of october , iohn duke of austria , generall for the spanish gallies , marco antonio colonna , for pope pio quinto ; and sebastiano venieco for the uenetian army , conuened altogether in largostolo at cephalonia : hauing of all 208 gallies , sixe galleasses , and fiue and twenty frigotes . after a most resolute deliberation , these thrée generals went with a valiant courage to encounter with the turkish armado , on the sunday morning , the seuenth of october ; who in the end , through the helpe of christ , obtained a glorious victorie . in that fight there was taken and drowned 180. of turkish gallies ; and there escaped about the number of sixe hundred and fifty shippes , gallies , galeots , and other uessels : there was fiftéene thousand turkes killed , and foure thousand taken prisoners , and twelue thousand christians deliuered from their slauish bondage . in all , the christians loosed but eleuen gallies , and fiue thousand slaine . at their returne to largostolo , after this victorious battell , the thrée generals diuided innumerable spoyles , to their well-deseruing captaines , and worthy souldiers . after my arriuall in peterasso , the metropolitan of peloponnesus , i left the turmoyling dangers of the intricated iles of the ionean and adriaticall seas , and aduised to trauaile in the firme land of greece , with a carauan of greekes , that was bound for athens . but before hee admitted mee into his company , hee was wonderfull inquisitiue , for what cause i trauelled alone , and of what nation i was ? to whom i soberly excused , and discouered my selfe with modest answeares : which pacified his curiosity , but not his auaritious minde ; for vnder a pretended protection he had of mee , he extorted the most part of my money from my purse , without any regard of conscience . in the first , second , and third daies iournying , wee had faire way , hard lodging , but good cheere , and kinde entertaiment for our money : but on the fourth day , when we entred in the hilly and barren country of arcadia ; where , for a daies iourney we had no village , but saw aboundance of cattell without keepers . in this desart way , i beheld many singular monuments and ruinous castles , whose names i knew not , because i had an ignorant guide : but this i remember , amongst these rockes , my belly was pinched , and wearied was my body , with the climing of fastidious mountaines , which bred no small griefe to my breast . yet notwithstanding of my distresse , the remembrance of those sweete seasoned songs , of arcadian shepeheards which pregnant poets haue so well penned , did recreate my fatigated corps , with many sugred suppositions . these sterile bounds being past , wee entred in the easterne plaine of morea , called aunciently sparta , where that , sometimes , famous citie of lacedemon flourished , but now sacked , and the lumps of ruines and memory onely remaines . marching thus , we left modena , and napoli , on our right hand , toward the sea-side , and on the sixt day at night , wee pitched our tents in the disinhabited uillages of argo and micene , from the which , vnhappy helene was rauished . heere i had the ground to be a pillow , and the world-wide-fields to bee a chamber , the whirling-windy-skies , to bee a roofe to my winter-blasted lodging , and the humide vapours of cold nocturna , to accompany the vnwished-for-bed of my repose . in all this country i could find nothing , to answere the famous relations , giuen by ancient authors , of the excellency of that land , but the name onely ; the barbarousnesse of turkes and time , hauing defaced all the monuments of antiquity : no shew of honour , no habitation of men in an honest fashion , nor possessours of the country in a principalitie . but rather prisoners shut vp in prisons , or addicted slaues to cruell and tyrannicall maisters : so deformed is the state of that once worthy realme , and so miserable is the burthen of that afflicted people : which , and the apparance of that permanency , grieued my heart to behold the sinister working of blind fortune , which alwaies plungeth the most renowmed champions and their memory , in the profoundest pit of all extremities and obliuion . departing from argo , vpon the seuenth day we arriued at athens : athens is still inhabited , standing in the east part of peloponnesus , neere to the frontiers of macedon : it was first called cecropia , and lastly athens of minerua . this citie was the mother and wel-spring of all liberall artes and sciences , but now altogether decayed : the circuit of old athens hath béen , according to the fundamentall walles yet extant , about sixe italian miles , but now of no great quantity , nor many dwelling houses therein . they haue aboundance of all things , requisite for the sustenance of humane life , of which i had no small proofe : for these athenians , or greekes , exceeding kindly banquetted me foure dayes , and furnisht me with necessary prouision for my voyage to creta . and also transported me by sea in a brigandino fréely to serigo , being foure and fortie miles distant . after my redounded thankes , they hauing returned , the contemplation on their curtesies brought me in remembrance , how curious the old athenians were to heare of forraigne newes , and with what great regard and estimation they honored trauellers . serigo is an iland in the sea cretico : it was anciently called cytherea of cythero the sonne of phaenise : and of aristotle porphyris , or schotera , in respect of the fine marble that is got there . it is of circuit 60 miles , hauing but one castle called capsallo , which is kept by a venetian captaine . here it is said , that venus did first inhabit , and i saw the ruines of her demolished temple on the side of a mountaine yet extant . a little more downward below this temple of venus , are the reliques of that palace , wherein menelaus did dwell , who was king of sparta , and lord of this i le . the greekes of the i le told mee , there were wilde asses there , who had a stone in their heads , which was a soueraigne remedy for the falling sicknesse , and good to make a woman be quickly deliuered of her birth . in the time of my abode , at the village of capsalo ( being a hauen for small barkes , and situate below the castle ) the captaine of that same fortresse kild a seminary priest whom he had found in the night with his whoore in a brothel-house : for the which sacrilegious murther , the gouernor of the i le deposed the captaine , and banished him , causing a boat to be prepared to send him to creta . o , if all the priests which do commit incest , adultery , and fornication , ( yea and worse , il peccato carnale contra natura ) were thus handled , and seuerely rewarded ; what a sea of sodomiticall irreligious bloud would ouer-flow the halfe of europe , to staine the spotted colour of that romane beast . truly , and yet more , these lasciuious friers are the very epicures , or off-scourings of the earth ; for how oft haue i heard them say one to another ? allegre , allegre , mio caro fratello , chi ben mangia , ben beue , &c. that is , be cheerful , be cheerful , deere brother , he that eateth wel , drinketh wel ; he that drinketh wel , sleepeth wel , he that sleepeth wel sinneth not ; & he that sins not , goeth straight through purgatory to paradice . this is all the care of their liuing , making their tongues to vtter what their hearts do thus prophanely thinke , ede , bibe , dormi , post mortem nulla voluptas . in the aforesaid boate i also embarked with the captaine , and sailed by the i le serogota . leauing capo di spada , on our left hand wee arriued at carabusa with extreame fortune , being fiercely pursued by thrée turkish galliots . a description of the kingdome of creta , of his dangers and hard fortunes amongst the iles syclades , of thessaly , mecadonia , the hill pernassus , achaia , tenedos , troy , phrygia , colchos , sestos and abidos , the gulfe of hellespont , and of his voyage to constantinople . the i le of candy was called creta : it is a most famous and ancient kingdome : by moderne writers , it is quéene of the iles mediterrene . it had of old a hundred cities , whereof it had the name hecatompolis , but now onely foure , candia , canea , rhethimos , and schythia , the rest are but uillages and bourges . it is of length , to wit , from capo ermico in the west , called by plinie , frons arietis , and capo salomone in the east , 240 miles , large thréescore , and of circuit 650 miles . this is the chiefest dominion belonging to the venetian republicke : in euery one of these foure cities there is a gouernour and two counsellors sent from venice euery two yeares . the countrey is diuided into foure parts , vnder the iurisdiction of the foure cities , for the better administration of iustice : and they haue a general , who commonly remaineth in the citie of candy ( like to a uiceroy ) who deposeth or imposeth magistrates , captaines , souldiers , officers , and others whatsoeuer , in the behalfe of saint marke , or duke of venice . the venetians detaine continually a strong guard , diuided into companies , squadrons and garisons , in the cities and fortresses of the iland , which do extend to the number of twelue thousand souldiers , kept , not only for the incursion of turks , but also for feare of the cretans , or inhabitants , who would rather ( if they could ) render to the turke , then to liue vnder the subiection of venice . this i le produceth the best maluosey , muscadine , and leaticke , that supposedly are in the world . it yeeldeth orenges , lemmons , mellons , cytrons , grenadiers , adams apples , raisins , oliues , dates , honey , sugar , vua di tre volte , and all other kindes of fruit in aboundance . but the most part of their cornes are brought yearely from archipelago and greece . thus much of the i le in generall ; and now in respect of my trauelling two times through the boundes of the whole kingdom , which was neuer before atchieued by any traueller of christendome , i will as briefly as i can in particular , relate a few of these miseries indured by me in this land , with the nature and quality of the people . the aforesaid carabusa is the principal fortresse of creta , being of it selfe inuincible , and is not vnlike to the castle of dunbertan , which standeth at the mouth of clyd ; vpon which riuer the most worthy , renowned , and anciently enobled citie of lanerke is situated . for it is inuironed with a rocke higher then the walles , and ioyneth with capo ermico : hauing learned of the théeuish way i had to canea , i aduised to put my money in exchange , which the captaine of that strength very curteously performed ; and would also haue disswaded me from my purpose , but i by no perswasion of him would stay . from thence departing , scarcely was i aduanced twelue miles in my way , when i was beset on the skirt of a rockie mountaine , with three greeke renegadoes , and an italian bandido : who laying hands pn me , beat mee most cruelly , robbed me of all my clothes , and stripped me naked , vsing many inuectiue spéeches . at last the italian perceiuing i was a stranger , and could not speake the cretan tongue , began to aske mee in his owne language , where was my money ? to whom i soberly answered , i had no more then he saw , which was foure score bagantines : but he not giuing credit to these words , searched all my cloathes and budgeto , yet found nothing except my linnen , and letters of recommendation , i had from diuers princes of christendome : which when he saw , did moue him to compassion , and earnestly intreated the other thrée theeues to grant me mercy , and saue my life . a long deliberation being ended , they restored backe againe my pilgrimes cloathes , and letters , but my blew gowne and bagantines they kept . such also was their théeuish curtesie towards me , that for my better safe-guard in the way , they gaue me a stamped péece of clay , as a token to shew any of their companions , if i encountred with them ; for they were about twenty rascals of a confederate band , that lay in this desart passage . leauing them , with many counterfet thankes , i trauelled that day seuen and thirty miles , and at night attained to the vnhappy village of pickehorno , where i could haue neither meate , drinke , lodging , nor any refreshing to my wearied body . these desperate candiots thronged about me gazing ( as though astonished ) to sée mee both want company , and their language , and by their cruell lookes they séemed to be a barbarous and vnciuill people : for all these high-landers of candy are tyrannicall , blood-thirsty and deceitfull . the consideration of which made me to shun their villany , and priuatly sought for a secure place of repose in a darke caue by the sea side ; in which i lay till morning with a crazed body , and a hungry belly . upon the appearing of the next aurora , i embraced my vnknowne way , and about mid-day came to canea : canea is the second citie of creet , excéeding populous , well-walled , and fortified with bulwarkes : it hath a large castle , containing ninty seuen palaces , in which the rector and other venetian gentlemen dwell . there lie continually in it seuen companies of souldiers , who keep centenall on the walles , guard the gates , and market-places of the citie : neither in this towne nor candia , may any countrey peasant enter with weapons ( especially harquebuses ) for that conceited feare they haue of treason . truely this city may equall in strength , either zara in dalmatia , or luka , or ligorne , both in tuscana : for these foure cities are so strong , that in all my trauels i neuer saw them matched . they are all well prouided with artillery , and all necessary things for their defence , especially luka , which continually reserues in store prouision of victuals for 12 yeares siege . being here disappointed of transportation to archipelago , i aduised to visit candy ; and in my way i saw the large hauen of suda , which hath no town or village , saue onely a castle situated on a rocke in the sea , at the entry of the bay : the bounds of that harbour may receiue at one time aboue 2000 ships and gallies , and is the onely key of the iland : for which place the king of spaine hath oft offered an infinite deale of mony to the venetians , whereby his nauy which sometimes resort in the leuante , might haue accesse and reliefe ; but they would neuer grant him his request . upon the third dayes iourney from canea , i came to rethimos ; this citie is somwhat ruinous and vnwalled , but the citizens haue newly builded a strong fortresse , which defendeth them from the inuasion of pirates . it standeth by the sea side , and in the yeare 1597 , it was miserably sacked and burned with turkes . continuing my voyage , i passed along the skirt of mount ida , accompanied with greekes who could speake the italian tongue , on which first they shewed me the caue of king minos , but some hold it to be the sepulcher of iupiter . this groto is of length 80 paces , and 8 large . this minos was said to be the brother of radamanthus , and sarpedon ; who , after their succession to the kingdome , established such equitable lawes , that by poets they are faigned to be the iudges of hell. i saw also there , the place where iupiter ( as they say ) was nourished by amalthes , which by greekes is recited , as wel as latine poets . thirdly , they shewed me the temple of saturne , which is a worke to be admired , of such antiquity , and as yet vndecayed ; who , ( say they ) was the first king that inhabited there . and néere to it , is the demolished temple of matelia , hauing this superscription aboue the doore yet to be séene : make cleane your feet , wash your head , and enter . fourthly , i saw the entry to the laborinth of dedalus , which i would gladly haue better viewed , but because we had no candle-light we durst not enter : for there are many hollow places within it , so that if a man stumble or fall , hee can hardly be rescued . it is cut forth with many intricating wayes , on the face of a little hill , ioyning with mount ida. mount ida is the highest mountaine in creta , and by the computation of shéepheards féete , amounteth to six miles of height . it is ouer-clad euen to the toppe with cypretrées , and good store of medicinable hearbes : insomuch that the beasts which féede thereupon , haue their téeth guilded like to the colour of gold . it is said by some historians that no venemous animall can liue in this ile ; but i saw the contrary : for i kild vpon one day , two serpents and a uiper : wherefore many build vpon false reports , but experience teacheth men the truth . descending from this mountaine , i entred in a faire plaine , beautified with many villages ; in one of which i found a grecian bishop , who kindly presented with grapes of maluasie , and other things , for it was in the time of uintage . to carry these things he had giuen me , he caused to make ready an asse , and a seruant , who went with mee to candy , which was more then 15 miles from his house . true it is , that the best sort of greekes , in visiting other , do not vse to come empty handed , neither will they suffer a stranger to depart without both gifts and conuoy . candy is a large and famous citie , situated on a plaine by the sea side , hauing a goodly hauen for ships , and a faire arsenall wherein are 36 gallies . it is excéeding strong , and daily guarded with 2000 souldiers , and the walles in compasse are about three leagues . candy is distant from venice 1300 miles , from constantinople 700. from famagosta in cyprus 600. from alexandria in egypt , 500. and from the citie of ierusalem 900 miles . the candeots through all the iland , make muster euery eighth day , before the sergeant-maiors , or officers of the generall , and are well prouided with all sorts of armour ; yea , and the most valourous people that hight the name of greekes . it was told me by the rector of candy , that they may raise in armes of the inhabitants ( not reckoning the garrisons ) aboue sixtie thousand men , all able for warres , with 54 gallies , and 24 galleots for the sea . in all my trauels through this realme , i neuer could sée a greek come forth of his house vnarmed : and after such a martiall manner , that one his head he weareth a bare stéele cap , a bow in his hand , a long sword by his side , a broad ponyard ouerthwart his belly , and a round target hanging at his girdle . they are not costly in apparrell , for they were but linnen cloathes , and vse no shooes , but bootes of white leather : by nature they are crafty and subtill , as paul mentioneth , titus . 1.12 . their haruest is our spring : for they manure the ground , and sow the séed in october , which is reaped in march and aprill . being frustrate of my intention at candy , i was forced to returne to canea , where i staied 25 dayes before i could get passage , for i purposed to view constantinople . i trauelled on foot in this i le more then 400 miles ; and vpon the 50 day after my first comming to carabusa , i embarked in a fisher-boat that belonged to milo , being a hundred miles distant , which had beene violently driuen thither with stormy weather . milo was called by aristotle , melada ; and by others , mimalida , melos : and lastly , milo , because of the fine mill-stones that are got there , which are transported to constantinople , greece and natolia . this i le is one of the iles cyclades , or sporades , but more commonly archipelago , or the arch-ilands , and standeth in the beginning of the aegean sea : the inhabitants are greekes , but slaues to the turke , and so are all the 53 iles of the cyclades , saue onely tino , which holdeth of the venetians . from milo i came to zephano , an iland of circuit about twenty miles : the inhabitants are poore , yet kind people . there are an infinite number of partridges within this i le , of a reddish colour , and bigger then ours in britaine : they are wilde , and onely kild by small shot ; but i haue seene in other ilands flockes of them feeding in the fields , and vsually kept by children : some others i haue seene in the stréetes of villages , without any kéeper , euen as hennes do with vs. i saw fountains here that naturally yéeld fine oyle , which is the greatest aduantage the ilanders haue . from thence i embarked , and arriued at angusa in parir : this i le is forty miles long , and six miles broad : being plentifull enough in all necessary things for the vse of of man : in angusa i stayed 16 dayes , storme-sted , with northerly windes ; and in all that time i neuer came in bed : for my lodging was in a little church without the village , on hard stones ; where i also had a fire , and dressed my meate . the greekes visited me oftentimes , and intreated me aboue all things , i should not enter within the bounds of their sanctuary , because i was not of their religion . these miserable ilanders are a kinde of silly poore people ; which in their behauiour shewed the necessity they had to liue , rather then any pleasure in their liuing . from thence i arriued in the i le of mecano , where i but onely dined , & so set forward to zea. zea was so called of zeo , the son of phebo ; and of some tetrapoli ; because of the foure citties that were there of old . symonides the poet , and eristato the excellent physition , were borne in it . the next i le of any note wee touched at , was tino : this iland is vnder the signorie of venice , and was sometimes beautified with the temple of neptune . by aristotle it was idrusa ; of demosthenes , and eschines , erusea : it hath an impregnable castle , builded on the top of a high rocke ; so that the turkes by no meanes can conquer it . from this i le i came to palmosa , sometime pathmos , which is a mountanous and barren iland : it was heere that saint iohn wrote the reuelation after hée was banished by domitianus the emperour . thence i embarked to nicaria , and sailed by the i le scyro ; which of old was the signory of licomedes , and in the habit of a woman , was achilles brought vp heere : who in that time , begot pyrhus vpon deidamia , the daughter of licomedes , and where the crafty vlysses did discouer this fatall prince to troy. as we fetched vp the sight of nicaria , wee espied two turkish galleots , who gaue vs the chace , and pursued vs , straight vnto a bay , betwixt two mountaines , where we left the loaded boat , and fled to the rockes : but in our flying , the maister was taken , and other two old men ; whom they made captiues , and slaues : and also seized vpon the boat , and all their goods : the number that escaped , were nine persons . this ile nicaria , was anciently called doliche , and ithiosa , and is somewhat barren ; hauing no sea-port at all : it was heere , the poets feigned , that icarus the son of dedalus fell , when as hee took flight from creta , with his borrowed wings , of whom it hath the name . expecting certaine daies heere , in a vilage called lephantos , for passage to sio , at last i found a brigandino bound thither , that was come from the fruitfull i le of stalimene , of old lemnos , wherein i embarked , and sailed by the i le samos , which is opposite to caria , in asia minor : it is of circuit one hundred and sixty , and of length forty miles : it was of old named dri●sa , and melanphilo , in which was phythagoras the phylospher , and lycaon the excellent musitien borne . as wee left the i le veneco on our left hand , and entred in the gulfe betweene sio , and eolida , there fell downe a deadly storme , at the greco è leuante , which split our mast , carrying sailes and all ouer-board : whereupon euery man looked ( as it were ) with the stampe of death in his pale visage . the tempest continuing ( our boat not being able to keepe the seas ) we were constrained to seeke into a creeke , betwixt two rockes , for safety of our liues ; where , when wee entred , there was no likely-hood of reliefe : for wee had a shelfie shore , and giuing ground to the ankors they came both home . the sorrowfull maister seeing nothing but shipwracke , tooke the helme in hand , directing his course to rush vpon the face of a low rocke , whereupon the sea most fearefully broke . as wée touched , the marriners contending who should first leape out , some fell ouer-boord , and those that got land , were pulled backe by the reciprocating waues : neither in all this time durst i once moue ; for they had formerly sworne , if i pressed to escape , before the rest were first forth , they would throw me head-long into the sea : so , being two waies in danger of death , i patiently offered vp my prayers to god. at our first incounter with the rockes ( our fore-deckes , and boates gallery being broke , and a great leake made ) the recoiling waues brought vs backe from the shelfes a great way ; which the poore maister perceiuing , and that there were seuen men drowned , and eleuen persons aliue , cryed with a lowd voyce : bee of good cheere , take vp oares and row hastily ; it may bee , before the barke sinke , wee attaine to yonder caue . euery man working for his owne deliuerance ( as it pleased god ) we got the same with good fortune : for no sooner were wee dis-barked , but the boat immediate sunke . there was nothing saued but my coffino , which i kept alwaies in my armes ; for the which of my things , the greekes were in admiration . in this caue , which was thirty paces long , within the mountaine , wee abode three daies , without both meate and drink : vpon the fourth day at morne , the tempest ceasing , there came fisher-boates to relieue vs , who found the ten greekes almost famished for lacke of food ; but i in that hunger-staruing feare , fed vpon the expectation of my doubtfull reliefe . true it is , a miserable thing it is for a man , to grow an example to others , in matters of affliction , yet it is necessary that some men should be so : for it pleased god , hauing showne a sensible disposition of fauor vpon mee , in humbling mee to the very pit of extremities , taught me also by such an expected deliuerance , both to put my confidence in his eternall goodnesse , and to know the frailty of my owne selfe , and my ambition , which draue me often to such disasters . the dead men being found on shore , wee buried them ; and i learned at that instant time , there were seuentéene boats cast away , on the coast of this iland , and neuer a man saued : in this place the greekes set vp a stone crosse in the memoriall of such a wofull mischance , and mourned heauily , fasting and praying . i reioycing , and thanking god for my safety ( leauing them sorrowing for their friends and good ) tooke iourney through the iland to sio , for so is the citie called . in my way i past by an old castle standing on a little hill , named gasbos , or helias ; where ( as i was informed , by two greekes in my company ) the sepulchre of homer was yet extant : for this is one of the seuen iles that contended for his birth : and i willing to see it , entreated them to accompany me thither ; where we came , wee descended by sixteene degrées into a darke cell , and passing that , wee entred in another foure-squared roome , in which i saw an ancient toomb , whereon were ingrauen greeke letters , which wee could not vnderstand for their antiquity ; but whether it was his toombe or not , i do not know , but this they related . this ile was first called etalie , and pythiosa : next cios , actes 20.15 . and by methrodorus , chio , of chione : but at this day sio . not long ago it was vnder the genueses , but now gouerned by turkes : it is of circuit , an hundred miles , and famous for the medicinable masticke that groweth there on trées : i saw many pleasant gardens in it , which yéeld in great plenty , orenges , lemmons , apples , peares , prunes , figges , oliues , apricockes , dates , adams apples , excellent hearbes , faire flowers , sweete hony , with store of cypre and mulbery-trees , and exceeding good silk is made heere . the women of the citie sio , are the most beautifull dames , of all the greekes in the world , and greatly giuen to uenery : they are for the most part excéeding proud , and sumptuous in apparell , and commonly go ( euen artificers wiues ) in gownes of sattin and taffety ; yea , of cloth of siluer and gold , and are adorned with pretious stones , and gemmes , and iewels about their neckes , and hands : their husbands are their pandors , and when they see any stranger arriue , they will presently demand of him , if hée would haue a mistresse : and so they make whores of their owne wiues , and are contented for a little gaine , to weare hornes : such are the base mindes of ignominious cuckolds . after some certaine attendance , i embarked in a carmoesalo , bound for nigroponti , which was forth of my way to constantinople ; but because i would gladly haue seene macedonia , i followed that determination : in our way wee sayled by mytelene , an iland of old called isa : next lesbos : and lastly mytelene , of milet the sonne of phoebus , pythacus , one of the seuen sages of greece , the most valiant antimenides , and his brother alceus the poet , theophrastus the peripatetike phylosopher , arion the learned harper , and the shee poet sapho , were borne in it . the iles sporades , are scattered in the egean sea , like as the iles orcades are in the north seas of scotland ; but different in clymate and fertility ; for these south-easterne iles in summer are extreme hot , producing generally ( nigroponti excepted ) but a few wines , fruits , and cornes , scarce sufficient to sustaine the ilanders . but these north-westerne ilands , in sommer , are neither hot nor cold , hauing most wholesome and temperate aire ; and doe yeeld aboundance of corne , euen more then to suffice the inhabitants ; which is yeerely transported to the firme land , and sold : they haue also good store of cattell , and good cheape ; and the best fishing that the whole ocean yeeldeth , is vpon the coasts of orknay and zetland . in all these separated parts of the earth ( which of themselues of old , made vp a little kingdome ) you shall alwaies find strong march ale , and surpassing fine aqua vitae , with an infinite number of conies , which you may kill with crosse-bow , or harquebuse , euery morning forth of your chamber window , according to your pleasure in that pastime , which i haue both practised my selfe , and séene practised by others ; for they multiply so excéedingly that they dig euen vnder the foundations of dwelling houses . such is the will of god to bestow vpon seuerall places particular blessings , whereby hee demonstrateth to man , the plentifull store-house of his gracious prouidence , so many manner of waies vpon earth distributed : all glory bee to his incomprehensible goodnesse therefore . i haue seldome séene in all my trauels , more toward , and tractable people ( i meane their gentlemen ) and better housekéepers ; then bee these orkadians and zetlanders : whereof , in the prime of my adolescency ( by two voyages amongst these northerne iles ) i had the full proofe and experience . nigroponti was formerly called euboea , next albantes , and now is surnamed the quéene of archipelago : it is separated from the firme land of thessaly with a narrow channell , ouer the which in one part there is a bridge , that passeth betwéene the i le , and the maine continent , and vnder it runneth a marueilous swift current , or tyde ; within halfe a mile of the bridge , i saw a marble columne , standing on the top of a little rocke , whence ( as the ilanders told mee ) aristotle leaped in , and drowned himselfe , after that he could not conceiue the reason , why this channell so ebbed , and flowed . this i le bringeth forth in aboundance , all things requisite for humane life , and decored with many goodly uillages . from thence i arriued at a towne in macedonia called salonica , but of old thessalonica , where i staied fiue daies , and was much made of by the inhabitants : it is a citie full of rich commodities , and is the principall place of thessaly , which is a place of macedon , together with achaia , and myrmedon , which are the other two prouinces of the same . there is an uniuersity of the iewes heere , who professe onely the hebrew tongue . about this citie is the most fertile country in all greece . greece of all the kingdomes in europe , hath beene most famous , and highly renowmed for many notable respects : it was first called helles , next grecia , of grecus , who was once king thereof : the greekes , of all other gentiles , were the first conuerted christians , and are wonderfull deuout in their professed religion : the priests weare the haire of their heads hanging ouer their shoulders : those that bee the most sincere religious men , abstaine alwaies from eating of flesh , contenting themselues with water , herbes , and bread : they differ much in ceremonies , and principles of religion , from the papists , and the computation of their kalender , is as ours . they haue foure patriarkes , who gouerne the affaires of their church , and also any ciuill dissentions , which happen amongst them , viz. one in constantinople , another in antiochia , the third in alexandria , and the fourth in ierusalem . it is not néedfull for mee to penetrate further in the condition of their estate , because it is no part of my intent in this treatise . in salonica i found a germe , bound for tenedos , in the which i embarked : as we sayled along the thessalonian shoare , i saw the two topped hill pernassus , where it was said the nine muses haunted ; but as for the fountaine helicon , i leaue that to be searched , and seene by the imagination of poets : for if it had béene obiected to my sight , like an insatiable drunkard , i should haue drunke vp the streames of poesie , to haue enlarged my poore poeticall veine . the mountaine it selfe is somewhat steepe , and sterile , especially the two toppes , the one whereof is dry , and sandy , signifying that poets are alwaies poore and needy : the other toppe is barren , and rocky , resembling the ingratitude of wretched and niggardly patrones : the vale betweene the toppes is pleasant , and profitable , denoting the fruitfull and delightfull soyle , which painefull poets , the muses plow-men , so industriously manure . a little more eastward , as wee fetcht vp the coast of achaia , the maister of the uessell shewed mee a ruinous uillage , and castle , where hee said the admired citie of thebes had beene . upon the third day from salonica , wee arriued in the roade of tenedos , which is an iland in the sea pontus , or propontis : it hath a citie called tenedos , built by tenes , which is a gallant place , hauing a castle , and a faire hauen for all sorts of uessels : it produceth good store of wines , and the best supposed to bee in all the south-east parts of europe . the iland is not big , but exceeding fertile , lying thrée miles from the place where troy stood , as virgill reported , aenid . 2. est in conspectu tenedos , notissima fama insula . in tenedos i met by accident , two french merchants of marseills , intending for constantinople , who had lost their ship at sio , when they were busie at venereall tilting , with their new elected mistresses , and for a second remedy , were glad to come thither in a turkish carmoesalo . the like of this i haue séene fall out with sea-faring men , merchants , and passengers , who buy sometimes their too much folly , with too déere a repentance . they , and i , resoluing to view troy , did hire a ianisarie to bee our conductor and protector , and a greeke to be our interpreter . where when we landed , wee saw heere and there many relicts of old walles , as wee trauelled through these famous bounds . and as we were aduanced toward the east part of troy , our greek brought vs to many toombes , which were mighty ruinous , and pointed vs particularly to the toombes of hector , aiax , achilles , troylus , and many other valiant champions , with the toombs also of hecuba , cresseid , and other troian dames : well i wot , i saw infinite old sepulchres , but for their particular names , and nomination of them , i suspend , neither could i beléeue my interpreter , sith it is more then thrée thousand and odde yeares ago , that troy was destroyed : he shewed vs also the ruines of king priams palace , and where anchises the father of aeneas dwelt . at the north-east corner of troy , which is in sight of the castles of hellesponte , there is a gate yet standing , and a péece of a reasonable high wall ; vpon which i found thrée péeces of rusted money , which afterward i gaue to the two yonger brethren of the duke of florence . where the pride of phrygia stood , it is a most delectable plaine , abounding now in cornes , fruites , and wines , and may be called the garden of natolia : yet not populous , for there are but onely fiue scattered uillages , in all that bounds : the length of troy hath béene , as may bee discerned , by the fundamentall walles yet extant , about twenty miles : the ruines of which are come to that poeticall prouerbe : nunc seges est vbi troia fuit . leauing the fields of noble ilium , wee crossed the riuer of simois , and dyned at a uillage named extetash : i remember , discharging one couenant with the ianisary , who was not contented with the former condition , the frenchmen making obstacle to pay that which i had giuen , the wrathfull ianisary be laboured them both with a cudgel , till the bloud sprung from their heads , and compelled them to double his wages . this is one true note to a traueller ( whereof i had the full experience afterward ) that if hee can not make his owne part good , hee must alwaies at the first motion content these rascals , otherwise he wil be constrained doubtlesse with strokes to giue twice as much : for they make no account of conscience , nor ruled by the law of compassion , neither regard they a christian more then a dogge : but whatsoeuer extortion or iniurie they vse against him , he must be french-like contented , bowing his head , and making a counterfet shew of thankes , and happy too oftentimes , if so he escape . hence wee arriued at the castles called of old sestos , and abydos , which are two fortresses opposite to other , the one in europe , the other in asia , being a mile distant : they stand at the beginning of hellesponte , and were also cognominate the castles of hero and leander , which were erected in a commemoration of their admirable fidelitie in loue . but now they are commonly called the castles of gallipoly , yea , or rather the strength of constantinople , betwéene which , no ship may enter , without knowledge of the captaines . and at their returne they must stay thrée dayes before they are permitted to goe through . betwixt the castles and constantinople , is about fortie leagues : here i left the two frenchmen with a greeke barbour , and imbarked for constantinople , in a turkish frigato . the first place of any note i saw , within these narrow seas , was the auncient citty of gallipolis , the second seate of thracia , which was first builded by caius caligula , and sometimes hath béene inhabited by the gaules : it was the first towne in europe that the turkes conquered . as we sailed betwéene thracia and bithinia , a learned grecian that was in my company shewed mee colchis , whence iason with the assistance of the argonautes , and the aid of medeas skill , did fetch the golden fléece . this sea hellespont tooke the name of helles , and of the countrey pontus , ioyning to the same sea , wherein are these thrée countries , armenia , colchis , and cappadocia . after wee had fetcht vp the famous citie of calcedon in bithinia on our right hand , i beheld on our left hand , the prospect of that little world , the great citie of constantinople , which indéed yeeldeth such an outward splendor to the amazed beholder of goodly churches , stately towers , gallant stéeples , and other such things , whereof now the world make so great account , that the whole earth cannot equall it . beholding these delectable obiects , wee entred in the channell of bosphorus , which diuideth perah from constantinople . and arriuing at tapanau , where all the munition of the great turke lieth , i bade farewell to my company , and went to a lodging to refresh my selfe till morning . a briefe description of the renowned citty of constantinople , together with the customes , manners , and religion of the turkes , their first beginning , and the birth of mahomet ; and what opinion the mahometanes haue of heauen and hell. constantinople is the metropolitan of thracia , so called of constantine the emperour , who first enlarged the same : it was called of old bizantium , but now by the turkes stambolda , which signifieth in their language , a large citty . it was also called ethuse , and by the greekes stymbolis . this citty ( according to ancient authors ) was first sounded by the lacedemonians , who were conducted from lacedemon , by one pausanias , about the yeare of the world 3294 , which after their consultation with apollo , where they should settle their abode and dwelling place , they came to bithinia , and builded a cittie which was called calcedon . but the commodity of fishing falling out contrary to their expectation , in respect the fishes were afraid of the white bankes of the citty , the captaine pausanias left that place , and builded bizantium in thracia , which first was by him intituled ligos . by pliny , iustine , and strabo , it was surnamed vrbs illustrissima , because it is repleat with all the blessings earth can giue to man ; yea and in the most fertile soile of europe . zonaras reporteth that the athenians in an ambitious and insatiable desire of soueraigntie , wonno it from the lacedemonians : they thus being vanquished , suborned seuerus the romane emperour to besiege the same : but the cittie bizantium being strongly fortified with walles , the romans could not take it in , vntill extreame famine constrained them to yeeld after thrée yeares siege : and seuerus to satisfie his cruelty , put all to the sword that were within , and razed the walles , giuing it in possession to the neighbouring perinthians . this citie thus remained in calamitie till constantine ( resigning the citie of rome , and a great part of italy to the popish inheritance of the roman bishops ) reedified the same , and translated his imperiall seate in the east , and reduced all the empire of greece to an vnite tranquility , with immortall reputation , which the parthians and persians had so miserably disquieted . but these disorders at length reformed by the seuere administration of iustice , for the which , and other worthy respects , the said constantine , sonne of s. helen , and emperour of rome , ( which after the popes vsurped ) was surnamed the great . he first in his plantation called this citie new rome ; but when hee beheld the flourishing and multiplying of all things in it , and because of the commodious situation thereof , he called it constantinopolis , after his owne name . this emperour liued there many prosperous yeares , in a most happy estate : likewise many of his successors did , vntill such time that mahomet , the second of that name , and emherour of the turkes , liuing in a discontented humor , to behold the great and glorious dominions of christians , especially this famous citie , that so flourished in his eyes , by moment all circumstances , collected his cruell intentions to the full height of ambition ; whereby hee might abolish the very name of christianity , and also puft vp with a presumptuous desire to enlarge his empire , went with a maruellous power both by sea and land , vnto this magnificent mansion . the issue wherof was such , that after diuers batteries and assaults , the irreligious infidels broke downe the walles , and entred the citle , where they made a wonderfull massacre of poore afflicted christians , without sparing any of the romane kinde , either male or female . in the mercilesse fury of these infernall impes , the emperour constantine was killed , whose head being cut off , was carried vpon the poynt of a launce , through all the citie and campe of the turkes , to the great disgrace and ignominy of christianitie . his empresse , daughters , and other ladies were put to death after a strange forme of new deuised torments . by this ouerthrow of constantinople , this mahomet tooke twelue kingdomes , and two hundred cities from the christians , which is a lamentable losse , of such an illustrious empire . thus was that imperiall citie lost , in the yeare 1453. may 29. when it had remained vnder the gouernment of christians 1198 yeares . it is now the chiefe abode of the great turke sultan acomet , the 15 grand can , of the line of ottoman , liuing at this day , who is about 23 yeares of age ; a man more giuen to venery then martiality , which giueth presently a greater aduantage to the persians in their instant warres . the forme or situation of this citie , is like vnto a triangle , the south part whereof , and the east part , are inuironed with hellespontus , and bosphorus thraicus ; and the north part adioyning to the firme land . it is in compasse about the walles , estéemed to be 18 miles : in one of these triangled points standeth the palace of the great turke , called seralia , and the forrest wherein he hunteth , which is two miles in length . the speciall obiect of antiquity i saw within this citie , was the incomparable church of s. sophia , whose ornaments and hallowed vessels were innumerable , in the time of iustinian the emperour , who first builded it ; but now conuerted to a mosque , and consecrate to mahomet after a diabolicall manner . i saw also the famous hypprodome , and the theater whereon the people stood when the emperours vsed to run their horses , and make their princely shewes , on solemne dayes , which is now altogether decayed . there is a great columne in that same place , in the which all those things memorable that haue béene done in this hyppodrome , are superficially carued . upon the west corner of the citie , there is a strong fortresse , fortified with seuen great towers , and well furnished with munition , called by turkes , iadileke : in this presoun are bashaws and subbashaws imprisoned , and also great men of christians , if any offence be committed . their place of exchange is called bezastan , wherein all sorts of commodities are to bee sold ; as sattins , silkes , ueluets , cloth of siluer and gold , and the most exquisitly wrought handkerchiffes , that can be found in the world ; with other infinite commodities , the relation of which would be tedious . i haue séene men and women as vsually sold here in markets , as horses , and other beasts are with vs. the most part of which are hungarians , transiluanians , and bohemians , captiues , and of other places besides , which they ouercome . whom , if no compassionable christian will buy , or or relieue ; then must they either turne turke , or bee addicted to perpetuall slauery . in constantinople there haue happened many fearefull fires , which often haue consumed to ashes the most part of the rarest monuments there , and the beauty of infinite palaces , as zonoras the constantinopolitan historiographer in his histories mentioneth . and now lately in the yeare 1607. october 14. there were burned aboue 3000 houses , of which i saw a number of ruines ( as yet ) vnrepaired . it is subiect also to diuers earthquakes , which haue often subuerted the towers , houses , churches , and walles of the citie to the ground . especially in the yeare 1509. in the reigne of baiazeth the ninth emperour of the turkes , in which time more then 13000 persons were all smothered and dead , and laid vp in heapes vnburied . and commonly euery third yeare , the pestilence is excéeding great in that citie , and after such an odious manner , that those who are infected ( before they dy ) haue the halfe of their one side rot , and fall away : so that you may easily discerne the whole intrailes of their bodies . it is not licentiated that any christian should enter in a turkish moskée , without the conduct of a ianisary , the tryall whereof i had when i viewed s. sophia . perah is ouer against constantinople , called of old cornubizantium ; but by the turkes galata : it is the place at which christian ships touch , and where the embassadours of christendome lie . from thence i went to the blacke sea : but commonly called , mare euxinum , where i saw pompeis pillar of marble , standing néere to the shore , vpon a rocky iland ; and not farre from hence , is a lanthorne higher then any stéeple , whereon there is a pan full of liquor , that burneth euery night , to giue warning vnto ships how néere they come to shore : it is not much vnlike these lanthornes of lighorne and genua . the water of this sea is neuer a whit blacker then other seas ; but it is called black in respect of the dangerous euents in darke and tempestuous nights , which happen there ; and because of the rockes and sands which lie a great way from the maine shore ; vpon which many vessels are cast away . the blacke sea is not farre from galata , for i both went and returned in one day . the turkes haue no bels in their churches , neither the vse of a clocke , nor numbring of houres ; but they haue high round stéeples , for they contrafact and contradict all the formes of christians ; when they goe to pray , they are called together by the voyce of crying men , who go vp on the bartizings of their stéeples , shouting and crying with a shrill voyce : la illa , eillala , mahomet rezul alla , that is , god is a great god , and mahomet is his prophet , or otherwise there is but one god. in constantinople , and many other places of turky , i haue séene thrée sabboth dayes together in one wéeke : the friday for the turkes , the saturday for iewes , and the sunday for the christians ; but the turkes sabboth is worst kept of all : for they will not spare to doe any labour vpon their holy day . they haue méetings at their publicke prayers euery day fiue seuerall times : the first is , before the rising of the sunne : the second is , a little before mid-day : the third is , at three of the clock afternoone : the fourth is at sun-setting , summer and winter : fifthly , the last houre of praier is alwaies two or thrée houres within night . many of them will watch till that time , and not sléepe , and others sléeping , will awake at the voyce of the crier , and go to church . in signe of reuerence , and in a superstitious deuotion , before they goe into their mosquées , they wash themselues in a lauatoire , beginning at the priuy members , next their mouthes , faces , féet and handes : and entring , they incline their heads downeward to the earth ; and falling on their knées , doe kisse the ground thrée times . then the talasumany , which is the chiefe priest , mounteth vpon a high stone , where he maketh many orations to mahomet : and the rest to assist him , continne a long time shaking their heads , as though they were out of all naturall vnderstanding , repeating oft this word , haylamo , haylamo ; and after that will sigh grieuously , saying houpek . and sometimes will abruptly sing the psalmes of dauid in the arabick tongue , but to no sense , nor verity of the scriptures . and at their deuotion , they will not tolerate any women in their company , lest they should withdraw their mindes and affection from their present zeale . the church-men are called hadach casseis , or daruises , who weare on their heads gréene shashes , to make distinction betwéene them and others : for they are accounted to bee of mahomets kindred . they hold all madde men in great reuerence , as prophets , or saints , and if they intend any farre iourney , priuate purposes ; or otherwise , before they goe to battell , they come to craue counsell of these santones , to know if they shall prosper , or not in their attempts . and whatsoeuer answere these bedleem prophets giue , it is holden to be so credible , as if an oracle had spoken it . the turkish priests are for the most part moores , whom they account to bee a base people in respect of themselues , calling them totseks . all turkes doe detest the colour of blacke , and thinke those that weare it , shall neuer enter into paradice . but the colour of greatest request among them , is greene ; wherewith if any christian shall be apparrelled , hee shall bee sure of bastinadoes , and other punishments : neither may hee vse the name of their prophet mahomet in his mouth , ( vnder the paine of a cruell censure to bee inflicted vpon him ) whom they so much adore and honour . this mahomet was borne anno dom. 591. in itraripia , a beggarly village in arabia , whose father was abdallas , an ismalite ; and his mother cadiges a iew ; both different in religion , and also of diuers countries . in his youth hée was partly taught the iudaicall law , and partly the superstition of the gentiles . many alleage his parentage was neuer knowne ( being so base ) vntill his riper yeares bewrayed the same . i also learned , that his parents dyed whiles he was a yong childe , and was turned ouer to his vncle , who after sold him to one abdominoples , a merchant in palestina : and he , after a little time , hauing remarked his ready and prompt wit , sent him downe to aegypt , to be a factor in his merchandise ; where , by his dissimulate behauiour hee crept in fauour with christians , iewes , and gentiles . hee was in proportion of a meane stature , liuely faced , big-headed , eloquent in language , of a sanguinicall complexion , and a couragious stomacke , in all attempts excéeding desperate : he was also deceitfull , variant , and fraudulent , as may appeare in his satanicall fables , expressed in his alcoran , where oft one saying contradicteth another , both in words and effect . about this time there was one sergius , an italian monke , banished from constantinople , because he allowed of the arrian sect : who afterward came to palestina , and frequenting the house of abdeminoples , fell in acquaintance with the yong man mahomet ; and this frier perceiuing the aspiring quicknesse of his braine , bare a great aff ection to his naturall perfections . shortly after this , his maister dying , without heires , and his mistresse enioying many rich possessions : she , for these his extraordinary qualities , from the degrée of a seruant , aduanced him to bee her owne husband . that vnhappy match was no sooner done , but shee repented it with teares ; for he being subiect to the falling sicknesse , would often fall flat on the ground , before her , staring , gaping , and foming at the mouth , so that his company became loathsome and detestable : the which begun contempt in his bed-fellow , being to him manifested , he stroue ( vnder the shadow of inuented lies ) to mitigate the fury of her hatefull disdaine , faining and attesting , that when he fell to the ground , it was the great god spoke with him , before whose faith ( saith he ) i am not able to stand ; such is his soliciting of me , with words of terrour and maiestie , to reforme the waies of the degenerate people with fire and sword , sith moses and christ ( notwithstanding of their miracles ) haue béene reiected by the world . the old trot beleeuing all these flattering spéeches , was not onely appeased of her former conceit , but also louing him more then a husband , reuerenced him for a diuine prophet , imparting the same vnto her neighbours and gossips . after they had liued two yeares together , the bewitched matron dying , left all her rich possessions to mahomet ; both because she accounted him to bee a prophet , and next for that louing regard she had of his tender body , being but thirty yeares of age . he being thus left with great riches , was puft vp in pride , and hauty desires , striuing by all inordinary meanes , to bring his new deuised plots to perfection : for the better performance whereof , he consulted with this sergius , and another thalmudist , a diuerted iew ; heereupon these two hell-hounds , and the other peruerst runagate , patched vp a most monstruous and deuillish religion to themselues , and to their miscreant beleeuers : partly composed of the iudaicall law , partly of arrianisme , and partly intermixed with some points of christianity . this new coyned doctrine , was no sooner wrapt vp in his execrable alcoran , but he began to spit forth his abhominable and blasphemous heresies : affirming , that christ was not the son of the most high , nor that messias looked for ; denying also the trinity , with many other prophane blasphemies . the worke concluded , for the better aduancement of his purpose , he married the daughter of the chiefe prince of his owne tribe : by which new affinity , he not onely seduced his father-in-law , but also the whole linage of that family ; by whose acceptance and conuersion , he also confederated with other associates , and waxed daily stronger . contending continually to diuulgate his name , ay more and more , hee assembled his new alcoranists , exhorting them to assist him in the besieging of mecha , which citizens had in dirision rebuked his law , and absolutely disdained his mahometicall illusions : and promised to them , in such a well-deseruing attempt , both etenall felicity , and the spoyles of his contradictors ; perswasiuely assuring them , that god would deliuer all the gaine-sayers of his alcoran into his hands . by the which allurements they being moued , rose to the number of three thousand in armes , and menaced mecha , but the citizens put him to flight , and so was he thrise serued ; till in the end hee wonne their citie : wherein , after his death , he was entoombed in an iron coffin : which betweene two adamants hangeth to this day ( as i haue béene informed of sundry turkes who saw it ) which confirmed in them a solid beliefe of his erronious doctrine . i haue seene sometimes two thousand turkes trauelling to mecha , in pilgrimage ; which is in arabia felix ; where many in a superstitious deuotion , hauing séene the toombe of mahomet , are neuer desirous to sée the vanities of the world againe : for in a franticke piety they cause a smith to pull forth their eyes : and these men are called afterward hoggeis , that is , holy men ▪ whom the turkes much honour and regard . some write , that mahomet in his youth , was a souldier , vnder the conduct of heraclius ; and some mutinies happening in the army , he , with certaine arabians , his country-men , by faction , separated themselues : whereupon , mahomet , encouraging them in their defection , was chosen their captaine ; and so for a certaine time they continued rebellious runagates , theeues , and robbers of all people . the subtilty of this dissembler was admirable ; who knowing that he was distitute of heauenly gifts , to worke miracles , feigned that god sent him with the sword. he also promised , at the end of a thousand yeares to returne , and bring them to paradise ; but hee hath falsified his promise , for the time is expired twenty three yeares ago . and they imagining , that hee is either diseased , or become lame in his iourney , haue ascribed to him another thousand yeares to come . but long may their wicked and faithlesse generation gape , before he come , till such time , that in a generall conuocation , they be partakers of his endlesse damnation in hell ; vnlesse it please the lord in his mercy , to conuert them , before that time . mahomet , chiefly prohibiteth in his alcoran , the eating of swines flesh , and drinking of wine , which indeed the best sort do , but their baser kind are daily drunkards : their common drinke is sherpet , composed of water , hony , and sugar , which is exceeding delectable in the tast : and the vsuall courtesie they bestow on their friends , who visite them , is a cup of coffa , made of a kind of seede called coaua , and of a blackish colour , which they drinke so hote as possible they can , and is good to expell the crudity of raw meates , and hearbes , so much by them frequented . and those that cannot attaine to this liquor , must bee contented with the cooling streames of water . it is incident to turkes , which haue not that generositie of minde , to temper felicitie , to bee glutted with the superfluous fruits of doubtfull prosperity : neither haue they a patient resolution to withstand aduersity , nor hope to expect the better alteration of time . but by an infused malice in their wicked spirits , when they are any way calamited , will with importunate compulsion , cause the poore slauish subiected christians , surrender all they haue , the halfe , or so forth , sometimes with strokes , menacings , and sometimes death it selfe ; which plainely doth demonstrate their excessiue cruelty , and the poore christians ineuitable misery . i haue often heard turkes brawle one with another , most vilely , but i neuer saw , or heard , that they either in priuate or publique quarrels , durst strike one another ; neither dare they , for feare of seuere punishment imposed to such quarrellers : but they will iniure and strike christians , who dare not say it is amisse , nor strike againe . it is a common thing with them , to kill their seruants for a very small offence , and when they haue done throw them like dogs in a ditch . and oftentimes ( if not so ) will lay them downe on their backes , hoysing vp their heeles , bind their feete together , and fasten them to a post , and with a cudgell giue them thrée or foure hundred blowes on the soales of their féete ; whereupon , peraduenture , some euer go lame after . their seruants are bought , and sold , like bruite beasts in markets ; neither can these miserable drudges euer recouer liberty , except they buy themselues free , either by one meane or other . their wiues are not farre from the like seruitude , for the men by the alcoran are admitted to marry as many women as they will , or their ability can keep . and if it shal happen , that any one of these women ( i meane either wife or concubine ) prostituteth her selfe to another besides her husband ; then may he by authority , bind her hands and feet , hang a stone about her neeke , and cast her into a riuer , which by them is vsually done in the night . but when those infidels please to abuse poore christian women against their husbands will , they little regard the transgression of the christian law , who as well defloure their daughters as their wiues , yet the deuoute mahometans neuer meddle with them , accompting themselues damned to copulate ( as they think ) with the off-spring of dogs : the turkes generally , when they commit any copulation with christians , or their owne sex , they wash themselus in a south-running fountaine , before the sun-rising , thinking thereby to wash away their sins . but now to returne to the turkes : their custome and manner of mariage is this : if a man affecteth a yong maid , he buyeth her of her parents , and giueth a good summe of mony for her , and after she is bought , he enrolles her name in the cadies booke , witnessing she is his bound wife , bought of her father . loe this is all the forme of their marriage : this being done the father of the woman sendeth houshold-stuffe home with the bride , which is carryed through the streets on mulets or camels backes , the two new married folkes marching before , are conueyed with musicke , their owne acquaintance and friends , vnto his house . the turkes in generall , whensoeuer they loath or dislike their wiues , vse to sell them in markets , or otherwise bestow them , on their men-slaues : and although their affection were neuer so great toward them , yet they neuer eate together , for commonly the women stand , and serue their husbands at meate , and after that they eat apart by themselues , secretly , without admission of any mankinde in their company , if they be aboue foureteene yeares of age , they go seldome abroad , vnlesse it be each thurseday at night , when they go to the graues to mourne for the dead , alwaies couering their faces , very modestly with white or black maskes , which are neuer vncouered , till they returne to their houses . many other ceremonies they haue , which would be too prolixe for me to recite . and notwithstanding of all this exernall grauity , amongst these hirelings , yet there are in constantinople , aboue 40000 brothel-houses , turqueski , t s libertines ; in any of which , if a christian , ( especially franckes ) be apprehended , he must either turne turke , or laue , all his life : but the women by a policy apply a counterpoyson to this seuerity , for they accustomably come to the chambers of their benefactors and well-willers , or other places appointed secretly , where so they learne either a french syncopa , or an italian bergemasko . the lent of the turks is called byrham , which continueth the space of a month once in the yeare : in all which time , from the sunne rising to his setting , they neither eate nor drinke : and at their prayers ( especially in this fasting ) they vse often to reiterate these words , hue , hue , hue , that is ; he he he , alone is god ; or there is but one onely supreme power ; which they do in deriston of christians , who ( as they say ) adore three gods. they haue also this sinister opinion , that at the day of iudgement , when mahomet shall appeare , there shall be three displayed banners , vnder the which all good people shall be conducted in paradise . the one of moses , vnder the which the children of israel shall be : the second of iesvs , vnder which christians shall bee : the third of mahomet , vnder the which shall be the arabs , turkes , moores , and musilmans : all which , they thinke , shall be eleuated to seuerall honours ; and they in promotion shall bee discerned from the rest , by chambers made of replendant light , which god will giue them ; wherein they shall haue banquetings , feastings , dancing , and the best melody can bee deuised . they hold also this , as a confident article of their beleefe , that there are seuen paradises in heauen , the pauements whereof are laid with gold , siluer , pearles , pretious stones , and garnished with stately buildings , and pleasant gardens , wherein are all sorts of fruit , and princely palaces ; through the which run riuers of milke , hony , and wine . the first paradice , they call it genete alcholde , the second alfirduzy , the third anthinak , the fourth reduasch , the fift azelem , the sixt alcodush , that is , holy ; and the seuenth almega , that is , the greatest . and that in the midst of this last paradise , there is a stately tree called tubah , the leafe of which , is partly of gold , and partly of siluer ; whose boughes extend round about the walles of this seuenth paradise , whereon the name of mahomet is written , neere to the name of god , in these words , alla , illa , he , allah , mahomet rezul allah . the which words are in such reuerence amongst the turks , that a christian should happen , vnaduisedly to repeate them , hee is adiudged to a most cruell death , or compulsed to renounce his christian religion . as concerning their opinion of hell , they hold it to be deepe gulfe , betwixt two mountaines : from the mouth whereof are dragons , that continually throw fire , being large eight leagues , and hath a darke entry , where the horrible fiends meete the perplexed sinners , conuoying them till they come to a bridge that is so narrow as the edge of a rasour : whereupon those who haue not committed hainous offences , may passe ouer to hell , but those who haue done buggery ( as the most part of them do ) and homicide , shall fall headlong from it , to the profoundest pit in hell , where they shall sometimes burne in fire , and sometimes be cast into hote boyling water to be refreshed . and for the greater punishment of the wicked ( say they ) god hath planted a trie in hell , named saiaratash or roozo saytanah , that is , the head of the deuill , vpon the fruit of which , the damned continually feed : mahomet in one of the chapters of his alcoran calleth this trie , the trie of malediction . they also thinke the tormented soules may one day bee saued , prouiding they doe indure the scorching flames of hell patiently . thus , as briefly as i could , haue i laid open the opinion of the turkes , concerning their hell and heauen , before the eyes of these , who peraduenture haue neuer beene acquainted with such a ghostly discourse . the originall of the turkes , is said to haue béene in scythia , from whence they came to arabia petrea , and giuing battell oft to the sarazens , in the end subdued them , and so they multiplyed , and mightily increased : the apparence of their further increasing , is very euident except god of his mercy towards vs preuent their bloud-sucking threatnings , with the vengeance of his iust iudgements . the sarazens are descended of esau , who after he had lost the blessing , went and inhabited in arabia petrea ; and his posterity , striuing to make a cléere distinction betweene them , the ismalites , and iewes , called themselues ( as come of sara ) sarazens ; and not of hagar , the handmaid of abraham , of whom came the ismaelites , neither of the race of iacob , of whom came the iewes . but now the sarazens being ioyned with the turkes , their conquerours , haue both lost their name , and the right of their descent . the puissance of the great turke is admirable , yet the most part of his kingdomes in asia , are not well inhabited , neither populous , but these parts which border with christians , are strongly fortified with castles , people , and munition : if christian princes could concord , and consult together , it were a easie thing in one yeare , to subdue the turkes , and roote out their very names from the earth ; yea , moreouer , i am certified , that there are more christians , euen slaues and subiects to the great turke , which doe inhabite his dominions , then might ouerthrow and conquer these infidels , if they had worthy captaines , gouernours , and furniture of armes ; without the helpe of any christian of christendome . amongst the turkes there is no gentility nor nobility , but are all as ignoble and inferiour members to one maine body the great turke , lineally descended from the house of ottoman : whose magnificence , puissance , and power , is such , that the most eloquent tongue cannot sufficiently declare : his thousands of ianisaries , shouses , and others daily attending him , his hundreds ( besides his quéene ) of concubines hourly maintained by him , his armies , bashaws , garrisons and forces here and there dispersed amongst his dominions , would bee impossible for me briefly to relate . the inhumane policy of the turkes to auoyd ciuill dissention , is such , that the seed of ottoman ( al except one of them ) are strangled to death : wherefore as augustus cesar said of herod in the like case , it is better to bee the great turkes dogge , then his sonne . his daughters or sisters , are not so vsed , but are giuen in marriage to any bashaw whom so they affect ; yet with this condition ; the king saith to his daughter or sister , i giue thée this man to be ( at all times ) thy slaue ; and if he offend thée in any case , or bee disobedient to thy will , here i giue thée a dagger to cut off his head ; which alwayes they weare by their sides for the same purpose . the persians differ much from the turkes , in nobility , humanity , and actiuity , and especially in poynts of religion , who by contention thinke each other accursed ; and notwithstanding both factions are vnder the mahometanicall law. neither are the sonnes of the persian kings so barbarously handled as theirs : for all the brethren ( one excepted ) are onely made blinde , wanting their eyes , and are alwayes afterward gallantly maintained , like princes . and it hath oftentimes fallen out , that some of these kings dying without procreate heires ; there haue of these blinde sonnes succéeded to the empire , who haue restored againe the séed of that royall family . a description of his trauels into asia maior , cyprus , and the carpathian iles , the reason why he was disappoynted of his purpose , being so neere babylon , of the beauty of damascus , of the nature of arabians , and of his returne to ierusalem . departing from constantinople ; i came to cenchrea , being 300 miles distant , where s. paul cut his haire , after his vow was performed , act. 18.18 . from thence i went to smyrna , in carmania , a famous kingdome in asia the lesser : this citty was one of the seuen churches mentioned reuel . 2.8 . it is a goodly place , hauing a faire hauen for shippes : they haue great trafficke with all nations , especially for the fine silke , cotten-wooll , and dimmetie , brought to it by the country peasants , which strangers buy from them . truely neere vnto this citie , i saw such a long continuing plaine , abounding in corne , wines , all sorts of fruitfull herbage , and so infinitely peopled , that me thought nature séemed , with the peoples industry to contend , the one by propagating creatures , the other by admirable agriculture . thiatyra , now called tiria , one also of the seuen churches , is not farre hence . from this citie i embarked in a turkish carmoesalo , bound for rhodes . in our sayling along the coast of asia minor , the first place of any note i saw , was the ruinous citie of ephesus ; yet somewhat inhabited , and pleasantly adorned with gardens , faire fields , and gréene woods of oliue trées , which on the sea doe yeeld a delectable prospect . it was one of the seuen churches , reuel . 2.1 . ouer-against this citie is the i le of lango , anciently called coos , wherein the great hippocrates was borne , and apelles the most excellent painter . it is both fertile and populous , and of circuit about foure score miles . there is a kind of serpent said to be in it , so friendly vnto the inhabitants that when the men are sleeping vnder the shadow of trees , they come crawling , and will linke or claspe themselues about their neckes and bodies , without doing any harme , neither when they awake are the beasts afraide . and néere to lango is the ile nixa , of old , strangoli ; and by some dionisa , and naxus , an iland both fruitfull and delightfull . as we failed by the west part of the i le , a greeke passenger shewed me the place , where ( as hee said ) ariadne was deceiued of theseus , which is not farre from the irriguate plaine of darmille . continuing our nauigation , i saw a little ile called ephdosh , where the turkes told me , that all the ilanders were naturally good swimmers , paying no more tribute to their great lord the turke , saue onely once in the yeare , there are certaine men and women chosen by a turkish captaine , who must swimme a whole league out-right in the sea , and goe downe to the bottome of the waters , to fetch thence some token they haue got ground : and if they shall happen to faile in this , the iland will bee reduced againe to pay him yearely rent . this i saw with mine eyes , whiles we being calmed , there came a man and two women swimming to vs , more then a mile of way , carrying with them ( dry aboue the water ) baskets of fruit to sell , the which made me not a little to wonder . contenting them for their ware , vpon the ninth day after our departure from smyrna , wee arriued at the citie of rhodes , so called of the iland wherein it standeth . rhodes lieth the carpathian sea : it was of old called ithrea , telchino , and phiula : plinie saith it was called rhodes , because there were certaine fieldes of roses in it ; for rhodes in the greeke tongue signifieth a floure ; not farre from the citie , i saw the reliques of that huge , and admiredly-erected idell , named colossus , from the which saint paul tearmed the inhabitants colossians . it was builded by the worthy canete lindo , others haue said , of callasses the disciple of lisippus , taking the name colossus of him , and it was thought worthy to bee one of the seuen earthly wonders , and so it might iustly haue béene : the quantitie whereof ( as yet ) may amaze the minde of the beholder . this i le belonged once to the knights of malta , and were then surnamed knights of the rhodes , but they came first out of acre in the holy land ; who were called knights of saint iohn . the citie hath two strong fortresses , in one of which these knights ( who were about fiue hundred onely , and fiue thousand rhodians who assisted them ) were besieged with an army of two hundred thousand turkes , and three hundred gallies , for the space of sixe moneths . the chiefe obstacle and impeaching of so great an army from taking it , was onely the resolute valour of the defendants . but in the end , the caualieri di rhodo wanting furniture to their munition , and being penurious of victuals , were constrained to render , vpon the conditionall safety of their liues , goods , and transportation ; and remained a long time without any habitation , till the king of spaine gaue thē the barren i le of malta to inhabite . this i le of rhodes was lost by the maltazes , anno dom. 1522. and euer since is in the fruition of turks . the fortresse of rhodes , and that fortresse of famagosta in cyprus , are the two strongest holds in all the empire of the great turke . after i had contented the master for my fraught and victuals ( who , as he was an infidell , vsed me with an extraordinary exaction ) i found a barke of the arches purposed to cyprus , with the which i embarked , being 400. miles distant . hauing past the gulfe of sattelia , we boorded close along the firme land of fruitfull pamphilia , and on the fifth day thereafter wee fetched vp the coast of cilicia , sustaining many great dangers both of tempestuous stormes , and inuasions of damnable pirates . twelue dayes was i betwéene rhodes and limisso in cyprus ; where arriued , i receiued more gracious demonstrations from the ilanders , then i could hope for , or wish , being farre beyond my merit or expectation ; onely contenting my curiosity with a quiet minde , i redounded thankes for my embraced curtesies . the second day after my arriuall , i tooke with me an interpreter , and went to sée nicosia , which is placed in the midst of the kingdome . but in my iourney thither , extreame was heate and thirst i endured ; both in respect of the season , and also want of water . and although i had with me sufficiency of wine , yet durst i drinke none thereof , being so strong , and withall hath a taste of pitch ; and that is , because they haue no barrels , but great iarres made of earth , wherein their wine is put . nicosia is the principall citie of cyprus , & is inuironed with mountaines , like vnto florence in aetruria ; wherein the uizier bashaw remaineth . the second is famagosta , the chiefe strength and sea-port in it : selina , lemisso , paphos , and fontana morosa , are the other foure speciall townes in the iland . this i le of cyprus was of old called achametide , amatusa , and by some machara : it is of length 210 , and large 60. and of circuit 600 miles . in this i le was venus greatly honored : it yéeldeth infinite canes of sugar , strong wines , and cotten-wooll , besides all other sorts of fruit , in abundance . the dukes of sauoy were once kings of cyprus ; but the inhabitants vsurping authority , elected kings to themselues , of their owne generation ; & so it continued till the last king of cyprus ( marrying the daughter of a venetian ) died without children ; & the venetians taking the opportunity of time , brought home his wife to venice , and sent gouernors there to beare the sway in their behalfe : it was vnder their iurisdiction 120 yeares & more , till that the turks , who euer oppose themselues against christians ( finding a fit occasion in the time of peace , and without suspition in the venetians ) tooke it in with a great armado , in the yeare 1570. and so till this day by them is detained . oh great pitty ! that the vsurpers of gods word , and the worlds great enemy , should maintaine ( without feare ) that famous kingdome , being but 1500 turkes in all , who are the keepers of it : vnspeakeable is the calamity of that poore afflicted christian people , vnder the terrour of these infidels : who would , if they had armes or assistance of any christian potentate , easily subuert and abolish the turks without any disturbance ; yea and would render the whole signiory thereof to such a noble actor . i doe not see in that small iudgement which by experience i haue got , but the redemption of that countrey were most facile , if that the generous heart of any christian prince would be moued with condigne compassion to relieue the miserable afflicted inhabitants . in which worke he should reape ( questionlesse ) not onely an infinite treasure of worldly commodities , that followeth vpon so great a conquest , but also a heauenly and eternall reward of immortall glory . the which deliuerance the duke of florence thought to haue accomplished ( hauing purchased the good will of the ilanders ) with fiue gallounes , and fiue thousand souldiers : who being mindfull to take first in the fortresse of famagosta , directed so their course , that in the night they should haue entred the hauen , dis-barke their men , and scale the walles . but in this plot they were farre disappointed by an vnhappy pilot of the uice-admirall ; who mistaking the port went into a wrong bay : which the florentines considering , resolued to returne and kéepe the sea till the second night ; but by a dead calme they were frustrated of their aimes , and on the morrow discouered by the castle : whereupon the turkes went presently to armes , and charged the inhabitants to come defend that place : but about foure hundred greekes in the west part at paphos , rebelled ; thinking that time had altered their hard fortunes , by a new change : but were they preuented , and euery one cut off , by the bloudy hands of the turkes . this massacre was committed in the yeare 1607. such alwayes are the torturing flames of fortunes smiles , that he who most affecteth her , she most , and altogether deceiueth : but they who trust in the lord shall be as stable as mount sion which cannot be remoued ; and questionlesse , one day god , in his all-eternall mercy will relieue their miseries , and in his iust iudgements recompence these bloudy oppressors with the heauy vengeance of his all-séeing iustice . in my returne from nicosia to famagosta , with my trouchman , we encountred by the way with foure turkes , who néedes would haue my horse to ride vpon ; which my interpreter refused : but they in a reuenge pulled me by the héeles from the horse backe , beating me most pittifully , and left me almost for dead . in this meane while my companion fled , and escaped the sceleratenesse of their hands ; and if it had not beene for some compassionable greekes , who by accident came by , and relieued me , i had ( doubtlesse ) immediatly perished . from famagosta i imbarked in a germe , and arriued at tripoly . tripoly is a citie in siria , standing a mile from the marine side , néere to the foote of mount libanus : since it hath béene first founded , it hath thrée times béene situated and remoued in thrée sundry places : first , it was ouerwhelmed with water . secondly , it was sacked with cursares , and pirates . thirdly , it is now like to be ouerthrowne with new made mountaines of sand . there is no hauen by many miles neere vnto it , but a dangerous rode , where often when northerly winds blow , ships are cast away . the great trafficke which now is at this place , was formerly at scanderona , a little more eastward ; but by reason of the infectious aire , that corrupteth the bloud of strangers , procéeding of two high mountaines , who are supposed to bee part of mount caucasus , which with-hold the prospect of the sunne from the in-dwellers , more then thrée houres in the morning . so that in my knowledge , i haue knowne dye in one ship , and a moneths time , twenty mariners : for this cause the christian shippes were glad to haue their commodities brought to tripoly , which is a more wholsome and conuenient place . the daily interrogation i had here for a carauans departure to aleppo , was not to me a little fastidious , being mindfull to visite babylon . in this my expectation i tooke purpose with thrée venetian marchants , to go sée the cedars of libanon , which was but a dayes iourney thither . as we ascended vpon the mountaine , our ignorant guide mistaking the way , brought vs in a labyrinth of dangers ; insomuch that wrestling amongst intricate paths of rocks , two of our asses fell ouer a banke and brake their neckes : and if it had not beene for a christian amaronite , who accidentally encountred with vs , in our wilsum wandring , we had béen miserably lost , both in regard of rockes , and heapes of snow we passed , and also of great torrents which fell downe with force from the steepy toppes , wherein one of these marchants was twice almost drowned . when we arriued to the place where the cedars grew , we saw but 24 of all , growing after the manner of oke trées , but a great deale taller , straighter , and greater , and the branches grow so straight out , as though they were kept by art. although that in the dayes of salomon this mountaine was ouer-clad with forrests of cedars , yet now there are but onely these , and 9 miles westward thence 17 more . the nature of that tree is alwaies gréene , yéelding an odoriferous smell , and an excellent kind of fruit , like vnto apples , but of a swéeter taste , & more wholesome in digestion . the roots of some of these cedars are almost destroyed by shepheards , who haue made fires thereat , and holes wherein they sléepe ; yet neuerthelesse they flourish gréene aboue in the toppes , and branches . the length of this mountaine is about fortie miles , reaching from the west to the east ; and continually , summer and winter reserueth snow on the toppes . it is also beautified with all the ornaments of nature , as herbage , tillage , pastorage , fructiferous trées , fine fountaines , good cornes , and absolutely the best wine that is bred on the earth . the signior thereof is a free-holder , by birth a turk , and will not acknowledge any superior , but the most part of the inhabited uillages are christians , called amaronites , or nostranes , quasi nazaritans , and are gouerned by their owne patriarke . there are none at this day , do speake the syriack tongue , saue onely these people of mount libanus ; & in that language the alcoran of mahomet is written . the kind amaronite whom we met , and tooke with vs for our best guide , in descending from the cedars , shewed vs many caues and holes in rockes , where coliers , religious sirens and amaronites abide : amongst these austere cottages , i saw a faire toombe all of one stone , being seuentéene foote of length , which ( as he said ) was the sepulchre of the valiant ioshua , who conducted the people of israel in the land of promise . the mahometans esteeme this to bee a holy place , and many resort to it in pilgrimage , to offer vp their satanicall prayers to mahomet . i saw vpon this mountaine a sort of fruit , called amazza franchi : that is , the death of christians ; because when italians , or others of europe , eate any quantity thereof , they presently fall into the bloudy fluxes , or else ingender some other pestilentious feuer , whereof they die . the patriarke did most kindly entertaine vs at his house ; so did also all the amaronites of the other uillages , who met vs in our way before we came to their townes , and brought presents with them of bread , wine , figges , oliues , sallats , capons , egges , and such like , as they could on a suddaine prouide . about the uillage of eden , is the most fruitfull part of all libanus , abounding in all sorts of delitious fruites . true it is , the variety of these things , maketh the silly people thinke , the garden of eden was there : by which allegeance , they approue the apprehension of such a sinistrous opinion , with these arguments ; that mount libanus , is sequestrate from the circum-iacent regions , and is inuincible for the height , and strengths they haue in rockes ; & that eden was still re-edified by the fugitiue inhabitants , when their enemies had ransacked it : also they affirme , before the deluge it was so nominate , and after the floud it was repaired againe by iaphet , the sonne of noah , who builded ioppa , or iaphta , in palestina . loe these are the reasons they show strangers for such like informations . there are with this one , other two supposed places of this earthly paradise : the one is by the turkes , and some ignorant georgians , holden to bee at damascus , for the beauty of faire fields , gardens , and excellent fruites there , especially for the trée called mouslee , which they beléeue hath growne there since the beginning of the world . indéed it is a rare and singular tree , for i saw it at damascus , and others also of the same kind , vpon nylus in egypt : the growth whereof is strauge ; for euery yeare in september it is cut downe hard by the roote , and in fiue moneths the tree buddeth vp a pace againe , bringing forth leaues , floures , and fruit . the leafe thereof is of such a bredth , that thrée men may easily stand vnder the shadow of it , and the apple is bigger then a footeball . the third place by the chelfaines , is thought to be in the east part of mesopotamia , neere to the ioyning of tygris , and euphrates ; where , so they inhabite . i haue oft required of these chelfaines , what reason they had for this conceiued opinion : who answered me they receiued it from time to time , by the tradition of their ancestors ; and because of the riuer euphrates , and others riuers mentioned in the scriptures , which to this day , detaine their names in that country . some hold that garden of eden extended ouer all the earth . but contrarywise it manifestly appeareth by the second chapter of genesis , verse twenty , that this garden which wee call paradise , wherein adam was put to dresse it , was a certaine place on earth , containing a particular portion of a country , called eden , which boundeth on the riuer euphrates . to this , and all the rest , i answere , no certainety can bee had of the place where eden was , either by reading or trauelling , because this riuer hath beene oft diuided in sundry streames : and it is said , that cyrus , when hee wonne babylon , did turne the maine channell of euphrates to another course . but howsoeuer , or wheresoeuer it be , i resolue my selfe , no man can demonstrate the place , which god for the sinnes and fall of man , did not onely accurse , but also the whole face of the earth . many ancient authors haue agreed with the opinion of plato and aristotle , constantly affirming , that mountaines , ilands , and countries , haue receiued great alteration by the inundation of riuers , and violence of raging seas . thracia , hath béene diuided from bithinia : nigroponti , from thessalia : corfu from epire : sicilia , from italy : the iles orcades , from scotland , and many other ilands , and countries , cut through so in diuisions after the same forme . wherefore the more a man contemplates to search the knowledge of eden , and such high mysteries ( appertaining onely to the creator ) the more he shall faile in his purpose , offend god , and bee esteemed fantasticall for his paines . but to be briefe , after my returne to tripoly , i departed thence eastward , with a carauan of turkes to aleppo , being ten daies iourney distant . in all this way ( leauing scanderon and antiochia on our left hand ) i saw nothing worthy remarking , saue onely a few scattered uillages , and poore miserable people , liuing in tents , and following their flockes , to whom i payed sundry caffars : who remoue their women , children , and cattell , where so they find fountaines , and good pastorage : like vnto the custome of the ancient israelites : which in their vagabonding fashion , did plainly demonstrate the necessity they had to liue , rather then any pleasure they had in their liuing . the recitation of their ridiculous ceremonies , and deuillish religion by them vsed , to auoid tediousnesse i omit . before my arriuall in aleppo , the carauan of babylon was from thence departed , which bred no small griefe in my breast : the venetian consull , to whom i was highly recommended , by the aforesaid merchants ( hauing had some insight of my intended voyage ) informed me that the carauan stayed at beershak on euphrates , for some conceiued report they had of arabs , that lay for them in the desarts , and willed me to hire a ianisary , and three souldiers , to ouer-hie them ; whose counsell i receiued : but was méerely frustrated of my designes . true it was , they stayed , but were gone three daies before my comming to that vnhappy place . these my periured consorts perceiuing there was no ability to follow the carauan any further , informed me , another company would arriue there shortly . but to what end did they this ; onely , that by long attendance , they might sucke the money from my purse , which indeed was extraordinary chargeable . the abuses of these damnable hel-hounds my protectors , the dangers i sustained in that barbarous uillage , and in my constrained returne to aleppo : to expresse i will not ; but rather sepulchrize it in the pit of obliuion , least the remembrance of former miseries , shold be a renuing of fresh sorrowes : knowing that i indured more trouble in that lost time , then in all my succeeding trauailes . to bee a recompence to this my former losse , i determined ( god willing ) not onely to visite babylon , which i so neerely lost , but also all the most famous kingdomes that border with the indian , persian , and caspian seas . this beershak is in mesopotamia , and thought to haue beene padan-aram , where laban dwelt : it standeth néere to the ioyning of tygris , and swift running euphrates , and not far hence is the demolished citie of niniuy on tygris , whose very ruines are now come to ruine ; the decaies whereof , is semblable to that sacked lacedemon in sparta . mesopotamia is seldome watered with raine , but by the nature of the soile is maruellous fruitfull : it is boorded with caldea , on the east : euphrates , on the south : syria , on the norch : and arabia petrea on the west . this aleppo is a citie in siria ; the name of which hath béene so oft changed by turkes , that the true antiquity of it can hardly be knowne : it is both large and populous , and furnished with all sorts of marchandize , especially of indigo and spices , that is brought ouer land from go , and other places in india , which draweth a concurrance of all nations to it . in my expectation heere ( being disappointed of my desired aimes ) i pretended to visite ierusalem in my backe-comming ; and for the furtherance of my determination , i ioyned with a carauan of armenians , and turkes , that were well guarded with ianisaries , and souldiers ; of whom some were to stay at damascus by the way , and some mindfull to the furthest marke . and for my better safeguard ( being alwaies alone , which by all was euer much admired ) the uize consull tooke surety of the captaine , that hee should protect mee safely from théeues , cut-throates , and the exactions of tributes by the way , deliuering mee fréely into the hands of the padre guardiano at ierusalem : which being done , i hired two mulets from a turk ▪ one to ride vpon , and another to carry my victuals ; and so set forward with them . the number of our company were about 900 armenians , christian pilgrimes , men and women , 600 turkes , trafficking for their owne businesse , and 100 souldiers , thrée schowsses , and sixe ianisaries to keep them from inuasions . betweene aleppo and damascus , wee had nine daies iourney , in fiue of which , we had pleasant trauelling , and good canes to lodge in , that had béene builded for the support of trauellors , and are well maintained : but when we passed hamsek , which is a little more then mid-way , wee had dangerous trauelling , being oft assailed with arabs , fatigated with rocky mountaines , and sometimes in point of choaking for lacke of water . the confusion of this multitude was not onely grieuous in regard of the extreme heate , prouiding of victuals at poore uillages , and scarcity of water to fill our bottles , made of boare skinnes , but also amongst narrow and stony passages , thronging , we oft fell one ouer another , in great heapes , in danger to be smothered : yea , and oftentimes , we that were christians , had our bodies well beaten , by our conducting turkes . at our accustomed dismounting , to recreate our selues , and refresh the beasts , i would often fetch a walke , to stretch my legs , that were stifled with a scumbling beast ; wherewith the turkes were mightily discontented , and in derision would laugh , and mucke me : for they cannot abide a man to walke in turnes , or stand to eate ; their vsage being such , that when they come from the horse backe , presently sit downe on the ground , folding their feete vnder them , when they repose , dine , and sup . so do also their artizans , and all turkes in the world sit alwaies crosse-legged , wrongfully abusing the commendable consuetudo of the industrious taylors . in their houses they haue no bed to lie on , nor chaires to sit on , nor tables to eate on , but a bench made of boords , along the house side , of a foote height from the floore , spread ouer with a carpet , whereon they vsually sit , eating , drinking , sléeping , resting , and doing of manuall exercises , all in one place . they neuer vncloth themselues , when they go to rest , neither haue they any bed-cloathes , saue onely a couerlet aboue them : i haue seene hundreds of them , after this manner , lie ranked like durty swine , in a beastly stie ; or loathsome iades , in a filthy stable . upon the ninth day ( leauing cotafa behind vs on the mountaines ) wee entred in a pleasant plaine of thrée leagues in length , adorned with many uillages , gardens , and riuers ; and arriuing at damascus , we were all lodged ( some in chambers wanting beds , and others without , on hard stones ) in a great cane called heramnen , where we stayed one day . damascus is the capitall citie of syria , called by turkes , shamma , and is scituated on a faire plaine , and beautified with many riuers on each side , ( especially pharpar and abdenah ) excellent orchards , and all other naturall obiects of elegancie : that for situation , artizens , all manner of commodities , and variety of fruits , in all the asiaticall prouinces it is not paralelled . by turkes it is called the garden of turkie : some hold this citie was built by eleazar the seruant of abraham ; & others say it is the place where cain slew abel . but howsoeuer , i perswade thee it is a pleasant and gallant citie , well walled , and fortified , with a strong castle : the most part of the stréetes are couered , so that the citizens are preserued in summer from the heate , and in winter from the raine . the like commodity ( but not after that forme ) hath padua in lumbardie : their bazar , or market place is also couered , so are commonly all the bazars in turkie : the best carobiers , adams apples , and grenadiers that grow on the earth is heere : néere vnto the bazar there is a moskie , called gemmah , wherein is ( as my guide said ) the sepulchre of ananias , and the fountaine where he baptized paul : in another street , i saw the house of ananias , which is but a hollow cellar vnder the ground , and where the disciples let paul downe through the wall in a basket . in the stréete where they sell their viano , my interpretor shewed mee a great gate of fine mettall , which he said was one of the dores of the temple of salomon , and was transported thence , by the tartarians , who conquered ierusalem about three hundred and eighty yeares age . i saw such aboundance of rose-water here in barrels , to bee sold as beere or wine , is rife with vs. for the custodie of the aforesaid castle , and neighbouring countries , there are two thousand ianisaries appointed , insomuch that the bashaw of damascus is the greatest in authority of all the other bashaws in asia : for vnder his commandement , in behalfe of the great turke , hee detaineth syria , phoenicia , samacia , galilee , ierusalem , and all palestina , euen to the desarts of arabia : the meanes of the preseruation of so great a state , is onely by an induced confidence vpon the power and force of those ianisaries , who as well haue their pay in time of tranquility , as warres , to defend these countries , from the incursions of the wiloe arabs , which euermore annoy the turkes , and also strangers ; and can not possibly bee brought to a quiet , and well-formed manner of liuing ; but are continuall spoylers of these parts of the turks dominions . that mischiefe daily increaseth , rather then any way diminisheth : they taking example from the beastly turkes , adde by these patternes more wickednesse , to the badnesse of their owne dispositions : so that euery one of these sauages , according to his power , dealeth with all men vnciuily and cruelly , euen like a wildernesse full of wilde beasts , liuing all vpon rapine , wanting all sense of humanity , more then an outward shew of appearance : whereby combining themselues in strength together , doe tyrannize ouer all , euen from the red sea to babylon . thus , they in that violent humour , inuading also these of affricke , hath caused grand cayro to be furnished with fiftéene thousand ianisaries , which defend the frontiers of egypt and gozan . leauing all the turkes at damascus ( saue onely our ianisaries and soldiers ) within the space of two houres after our departure from thence , trauelling in our way to ierusalem the whole company of the armenians fell on the ground , kissing it , and making many sincere demonstrations of vnwonted deuotion . at the which i being amazed , stood gazing , asking my trouchman what newes ? who replyed , saying , it was the place where saint paul was conuerted , which they had ( and all christians should haue ) in great regard . three daies were wee betwixt damascus , and the east part of galile , which is the beginning of canaan , in two of which thrée , wee encountred with marishes and quagmires , being a great hinderance to vs : this barren , and marish countrey , is a part of arabia petrea , comming in with a point betweene galile and syria . it is vndoubtedly a most théeuish way ; for as we trauelled in the night , there were many of vs forced to carry burning lights in our hands , and our soldiers had their harquebuzes redy to discharge : al to affray the bloud-thirsty arabians , who in holes , caues , and bushes , lie obscured , waiting for the aduantage vpon trauellers : truely with much difficulty , and greater danger passed we these petrean iournies . here i remarked a singular qualitie , and rare perfection in the carefull conduction of our captaine ; who would , when he came to any dangerous place , giue the watch-word of s. iohanne , meaning as much thereby , that none should speake or whisper after that warning , vnder the paine of a harquebusado . and no more wee durst , vnlesse hee had stretcht out his hand , making vs a figne when occasion serued of liberty , lest by tumultuous noyse in the night , our enemies should haue the fore-knowledge of our comming ; and knowing also that the nature of a multitude , bred all times confused effects , without some seuere punishment . himselfe rod still in the vangard , vpon a lusty gelding , with two ianisaries , and fortie souldiers , and the other foure ianisaries , and threscore souldiers were appointed to be the backe-guard , for feare of suddaine assaults . thus most dexterously discharged he the function of his calling , not with insolency , but with prudency , and magnanimious virilitie : for my part i must néeds say , the diligent care of that benigne carauan extended ouer mee , was such , that whensoeuer i remember it , i am not able to sacrifice congratulations sufficiently to his well-deseruing minde : yet in the meane while , my purse bountifully rewarded his earnest endeuours , and notwithstanding of this high-conceiued regard , yet in some friuolous things , and for a small trifle , he priuately wronged me , which i mis-knew , as vnwilling ( knowing his disposition , and that my life hung in in his hands ) to be too forward , to séeke a redresse . thus it was , at the paying of my tributes , by the way , for my head , hee caused mee oft to pay more then reason to the moores . turkes , and ciuill arabs , receiuing secretly backe from them the ouer-plus ; which my turkish seruant perceiuing , made my trouchman tell me , that i might be foreseene therein . but such is the couetous nature of man , that with his couenant he cannot be contented , vnlesse he séeke otherwise by all vnlawfull meanes to purchase himselfe an vniust gaine : but the high respect i had of his other perfections , made mee ouer-sée and winke at that imperfection of auaritiousnesse in him ; and especially remembring my selfe to be vnder his protection , i alwayes indeuoured my selfe so , that in his sight , i wonne extraordinary fauour : insomuch that in danger , or security , he would euer haue mee néere by him , which i also craued , and stroue to obserue the poynts of his will , and my owne safety . the obligation of my bounden duty , taught me to no other end , then euer to respect the beneuolence of his affection , and to suppresse my owne weak iudgment , which could neuer mount to the true acquittance of his condigne merit . but to procéed in my pilgrimage , on the aforesaid third day , in the after-noone , wee entred into galile , passing along a faire bridge that is ouer the riuer iordan , which diuideth syria from galile . this bridge by the armenians , is called iacobs bridge ; and not farre hence , they shewed me the place where iacob wrestled with the angell , and where esau met his brother iacob to haue killed him . iordan is scarcely knowne by the name in this place : but afterward i saw his greater growth , ending in sodome , whereof in the owne place i shall more amply discourse . betwéene iacobs bridge and ierusalem we had sixe dayes iourney . aprill the seuenth day , according to the computation of the roman kalender , and by ours march the 28 , i entred in galile , a prouince of canaan , that sometimes flowed with milke and honey . it is commonly called terra sancta , but by the scriptures , the land of promise . canaan is diuided into fiue prouinces , viz. iudea , galile , palestina , samaria , and phoenicia . some diuide it onely into thrée , palestina , iudea , and galile . it hath béene by others also nominated ingenerall , syria , by which calculation they gathered all the countries from cilicia to aegypt vnder that name . by later writers the holy-land hath also béene tearmed palestina . but howsoeuer they differ in descriptions , it is most certaine , that at this day it is onely and vsually diuided into these fiue particular prouinces . galile and palestina for the present are the most fertile and largest prouinces thereof . after we had trauelled a great way along the lake of genesareth , which is of length 8 leagues , and large 4. where i saw the decaied townes of bethsaida , and tiberias , lying on the north side of the same sea , we left the marine , and came to cana , to stay all night ; in which we had no caues to saue vs from the arabs , nor couerture aboue our heads , but the hard ground to lie on , which was alwayes my bed , in the most part of asia : in the night when wee slept , the souldiers kept centenall , and in the day when we reposed , they slept , and we watched . this cana was the towne wherein our sauiour wrought the first miracle , conuerting , at the marriage , water into wine . the day following , embracing our way , we passed ouer a little pleasant mountaine , where the armenian patriarke ( for so was there one with them ) went into an old chappell , and all the rest of the pilgrimes thronged about him , vsing many strange ceremonies , for it was in that place ( as it is sayd ) that christ fed fiue thousand people with fiue barley loaues and two fishes . continuing our iourney we saw mount tabor on our left hand , which is a pretty round mountaine , beset about with comely trées : i would gladly haue séene the monument of that place , where the trans-siguration of christ was , but the carauan mindfull to visit nazareth , left the great way of ierusalem , and would by no perswasion go thither . that night we lodged in a poore village called heerschek , where we could get neither meat for our selues , nor prouender for the beasts ; but some of our company had for their suppers , a hundred strokes from the moores and arabs in that place , because the christian pilgrimes had troden vpon the graues of their dead friends , which by no meanes they can tolerate : they made no small vp-rore amongst vs , desperately throwing stones and darts till we were all glad to remoue halfe a mile from that place . aprill the tenth day , about ten of the clocke ( passing the riuer kyson ) we arriued at nazareth , and there reposed till the euening , prouiding our selues of victuals and water : in this towne dwelt ioseph and the virgin mary ; and in which also our sauiour was brought vp . after we had dined , the armenians arose , and went to a heape of stones , the ruines of an old house , before the which they fell downe vpon their knées , praising god : and that ruinons lumpe ( say they ) was the house where mary dwelt when gabriel saluted her , bringing the annuntiation of saluation to the world : i am fully perswaded they carried away aboue fiue thousand pound weight to kéepe in a memoriall thereof . then did i remember mee of the chappell of loretta , and told the carauan that i saw that house standing in italy , which ( as the romanists say ) was transported by the angels : o , sayd he , we armenians cannot beléeue that , neither many other assertions of the roman church ; for we certainly know by christians , that haue from time to time dwelt here euer since , that this is both the place , and stones of the house : let papists coyne a new law to themselues , we care not : for as they erre in this , so do they in all , following meerly the traditions of men , they run gallopping post to hell . the patriarke being informed by the laughing carauan of these newes , asking me in disdaine ( thinking it had béene an article of my beliefe ) if i saw the house , or beléeued that the chappell of loretta was such a thing : i answered , i did not beléeue it , affirming it was onely but a diuellish inuention , to deceiue the blind-folded people , and to fill the coffers of the romane priests . now thou bottomlesse gulfe of papistry , here i forsake thee , no winter blasting furies of satans subtill stormes can make ship-wracke of my faith , on the stony shelues of thy deceitfull déepes . in the time of our staying here , the emeere or lord of the towne sent sixe women , conducted by twelue of his seruanes , to an armenian prince , that was a pilgrime in our company ; to be vsed by him , and others , whom so he would elect to be his fellow labourers : which indéed he did kindly accept , and inuited me to that feast ; but i gaue him the refusall , little regarding such a friuolous commodity . he and some of the chifest pilgrimes entertained them for the space of thrée houres , and sent them backe , giuing to their conductors 15 piasters in a reward . truely , if i would rehearse the impudency of these whoores , and the brutishnesse of the armenians , as it is most ignominious to the actors ; so no doubt it would bee very loathsome to the reader . such is the villanie of these orientall christian-flaues , vnder the turkes ; that not onely by conuersing with them , learne some of their damnable ethnicke customes , but also going beyond them in beastly sensuality , become worse then bruit beasts : but god , in his iust iudgments , that same night , threatned to haue punished both the doers , and the whole company for their sakes : for we hauing resolued to trauell all that night ; and also because the way was rocky , and hard to be knowne , and perillous for arabs , we hired a christian guide , named ioab , and agréed with him to take vs to lidda , which was two dayes iourney . but before we tooke horse , ioab had sent a priuy messenger before vs , to warne about 300 arabs ( who had their abode on the south side of mount carmel ) to méet him at such a place as he had appointed ; giuing them to know wée were potent and rich ; and that hee should render vs into their hands , to be made the miserable obiect of their cruelty . this being done , and vnknowne to vs , we marched riding faster then an ordinary pace ; which our guide suspecting , that by our celerity we should goe beyond the place appointed for his treacherous plot , began to crosse vs grieuously , leading vs vp and downe amongst pooles and holes , whither hee listed ; where many of our cammels and asses were lost and could not bee recouered , because wee all beganne to suspect and feare ; which was the cause that the owners durst not stay to relieue their perishing beasts . in the end the captaine and ianisaries en treated him earnestly to bring vs in the right way ; but the more they requested , the more obdurate was his heart , replying , hee was mistaken , and could not finde it till day light : vpon the which wordes the company was stayed , and in the meane while there came a turke , one of our souldiers , vnto the captaine , saying ; hee saw the guide , before our departure from nazareth , send a moore before him , for what respect he knew not , being long at priuate conference . wherupon they straight bound him with ropes on a horse backe , threatning him with death , to cause him confesse the truth . in the midst of this tumult , i hauing got sight of the northstarre , considered thereby , that the villaine had led vs more to the southward then to the westward , which was our way to ierusalem : whereupon i entreated the carauan to turne our faces northward , otherwise we should bee cut off , and that suddenly : for although ( said i ) it may peraduenture be , that we are 3 or 4 miles short of the place intended for our massacre ; yet they missing vs , wil like rauening wolues hunt here and there ; wherefore if wee incline to the north ( god willing ) wee shall preuent their bloudy designes . to which aduice ( being duly pondered ) they yeelded ; and so i became their guide in the darks night , till morning : for none of them knew that starre , neither the nature of it . at last this desperate wretch , considering that either by our vanquishing , or the enemies victory , he could not escape , sith his treason was reuealed , began to beg pardon of the carauan saying , that if he could haue any surety of his life , hee would sufficiently informe vs how to escape these imminent dangers . the captaine being distracted with feare , replied hee would ; and thereupon swore a solemne oath , so did the ianisaries sweare by the head of mahomet for the like effect : which being done , he was vntied , and confessed , that if we had continued in our way he led vs , we had beene all put to the edge of the sword , and falling downe on his knees , cryed oft with teares , mercy , mercy , mercy . all that night wee went with that starre , and against morning wee were in palestina , neere vnto tyrus , called now sur : which alexander had so much adoe to conquer ; being then separated from the maine continent by the sea , but now ioyned to the firme land ; and before you come to the citie , there lieth a great banke of sand , where it is likely the sea hath beene in alexanders time , though now , as time altereth euery thing , the sea be fled from that place ; which maketh that ruinous towne more desolate . aurora no sooner appeared , but we were all encouraged , for the light of day lends comfort . the captaine ( sending backe that false iudas , for so was hee sworne to doe ) sent a post to tyrus for a new guide , who came forthwith , and brought vs in our way to mount carmell , for by it we behoued to go . great are the mercies of god! for as he hath made man an excellent creature , so hath he also indued him with two great powers in his minde : the one a wise power of vnderstanding , by which hee penetrateth into the knowledge of things ; the other a strong power of dexterous resoluing , whereby he executeth things wel vnderstood , for we hauing iudged the worst , resolued the best ; and by his almightie prouidence were fréed from that apparant danger , although the former dayes whoredome , & vnnaturall vices deserued a iust punishment . this i intimate to all trauellers in generall , that if they would that god should further them in their attempts , blesse their voyages , and grant them a safe returne to their natiue countries ( without the which , what contentment haue they for all their paines ) that they would constantly refraine from whoredome , drunkennesse , and too much familiarity with strangers : for a traueller that is not temperate , and circumspect in all his actions , although hee were headed like that herculean serpent ▪ hydra , yet it is impossible hee can returne in safety from danger of turkes , arabs , moores , wilde beasts , heate , hunger , thirst and cold . approching to mount carmell , i beheld a farre off vpon the top of the hill , the place where elias ascended to heauen when he left his cloke behind him to elizeus his disciple . this mountaine is foure miles of length , lying south and north , the north end bordering with the sea , neere to acre , called anciently ptolomais ; and the south end ioyning with the borders of samaria . leauing samaria on our left hand , we entred into a faire plaine , adorned with fruitful trees , and all other ornaments that pleasant fields affoord , but no village we saw . marching thus , about the declining of the sun from the meridian , we came in sight of two hundred pauillions , all pitched in rankes , yéelding the prospect of a little cittie , by a brooke side of water : which being perceiued , the captaine began to censure what they might be , and immediatly there came riding towards vs , sixe naked fellowes , well mounted on arabian geldings , who demanded what we were , and whither wee were bound ; and if there were any , frankes of christendome in our company . to whom the ianisaries replied , wee were purposed to ierusalem , and that there was but one franke with them : vpon the which they presently sought me , demanding caffar , caffar , and caused me perforce to pay seuen chickens of gold for my head ; because ( say they ) our king is now resident in these tents , he must pay therefore so much the more extraordinary . they returning backe to their prince with the malediction of a pilgrimes purse , and we marching on our way , that day we trauelled aboue 34 miles , and pitched at a village called adoash ; where we found good hearbes to eate , and aboundance of water to drink , and also to fill our emptied bottles : as we lay downe to sléepe after a hungry supper , on the hard ground , and our guard watching vs , that same king of the arabians , came a little before mid-night with 24 well horsed runagates , and naked courtiers , being armed with bowes and arrowes , and halfe-pikes , pointed at both ends with hard stéele ; and asked for the carauan who presently awoke , and went to salute him , laying his hand on his breast , bowed his head very low ; which is the vsuall courtesie amongst the infidels and christians in these parts : for they neuer vncouer their heads to any man ; and after some short parly , they sate all downe on the grasse . the carauan presented his rude-like maiesty with water , bread , hearbs , figs , garlike , and such things as he had . as they were thus merry , at this poore banquet , the awfull king tooke the oath of our conductor , if there were any mo frankes there then i ; and he hauing sworne the truth , the king by a malignant informer , incontinently , caused me to be brought before him ; and staring mee in the face , asked my interpreter where were my companions ? who replyed , i had none : then , said he , tell that dog , hee must acknowledge me with fiue péeces of gold more , otherwise ( making a signe to his owne throate ) i shall cut off his head : the which i being informed , and knowing that by no condition , there was resistance against such a scelerate prince , gaue it to him presently with a halfe smiling countenance ; which hee remarking , told the rest , it seemed that i gaue it with a good heart ; and to recompence my outward behauiour , he drunke a great draught of water to me , thinking thereby , he had done mee more honour , then all the chickens of gold i gaue him now , and in the morning , would do him profite . truely , this was one of the greatest tributes i paied for one daies iourney , that i had in all my voyage , in asia . there are two kings in arabia , the one who liueth on euphrates , the desarts of mesopotamia , sometimes in arabia felix , and in some parts of siria : and the other ( which was the king to whom i paid this money ) wandereth with his tribes , tents , and bestial ) one while in arabia petrea , and deserta , and sometimes in the holy land , as he findeth good pastorage , and fresh fountaines . these two kings are mortall enemies ; and if by accident they meete , they fight most cruelly , bringing dammage , rapine , and destruction to themselues , and their followers ; for it is a difficult thing in them to dominate their inordinate passions , being vntamed sauages , and mis-regarders of ciuility ; who continually contend to corroborate the malignity of their dispositions , with bloudy and inhumane enterprises . the next morning , leauing iacobs well , and the town of sychar on our left hand , wee marched through a part of the fields of basan , and had excéeding pleasant trauelling , and at night we pitched by lydda on the fields : lydda is not aboue ten miles from cesarea . the townes situated by the sea side in palestina are these ; sydon , which standeth on the borders of zebulon , and nephtalim , or phoenicia , being a goodly citie and well peopled : tyrus , which is miserably brought to ruine : acre , that hath yet some indifferent trade of merchandize : caipha , called commonly castello pellegrino , which hath nothing but the remnants of an ancient abbay : cesarea , who reserueth but onely the memory ; for there is no hospitality in it , except it be to wilde beasts : ioppa , or iaphta , is a sea-port of small barkes , but the decayed towne containeth not one dwelling house , saue onely a high towre , which defendeth the port from cursares : and baruti is also thought to bée within canaan , but that i suspend , as not hauing had the certainety thereof . these are all the hauens in the holy land. aprill the thirtéenth , before the breach of day , setting forward , scarcely were we well aduanced in our way , till we were beset with more then three hundred arabs , who sent vs an vnexpected shoare of arrowes , to the great anoyance of all our company : for if it had not béene , that our souldiers shot of their guns on a sudden , surely wee had then miserably perished . but the nature of the arabs is not vnlike to the iackals : for when any of them heare the shot of a harquebuse , they run backe with such spéed , as if the fiends of the infernall court were broken loose vpon them . in that momentany conflict , on our side , there were killed nine women , fiue men , and about thirty persons deadly wounded , which to our worthy captaine bred no small griefe . till bright day came , wee stayed still in that same place , and buried the slaine people in deep graues , rolling aboue them heauy stones , whereby iackals should not open their graues to eate the corps : for such is the nature of these cruell beasts , that they onely loue to liue on mans flesh : these rauenous beasts ( as is thought ) are ingendred of a fox and a wolfe . procéeding in our iourney , in the hilly country of iudea , we entred , leauing rhama on our right hand : rhama is a towne inhabited by christians , arabs , and moores ; not blacke moores , as the affricans be , but they are called mori , which are a kind of egyptians , and not naturally blacke , but sun-burnt , with the parching heat : the whole territory of canaan , is inhabited with these moores , some turkes , ciuill arabs , and a few christians and scattered iewes . the arabians are , for the most part , theeues , and robbers , the moores cruell , and vnciuill , hating christians to the death : the turkes are the best of all the thrée , yet all sworne enemies to christ. but when they know how to make any gaine by strangers , o what a dissimulate ostentation shall appeare in these detestable villaines . about two of the clocke in the after-noone wee arriued at berah , called of old beersheba , being eleuen miles distant from ierusalem . hauing a little reposed , we embraced our mountainous way as cheerefully as we could , for we were excéeding faint , and trauelled that day aboue three and forty miles , whereby we might arriue at ierusalem before the gates were shut , sustaining drouth , heate , hunger , and not a few other inconueniences . at last we beheld the prospect of ierusalem ; which was not onely a contentment to my wearied body , but also being rauished with a kind of vnwonted reioycing , the teares gushed from mine eies for too much ioy . in this time the armenians began to sing in their owne fashion , psalmes to praise the lord ; and i also sung the 103 psalme all the way , till we arriued neere the walles of the citie , where wee ceased from our singing for feare of the turkes . the sunne being passed to his nightly repose , before our arriuall , wee found the gates locked , and the keyes carryed vp to the bashaw in the castle ; which bred a common sorrow in the company , being all both hungry , and weary ; yet the carauan entreated earnestly the turkes within , to giue vs ouer the walles , some victuals for our money , shewing heauily the necessity wee had thereof , but they would not , neither durst attempt such a thing : in this time the guardian of the monastery of cordeleirs , who remaineth there to receiue trauellers of christendome , hauing got newes of our arriuing , came and demanded of the carauan , if any franks of europe were in his society ; and he said , onely one . then the guardiano called mee , and asked mee of what nation i was ? and when i told him , he seemed to bee exceeding glad : yet sorrowfull for our misfortune . he hauing knowing my distresse , returned , and sent two friers to mee with bread , wine and fishes , which they let ouer the wall ( as they thought , in a secret place ) but they were espied , and on the morrow the guardiano payed to the bashaw a great fine , otherwise he had béene beheaded ; for the turkes alledged , he had taken in munition from the christians , to betray the citie : this they do oft , for a lesser fault then that was , onely to get bribes , and money from the grey friers . aprill the foureteenth day , vpon palme-sunday in the morning , we entred into ierusalem , and at the gate wee were particularly searched , to the effect wee carried in no furniture of armes , nor poulder with vs , and the armenians ( notwithstanding they are slaues to turkes ) behoued to render their weapons , to the keepers , such is the feare they haue of christians : the gates of the citie are of yron outwardly , and aboue each gate are brasen ordinance planted , for their owne defence . hauing taken my leaue of the carauan and the company , who went to lodge with their owne patriarke , i kept my way to the aforesaid monastery ; and at the entry of the house , the whole friers met me , receiuing me ioyfully , and reioyced that a christian had come from such a farre countrey to visit ierusalem : i found here ten franks newly come from christendome , and nine others which dwelt in syria and cyprus ; who were all glad of me , shewing thesemlues so kind , so carefull , so louing , and so honourable in all respects , that they were as kinde gentlemen as euer i met withall ; such is the loue of strangers when they méet in forraigne countries ; they had also in high respect the aduentures of my trauell beyond ierusalem ; troubling me all the while we were together , to tell them newes ; and were alwaies in admiration that i had no fellow-pilgrime in my long peregrination . a description of ierusalem , and the memorable things he saw there , and in iudea : of the holy graue , sodome and gomorha , iordan , the desarts , grand cayro , egypt , the riuer nylus , and of his returne to christendome . ierusalem , is now called by the turkes , kuddish which signifieth in their language , a holy citie : it was first called moriah of moria , one of the seuen heads of sion , where abraham would haue sacrificed isaac , genesis 22.2 . and vpon his offring it was called ierusalem , gen. 14.18 . it was also named salem , where sem and melchisedech dwelt ; and ierusalem was also callled iebus 2. sam. 24.16 . and it is the place where salomon was commanded to build the temple , 2. chron. 3.1 . which afterward was termed heiron salomonis , whence came , by corruption , that word hierosolyma . dauid , also in his psalmes gaue it diuers names . ierusalem standeth in the same place where old ierusalem stood , but not so populous , neither in each respect of bredth , or length , so spacious : for on the south side of ierusalem , a great part of mount syon is left without , which was anciently the heart of the old citie ; and they haue taken on the north side , now both mount caluarie , and the holy graue within the walles , which were built by sultan selim : so that thereby the difference of the situation is not so great , though a part thereof be remoued ; but a man may boldly affirme , that the most part of this citie is builded on that place where the first ierusalem was : as may truely appeare , and is made manifest by these mountaines , mentioned in the scriptures , whereupon ierusalem is both situate , and inuironed about , who reserue their names to this day , and are still seene , and knowne by the same ; as mount syon , mount caluarie , mount moriah , and mount oliuet . the forme of the situation of ierusalem , is now like to a hart or triangle , the one point whereof looketh east , extending downeward , almost to the valley of iehosaphat , which diuideth ierusalem , and mount oliuet : the second head of point , bendeth out south-west vpon syon , bordering néere to the ualley of gehinnon : the third corner lyeth on mount moriah , toward the north , and by-west , hauing the prospect to the buriall place of the kings of israel . the walles are high , and strongly builded with saxo quadrato , which adorne ierusalem more then any thing within it , the holy graue excepted . it is of circuite about thrée miles , and a halfe , of our measure . as touching the former glory of this citie , i will not meddle withall , nor yet describe , sith the scriptures so amply manifest the same ; and concerning the lamentable destruction of it , i referre that to the famous historiographer iosephus , who largely discourseth , of many hundred thousands famished , and put to the sword within this multi-potent citie by vespasian , and titus his sonne ; being the messengers of gods iust iudgements ; which by his computation , amount beyond the number of eleuen hundred thousands . this citie hath béene oft conquered by enemies : first , by nebuchodonosor , the assyrian king : secondly , by the greekes , and alexander the great , and also maruellously afflicted by antiochus : thirdly , it was taken in by pompeius : fourthly , destroyed of vespasian , and titus : fiftly , it was re-edifyed by adrian the emperrour , and wonne againe by gosdroes , the persian king : sixthly , it was ouercome by homar califf the successour of mahomet : seuenthly , by the great souldan of egypt , and by godfrey de bulleine , a christian prince : eightly , by salidine the caliph of egypt , and damascus ; who reserued successiuely the signiory thereof , for a long time : and lastly , it was surprised by sultan selim , or solyman the emperor of the turkes , who fortified the same , being by infidels detained to this day : and by likly-hood shall keepe it to the consummation of the world , vnlesse god of his mercy deale otherwise , then the hopes of mans weake iudgement can expect . but , to the intent the reader may the better conceiue , and plainely vnderstand the monuments i saw within ierusalem , and the circumiacent places of iudea ; i thought best to prefixe the description thereof , by the seuerall daies , as i saw them , not much condemning , neither absolutely qualifying them , but shall ( as it were ) neutrally nominate and recapitulate these places , as i was informed , by the padre guardiano , who is euery third yeare changed , and especially iohn baptista , the trouch-man , who hath dwelt at ierusalem 25 yeares : for he that vnderstandeth not promptly the italian tongue , which they vsually speake when they demonstrate these places to vs ; he shall conceiue ignorantly , dispose his iudgement blindfoldedly , & knowes not how to distinguish the circumstances and qualities of the things deliuered . as i haue knowne some of these frankes in my company , simply mistaken , euen when the exposition of euery obiect was largely manifested vnto them ; and precisely declared such a thing to haue béen there , although perhaps the matter it selfe be euanished and transported . aprill 14. on palm-sunday after dinner , the guardiano departed from ierusalem to bethphage , accompanied with twelue friers , and many other orientall christians , which were come thither to that festiuall time , but i by no meanes would go , reposing my selfe till their returne . the ridiculous ceremony which that day they vse , is thus . in an apish imitation of christ , at the foresaid bethphage , there was an asse brought to the guardiano , whereupon he mounted ( being as it were , the greater asse riding vpon the lesser ) and came riding to ierusalem , the people cutting downe boughs of trées , and also dispoyling themselues almost to the skin , bestrewed the way as he rode along , crying , hosanna , hosanna , the sonne of dauid , blessed is he , that commeth in the name of the lord , vntill they came to the south gate of sion , where he dismounted . at night after supper , the guardiano knowing that i was a protestant , and also some other frankes , made an oration , saying , you pilgrimes , who refuse to bee participant with vs in the sacraments , or will not adhere to the processions & ceremonies , which we follow of the roman church , i would therfore intreate you ( your liberty beeing here as much as mine , whereby you may doe whatsoeuer seeme good in our owne eyes ) onely to abstaine from scandalizing and mocking our rites & ordinary customes , which at this great feast we must performe . to the which we condescended , and promised to giue no occasion of offence . in the conclusion of his long exhortation , he disclosed this admonition , saying , all you trauellers must in general be indued with these thrée worthy gifts , faith , patience , and money ; faith , to beléeue these things you shall sée and heare at ierusalem ; patience , to endure the apparant iniuries of infidels ; and money , to discharge all tributes and costs , which here ( meaning in his owne monasterie ) and about this citie , must bee defrayed . his sermon hee concluded like a grey frier , as indéed he was ; for i am fully perswaded hee little cared for our faith and patience , prouiding that our purses could answere his expectation , as truely we found the triall afterward . munday early , wee pilgrimes went forth to view the monuments within the citie , being accompanied with the padre viccario , and a french predicatore : the places of any note we saw , were these ; first they shewed vs the place where christ appeared to mary magdalen , who said , touch me not , for i am not as yet ascended to my father , ioh. 20 , 15. and in this place by them is supposed to be the center , or middle part of the world . next , where s. iames the first bishop of the primitiue church was beheaded ; then the house of s. thomas , but that is doubtfull ( say they ) because it is not yet confirmed by the papall authority ; from thence they brought vs to the place where annas one of the high priests dwelt , and also the trée to which our sauiour was bound , whiles annas was making himselfe ready to leade him to caiaphas , but that i will not beléeue , for that trée groweth yet , being an oliue trée . they shewed vs also the house where s. peter was imprisoned , and where zebedeus the father of iames and iohn dwelt , which are nothing but a lumpe of ruines . thence we came to the decaied lodging of caiphas , without the citie , vpon the mount sion , wherevpon there is chappell builded , and at the entry of that little domo , we saw the stone on which the cocke crew , when peter denied christ. within the same place is the stone that was rolled to the sepulchre doore of our sauiour ; being now made an altar to the abasenes , a kinde of people which came from prester iehans dominions . and within that chappell they shewed vs a narrow pit , wherein ( say they ) christ was incarcerate the night before hee was brought to the iudgement hall. upon the same side of sion we saw the place where christ christ did institute the sacraments ; and not farre hence , a decayed house , where ( say they ) the holy ghost descended vpon the apostles , and also the sepulchre of dauid , and his sonne salomon : ouer the which there is a moskée , wherein no christian may enter to sée these monuments . from thence we returned , and entred in via dolorosa , the dolorous way , by which our lord and sauiour passed , when hee went to bee crucified ; and at the end of the same stréet , here ( say they ) the souldiers met simon of cyrene , and compelled him to helpe christ to beare his crosse when he fainted . pilats iudgement hall is altogether ruinated , hauing but onely betwéene the two sides of the lane , an old arch of stone , vnder the which i passed , standing full in the high way . here they shewed vs the place where christ first tooke vp his crosse , and on the toppe of that arch wee saw that place called gabbatha , where iesus stood , when pilate said to the iewes , ecce homo . a little below this , they brought vs to the church of s. anna , where ( say they ) the virgin mary was borne . and going downe another narrow lane , they pointed vnto a house , and said , here diues the rich glutton dwelt , who would not giue to lazarus the crummes of bread that fell from his table ; this i suspend , amongst many other things , for all hold it to be a parable , and not a history : and although it were a historie , who can demonstrate the particular place , ierusalem hauing béen so often transformed by alterations . this i must néeds say , with such lying wonders these flattering friers bring strangers into a wonderfull admiration , and although i rehearse all i saw there , yet i will not beléeue all , onely publishing them as things indifferent , some whereof are friuolous , and other somewhat more credible : but as i said before , i will make no ( or very small ) distinction in the relation . from thence we came without the easterne gate , vnto an immoueable stone , vpon the which they said s. stephen was stoned to death ; and néere to that we saw porta aurea , that is , the golden port , called in former times , the beautifull gate of the temple : which the turkes haue filled vp with stones , because of a prophesie , viz. that the citie was once wonne there , and shall bee wonne againe at the same place . as we returned to the couent , they brought vs to mount moriah , and shewed vs the place where abraham offered vp isaac , which is in the custody of nigroes , or aethiopians . next , the place where iesus said , daughters of ierusalem , mourne not for me , &c. and néere vnto this , where the virgin mary fell into an agony , when iesus passed by carrying his crosse. also not facre hence , we beheld the place , where ( as they say ) iesus said , mother , behold thy sonne . ascending more vpward , they shewed vs the house of veronica sancta , and said , that our sauiour going by her doore , all in a sweate , to mount caluary , she brought him a napkin to wipe his face ; which he receiued , and gaue it her againe : in which ( say they ) the print of his face remaineth to this day , and is to be séene at rome . it is also said to be in a towne in spaine , wherefore i beléeue the one as well as the other . as touching the temple of salomon , which was destroyed , there is another great temple builded in the same place , reserued by turkes , for that affection they carry to salomon ; néere the which no christian may come , vnder the paine of loosing his head . these are all the monuments which in one day i saw within ierusalem ; but as for mount caluary , and the holy graue , i saw them afterward , which in their owne place shall be orderly touched . as we were spending that day in these sights , the guardian had prepared an hundred souldiers , sixty horsmen , and forty foot-men to take with him the day following , for his conduction to iordan , and the mountaine in the wildernesse whore christ fasted ; which is his vsuall custome once euery yeare , betwéene palme-sunday and easter , returning againe before good-friday . these places cannot be viewed , saue onely at that time ; neither may a pilgrime goe along with the souldiers vnlesse hee giue the value of seuen french crownes ( as a propyne ) vnto the lieuetenant : that same night after supper the guardian demanded of vs trauellers , if we would go with him to sée these memorable and singular things , vpon the former condition : to whom we answered in a generall consent , wée would . early vpon tuesday morning ( being all of vs , both friers and pilgrimes , well mounted , and mulets laden for our prouision ) wee departed from the citie with our souldiers ; and trauelled all that day through a barren and desart countrey , till sun-setting , where wee reposed by a standing well , till an houre within night . after that the captaine had cried catethlanga , that is , march away ; wee set forward , being well guarded round about with our kéepers , because we entred into a dangerous way . in all this deformed countrey we saw neither house nor village , for it is altogether desartous , and inhabited onely by wilde beasts , and naked arabians . before we came néere to sodome and gomorha by seuen miles ( for so we behoued to passe by the east end of it , before we could ariue at that place of iordan which we intended ) wee i say encountred with such deepe sandy ground , that the mulets were not able to carry vs through : whereupon wee all dismounted , wrestling and wading aboue the middle part of our bodies , and sometimes falling in ouer our heads , we were in great danger of perishing . euen in the middest of this turmoyling paine ( the night being darke ) the vnwelcomed arabs inuironed and inuaded vs with a storme of arrowes which they sent from the tops of little hard hils , whereupon they stood , for knowing the aduantage of the ground , they tooke opportunity to giue the more fearfull assaults ; yet they preuailed nothing ( although they wounded some of our souldiers ) such was the resolute courage of our valorous defendants . true it is , that in all my trauels , i was neuer so sore fatigated , or fearfully indangered , as i was that night . a little after midgnight , we left this troublesome way , and marched along the lake of sodome : this lake is called mare mortuum , the dead sea : for of it selfe it is vnmoneable , such is the stability of the water : it is also called so , because if a bird flie ouer it , she presently falleth downe therein dead : and , as salomon reporteth of it , wisd. 10.7 . it smoaketh continually ; from whence proceed filthy vapours ; which deforme the fields lying about for certaine mils , as it were blasted , scorched , and made vtterly barren : this smoake i take onely to be but the exhalation of iordan ; for this riuer falling into it , and there ending his course , the two contrary natures cannot agree : the one being a filthy puddle , and the other a pure water , as i shall more approbably record . this lake is eighty miles in length , and sixe in bredth , being compassed with the rocks of arabia petrea on the south : on the north , with the sandy hils of the wildernesse of iudea : on the west , with the steepy mountaines of arabia deserta : and on the east , with the plaine of iericho . how commeth it to passe therefore , that the fresh running flood of iordan , falling euermore into this bounded sea ; that the lake it selfe , neuer diminisheth , nor increaseth , but alwaies standeth at one fulnesse : neither hath it any issuing forth , nor reboundeth backwards on the plaine of iericho , which is one of the greatest wonders in the world . wherefore , as i haue said , it must néeds either exhale to the clouds , or otherwise runne downe to hell ; for if it ranne vnder the rockes , and so burst forth in the desarts , it would soone be knowne ; but in all the bounds of arabia deserta , which betwixt this lake and the red sea , extend to three hundred miles ; there is no such matter , as brooke , or strand , much lesse a riuer . it bréedeth nor reserueth no kind of fishes ; and if by the swelling of iordan , any fishes be carryed to it , they immediatly die . although iosephus witnesseth , that in his time there was an apple grew vpon the bankes thereof , like to the colour of gold ; and within was rotten , and would consume to powder ; yet i affirme now the contrary : for there is not such a thing ( whatsoeuer hath béene in his daies ) as either trees , or bushes , grow néere to sodome by many miles : such is the consummation of that pestiferous gulfe : diuers authors haue reported , that nothing will sinke into it , of any reasonable weight , as dead men , or carkasses of beasts ; but by experience i approue the contrary : for it beareth nothing aboue at all ; yea , not the weight of a feather . the water it selfe , is of a blackish colour , and at sometimes in the yeare , there are terrible shapes , and showes of terror in it , as i was informed at iericho , which is the néerest towne that bordereth thereupon . this contagious , and pestilentious lake of sodome , resembleth much ( as may be supposed ) that infernall gulfe of hell ; but in my opinion , i hold it to be the purgatory of papists : for they say limbus patrum is neere , or in the second roome to hell , which i thinke must néedes be sodome for although it bee not hell it selfe , yet i am perswaded , it is a second hell , hauing ( as some report ) no botome . wherefore i conclude thus , that since papists will haue a purgatory , i absolutely affirme , it must be such a purgatory , as the purging of sodom and gomorha ; which was with fire and brimestone . about the breach of day on tuesday morning , we past by the ruines of an old house ; where ( as they say ) saint iohn the baptist remained , when hee baptized those that came from ierusalem , and other regions about , which is but the flight of an arrow from iordan . approaching to the banke-side , we dismounted , and vncloathed ourselues , going in naked to the riuer , we washed , vs to refresh our bodies : in this place , as the guardiano said , was christ baptized of saint iohn , when the holy ghost came downe in a bodily shape , like a doue vpon him , and there was a voice from heauen , saying : thou art my beloued sonne , in thee i am well pleased . i saw also an apparant like testimony , of a quadrangled stone , lying on the banke side , whereupon are ingrauen letters , of hebrew , greeke , and latine , testifying the same thing ; and may also bee so coniectured , in regard of the ancient habitacle , of that precursor , which is not farre from thence . this riuer iordan beginneth in mount libanus , two fountaines , iore , and dan , which run separated , till they come to the lake maronah ; and hence it maketh one body , keeping his course through the lake genesereth , endeth in sodome . the riuer tibris at rome , and iordan , are not much different in quantity and colour ; and not vnlike in their courses : for iordan falleth in the old gomorah , and tibris runneth through the new sodome ; a historie of such euidence , as trauell taught mee by experience : for it is the priests confluence , which breeds in the italians insolence : if i erre , i will begge indulgence of the popes aureat magnificence . the water of iordan hath beene transported to venice in barrels , for that purity it hath ; which will reserue vnspoyled , both monthes , and yeares , and the longer it is kept , it is the more fresher ; and to drinke , it is an excellent remedy for the feuer quartan , and quotidian . considering the ancient reputation of this famous riuer , and the rare fight of such an vnfrequented place , i climed vp to the toppe of a turpentine trée , which grew within the limited floud , euen naked as i came from swimming , and cut downe a faire hunting rod , which afterward , with great paines , i brought to england , and did present it ( as the rarest gemme of a pilgrimes treasure ) to his maiesty . but i remember in the choosing thereof , an vnexpected accident fell out : for i being sequestrate from the sight of the company , vpon his solitary tree , with broad obscuring leaues , the friers and souldiers remoued , kéeping their course towards iericho ; but within two furlongs from iordan , they were baset with the formed nocturnall enemies , who assailed them with a hard conflict : for i heartng the harquebuse goe off , was straight in admiration , and looking downe to the place where i left my associates , they were gone ; so bending my eyes a little further in the plaine , i saw them at a martiall combat : which sight , gaue mee suddenly , the threatning of despaire , not knowing whether to stay intrenched , within the circumdating leaues , to approue the euents of my auspicious fortunes : or in prosecuting a reliefe , to bée participant of their doubtfull deliuerance . in the end pondering , i could hardly , or neuer escape their hands , leapt downe from the tree , leauing my turkish cloathes lying vpon the ground , tooke onely in my hand the rod , and shasse which i wore on my head , and ran starke naked aboue a quarter of a mile , amongst thistles , and sharpe pointed grasse , which pittifully be-pricked the soles of my féete . approaching on the safe side of my company , one of our souldiers broke forth on horse-backe , being determined to kill mee for my staying behind ; yea , and thrée times he stroke at me with his halfe pike , but his horse being at his spéed , i preuented his cruelty , first by falling downe , next by running in amongst the thickest of the pilgrimes , recouering my beast : which when the guardiano espied , and saw my naked body , he presently pulled of his gowne , and threw it to me , whereby i might hide the secrets of nature : by which meanes ( in the space of an houre ) i was cloathed thrée manner of waies : first , like a turke : secondly , like a wilde arabian : and thirdly , like a grey frier ; which was a barbarous , a sauage , and a religious habite . the captaine mitigating the fury of the arabs , by some contributing promises , we marched toward iericho : where we reposed , and dined , on the prouision carryed with vs. after dinner wee arose , and went to the house of zacheus , ( this was hee who sate vpon a trée to sée our sauiour as hee passed by ) the wals whereof stand to this day . iericho is now a poore village onely of nine dwelling houses , inhabited by a kind of arabs ( which are in subiection vnder the gouernour of ierusalem ) but i saw many ruiuous lumpes of the walles , and demolishings of the old towne . here i saw two most dainty kind of fruits , the one was a little lesser then an apple , but more round ; whose coulour was like to gold without , and within it was white as snow , and swéet like sugar . i would gladly haue eaten of them , but the friers forbad me , saying ; they were the onely pest and death vnto a stanger . the other apple was like to a gréene lemmon , long , and full of knots , of a reddish colour , like to a mellone , being both delicate and wholesome ; of which we did eate to satisfie the natural appetite . from iericho we set forward in the way of the wildernesse , our determination being such , as to view the mountaine whereon christ fasted fortie dayes : where arriued , being late , we durst not go vp till morning . wherefore we pitched that night by the fountaine of elizeus ; the water of which was of old naturally bitter , but by the praiers of that diuine prophet , was restored to a sweet taste : it is also excellent in digestion , and wil do a man no harme : for i estéeme it to be the lightest water the earth yéeldeth . hauing on the morrow filled a boares skinne of it , to carry with mee to the mountaine , i found it so light , that i had no weight nor paine in the bearing it on my shoulders , notwithstanding the way it selfe was fastidious . this mountaie is called quarantanam , or quaranto , being of height , by the computation of my painfull experience , aboue sixe miles , and groweth from the bottome still smaller and smaller , till that the top is couered with a little chappell , not vnlike to the proportion of a pyramide . there is no way to ascend vpon this hill , saue one , which hath béene hewen out of the rocke , by the industry of men experimented in masonry ; ( which was done at the cost of quéene helen ) going vp by the degrées of 45 turnes . in all our company there were onely thrée friers , foure pilgrimes , and i , that durst attempt to climbe the mountaine . after diuers dangers , and narrow passages , hauing come to the top , we entred into a caue ioyning to the chappell , where ( say they ) in this place did christ fast , and here it was that he rebuked sathan . in our returne againe , wee had a most fearfull descending : for one frier laurenzo had fallen fiue hundred fadomes ouer the rocke , and broke his necke , if it had not béene for mee , who rashly and vnaduisedly endangered my owne life for his safety ; as my patent vnder the great seale of ierusalem , beareth sufficient testimony thereof . to recite all the circumstances of his deliuerance , would moue some merriment to the reader , which i purposely omit to auoyd tediousnesse . hauing saluted our padre guardiano , and the rest of our expecters , in our way as wee returned to ierusalem , wée rode by a ruinous abby , where ( say they ) s. ierome dwelt , and was sed there by wild lyons . upon thursday at night before good-friday , wee went to the holy graue , where we staied friday , saturday , & on sunday , which was easter day , we came forth : first , before we entred the church , we gaue euery one of vs pilgrimes , nine chickens of gold to the turkes , who are kéepers of the doore : next , two chickens for our first entring the citie : thirdly , vnto the padre guardiano thrée péeces of gold , for the candles ; and other things he spent in their owne ceremonies , which we behoued to pay . both mount caluary and the holy graue are comprehended within one church . after we entred , the first place of any note we saw , was the place of unction , which is a foure squared stone , inclosed about within an iron reuele , on which ( say they ) the dead body of our sauiour lay , and was embalmed , after hee was taken from the crosse , whiles ioseph of arimathea was preparing that new sepulchre for him , wherein neuer man lay . from thence we came to the holy graue . the holy graue is couered with a little chappell , standing within a round quire , in the west end of the church : it hath two low and narrow entries . as wee entred the first doore , the guardiano fell downe , ingenochiato , and kissed a stone , whereupon ( hee said ) the angell stood when mary magdalen came to the sepulchre , to know if christ was risen on the third day , as he promised . and within the entry of the second doore , wee saw the place where christ our messias was buried , and prostrating our selues in great humility , euery man according to his religion , offered vp his prayers to god. the sepulchre it selfe is eight foote and a halfe in length , and aduanced about thrée foot in height from the ground , and three foot fiue inches broad , being couered with a faire marble stone of white colour . in this chappell are alwayes burning aboue fifty lampes , maintained by christian princes , and they stand within a band of pure gold , which is excéeding sumptuous ; hauing the names of those , who sent or gaue them , ingrauen vpon the vpper edges of the round circles . i demanded of the guardiano if any part of the tombe were yet extant , who replied , there was ; but because ( said he ) christians resorting thither , being deuoutly moued with affection to the place , carryed away part thereof , which caused s. helen to inclose it vnder this stoue ; whereby some reliques of it should alwayes remaine . i make no doubt but that same place is golgotha , where the holy graue was , as may appeare by the distance betweene mount caluary and this sacred monument ; which extendeth to forty of my paces . this chappell is outwardly decored with fifteene couple of marble pillars , and of 22 foot high ; and aboue the vpper couerture of the same chappell , there is a little sixe-angled turret made of cedar wood , couered with lead , and beautified with sixe small columnes of the same trée . the forme of the quiere wherein it standeth , is like vnto that ancient rotundo in rome , but a great deale higher and larger , hauing two gorgeous galleries one aboue another , and adorned with magnificent columnes , being open at the toppe , with a large round , which yéeldeth to the heauens the prospect of that most sacred place . from thence we marched to mount caluary , where we ascended by one and twenty steps , made partly of wood , and partly of alabaster stone : and there i saw a hole in a rocke of a cubite deepe , beautified with thicke boords of siluer , and ingrafted letters ; in which ( say they ) the crosse stood whereon our sauiour was crucified . leauing mount caluary on our left hand , we came to the tomb of godfrey de bullion , who was the first proclaimed christian king of ierusalem , and refused to be crowned there , saying , it was not decent , the seruants head should be crowned with gold , where the masters head had béene crowned with thornes ; hauing this inscription engrauen on the one side : hic iacet inclytus godfridus de bullion , qui totam hanc terram acquisiuit cultui diuino , cuius anima requiescat in pace . and ouer-gainst it , is the tombe of king baldwine his brother , which hath these uerses in golden letters curiously indented . rex baldevinus , iudas alter machabeus . spes patriae , vigor ecclesiae , virtusvtriusque ; quem formidabant , cui dona , tributa ferebant . caesar aegypti dan , ac homicida damascus . proh dolor ! in modico clauditur hoc tumulo . the other things within the church they shewed vs , were these , a marble pillar , whereunto ( say they ) our sauiour was bound , when he was whipped and scourged for sakes : the place in a low cellar , about 14 degrées vnder the ground where the crosse was hid by the iewes , and found againe by s. helen : the place where christ was crowned with thornes , which is reserued by the abasines , and where the souldiers cast lots for his garments ; the place where he was imprisoned , whiles they were making of his crosse , and where the crosse being laid along vpon the ground , our sauiour was nailed fast to it ; the rocke , which ( as they say ) rent at his crucifying , which is more likely to be done with hammers , and set one péece a foote from another , for the slit lookes , as if it had béen cleft with wedges and béetles . and lastly they take vpon them below caluary to shew where the head of adam was buried . these and many other things are so doubtfull , that i doe not register them for truth ( i meane in demonstrating the particular places ) but onely relate them as i was informed . there are seuen sorts of nations , different in religion and language , who continually ( enduring life ) remaine within this church , hauing incloystred lodgings ioyning to the walles thereof : their victuals are brought daily to them by their familiars , receiuing the same at a great hole in the church doore : for the turkes seldome open the entry , vnlesse it be when pilgrimes come : for this purpose each family haue a bell fastned at their lodging , with a string reaching from thence to the church doore , the end wherof hangeth outwardly ; by the which commodity each furnisher ringing the bell , giueth warning to his friends , to come receiue their necessaries . the number of those , who are tied to this austere life , are about 350 persons being italians , greekes , armenians , aethiopians , iacobines , a sort of circumcised christians , nestorians and chelfaines of mesopotamia . the day before the resurrection , about the houre of mid-night , the whole sects and sorts of christians orientall ( that were come thither in pilgrimage , and dwelt at ierusalem ) conuened together , which were about the number of 6000 men , women and children : for being separated by the patriarkes in two companies , they compassed the chappell of the holy graue nine times ; holding in their hands , burning candles , made in the beginning pittifull and lamentable regréetings , but in the ending , there were touking of kettle-drummes , sounding of horne-trumpets , and other instruments , dauncing , leaping , and running about the sepulchre , with an intolerable tumult , as if they were all mad , or distracted of their wits . thus is the prograce of their procession performed in meere simplicitie , wanting ciuilitie and gouernment . but the turks haue a care of that ; for in the midst of all this hurly-burly , they run amongst them with long roddes , correcting their mis-behauiour with cruell strokes . thus are the slauish people , euen at the height of their ceremonious deuotion , strangely abused . here the guardiano offered for ten péeces of gold , ( although my duébe 30 chickens said he ) to make me knight of the holy graue , or of the order of ierusalem , which i refused , knowing the condition of that detestable oath i behooued to haue sworne ; but i saw two other pilgrimes receiue that order of knight-hood . the manner whereof is thus ; first they binde themselues with a solemne vow , to pray ( enduring life ) for the pope , king of spaine , and duke of venice , from whom the friers receiue their maintenance ; and also in speciall for the french king , by whose meanes they obtaine liberty of the great turke to frequent these monumentall places . secondly , they are sworne enemies to all protestants , and others , who will not acknowledge the superiority of the roman church . thirdly , they must pay yearely some stipend to the order of the franciscans . these attestations ended , the frier putteth a gilded spurre on his right héele , causing the yong made knight to stoop down on his knées , and lay his hands on the holy graue : after this he taketh a broad sword from vnder his gowne ( being priuately carried for feare of the turks ) which is ( as he said ) the sword wherwith victorious godfrey conquered ierusalem , & giueth this new vpstart caualiero , nine blowes vpon his right shoulder . loe here the fashion of this papisticall knight-hood , which i forsooke . after our guardiano had ended his superstitious rites and ceremonies , vpon easter day wee returned to the monasterie , hauing stayed thrée dayes within that church . aprill the two and twentie , on munday morning , the padre viccario , and the aforesaid iohn baptista accompanying vs , we rode abrode in the hilly countrey of iudea . in this dayes iourney , the places of any note wee saw were these ; first , where the daughters of ierusalem came forth to méete saul , crying saul hath slaine his thousand , and dauid his his ten thousand . next , the valley of trebin , where dauid slew the great goliah . thirdly , bezura , where absalom kild his brother ammon for thamars sake , whereof nothing but the name is onely reserued . fourthly , the castle of emaus , in which our sauiour was knowne after his resurrection , by the two disciples , in breaking of bread . fifthly , the valley of gibeon , where the sun stood at the voyce of ioshua , from his naturall course , ioshua 10 12. sixthly , the toombe of samuel , ouer the which moores haue a moskee erected . seuenthly , the toombes of the valiant captaine iudas macchabeus , and his children , whereupon are now onely the ruines of an old chappell . and last of all , the buriall place of the noble family of the kings and quéenes of israel , or ierusalem : the entry whereof was so straight , that on our backes we behoued to slide downe , aboue ten paces vnder the ground , with light candles in our hands . in that spacious place wee saw 24 chambers hewen out of a marble rocke . each roome hath a hanging stone doore of a great thicknesse , so artificially done by the skilfull art of masons , that the rarest spirit of 10000 cannot know how these doores haue béene made , so to moue as they do , being afirme rocke both below and aboue ; and the doores haue neither yron nor timber worke about them : but by cunning are made so to turne , and in that same place where they grew they are squared ; yea , and so exquisitely done , that the most curious carpenter cannot ioyne a péece of boord so neatly , as these stone doores ioyne with the rocke . in each of these roomes are two sepulchres , wherein i saw the bones of some of these dead princes . tuesday the tenth day of my being at ierusalem , we issued forth of the citie early , with our aforesaid guides , riding westward : the first remarkeable thing wee saw , was the place ( as they say ) where the crosse grew , whereon christ suffered ; being reserued by greekes , who haue a couent builded ouer it . that crosse is said to haue béene of foure sundry kindes of wood , and not of one trée , for they shewed vs but one hole wherein it grew , and so they hold it to haue béene all of one péece of oliue trée ; but this i suspend , leauing it to be searched by the pregnancy of riper iudgements then mine . about fiue miles further , we arriued at a village on the mountaine of iudea ; where wee saw a dis-inhabited house , in which elizabeth the mother of s. iohn baptist dwelt when mary came vp from galile to salute her ; and néere to this we beheld ( as they say ) the sanctuary wherein zacharias was stricken dumbe till elizabeth was deliuered . two miles further , on a rocky mountaine , we arriued at a caue , wherein ( say they ) s. iohn did his penance till he was 19 yeares of age , after which time he went downe to dwell at iordan : it is a pretty fine place hewen out of a rock , to the which we mounted by 12 steps , hauing a window cut through of a great thicknesse of firme stone , whence we had the faire prospect of a fruitfull valley : and from the mouth of this delectable grotto gushed forth a most delicious fountaine . returning thence , wee passed ouer an excéeding high mountaine , from whence we saw the most part of iudea ; and to the westward in the way of egypt , the castle of the prophet elisha . descending on the south side of the same hill , we arriued at philips fountaine , in which he baptized the eunuch of ethiopia , standing full in the way of gaza . here we paid some certaine madins vnto the moores of the village , so did wee also for the sight of euery speciall monument in iudea . at night we lodged in bethleem in a monastery of the same franciscans of ierusalem : after supper we went all of vs ( hauing candles ) to the place where our sauiour was borne ; ouer the which there is a magnificent church builded : but before wee came where the crubbe had béene , wee passed certaine difficile wayes ; where ( being arriued ) we saw no monument thereof , saue onely they did demonstrate the place , which is adorned with marble , saphyre , and alabaster stones . not farre from that they shewed vs the place ouer the which the starre stayed , that conducted the thrée wisemen from the east . from thence they brought vs to a caue without the towne , wherein ( say they ) the uirgine mary was hid , when herod persecuted the babes life ( from which also being warned by the angell ) shee , and ioseph , fled downe into egypt with the childe . the earth of this caue is white as snow , and hath this miraculous operation , that a little of it drunke in any liquor , to a woman that after her childe-birth is barren of milke , shall foorthwith giue aboundance : which is not onely aualieable to christians , but also turkish , moorish , and arabianish women , who will come from far countries , to fetch of this earth . i haue séene the nature of this dust practised , wherefore i may boldly affirme it , to haue the force of a strange vertue . wednesday following , wee hired foure and twenty moores , to conduct vs vnto salomons fish ponds , which are onely thrée , being neuer a whit decayed ; and to fons segnatus , whence commeth the water in a stone conduit , along the mountaines that serueth ierusalem , which worke was done by salomon . returning thence , and kéeping our way southward , we passed through the ualley of hebron , where iacob dwelt , and entred into the fields of sychem ; where iacobs sonnes kept their fathers sheepe : and not farre hence , they shewed vs a dry pit , which they called iosephs pit , that was at dothan , wherein hee was put by his brethren , before they sold him to the ismaelites . in our backe comming to bethleem , we saw a caue in the desart of ziph , wherein dauid hid himselfe , when hee was persecuted by king saul , and the field adra , where the angels brought the glad tydings of saluation vnto the shepeheards . bethleem , is the pleasantest uillage in all iudea , situated on a pretty hill , and fiue english miles from ierusalem : it produceth commodiously , an infinite number of oliue , and figge-trees , some cornes , and a kind of white wine , wherewith wee were furnished all the time of our abode there ; also in , and about ierusalem . in our way as we came backe to the citie , the viccario shewed vs a little moskee , kept by turkes , in which ( said he ) was the toombe of rachell , iacobs wife , who dyed in that place , as she was trauelling from padan-aram , with her husband iacob . the foundation also of a house , where habacuck the prophet dwelt ; a trée growing yet by the way side , vnder the which ( say they ) the uirgin mary was wont to repose her her selfe in trauelling . wee saw also a naturall rocke in the high way , whereon ( say they ) elias oft slept , and is not ashamed to say , that the hollow dimples of the stone , was onely made by the impression of his body : as though the tender flesh of man could leaue the print of his portraiture on a hard stone . and not farre from this , they shewed vs the place , where the starre appeared to the wise-men , after they had left herod , to seeke for the sauiour of mankind . approaching mount sion , wee saw a quadrangled dry pond , wherein ( say they ) beershaba the wife of vrias , was washing , when dauid looked forth at his window , and was bewitched by her beauty . ouer against this place , on the north side of gehinnon , we saw the ruines of a palace wherein dauid dwelt , which hath béene one of the angles of the ancient citie , and standeth at the diuision of the valley ennon , which compassed ( as a ditch ) the north part of mount sion , euen to the valley of iehosaphat , being now filled vp with fragments of old walles , and the valley of gehinnon lying west , and east , bordering along the south side of sion , til it ioyne also with the valley of iehosaphat , which inuironeth the east , and deualling parts of ierusalem . néere to this demolished tower , wee sawe the habitation of simeon , who hauing seene the blessed messias , said : now lord let thy seruant depart in peace , for mine eyes haue seene thy saluation . aprill 25. and the twelfth day of my abode there , early on thursday morning , the guardiano , twelue friers , and iohn baptista ( because that was the last day of seeing any more monuments , or was to bee seene there ) accompanied vs : as wee issued at the south gate of the citie , we came to a place , on the skirt of sion , where ( say they ) peter after his denyall of christ , wept bitterly . descending by the side of that same hill , we crossed the valley gehinnon , and came to acaldema , the potters field , or field of bloud , which is a little foure-squared roome , three parts whereof are inuironed with a naturall rocke , and the fourth square bordering with the valley , is made vp of stone worke : the top is couered , and hath thrée holes , where-through they let the dead christians fall downe ; for it is a buriall place of pilgrimes to this day . as i looked downe , i beheld a great number of dead corpes , some whereof had white winding sheetes , & newly dead , lying one aboue another in a lumpe , yeelded a pestilent smell , by reason they were not couered with earth , saue onely the architecture of a high vault , which maketh , that in a long time the corpes cannot putrifie and rot . neere vnto this campo , wee entred into a darke caue , where ( say they ) the apostles hid themselues , when christ was taken . at the foote of the same ualley , wee came to ponto nehemia , in which place the iewes did hide the holy fire , when they were taken captiues to babylon ; walking more downe-ward , toward the valley of iehosaphat , wee saw a darke cellar vnder the ground without windowes , wherein ( said the guardian ) the idolatrous iewes made a sacrifice of their children vnto a brasen image called moloch , which being made hote , they inclosed them in the hollownesse thereof , and so slew them : and least their crying should haue moued any compassion towards them , they made a thundring noyse with drummes , and other instruments , whereupon the place was called tophet , mentioned in ier. 7.31 . hence wee came to the poole of siloam ; in which we washed our selues , the water whereof falleth downe through a rocke , from the citie aboue , running strait to the valley of iehosaphat , and there we saw also the remnants of that sacked tower of siloam . neere to this we saw a fountaine , where ( say they ) the uirgin mary vsed often to wash the babes cloathes and linnen clowts . from thence we crossed the brooke cedron ( which of old ran through the valley of iehosaphat , but now is dry ) and came to the toombes of absolom and zacharias , and the caue wherein s. iames was wont to hide himselfe from the persecuting iewes . ascending more vpward on the hill , in the way of bythania , we saw these places ; where iudas hanged himselfe , the withered fig-trée grew , and the house of simon the leper . arriuing at bythania , we saw a castle and toombe of lazarus , on whom christ shewed a miracle , in raising him from the graue , after hee had béene foure daies dead : not farre thence in the same uillage , we saw the decaied house where martha , and mary magdalen inhabited , and the stone whereon christ sate ( say they ) when hee said to martha , mary hath chosen the better part . returning thence , wée left bethphage on our left hand , and about mid-day , arriued on the top of mount oliuet , where we dined , and procéeded in our sights . from this place we had the full prosspect of ierusalem : for the citie standing vpon the edge of a hill , cannot bee seene all at one sight , saue on this mountaine which is thrée times higher then mount sion . these are the monuments shewen vs vpon the mount of oliues : first , the print of the left foote of our sauiour , in an immoueable stone , which he made , when hee ascended to heauen ; the guardiano told vs further , that the right footes print was taken away by turkes , and detained by them in the temple of salomon ; but who can thinke our sauiour trode so hard at his ascension , as to haue left the impression of his feet behind him . next the place where hee foretold the iudgement to come , and the signes , and the wonders , should bee séene in the heauens before that dreadfull day . thirdly , the place where the symbolum apostolorum was made , which is a fine chamber vnder the ground , like a church , hauing twelue pillars to support it . fourthly , where christ taught his disciples the pater noster , and where hee fell in an agony , when hee sweate bloud and water . fiftly , where peter , iames , and iohn slept , whiles our sauiour prayed , and returned so oft to awake them , and also below that , where the other disciples were left . sixthly , the garden of gethsemane , where christ vsed commonly to pray , in the which place he was apprehended by the officers of the high priests , and was also where iudas kissed him , and the sergants fell backward on the ground . seuenthly , they shewed vs a stone marked with the head , feete , asd elbowes of iesus , in their throwing of him downe , when as they bound him , after he was taken , aad euer since ( say they ) haue these prints remained there . and lastly , at the foote of mount oliuet , in the valley of iehosaphat , we descended by a paire of staires of 43 steps , and 6 paces large , in a faire church builded vnder the ground , where ( say they ) the monument of the assumption of the virgin mary is , whom they thinke was borne in ierusalem , dwelt at bethleem and nazareth , and died vpon mount sion . i saw also there , the sepulchres of ioseph her husband , ioachim her father , and of anna her mother . the valley of iehosaphat is two miles of length , lying south and north. lo , i haue plainely described , the whole monuments i saw within , and about ierusalem , by the order of these 12 seuerall daies : the like heretofore , was neuer by any pilgrime , so liuely manifested . but as i said in the beginning of my description , so say i now also at the conclusion ; some of these things are ridiculous , some of manifest vntruths , some also doubtfull , and others somewhat more credible , and of apparant truth . the recapitulation whereof , is onely by me vsed , as i was informed by gaudentius saybantus the padre guardiano , laurenzo antonio il viccario , and the trouchman iohn baptista . after this wandring vp and downe iudea , i stayed in ierusalem thrée daies , both reposing my selfe , and also preparing my necessaries for a new voyage ; being determined to go downe to egypt , with a carauan of grand cayro . in the last night of my staying at ierusalem , which was at the holy graue , i remembring that bounden duty , and louing zeale , which i owe vnto my natiue prince , whom i in all humility ( next and immediate to christ iesus ) acknowledge , to be the supreme head , and gouernour , of the true christian and catholique church ; by the remembrance of this obligation i say , i caused one elias bethleete , a christian inhabitour of bethleem , to ingraue on the flesh of my right arme , the neuer-conquered crowne of scotland , and the now inconquerable crowne of england , ioyned also to it ; with this inscription , painefully carued in letters , within the circle of the crowne , viuat iacobus rex . for the which the old frier was mightily discontented , and railed vpon me , that i should ( as he said ) haue endured so much paine for such an arch-enemy of the romane church ; but he not knowing how to mend himselfe , in the end i quenched and abated his calumnies , by a recitation of the incomparable vertues of our dread soueraigne , who for his bounty , wisedome , learning and gouernment , was not equaled , nor paragonized amongst all the princes of the earth : which he déepely conceiuing , was stricken in admiration , and began to intreat me ( if i liued ) to returne to my natiue soile , that i would make it knowne vnto his maiesty , the great tribulation and oppression they sustained vnder infidels , to preserue the memory of these monuments , especially of the holy graue ; for the maintaining whereof ( said he ) that great monarch gaue neuer any allowance , nor supported the poore afflicted christians at ierusalem ; which indeed , i promised to doe , and also performed his request : for after my first arriuall in england , most humbly did i report it to his highnesse , in the priuy garden of greenewich ; who indeed gaue me a most gracious and compassionable answere , saying : they neuer sought any help of him , and if they had , hee would haue supported their necessity . aprill 29. and the 16. day of my staying there , i , and other ten frankes , made couenant with the carauan of 900 persons , bound for egypt , for ninetéene piasters , the man to furnish vs with camels , or dromidories to ride on , & to exoner vs of all caffars and tributes , in our voyage to cayro : by which condition we had the aduantage of two commodities : first , it freed vs from the wrongs and extortions of sauage rascals by the way : next , we preuented all cosening and deceitfull dealing that might from the captaine haue procéeded , whose fidelity in him , or such like , is seldom sufficiently to strangers approued . in the beginning of this iourney greatly was i animated with the company of these franke pilgrimes , which i found in ierusalem ; but alas ! no sooner was their society déere and acceptable to me , but as soone by death , was i robd of all the ten , such was the will of the almighty : some whereof dyed in the desarts , and the rest in grand cayro , leauing mee , euen as i was before , a solitary wanderer amongst rauenous wolues , the particular rehearsing of which , would but aggrauate my sorrow , and renew the remembrance of my by-past melancholy . not that i stood in néed of any help , to stir vp the alacrity of my mind , which of it selfe was innated by nature , and fortified in maturity , by propagating diuers aspiring , and alacrious conceits ; but my excessiue griefe was , because they daily pretended my good , whereby i was infinitely obliged to their kind , and vndeserued courtesies . for where such proffer of loue remaineth in the disponers , it bréedeth alwaies in the receiuers a kind of dutifull obligation ; and as it was in some honourable fashion extended towards me , so the remembring of it , shall adde a greater grace , and reputation to strengthen the memory of their vntimely death . neither will i relie so much vpon my owne worthinesse , as to thinke that benefite of the procrastination of my life , was by any merite of mine deserued ; but that god so much the more might shew his incomprehensible greatnesse , by that deliuerance in my naturall imbecility . for all the beginnings of man are deriued from god , whose ends are either perfected or disanulled by his determination : and nothing we possesse is properly our owne , or gotten by our owne power , but giuen vs onely through his munificence . and all the spaces of earth , which our feete tread ouer , the light we enioy , and the excellent faculties we are indued withall ; or what we can do , say , or thinke , is onely raised , guided , and distributed by gods impenetrable counsell , will , and prouidence ; which although the pride of our wicked nature , doth not yeeld the true attribution thereunto , yet the powerfull working of the counsell of god is such , that in it selfe , it proueth an eternall wisedome , and confoundeth the foolishnesse of the world . betwéene gaza in palestina , and saleak on the frontiers of gozan , i had no sight of any remarkeable obiect : for in all that six daies iourney , we trauelled still in the night , to shun the intollerable heat of the sun by day ; wherefore it with-held from our eyes , the visible shew of sandy and barren desarts , whiles our bodies felt the painefull fruite of that mountainous ground , in the silent night : yet not so silent , but we saw often a concurrance of naked arabs , partly liuing in haire-cloth tents , and partly in holes and caues , who gaue vs diuers assaults , and sometimes intercepted our forward going , notwithstanding of that refuge we had of the castles in that waste wildernesse , which are maintained by the soldan of egypt , for the succour of trauellours . at saleak we encountred with a great company , and 1200 camels and dromidores , which were laden with the wares of damascus , and going to cayro . a dromidore , and camell , differ much in quality , but not in quantity , being of one height , bredth , and length ; saue onely their heads , and feet , which are proportionated alike , and the difference of quality is such , that the dromidorie hath a hard-reaching trot , and will ride aboue sixty miles in the day , if that his rider can endure the paine . but the camell is of the contrary disposition : for he hath a most slow and lazy pace , remouing the one foote from the other , as though he were weighing his feete in a ballance ; neyther can he go faster , although he would : but he is a great deale more tractable then the other ; for when his maister loadeth him , hee falleth downe on his knées to the ground , and then riseth againe with his burthen , which will be a maruellous great weight . the red sea , which we left to the westward of vs , is not red , as many suppose , but is the very colour of other seas : the reason for which it hath béene called mare rubrum , is onely because of the bankes , rushes , sands , and bushes that grow by the shore side , which are naturally red . some others haue called it so , in respect of the brookes which moses turned to red bloud , who mis-construing the true sense , took seas for riuers . arriuing at cayro , i lodged in the house of a french consull , and on the second day , i went with two french merchants , to view the thrée pyramides , surnamed , the worlds wonders ; which are distant from grand cayro , about foure leagues , standing néere to the bankes of nylus . in proportion they are quadrangled , growing smaller and smaller towards the top , and builded with great and large stones , the most part whereof are fiue foot broad , and nine foot long . all the historians that euer wrot of these wonders , haue not so amply recited their admirable greatnesse , as the experience of the beholder may testifie their excessiue hugenesse and height . the first we approched vnto , is biggest , whose height amounteth to ( according to the computation of our dragoman ) 1092 foote . and at the bottome euery square of the foure faces is of bredth 450 foote . hauing outwardly mounted by degrées , with great paine to the top , i was maruellously rauished to sée such a square plat-forme , all of one péece of stone , which couereth the head ; each side wherof extendeth to 17 foot of my measure . it is yet a great maruell to me , by what engine they could bring it vp so safe to such a height . truely , the more i beheld this strange worke , the more i was stricken in admiration : for before we ascended , the top of this pyramide did séeme so sharpe as a pointed diamond ; but when we were mounted thereon , we found it so large , that in my opinion , it would haue contained a hundred men . the middle pyramide did looke a farre off somewhat higher then the other two : but when we came to the roote thereof , we found it not so : for the stone-worke is a great deale lower , but the aduancement of the height is only because of a high ground wheron it standeth . it is of the same fashion of the first , but hath no degrées to ascend vpon : neither hath the third pyramide any at all ; being by antiquity of time , all worne and demolished , yet an admirable worke , to behold such great masses , and ( as it were ) erected mountaines all of fine marble . the reason why they were first founded , is by many ancient authors so diuersly coniectured , that i will not meddle therewith . betwéene the biggest pyramide and nylus , i saw a colosse , or head of an idoll , of a wonderfull greatnesse ; being all of one marble stone , erected on a round rocke : it is of height ( not reckoning the columns ) aboue 815 foote , and of circuit 68. pliny gaue it the name sphingo , and reported much more of the bignesse , largenesse , and length of it . but howsoeuer he erred in his description , yet i resolue my selfe it is of so great a quantity , that the like thereof ( being one intire péece ) the world affoordeth not ; and may be reckoned amongst the rarest wonders . some say , that anciently it was an oracle , the which so soone as the sun arose , would giue an answere to the aegyptians of any thing by them demanded . in our way as we returned , our dragoman shewed vs ( on the banke of nylus ) where a crocodile was killed by the ingenious policie of a venetian marchant , being licentiated by the soldan . the match whereof for bignesse and length , was neuer seene in that riuer , whose body was 22 foote , and in compasse of the shoulders 8 foot . this cruell beast had deuoured aboue 46 men and women , besides other creatures : and in his belly were found more then 60 rings of gold and siluer , which the miserable bodies had worne in their noses , through their cheeks and vnder lips : for such is the custome of the people to weare their iewels . and if the baser sort cannot attaine to such like , then they counterfeit their betters with rings of brasse and lead , wearing also on their armes and ankles , broade bands of iron continually . the garden wherein the onely and true balsamo groweth , is inclosed with a high wall , and daily guarded by turkes , who hardly will suffer any christian to enter within , much lesse the iewes : for not long agoe they were the cause , that almost this balme was brought to confusion . the tree it selfe is but of three foot height , which keepeth euermore the coloor greene , hauing a broad thrée poynted leafe , and twice in the yeare it being incised , yeeldeth a red water , which is the naturall balsamo . not farre hence , there is a place caled mommeis , lying in a sandy desart , where are innumerable caues cut forth of a rock , wherunto the corps of the most men in cayro , are carried and interred , which dead bodies remaine alwayes vnputrified , neither yeeld they any stinking smell . grand cayro is an admirable great citie , and larger of bounds then constantinople , but not so populous , neither so wel builded : it was of old caled memphis , & was the furthest place that vlysses in his trauels visited , so well memorized by homer ; yet a voyage now of no such estimation , as that princely poet accounted it : for his trauels are not comparable to some of these dayes wherein we liue : it is situate in a pleasant plaine , and in the heart of aegypt , being distant from nylus about an english mile . it was called cayro babylonia : for there are two babylons , one in assyria , which by the turks is called bagdat : and the other is this , which ioyneth with cayro nouo . the circuit of new cayre is about 22 miles , not speaking of cayre de babylon , medin , boulak , & the great towne of caraffar , being as sub-vrbs , & of many smals maketh vp a little world , the length whereof in all is thought to be 28 miles , & of bredth 14. the principal gates are these , babeh mamstek , which is toward the wildernesse of the red sea : bebzavillah , toward nylus , and babell eutuch , toward the fields . the stréetes are narrow , being all of them almost couered , and the foundation of their buildings is raised vpon two stages height , to kéepe the people from the parching heate . the bazar , or exchange beginneth at the gate of mamstek , and endeth at a place called babesh . at the corners of chiefe places there are horses to be hired , that for a small matter , a man may ride where so he will , to view this spacious spred citie , and change as many horses as he listeth , hauing the maisters which owe them , to conuoy them . there is a great commerce here with all nations vnder the heauens : for by their concurring thither , it is wonderfully peopled with infinite numbers . such a multitude , and the extreme heate , is the cause why the pest is euermore in it ; insomuch , that at some certaine times 10000 persons haue dyed thereof in one day . in this towne you shall euer finde all these sorts of christians , italians , french , greekes , almaines , georgians , aethiopians , iacobines , armenians , syrians , nestorians , amaronites , nicolaitans , abessenes , nubians , slauonians , gofties , ragusans , and some captiue hungarians , the number of which is euer thought to bee beyond an hundred thousand people ; besides all other sorts of infidels , as turkes , blacke and white moores , musilmans , persians , tartars , indians , iewes , arabians , barbarres and sarazens . from the castle wherein the soldan habitateth , ( which is builded on a pretty hill ) you haue the prospect of the whole citie , the gardens , and uillages bordering on nylus , and of the most part of the plaine , and fertile places of egypt , aegypt bordereth with aethiopia , and the desarts of libia , on the south : on the north , with the sea medirerrene : the chiefest ports whereof , are alexandria , and damietta : toward the occident with the great lake of bouchiarah , and a dangerous wildernesse confining therewith ; so full of wilde and venemous beasts , which maketh the west part vnaccessable : on the east , with a part of the red sea , and desarts of arabia , through which the people of israel passed . in all the land of egypt , which is a great kingdome , there is no well or fountaine , saue onely the riuer nylus , neither doe the inhabitants know what raine is , because they neuer sée any . this floud irriguateth all the low plaines of the land once in the yeare ; which inundation beginneth vsually in iuly , and continueth to the end of august , which furnisheth with water all the inhabiters . there is a dry pond called machash , in the midst whereof standeth a pillar of eightéene brasses height , being equall with the profundity of the ditch , whereby they know his increasing , and if in the yeare following they shall haue plenty or scarsity of things . for when the water beginneth to flow aboue the ordinary course , it falleth downe incontinently in this place , where it ariseth euery day vpon the pillar , sometimes a spanne , a foote , or two foote . at the time of his inunding , there are certaine people appointed to watch the limites of his growth ; for when the water wareth to fiftéene brasses , it is a signe that the next yeare shall bee fertile : if if amounteth but to twelue , that yeare shall be indifferent ; and it surpasse not nine brasses , it presageth a great dearth and famine ; and if it shall happen to flow to the top , all the countrey of egypt is in danger to bee destroyed . from nylus are many ditches drawne along to the scattered villages in the plaines , the water whereof entring in these narrow channels , the people haue cisternes made of purpose , wherein they receiue it , and conserue the same till the next inundation . at which time also they make great feastings , and rare solemnities , dauncing , eating , drinking , singing , t●uking of drummes , sounding of trumpets , and other oftentations of ioy . there are infinite venemous creatures bred in this riuer , as crococodiles , scorpions ▪ vgly mis-shapen wormes , and other monstrous things , which annoy oft the inhabitants , and also those who tra●●ck on the water . this famous floud beginneth vnder the equinoctiall line in aethiopia , whence it bringeth the full growth downe into egypt , and in a place of the aethiopian alpes , called catadupa ; the fall and roaring of this nyle , maketh the people deafe who dwell néere thereunto : the common opinion is , that prester iehan may impede the course of nyle to runne through egypt , which bréedeth the cause wherefore the great turke payeth him a yearely tribute , least by a malignant hatred hee should turne the maine channell another way ; and so bring egypt to desolation . this kingdome produceth no wines , neither is garnished with uine-yards ; but that which strangers doe make vse of , are brought from candy , cyprus , and greece . in cayro i stayed seuen dayes , and embarked at boullacque in a boate : and as i went downe the riuer , i saw these townes , salomona , pharsone , foua , an abdan : in these parts there is a stone called aquiline , which hath the vertue to deliuer a woman from her paine in childe-birth . in all this way , the greatest pleasure i had , was to behold the ●●re beautie of certaine birds , called by the turkes , elloc●e ; whose feathers being beautified with the diuersitie of ●●rest colours , yéeld a farre off to the beholder , a delectable shew : hauing also this property , the néerer a man approcheth them , the more they loose the beautie of their feathers , by reason of the feare they conceiue when they sée any man. upon the fourth day i landed at rosetta , and came ouer land with a company of turkes to alexandria . alexandria is the second port in all turkie : it was of old a most renowned citie , and was built by alexander the great , but now is greatly decayed , as may appeare by the huge ruines therein : it hath two hauens , the one whereof is strongly fortified with two castles , which defend both it selfe , and also porto vechio : the fieldes about the towne are sandy , which ingender an infectious aire , especially in the moneth of august , and is the reason why strangers fall into bloudy fluxes , and other heauy sicknesses . in my staying here , i was aduised by a christian consull , to keepe my stomacke hot , to abstaine from eating of fruit , and to liue soberly with a temperate diet . the rule of which gouernement i stroue diligently to obserue : so did i also in all my trauels , prosecute the like course of a small dyet , and was often too small against my will ; by the meanes whereof ( praised be god ) i fell neuer sicke till my returne into france . twelue dayes abode i in alexandria , and on the thirtéenth i embarked in a ship belonging to ragusa , in which i was kindly vsed , and christian like entertained . the windes somewhat at the beginning fauouring vs , wee weighed anchors , and set forward to sea. in the time of our nauigation , there died seuentéene of our mariners and passengers , which bred no small griefe and feare to the rest ; being cast ouer-boord in a boundlesse graue to féede the fishes . fiue sundry times were we assailed by cursaires , of tunneis , argeire , and biserta ; yet neuer captiuated , or seazed vpon : such was the pleasure of god , and the resolute minds of the ragusans , which are a kinde of martiall people . fifty daies were we crossed with contrary winds , tackling and boording ; in all this time we saw no land . and as ouid said in the like case , nil nisi pontus , & aer . our fresh water being spent , we were constrained to beare into the i le of malta , where hauing giuen ground to the ankers ; i dis-barked and bade farewell to the captaine and shippes company . malta was called melita , mentioned acts 28.1.2 . where the uiper leaped on pauls hand ; i saw also the créeke wherein he was ship wracked . this iland may properly be tearmed the fort of christendome , yet a barren place , and of no great boundes , for their cornes and their wines come d●●ly ●● barkes from sycilia : but it yéeldeth good store of p●●●●granates , cittrons , cottons , orenges , lemmons , ●●●es , mellons , and other excellent fruits . the chiefe citie is called malta , from which the iland hath the name , hauing a goodly hauen , and fortified with an impregnable ca●●● . the maltazes had their beginning at acre in palest●● from thence to the rhodes , & now exposed to this rocky i le . they are pertinacious enemies to infidels , continually making warre and incursions against them , to their power : being strengthned also with many souldiers , and their captaines are surnamed knights of malta , and so through a great part of christendome , it is a most honourable order from thence i embarked in a frigato , and arriued at syracusa in sycilia . sycilia hath bene famous in all former ages , for by diodorus siculus it was cognominated , the paragon of iles : by titus liuius , the garden of italy . the greekes haue celebrated much commendation to this i le . it also was anciently called , the grange of the romanes , and is neuer a whit decayed to this day : it excelleth in all sorts of graine , as cornes , wheat , wine , sugar , rice , all kinds of fruit , wholesome hearbs , sweete hony , excellent good silke , and the best corrall in the world is found heere , growing vnder the water , greene , and tender , but when arising aboue , it becommeth red and hard : the like whereof is said to bee found in the red sea , and gulfe of persia. the chiefe cities contained therein are these , polermo , in which is the residence of the uizeroy , a spaniard : the second is messina , wherein standeth the statue of iohn duke of austria , for that notable victory god gaue him in the gulfe lepanto , against the turkes : the third is syracusa , lying in the south-east part toward malta : and the fourth is trapundy , which yeeldeth surpassing fine salt , that is transported to venice , italy , dalmatia , and greece , made onely by heating of the sunne , being drawne into certaine pooles . that sulphurean mount gebello , called of old aetna , burneth continually therein , yéelding a terrible smoake , and fire , which by the nature of the thundring noyse , and heate congealed in that vulcans furnace , it throweth from the horrible vents , huge stones of naturall brimstone , insomuch that no people may resort neere thereby . i saw also there a fountaine , that a dog being cast therein , will presently die , but being taken forth dead , and slung into an other poole , shall forth-with reuiue . the i le is of circuit six hundred , and large fifty miles : it was sometimes vnder the subiection of the gaules , but now vnder subiection to king phillip of spaine : it is the onely girnelle of malta , and a great help to the napolitan state : the length of the iland lyeth west and east , and is distant from napolis fifty leagues ; so much also from sardinia , and fortie leagues from malta : the sycilians are very industrious , much giuen to labour , and mechanicke arts. sycilia , candie , and cyprus , are almost all of one quantity , being the most commodious and noble iles , within the straights of the mediterranean sea. from polermo i embarked , and sailed close aboard the coast of calabria , and on the third day i arriued in italy at a towne neere vnto ostia , called ciuitta-vechio ; where hauing thanked god for my safe returne to christendome , i vndertooke a new land-voyage . the speciall cities i surueyed in italy after my backe-comming , are these , siena , florence , luka , pisa , genua , bullogna , parma , pauia , p●acen●a , mantua , milane , and torino : the commendation of which is inuolued in these verses : iullustrat saenas patriae facundiae linguae , splendida solertes nutrit florentia ciues , libera luca tremit , ducibus vicina duobus . flent pisae amissum dum contemplantur honorem , geuua habet portum , mercesque domosque superbas , excellit studijs foecunda bononia cunctis , commendant parmam , lac , cas●us , atque butirum , i●alicos versus prefert papia latinis , non caret hospitijs perpulchra placentia caris , mantua guadet aquis , ortu decorata maronis , est mediolanum iucundum nobile magnum , taurinum exornant virtus , pietasque fidesque hauing passed torine , i kept my way through piemont , or pede montano , and came ouer the stéepe and snowy mountaine of mount cola di tenda ; after that i had two daies iourney , amongst the rocky and intricating hils of liguria , in which hanibal had so much ado to conduct his army to italy . from thence i continued my voyage to barselona in spaine , where i gaue ouer my purpose in going to madrile , and returned through a part of the kingdome of nauarre : crossing the pirenei mountaines , i visited langadocke , and gascony ; and kéeping my way to burdeux , and the inuincible rochell , i arriued at paris , from whence i first began my voyage , and there also ended my painefull pilgrimage . six yeares was i forth of scotland , two yeares whereof i was cleere out of christendome : the computation of the miles i trauelled from paris till my returne thither againe , amounteth to thirteene thousand eight hundred fourscore and odde miles . semper sit deo laus . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a05594-e1620 monuments of antiquitie . famous authours . the brasen image of s. peter . superstition of papists . foure roman pilgrimes . damnable illusions of loretta . a false assertion . a simoniacall vision . a papisticall dream'd of oration . the shamefull opinions of the papists concerning loretta . foure times transported . a confirmation by the popes . borne at s. andrew in scotland . a battell . a true comparison of the iewes and the iesuites . pola . the kindnesse of a dalmatian . the iles tremiti . a monster borne in lesina . ragusa . corfu . two strong castles in the i le corfu . a preparation to fight . the assault of a turkish galley . zante . the battell betweene the christians and turkes at lepanto . although arcadia in former times was pleasant , yet it is now for the most part , wast and disinhabited . lacedemon in sparta . athens . kinde athenians . a priest killed in a brothell-house , lying with a whoore . a description of candie . the old and famous citie of lanerke . a happy deliuerance from theeues . foure strong citie . minos . saturne . candie . milo. parir . nicaria . greekes taken captiues . icarus . shipwracke . the toombe of homer . sio . the pride of greekish whores . the iles of orknay and zetland . the orkadians are kind to strangers , boūtifull in table-cheere , and carowsing of healthes , and their women are generally faire , kind , and well complexionate . salonica . pernassus . thebes . the toombes of troians . a description of troy. sestos and abydos . colchis . the first building of constantinople . bizantium ruined by seuerus the emperour . the death of constantine the emperour . presoun . lanthorne . superstition . the birth of mahomet . the dissimulation of the false prophet mahomet . mahomet , sergius , & a thalmudist a iew , the three treacherous companions , and maine pillars of a damnable alcoran . illusions of mahomet . cruelty of turkes toward their seruants . they also punish malefactors three manner of wayes , according to the hainousnesse of the offence most seuerely , which i haue heere omitted to relate . the marriage of turkes . seuen paradises . the opinion turkes haue of hell. the beginning of the turkes . his cōcubines conuene once a day , and are ranked in a hall , which he doth suruey after his owne pleasure , making a signe to her whom hee affecteth , who goeth presently with him to his adulterate cabine of lasciuious leachery . smyrna . ephesus . nixa . rhodes . the great colosse . tharsus , a decayed citty in cilicia , where saint paul was borne , in the chiefest seat of that countrey cyprus . an enterprise of the florentines . about 400 greekes were slughtered by the turkes in the yeare 1607 tripoly . cedars . coliers religious greekes . this tree hath seuerall vertues bearing but one apple at once . diuisions . aleppo . the abuses of infidels . a new intended voyage . niniuy . mesopotamia . the reposing of the turkes . damascus . fruites . the wickednesse of arabs . arabia petrea . deceitfull dealing . a description of the holy land. speeches of the patriarke . the villany of armenians . a strange conspiracy . the desolation of tyrus . caffar , tribute . the courtesie of turkes . the extortion of the arabian king. sychar , of old the chiefest citie in samaria , is now altogether ruinated . a massacre of armenian pilgrimes . monastery of friars . antiquity of ierusalem . the oft conquering of ierusalem . the ignorāce of pilgrimes , who can not speake italian . the abisines are borne naturally blacke , and these silly religious men of them that stay at ierusalem , weare on their heads flot round caps of a blackish colour , & on their bodies linnen clothes . inuasions of arabs . a true description of sodom and gomorha . iordans water is of a whitish colour . luke 3.22 . a comparison betwixt iordan and tybris , whose colour and growth are both alike , and their courses agreeable thereunto . the danger of the author being left alone vpon the bankes of iordan . a rate kind of apples . the mountain in the wildernesse , wherupon christ fasted 40 dayes . a plaine description of the holy graue . the life of religious christians . an order of knight-hood . emaus , or nicopoli . a turkish church . abraham , isaac , and iacob were interred at hebron . bethleem . acaldema . the idoll moloch . mount oliuet . the crownes of the two kingdomes , and the great armes of ierusalem , are to bee seene ingrauen on his right arme . the death of ten pilgrimes . arabs . the nature of nylus . alexandria . a new voyage to the east-indies in the years 1690 and 1691 being a full description of the isles of maldives, cicos, andamants, and the isle of ascention ... / by monsieur duquesne ; to which is added, a new description of the canary islands, cape verd, senegal, and gambia, &c. ; illustrated with sculptures, together with a new map of the indies, and another of the canaries ; done into english from the paris edition. journal du voyage de duquesne aux indes orientales. english du quesne, abraham, ca. 1653-1724. 1696 approx. 364 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 178 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a36936 wing d2669 estc r3453 12244956 ocm 12244956 56915 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a36936) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 56915) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 141:11) a new voyage to the east-indies in the years 1690 and 1691 being a full description of the isles of maldives, cicos, andamants, and the isle of ascention ... / by monsieur duquesne ; to which is added, a new description of the canary islands, cape verd, senegal, and gambia, &c. ; illustrated with sculptures, together with a new map of the indies, and another of the canaries ; done into english from the paris edition. journal du voyage de duquesne aux indes orientales. english du quesne, abraham, ca. 1653-1724. le maire, jacques-joseph. voyages du sieur le maire aux isles canaries. english. [2], 187 [i.e. 188], 128 p. : ill., folded maps printed for daniel dring ..., london : 1696. original french ed. published as: journal du voyage de duquesne aux indes orientales, par un garde-marine servant sur son escadre. brussels, 1692. the second part of the book consists of the voyages of the sieur lemaire to the canary islands, to which is added an anonymous work (p. 110-128) with title: relations of the islands and adjacent places of the rivers of bresalina, gambia, zamenee, st. domingo, geve, &c. reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels. east indies -description and travel. africa, west -description and travel. 2006-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-05 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-05 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a new voyage to the east-indies in the years 1690 and 1691. being a full description of the isles of maldives , cocos , andamants , and the isle of ascention ; and all the forts and garrisons now in possession of the french , with an account of the customs , manners , and habits of the indians . by monsieur duquesne . to which is added , a new description of the canary islands , cape verd , senegal and gambia , &c. illustrated with sculptures , together with a new map of the indies , and another of the canaries . done into english from the paris edition . london , printed for daniel dring at the harrow and crown near st. dunstan's church in fleetstreet , 1696. the author's preface . if i had taken the leasure to make a serious reflection on the boldness of my design , i had not publisht this account of my voyages ; the raw age in which i made them , had been a sufficient reason to discourage me from it , besides the consideration of the polite age we live in . for tho' i have followed truth with the greatest severity , yet these relations want perhaps those other advantages that are apt to recommend things of this nature to the reader , such as air and stile in the writing of them , so much valued at present . yet however devoid of these ornaments , i shall venture to present them to the publick , after so ingenious an acknowledgment , in hopes the young traveller will meet with a mild and easy censure of his first attempts , while he gives the publick a most exact account of the particulars of monsieur duquesne's voyage and undertakings in the indies , which has been so earnestly and impatiently expected ; of his engagements with the english and dutch ; with the advantages he has gain'd of them ; and his conduct in bringing back a squadron safe with which his majesty entrusted him , through a voyage of six thousand leagues , through storms and tempests , and all the rage and power of the enemy . perhaps the reader will be pleas'd with the variety of the subject with which i have furnisht this relation , which can't but render it the more agreable and entertaining ; as likewise with some remarks curious enough , concerning the various nations and countries thro' which we past , and the horrible tempest that surpriz'd us in our return in the latitude of mascarin . i have writ all in the natural order in which they fell out , with exactness and fidelity , obliging my self to omit nothing of moment , and to relate nothing of which i was not an eye-witness : so after acquainting the reader before hand with some repetitions , which by a frequent recurring of the same things were unavoidable , i have nothing more to desire for his satisfaction , or my own advantage , but that the stile had been more polite and correct , there being nothing else wanting to compleat his satisfaction . the sea coasts of africa and the east indies with the islands thereof from the canaries to sumatra a relation of a voyage and return from the east-indies . chap. i. an account of the squadron designed by france to the east-indies . the enemies of france having alarm'd all europe for her destruction , expected their projects would have equal success in these parts of the world ; that the commerce she had establish'd in the indies , would follow the revolution of siam , and be intirely ruin'd , as being too much employ'd at home , in her own immediate defence ; to be able to send any forces to those distant parts of the world : but the god of armies having defeated the designs of so numerous and confederated an enemy , has so visibly extended his holy protection to the sacred person of his majesty and his dominions ; that in spight of all their utmost efforts , he has been the agressor , and set on them first and their factories in those parts ; a sufficient demonstration of the glory and strength of france . to this enterprise the king appointed six ships ; which were the bird , the lyon , the dragon , the jolly , the prosperus , and the rock ; the three first of which were fitted at brest , the rest in the magazines of the east , at port lewis , where the squadron rendevouz'd ; which being join'd the beginning of february , ( 90 , ) the equipages were didributed in this manner . monsieur duquesne , whom the court had made commandant , pitch'd upon the jolly , mounted with forty four guns , two hundred and fifty men. he had messieurs the commander of portere for second captain , d' anberville for lieutenant , de voutron , fauche , and baron , for ensigns , with ten guard-marines . monsieur le chealier d' aire commanded the bird , of 42 guns and two hundred men ; messieurs de la neufville was his second captain , de la villauclers , and demons , his lieutenants . monsieur joyeuse went on board the prosperus of 44 guns , and two hundred and thirty men ; he had messieurs granche , for lieutenant , his son and de la perine for ensigns . monsieur hortin took the rock , of 38 guns , and 200 men ; messieurs le chevalier de de bouchetier , and le vasseur were his lieutenants . monsieur de chamoreau , commanded the lyon , which is a frigat of 24 guns , and a 180 men ; he had no other officers then monsieur de presac his lieutenant ; two capuchins went aboard him , who was bound for surate . and monsieur quistly boarded the dragon , which is another frigat of 28 guns , 280 men ; monsieur de chenelon was his lieutenant . two companies of foot with their offiers , were over and above distributed a board these six ships , and some religious , which the papist priest tachard carried to the indies ; they came aboard us with a secretary , and three mandarins of the late king of siam . chap. ii. the squadron sails . the squadron thus arm'd , had not been ten days before the isle of groge , when orders came from court to sail immediately . so friday the 24th of february ( 90 , ) monsieur duquesne coming aboard at five in the evening , weighed anchor , after giving the parting guns ; we presently were under sail , with the wind at north , and a delicate gale as could be wish'd , but it did not last long , coming about at ten next morning ; so that we were obliged to put back again ; but by the 27th we sailed again , the wind being more favourable than at first . we made such way , that we soon lost sight of land , which we were not like to see again in a good while : the wind contiued so favourable , that by the tenth of march we doubled cape fenester : the sea is commonly boysterous in this latitude , and the passage dangerous , and there 's no bearing much sail here . the sixth day became remarkable , by an accident that happen'd to us . the gabier , who is one appointed to look to the masts and tackling , hanging on the foremast sail-yard , unhapily fell into the sea , which was then very boisterous ; we did all we could to save him , threw out ropes , hoisted out the boat , but all in vain , for the storm was so violent , that he sunk presently . great are the terrors of this element , and there is nothing apter to make a man serious , when he considers there is but a plank between him and eternity . chap. iii. the first discovery of land , since we lost sight of it , remarks on the pike of teneriffe . we steer'd our course for the madera islands , where with pleasure , we waited to take in some refreshments , tho' 't was not above nine days that we had lost sight of land. but the currents which we met having carried us too far to the east , or rather to the great foggs at land , having hinder'd us from the sight of it ; we left it to the right , without perceiving it , till we had doubled it . the 9th we discovered the isle of savages , which was the first land we made since we parted from port-lewis ; 't is scituated in 30 degrees of the northern latitude , and twenty minutes longitude . this is an uninhabited island , very dangerous for the steep craggy rocks that inviron it for above a league ; that scarce a boat can go a shoar ; by this sight of land we judged we were not far from the canary islands , which doubtless we should have come to sight of , the next morning , if we had not been delay'd by a calm , which happily lasted but a little while ; for , in the evening it began to blow a brisk gale , so that by the eleventh , at 7 a clock in the morning , we were within thirteen lagues of the pike of teneriffe . by noon we were near it , being in twenty eight degrees , thirty six minutes , north latitude , and three hundred and fifty nine degrees of longitude . the pike of teneriffe is seen forty leagues off , and undoubtedly may pass for one of the highest mountains in the world. some make it seven leagues high , others twelve . this proud mountain wraps its head in the clouds , which appears white , by reason of the snow that covers it winter and summer , rising through the middle region of the air , which makes it so cold that none was ever able to mount it . behind this mountain stands the town of canary , of which the island bears the name ; which is very fruitful , and abounds in corn , and is famous for the rich wines it produces , which are carried to all parts of the world. three are besides three other islands ; the first , that of gomer , of the same side with the pike , and not above six or seven leagues distant . the second is palm island , memorable for the death of forty jesuits , who going to brazill , to preach the faith of jesus christ , were there martyr'd by the calvinists , about a hundred years ago . this latter is opposite to the pike of teneriffe , and is about twelve or thirteen leagues distant . we past between these two , having palme island on the right , and the pike of teneriffe on the left. and the last is the isle of fer , where geographers commonly place the first meridian . these four islands belong to spain , so that we could not take a view of them , but at a distance , by reason of the war between us and it . chap. iv. the different opinions concerning the trading winds . the wind which had hardly stir'd all day , began to blow fresh in the evening , so that we cou'd easily perceive the trading winds , which are so useful for sailing ; they are call'd so by reason of their continuing three or four months without changing . these sort of winds blow always from the north east in the southern parts , and from the south east in the northern parts , which very much perplexes curious people to find out the true reason of it . some maintain , that the trading winds are no other then those which blow from the west , and the north with great violence , which passing over europe to the east and south , rarify and grow weaker as they approach the warmer climates ; on the contrary , in the southern parts , the western and southern winds blowing with the same violence towards africa , are thence driven towards the east and north , and abate by degrees as they approach the warmths of the line , and quite cease when they reach it . others explain this matter after a different manner ; they will have it , that the excessive heats of the line draw these winds from the poles , where the exhalations and vapors , which are the matter of the winds , being stronger and in greater abundance cause more violent and lasting ones , and that afterwards these winds or exhalations are drawn towards the zone , and there abated by the excessive heat . behold the best account i could meet with , to satisfy those who are curious in this matter ; but whatever the natural cause of them may be , it may be truly said , they are the sweetest winds that blow . chap. v. the squadron anchors at the island of saintiague . hether we had reason to admire our happiness , and to hope we should soon arrive at saintiague , where we were to stay some days ; our only misery was a violent fever which feiz'd our men , and of which fifty lay dangerously ill , tho' we had been but three weeks at sea . 't was then the r. r. f. f. the jesuites , found an opportunity to exercise their zeal and charity ; they confest the sick , gave them instructions for dying well , and assisted them with their own provisions : it must be said , that from the first day they came aboard us , they had such care , by their holy example , to promote a good life amongst the officers and seamen , that far from following the loose way of others , they thought themselves obliegd to behave themselves according to the utmost severity of the christian religion ; they were willingly present at their catechisms and sermons on sundays , and at mass every morning , with prayers at the end for the king ; in the evening we said our beads , and the litany of the blessed virgin , making an examen of conscience on our knees with an act of contriction . great was the happiness and advantages we had from the company of these religious persons , but chiefly the sick ; one of the mandarins nam'd pipit dy'd the 7th . day of his distemper ; the r. p. fachard took particular care of him , never leaving him till he had administerd extream unction , and the holy eucharist to him . of these three envoys of the king of siam , he converted two to the catholick religion , baptizing them at brest , and 't is to be presum'd that the third would soon have yeilded too , to the authority of his holy life , as well as that of his arguments . all the funeral honours due to a person of quality , were paid to this deceas'd mandarin : four gard marines held the corners of the pall , and after the usual prayers on the occasion , threw him into the sea , with five guns , fir'd at a distance one from another , which made it more sad and sollemn ; 't was believ'd in the rest of the ships that 't was an ensign dy'd , so to honour him , and to testify to their admiral their concern for him , they struck their sails , and lay by , rolling in his way sadly , as if there were none to govern them ; as soon as the ship past by , they hoist their sails again . the next night , which was the 15th , we past the tropick of cancer , which our pilots perceiv'd next day by the computation they made , we had made vast way in a little time , being but sixteen days since we left france ; the winds and seas seem'd to conspire to prosper our voyage , every thing succeeding to our wishes . the 17th . in the evening monsieur duquesne made the cape , of which he gave notice to the rest by the signal of a gun , and two fires , one on the round-top of the main-mast , and the other on the round-top of the fore-mast , for fear we should run aground in the night , from which we could not be far , according to the elevation taken at noon : next morning by break of day we perceiv'd the isle of may to the left , which we no sooner doubel'd , but we saw that of saintiage , our commandant perceiving no ships at anchor there , hoisted a white flag and an admiral flame on the top of the main-mast , and coming near , he sent in the rock to sound ; there appear'd at a great distance a man on the top of a hill , who hoisted a flag six several times , in all probability to give the inhabitants notice of the number of our ships . saturday the 18th . of march , at two in the afternoon , we anchor'd half a league from the shoar . chap. vi. a description of the isle and town of saintiague , manners and religion of the inhabitants . the commandant monsieur de pouriere went a shoar by monsieur duquesnes orders , to complement the governor , and to desire leave to take in fresh water , and to settle the teremony of the salute ; who easily agreed to what was desir'd , and not only so , but promis'd we should be furnisht with beef and mutton , tho' very scarce among themselves ; but when it came to the ceremony of the salute , this raw young governor , who in all probality was ignorant of what was really our due , refused to answer gun for gun ; but the commandant provokt at it , told him ; that the french expected other returns , and that seeing he stood so stiff upon 't , they would not salute him at all : 't was then he perceiv'd he mistook his men , and so presently agreed to five guns each , he made a present of two dozen of sweet oranges and some chocolet to monsieur de pouriere , having neither wine nor sweet-meats tho' very common here ; who after he had receiv'd them , went to give our commandant an account of what past , and to acquaint him he had been inform'd by the governor , that two dutch and one english ship parted thence but three days before , bound for the east-indies , and that they expected two more suddainly : we lay at anchor till tuesday evening , without perceiving any , whence we pursu'd our voyage , not a little troubl'd to miss 'em , for they could hardly escape falling into our hands : being now late , we omitted the salute till next morning , which was palm-sunday ; when after our almoner had said mass , we saluted them with five guns , and they returned the same number . being curious to go a shoar , i got leave of the commandant , and so went in company with f. tachard , and an officer , who carri'd a small present from monsieur duquesne to the governour ; at our landing , we saw some negro's that were quite naked , excepting a ragg about their wasts to cover their nakedness . there 's a chapel on the shoar dedicated to the blessed virgin , and a little further a battery of four iron guns ; we were forced to climb , 'till we came to a certain bastion , on which were mounted six old iron guns , of which the biggest was a six pounder . this is the best fortify'd part of the island , where the portuguese keep a garrison , but the soldiers are fitter to be pitty'd than fear'd . f. tachard askt them news of the governour ; they shew'd him a church where he was , into which we enterd , when he presently rose from his seat , and gave us a graceful salute , the father after talking some time with him in portuguese , went out ; but i continu'd some time observing the ceremonies , and other things ; after blessing the palm branches , a negro priest said mass , assisted by a deacon . they are more devout and solemn than we , but we were a little scandaliz'd at the negress women half naked in the church , who as they star'd at us , so we could not but stare at them ; as likewise at the governour 's guard , which was a wretched one ; their arms were a pike and a sword of an extraordinary length , with a pair of beads about their necks . in the midst of them stood the little governor , of about twenty year old ; a native of lisbon , pretty tall , but meanly clad , and of a poor meen and air . this is a wretched country , and fitter to starve than live in ; they have their wine and bread from lisbon , or from the cunarys , the latter is 8 pence a pound , and the first half a crown a bottel , which holds no more than the chopin of france ; 't is true the negro's who are naturally fober , use little wine , or even so much as bread ; living for the most part of dry cake well prest , which is made of the root of a tree call'd macoc , the juice of which is a subtil poison . they are all soldiers or slaves , and so given to robbery , that its hard to escape them , if they meet one in a by place , they are very fond of knives , ribbon , needles , but chiefly of biscuit , for which they readily give oranges , goiaves , bannanes , and several other fruits , they have large proportion'd bodies , short friz'd hair , little beard , and whither hunting or walking , they still carry bows and arrows about ' em . no one will wonder at the sterillity of the country , when he is told it has not rain'd there in four years time ; which has made the ground so parcht and barren , that of 25000 inhabitants which it had , there dy'd 6000 in two years time of hunger , as one of their priests told me , with whom i discours'd some time in latin. the cloathing of the women is only a piece of white or blew cotton cloath , that covers them from the wast to the knee , the rest of their body is naked , going barefoot and bare-headed , only sometimes wearing an ordinary handkerchief round their heads , and for the most part gold rings , or three wooden pins in their ears . these women have their peculiar beauties , as tall , proper , comely , and well proportioned bodies , and a certain great air , especially when they walk ; they smoak much , and are scarce ever seen without a pipe . i was to see the town of saintiague , about three leagues from the place our ships lay at anchor ; where i was told that he whom i took for governour , was only the lieutenant ; the governor residing always at saintiague . this is a little town in a bottom , scituated by the sea side , thro' which a large river takes its course , descending from the neighbouring mountains which surround it ; it has a matter of three hundred houses ; the best part of the inhabitants are portuguese , the rest negro's , these last go naked , the former clad after their own fashion , having all beads about their necks . there 's a bishop in this twon , a native of lisbon , of the order of st. frances ; and two convents , one of men and the other of women . there 's a fort raised at the end of the town , mounted with two cast guns , and at the foot of it eight , and three iron guns , mouthing towards the sea ; hard by , is the isle of fougo , or the fiery island , where there 's a very high mountain , whose top casts , fourth flames continually , with a thick smoak . this is all i could remark in the short stay i made here . saintiague is an island of cape verde , belonging to the portuguese , which is scituated in fourteen degrees , thirty six minutes north lat. and three hundred and fifty three degrees thirty minutes longitude . i have already said , that provisions were so scarce here , that we could have but one bullock , which was divided amongst us all , and some sheep for the commodant , but plenty of excellent fish is caught here . we got some barrels of fresh water which was none of the best , and hard to come by , having it out of a dirty cistern , which was a great distance from the sea . after we had fill'd our empty casks with it , monsieur duquesne weigh'd anchor , and left saintiague , tuesday the 21st . at five a clock in the morning . chap. vii . the passing of the line in 358 deg. of long. and the burning heats that are felt there . we made great way the first three or four days , but the winds begining to slack as we approacht the heats of the line , we did not sail so fast as before ; being now passion , or the holy-week , father tachard would omit nothing of the holy exercises practis'd at this time , we sung the tenebra , we hear'd sermons , and tho' at sea perform'd all the duties of christians who have more conveniency . holy friday the 24th . of march this father , who often studdied the courses and position of the stars , foretold us an ecclipse of the moon , which should happen at seven a clock in the evening , five minutes past , and end exactly at ten , which accordingly did ; it could not be seen in france , ●…r according to the calculation , it was ●o be at paris at four a clock in the after●oon . in the mean time we insensibly ap●roacht the line , the passing of which 〈◊〉 don't admire people should dread so much , we had nothing now but faint winds , very inconstant , and almost continual calms , caus'd by the excessive heats which are felt here , which would be unsupportable , if it were not for those suddain gusts that abate them , and cool the air from time to time ; these suddain gusts , or rather rains , are commonly accompanied with cool winds that greatly comfort this scorching passage , they rise and cease of a suddain , and then a burning calm succeeds 't is then that troops of fish leaping above the water of all sides , invite the seamen to take them . i remember one day when the sea was a little rough , i , with no little pleasure , beheld shoals of fish leaping above the water , and continuing so as long as their fins were wet , to avoid the pursuit of the bonites , a large fish , who is a great devourer of the rest ; the others ; as i said , are forc'd to quit their natural element , and have much a do to save themselves by their often riseing above it , being often snapt by them in the air ; so that it s almost impossible for them to escape the enemy , who incessantly pursues them in vast numbers . we took a great many of these bonites , which resemble shads , but are more savory and firm . we were within five or six degrees of the line , and so had continual calms , which were almost unsupportable , and by which we suffer'd extreamly ; our wine and victuals were spoil'd , and our vigor consum'd , and our distemper encreast daily through the long and violent heats ; the very air that should keep us alive , almost suffocated us , night and day the heat was so excessive , that the very sealing-wax we had in our trunks melted . the rest of this month past without any thing remarkable , save that it thunderd , with violent winds and rain , which forwarded us very much in our voyage . 't was not a little gastly , in the horrors of dark and tempestious nights , to see the lightnings perform the office of the day ; which gave us no other prospect , but that of a rising and a yawning ocean , into which two of our men fell . the fifth of april our carpenter being at the ships head , fell into the sea ; but being a good swimmer , he kept himself above water till he got hold of a rope , and then cry'd out for help ; one of the seamen presently gave him his foot to take hold of , which breaking , he drew the other in with him , we gave 'em all the assist we could , and with much ado saved them both at last . the way we made this night , brought us considerably nearer the line ; which we long'd to pass , almost quite spent with the intollerable heats we had endur'd for fiefteen days time ; only those rains which fell helpt to abate the rageing heats , and were a great relief to us ; at length , after a great deal of them , accompanied with thunder and lightnings sunday the ninth of april at ten a clock in the morning we past the line , which we so impatiently long'd for . here the mariners use an execrable custom of a mock baptism , which is fitter to be condemned with the utmost severity than describ'd . chap. viii . how the sick recover'd after passing the line . monsieur hortin , captain of the rock , dies . to the southward of the line we met with as long and frequent calms as before ; which for some days made us as earnestly wish to get at a distance from it , as we did before to pass it . there is nothing distresses a voyage more than those calms , while unable to go backward or forward , you are forced to remain whole days in the same place , scorching and broiling in the sun , and tumbling on great rolling waves and surges which are met here , notwithstanding the calm , so that one can scarce stand on the deck ; but being past the line about a hunderd leagues , our miseries began to abate , as the south-east winds began to blow , when we found our selves as in another climate , and to breath a more temperate air : this change rejoyc'd us all , and was very happy for the sick , of whom two parts in three presently recover'd , besides our hopes of doubling the cape of good-hope encreast daily , by the vast way we made , which sometimes was no less than 55 leagues in 24 hours , and had been more , if all our ships had sail'd alike , and one had not been forc'd to stay for the other , that we might not lose company , so that we could not make the same use of the wind as a single ship would . about this time monsieur duquesne was inform'd of monsieur hortin's sickness , who was captain of the rock , as he was a person of great experience , and whom he had a great value for , he often visited him , and order'd the surgeons of the squadron to consult of his distemper , who seem'd to have good hopes of him , but his age made him yield to the violence of it , which took him off the 22d . of april ; all were very sensible of his death , which was presently known by the signal from the rock , which all day had her two flags half down , and her fane quite down , the common ceremonies with which the funeral of a captain is honor'd , with eleven guns when he is thrown into the sea. our commandant was not much put to it to chuse one in his place , who was fit to succeed him ; for he presently chose monsieur pouriere , who accepted the employment , to the great regret of his own crew , who were not a little troubled to part with him , who they lov'd so entirely for his many excellent accomplishments . chap. ix . passage of the tropick of capricorn , and the cape of good-hope happily doubled . we had calms for some days , and the winds were changeable , but this did not last long , for blowing fresher and fresher , we past the tropick of capricorn the 15th . at ten at night . in this traverse you 're expos'd to a great many different climates ; as we approach'd the cape , we had delicate cool winds , which were not a little pleasant to us , after coming out of the scortching heats of the line : these two contrary qualities acting on the same bodies , produced violent effects , and thence our sickness at land had its original . hitherto we sail'd as happily as we could wish , nothing was more beautiful than the sea , which seem'd to join with the winds to expedite our voyage ; the very water in the hold was not corrupted , and being as happy as could be expected in a voyage of this kind ; in a little time we met with the western winds , which were necessary to gain the cape of good-hope . the third of may we had them , but they lasted but a little while , coming about to the north , which serving our purpose as well , we sailed sixty leagues in 24 hours with them , which made us hope we should soon be at the place where we were to anchor , which every one earnestly desir'd , so that our joy was excessive when we reach'd the heighth of the cape . the judgment of our pilots was confirm'd by the sight of the velvet channels , call'd so from a large bird which is only seen there , because half their plumage resembles velvet spotted with pearl . we saw two whales , with a great number of birds of different kinds , and all sorts of colours ; the calms delaid us there very much , and hindered our passing it , as did likewise the contrary winds . but with the blessing of god overcoming these difficulties , sunday the 28th . of may we doubled the cape of good-hope , with a northerly wind as good as we could wish . it 's here our ships refit going to the indies , and meet with plenty of provisions ; but being in war with the dutch , who are masters of the cape , we were depriv'd of this happiness ; and so without so much as passing within sight of it , we continued our voyage , resolving not to stop till we reacht amiouam , vvhich is 800 leagues farther . chap. x. the bank of needles , a most dangerous passage : and sight of the isle of madugascar : which made us rejoice . it still blew so fair , that next day by seven a clock in the morning we arriv'd at the bank of needles , tho' it be fourty leagues from the cape ; the rock sounding , found ground at the first , of which she gave us notice by a gun , and hanging out a flag ; our commandant order'd te deum to be sung at the end of mass , to thank god for it , after which we made it our business to get over it as soon as possible , the winds rising making that place more dangerous , which at last grew to a storm . we could scarce bear as much sail as was sufficient to keep the ships head to the waves , which while they roll'd , often enter'd into them ; the dragon lost the round top of her main-mast , which monsieur duquesne observing , he furl'd a sail , that she might not be left too far behind , which delay'd us a little , for else we had been clear of the bank that very day . at four in the evening we saw the needles cape on our left , at about five or six leagues distance , two sea wolfs , and a power of strange birds . after having happily past this bank , and the cape of good hope , we were past the worst , and had little more to fear ; we had no more to wish but to discover the isle of madagascar , which was absolutely necessary in our passage to amiouam ; fifteen days we impatiently waited for it , at which time thursday the 15th . of jure we made it , which greatly rejoic'd us all , and for which we sung te deum ; for had we mist it , we should scarce have been able to have found a place to refit , or so much as know where we were . we were not long before we saw the lyon , who was sent upon the discovery ; monsieur duquesne finding he was just on the island , struck sail , and with the signal of a gun gave notice to the other ships to follow him ; so steering north , north east , the wind in our stern , we left madagascar on the right to the east of us . this is perhaps the greatest island in the world ; it s scituated betwixt 12 and 22 degrees of south lat. it s allow'd to be about 800 leagues in compass , and 300 over ; it has several kings , each having a good part of it ; they often make war on one another , and command a great many men , of whom some are so savage , that they care not for having any commerce with strangers , and often eat one another , and their neighbours when they can light on them . chap. xi . the squadron anchors at the isle of moelly . we had all along resolv'd to anchor at amiouam , but the report of some , who assur'd us that 't was easier to be supply'd with water and wood at moelly , which is but eight leagues distant from it , made monsieur duquesne go thither first ; that after having well refresht his company and supply'd his wants , he might be in a condition when he came to amiovam , to fight and chase the ships he hop'd to meet there , being the place where the english use to take in supplies . this conduct proceeded from his great prudence and experience , and knowledgein those parts ; for you must know , that if you misse anchoring at amiouam , 't is impossible almost to regain it ; and if we had gone thither at first , what a mortification it would have been to us , meeting shiping there , to see 'em weigh anchor immediately and begone , without our being able to follow them . so that we could not take our measures better , and earnestly desiring to arrive there , and the wind serving , the pilots every day encourag'd us to hope for 't . on the 20th . of june we had the happiness to descry it ; and the sentinel whom we had plac'd on the top-gallant no sooner cry'd land , but we hoist our flag to give the welcom news to the other ships who were behind , which caus'd a vast and universal joy , especially amongst the sick , who would needs come above-board to behold the land where they hop't for recovery . being now late we durst not come too nigh , so having lain by half the night , wednesday the 21st . of june we came to an anchor before the isle of moelly , between nine and ten in the morning . chap. xii . monsieur duquesne treats with the king of the isle of moelly for refreshments , who furnishes him in abundance : its situation , fertility religion , and manners of its inhabitants . the commandant gave the gun of assurance , the common practice amongst strange nations when war is not intended , and sent in a sloop with monsieur voutron and the scrivain , to know if upon presenting the king , we might be furnish'd with refreshments and other necessaries , they were receiv'd as well as could be immagin'd by these savages , who seem'd very well pleas'd to exchange their fruits and cattel with us . this great present consisted of two pieces of indian cloath , and an old musket , which the latter carried , who had been in the country before , and spoke some portuguese ; he presented them to the king , who was then in a sweet and pleasant valley , call'd the queen's creek , lying by the sea side , about 7 leagues from where we anchord . if one may judge of his condition , by his brother and sons , whom i have seen selling hens for paper , it can be none of the greatest ; this little prince was charm'd with our present , and signify'd to the scrivain by an indian portuguese , who had liv'd some time in the country , and was his interpreter , and intendant of his affairs , that he thanked the commandant , and that he would give orders to his subjects to furnish us with whatever we had occasion , for our money . upon which monsieur duquesne went a shoar that very day , to regulate every thing , that there might be no disorder or difference on the landing ; and orderd the captains of the several ships , to command the seamen on pain of death to offer no violence to the negro's . next morning we debarkt our sick to the number of about fifty , most ill of the scurvy , for whom we made tents by the sea side ; the negro's came from all parts , with provisions , vix . oxen , cows , kids , and almost all other kinds of provisions , which we had plenty every day , and at very easy rates . our commandant finding he could at an easy rate refresh his men here after their vast fatiegues , allow'd them while they stai'd every day , as much fresh provisions morning and evening as they could eat , which were so plentiful and cheap , that a fat ox cost but four livers and a half , a cow but a crown , and pullets , kids , eggs , milk , and fruits we had in exchange for knives , paper , and bits of linen . of all other , they were fondest of knives and linen : being generally magicians , they made use of the first to make characters , and with the last they cover'd their nakedness ; and some of our men have bought an ox for an old tatter'd shirt . they were no less careful to supply us aboard than a shoar , coming every day in their pirogues , which are little banows made of the hollow'd trunk of a tree ; bringing us ananas , bananes , cocos , lemons , oranges , and divers other excellent sorts of fruits , which we had in plenty , as well as of the other provisions while we lay at anchor . every meal seem'd a feast , and indeed we had no less than four or five several sorts of meat at each , as much water as we would drink , besides our ration of wine at dinner and supper , instead of aqua-vita , which we were forc'd to drink for two months ; we had great plenty of oranges , and scarce eat or drank any thing without them , so that our present happiness mads us forget all our past miseries , which lasted three whole months , without so much as sight of land , and having no more than was just necessary to keep us alive . moelly is an island of arabia , which may be about 30 leagues in compass , scituated in 12 degrees of south lat. and 63 degrees 40 minutes of long. it s very fertil through the frequent rains that fall , and hedg'd in with steep rocks ; both its vallies and high mountains are cover'd with woods , in which fat oxen are found , differing from those of france , by a bunch of fat on their backs like a wenn ; as likewise kidds , poule , pindades , ring-doves , and a great deal of other game , and there would be excellent fowling if it were not for the inaccssible mountains . the orange and lemon trees are not its least glory , they stand so thick in some places , that one may smell them at a great distance , and distinguish them amongst crowds of other odorifirocous trees , not inferiour even to them ; there 's scarce a sweet orange to be found , but all of a delicat tartness , except some of a smaller growth , that have neither the form nor size of a true natural orange . the island produces besides , excellent rice and mill , thrice as large as that of france , and were it more even and compact , would be very fit to live in . it seems to be but thinly peopl'd , for i saw but one village , of about threescore or fourscore cottages , made and cover'd with branches of palm , under which the negro's lie ; the entrance into them is so low , that one must creep to get into them ; they sleep on mats of rice straw , which they lay on the ground ; one sees nothing here which does not argue the miserable life these savages lead . taking a view of this village , i had the curiosity to enter into a wretched hutt , built of stone and sand ; which they told me was a pagod , or temple , in which these wretches worship an oxe's head , the forehead being inscrib'd with arabick characters ; they made him a grot in the wall , adorn'd with shell work , where they plac'd this reverend divinity , and which they remov'd a little after we went in , whither 't was they believ'd us unworthy to look on 't , or that they observ'd we slighted it as much as it deserv'd : the middle of the pagod was matted , and on the right side as you enter , there was a pole stuck in the ground forkt at one end , supporting some mother of pearl burnt ; on the inside , which i suppose serv'd for a lamp ; and a little lower of the same side , was a stair-case of 5 steps , leading to the place where the king sits . to so many superstitions they joyn a great many of the mahometan , so true it is that the author of that infamous religion , has sprea'd his follies at so great a distance . when we arriv'd , it was the time of their ramadam , or lent , during which they mayn't eat , drink , or smoak 'till the sun's set , and they are so exact in 't , that no perswasions or threats can make 'em do otherwise . these negro's appear'd more savage than they of saintiague , ruder in their manner of living , but more plain in their dealing ; they are large , and strong bodied , but very fearful ; a pistol shot will scare them so , that they 'll run into the woods to hide , so much they fear fire arms. they were long beards , and their hair covering their shoulders ; for 't is to be observ'd , that to the south of the line , they all have them thus , and to the north , have short friz'd hair ; they all go naked , having only a rag of linen to cover their nakedness , and some wear beads about their necks without crosses , and holes in their ears that your finger will go through . i could never imagine that these savages could be so jealous of their wives , for they hid them in their cottages as we past by , that we might not see them , judging our inclinations i suppose by their own ; we saw , some of their women who are not easily to be distinguished from their men , but by their habit ; which consists of a piece of linen that crosses their stomacks , and so falls down their breasts , with another which binds their thghes behind and before like drawers : they are very wild , for when i but touch'd one of their ears , to observe three little pieces of wood she had in them , she skriekt out , and ran as if i intended to eat her . tho' idolaters , yet they are very temperate and sober ; and for the most part feed only on fish , fruits and rice , and rarely eat any flesh , tho' they have plenty . their best drink is tarry , which is very refreshing , and much resembles the cider made of pears in britany , it costs them no more pains than the rest of their provisions , which the unmanur'd soil freely furnishes 'em with of its own accord . it is no more than cutting the bottom of the palm trees , and placing vessels beneath to receive it . chap. xiii . the squadron parts from the road of moelly , on the news we receiv'd that there were some ships of the enemy at amiouam . we had lain at anchor about seven or eight days , when we understood by a negro , who spoke portuguese , that there lay some ships at amiouam . tho' the information was uncertain , yet it gave us a great deal of joy , and the commandant gave notice that we should make ready to sail in two days , so we made hast to take in all necessaries , and to supply our selves with water , wood , and fresh provisions , to take down our tents , and embark the sick , of whom we lost one at land , and three the day we landed , whom we cast into the sea , which with eleven we lost in crossing the line , made in all fifteen since we left france . this evening monsieur duquesne gave orders for sailing , and accordingly next day being saturday the first of july , we left the road of moelly at 5 in the morning , but were becalm'd almost all that day , except a faint wind that blew sometimes , which serv'd us a little till six in the evening , when we came to an anchor again , for that night ; next day we sail'd , and it blowing a fresh gale , about ten we doubled the isle of moelly , and by reason of the tides we were fore'd to coast it near the shoar . we presently made all the sail we could that we might reach amiouam as soon as possible , which was now in sight , the rock still kept close to us , and in a little time the rest came up within 3 or 4 leagues of us : and now we took down our hamocks , and made every thing ready for a fight , tho' we had no plain sight of any shiping , till we came near the road , when we perceived one lying at anchor near to land , and the smoak of two guns which were fir'd to warn the men aboard . 't was now sun-set , and we had yet two leagues before we could come up with her ; all had orders to prepare , and we as usual , were posted on the quarter deck , we had already hung out dutch colours , and put a square flag on the top of the main-mast , making in with full sails to set upon her by day light . chap. xiv . an engagement at amiouam with an english ship richly laden , which was burnt with above three hunderd persons in her . this ship took a pleasure to see us coming in , believing us to be dutch , and the rather , because seven ships were to be sent this year from holland to the east-indies , but to rid them of their mistake , the rock who had gain'd the wind of us , approacht according to orders , with a design to anchor on her buoy ; we then took in our flag , which very much surpriz'd them , who presently hall'd the rock , and askt him whence he was bound , and the captain answering in dutch from amsterdam , they seem'd mightily pleas'd ; then he asking them again whence their ship was , answer'd , from london . the captain was just ready to go aboard him , when the sloop which he had sent to get intelligence of us , and which he had order'd to go aboard the admiral if they were dutch , keeping close to the land side , for fear of being taken , came to give him notice that we were french ; this unexpected news surpriz'd him very much , and immediately gave orders to charge the guns ; which the rock observing , presently came and anchord on his buoy , and straight powerd in his small shot , with a broad side into her , crying , vive le roy● vive france . the english much surpriz'd , return'd us five guns , and going to tack about , the rock at the second discharge splitting the capstain , and wounded two and twenty of his men , upon which she cut away , and hoist sail with all the speed she could , which monsieur pouriere who was resolv'd to follow her close , no sooner observ'd but he cut his cables too , and call'd to us to board her for that she was just sailing away . our commandant knowing what he had to do , presently tackt , and got under the wind with her , who fir'd on us with both her broad sides , seeing herself oblig'd to pass between us and the rock , who still kept the wind of her , and power'd his musket shot into her , but we had no sooner suffer'd her to go a little a head of us , but we ply'd her with our great and small shot from both our ships , the english ship scarce firing at all , and thinking of nothing but of making her escape by the favour of the night . but his endeavours were to no purpose , for we were resolv'd to ply him close all night ; after the third discharge , the commandant order'd us to cease firing , while a message was sent to him , that if he would not surrender , he should be hang'd up , on the main-yard ; this threatening message , which might have frightend another , gave him so little concern , that he answer'd it with as many great guns as he could , at which we admir'd at the undaunted courage and resolution of the man , to stand it out at such a desperate rate , when there was no hopes of escapeng . so we renew'd the fight , and were board and board with him , our mainyards almost touching for a good while , 't was now we gall'd him terribly with our great and small shot , and scarce one miss'd , when if we might judge according to appearance , he must needs have last half his company . yet for all this he shew'd no sign of fear , or any thing like it ; for we could not hear 'em so much as once cry for quarter : but on the contrary , receiving our shot without firing , he lengthen'd out his sprit-sail that he might come close to us , believing we had a design to board him , at which time he long'd for nothing more , for if we had , he was resolv'd to blow us up , tho' at the expence of setting himself a fire , but happily the night coming on , was the cause the commandant gave orders not to attempt it , so being contented for the present with what we had done , we stood aloof , and lay at some distance one from another , only the rock would not quit her a moment , but continued still firing incessantly at her . by this time the rest of the squadron came up , who presently began to fire on the unhappy englishman , and surrounded him of all sides , that the ship scarce knew which way to turn her head ; the bullets fell like hail into her , and the night was now so dark that one could scarce discern any thing , which was the cause that our ships incommoded one another , notwithstanding our lanthors were all fill'd with lights . the enemy having for some time receiv'd a great many shot from us , without making any return , and thought of nothing but meeting with a convenient opportunity to make their escape . when monsieur duquesne observing 't was in vain to wast povvder and shot , and that 't was to no purpose to think of reducing him before day , sent an arm'd sloup with an officer , commanding all the ships not to fire any more , but only keep a strict watch on her all night . it might be now about eleven a clock , the action having lasted without intermission since eight , when the commandant order'd us to repose our selves for a while ; and the sloop going to the rock with these orders ; monsieut de pouriere , the captain of it , sent us a young malouin seaman , who made his escape from aboard the enemy by swiming , and had come aboard him , after his second discharge . this man inform'd us , that the english captain , after giving all his men a large bowl of canary , exhorted them to fight it out to the last ; telling them at the same time too , that he was resolv'd to set fire to the ship before ever it should fall into our hands , if we prov'd to be french ; which he but too well perform'd , as you 'l see by what follows . the ships name was the herbert ▪ built for eighty guns ; carrying but 54 ; and two hunderd and fifty men , with about fourscore passengers , amongst whom was a rich english bankrupt , who had fourscore thousand crowns in silver , having with him his wife and a daughter , a great beauty about twenty years old , with two young sons , one of which was born under the line . he told us the cargo of the ship consisted of laces , and brocard of gold , scarlet cloaths , bevers , iron , tobacco , canary wines , and a great deal of money ; ordered for commerce , and paying off the english soldiers in the service of the company , who had receiv'd no pay in four years time , and that if taken would prove a vast rich prize , which very much rejoyc'd us . but the desperate captain took care that none should be the richer for 't , or gain by what he lost . so we gave over firing in good time , for besides that it signify'd nothing ; we should a done our selves as much damage as the enemy ; at length he made four or five shot at us , to waken our squadron out of that profound steep it seem'd to have been in , and then lay still ; and continuing so for some time , about two in the morning the wind blowing fresh , she made all the sail she could to escape the approaching danger . he thought the same happiness would have attended him now ; which he had had at the canary islands , where it s said he clear'd himself of three stout algerines that surrounded him ; but he soon found to the contrary , for he was no sooner under sail , but we began to follow him , when seeing there was no possibillity of escaping , and that as soon as 't was day , we should bear down upon him in a line , and sink him ; fir'd with rage and despair , he took the most cruel resolution in the world ; and without any more delay set fire to his ship , placing two chests of powder under the highest part of the stern , near the mizzen mast ; making his escape himself thro' the gunners room in his boat , in which they perceiv'd a light , but he endeavour'd to hide it that they might not follow him . this dreadful spectacle amaz'd us exceedingly , and as eargerly as we endeavour'd to attack her before , as hastily we attempted to avoid her now ; our men lookt on 't as belonging to themselves ; and could not but censure the captain , for acting so cruel and inhumane a part , as not to save his cargo , or perish with them himself . but this horrible proceeding quite ruin'd the opinion , we had before conceiv'd of his bravery . some of our men heard these miserable people crying out like the damn'd , and runing up the bolt sprit in crowds , endeavouring to avoid the flames , which rag'd so violenty , but 't was in vain . the ship continually burning for three hours , when at length the flames catching in the powder room , it blew up all at once ; so that in less than half a quarter of an hour there was nothing to be seen of that rich ship , but dreadful conflagration . our single ship fir'd for her share no less than 200 and 80 guns , and we had five men kill'd and six wounded ; i could not receive an exact account of what the rest suffer'd , but i am certain we suffer'd most ; after having repair'd ▪ what damage we sustain'd , we steer'd our course north north east , and left amiouam behind us , monsieur de pourier being unable to regain the point was constrain'd to cut his cables . chap. xv. we past the line a second time in the 7th . degree of long ▪ without feeling any extraordinary heat , one of our seamen unhappily drown'd . we were to pass the line again before we could arrive at pontichery , tho' in doing of it , we felt no extraordinary heat , nor the other usual inconveniences , nor were so much as becalm'd ; of the contrary , the wind encreasing still more and more since our departure , on monday the tenth of july we repast it at eleven in the morning , in the 70th . deg. of longit. without so much as perceiving when we were under it , by reason of the southern winds which blew so fresh , that the heat was less then that we often feel at paris in summer : never was voyage happier ; sailing no less than three or four leagues an hour , and the winds as good and constant as we could desire . sailing so succesfully , we could not miss arriving quickly in the heigth of the maldives , which we left of the right , without so much as seeing them ; tho' we had sent the lyon on the 20th . to discover them they are seldon past unseen , but our pilots according to their card , and their calculation , told us they must be there , so we reckon'd we should soon be at the isle of ceylon , whither we were order'd to go , to see if there were any of the enemy's ships there , for besides that the dutch , had several collonies there , the english came thither every year for nutmegs , cinnamon , and cloves , with which this island greatly abounds . the same day one of our seamen was drown'd about six at night , when the rest of our men were at supper ; all things seem'd to conspire to his loss , a slack wind in our stern , made the ship rowl very much , and instead of eating with his comarades according to custom , he went on the deck to kill a kidd , were treading on the blood of the kidd , he slipt , and fell into the sea , to which the rowling of the ship very much contributed ; he was a pretty vvay off us before vve perceiv'd it , and so could give him no help by casting out ropes , the marriners did all that they could , and monsieur duquesne order'd them to take dovvn the sails , and hoise the boat out , but ' t vvas too late ; and we saw him perish , without our being able to give him the least assistance . next day , being the 22d . there happen'd a pleasant , but an unlucky , mistake , presently after noon , the seamen cry'd land before us ; and we immediately believ'd that 't was the coast of coromandal , or the isle of ceylon , we made the ordinary signal , and presently after discover'd eight islands , near one another , which joyn'd to the view we had of land to the south , made monsieur duquesne say , that 't was certainly the maldives ; the pilots could not be of his opinion , and the reputation of their skill and judgment was concern'd , to differ from him : in the mean time after perusing the cards and their journals , they own'd their mistake , and agreed that the biggest sight of land , was the point of the maldives , which is the most northerly island of all the rest which we found too true ; and we attributed the cause of this mistake , to the strong currents which they found had thrown us too much to the west , we presently tack't about , and lay by all night , for fear of being run aground by the tides . chap. xvi . vicu of the isle of ceylon , famous for its beauty , riches , and the mountain of the peke of adam ; a dutch pink with eight chests of silver made prize . from break of day 'till friday the 28th . we made all the sail we could , when loyseau ▪ who kept the head of the squadron , made a signal of his discovering land , and after we had descry'd it our selves too on the edge of the horrison , we hoisted our flag to give notice to the rest : 't was not long before we plainly perceiv'd the isle of ceylon , at which we very much rejoyc'd , having all along expected to meet some of the enemys ships there . i think i never saw a more pleasant country , being very even and of a vast extent , and one of the most rich and fertill in the world ; you see here a great number of tall trees ever green ; some forming lovely arbours , others beautiful alleys , in the vast plaines which stretcht themselves towards the sea side , besides a rich smell of nutmegs and cinnamon , charming and delicious beyond expression . of the three mountains in this island , there is one remarkable for its heigth and name , being the peke of adam , and by some believ'd that adam and eve were bury'd here , which is as great a certainty as that other opinion , they have here ; that god in this island establisht the terrestrical paradice , which i leave to the more knowing to judge of . this isle is plac'd between 6 and 10 deg. of north lat. and 103 deg. of long. its form is round , and may be about 250 leagues in compass , or better . the dutch who are masters of it , draw an immence revennue thence , for the nutmegs , and cinnamon , as well as the pearl , which is fisht up here . coasting the island we discoverd two sail a head of us , who seem'd to keep at a distance from the island , but presently made to land when they saw us . our commandant impatient to know whence they were , thought to snap them by hoisting up english colours , and making all the sail he could ; the dragon as the swiftest sailer went to cut off their way , and when we were vvithin shot of them , vve fir'd a gun , as did the dragon too , and the ball so scar'd em that instead of coming aboard as vve hop'd ; they presently fled for refuge to a house by the sea side ; a fevv hours after , the sentinel vvho vvas on the top , cry'd a sail ; i can't easily describe the different motions of joy it caus'd amongst us ; some vvent up to the round-top , others to the fane , others vvho could not so easily do it , stood in the shrouds , and the rest made use of their perspectives to discover a vessel , which could not yet be seen but by her top , yet after an hours sailing , she was plainly disern'd , to be three leagues off . the sun was already set , and we fear'd but one thing ; which was , that she would sail off in the night and so escape us , by taking a contrary course , so that we scarce knew what to do , tho' we were sure she lay at anchor , our commandant considerd of it , being loath to do , as he had done before at amiouam , where he shot a matter of eight hunderd shot at random in the night , when fifty would serve by day light , so he resolv'd to ly by her all night , without attempting any thing ; by which means we shou'd confirm her the more in her mistake of us . so we anchord in 25 fathom water at seven a-clock , and next morning being the 25th . weighed anchor again at 5 in the morning the wind blowing fresh quickly brought us to the sight of her , for which we were so much concern'd all night , least she should make her escape . we first heard mass , after that we breakfasted , and then monsieur duqusne orderd to hoise up english colours ; the enemy mistaking their friends , answer'd us by hanging out dutch colours , whithour stiring from where they lay , giving us all the time and opportunity we could wish for , to attack them , and now indeed it was in vain to attempt an escape , if they had known we were french. this vessel lay at anchor in the road of mevelle , under the shelter of a high ground , which hinder'd her having a sight of us the night before . the rock whom we follow'd enter'd into the same road , and anchor'd by her side , which she had scarce done , but the dutch underdanding what we were , endeavour'd to get ashoar in their sloop with their richest things ; at the same time monsieur de pouriere man'd out his sloop ▪ after our commandant had return'd back again , unwilling that any should share the first advantage with him , which was very considerable , else the enemy had not had time to go ashoar , and save what they did , and we had certainly taken 2 women who cary'd off eight hundred caupants of gold , to the vallue of above 10000 crowns in pearls and jevvels . while these fled ashoar , we made a detatchment of six gard marins and several musketeers to arm the sloop , and the boat , in which monsieur dauberville , our lieutenant , was commanded to board the dutch man ; i was chosen with one of my commarades to accompany him , and the other four going in the boat , we went directly to the pink while the men aboard her smoaking their pipes veiw'd us with little or no concern , but seven or eight , more affirighted than the rest , cry'd out to the negros , who were not far off ; to fetch them a shoar in their perogues , vvhich they did ; notwithstanding all our threats ; the dutch lept into it confusedly , but our men in the boat coming up with them at the first fire so scar'd them , that they chose to row back again to their ship , and there abide the utmost . we were within pistol shot of the ship , when we saw one of the seamen busy at one of the guns , upon which we in a manner gave our selves for lost , and monsieur duquesne had the same opinion of us ; and had they been men of any resolution , nothing had been easier than to have destroy'd us , by levelling one gun at the boat , and another at the sloop . 't was now some time since our squadron had hung out french colours , and the enemy-thinking all resistance vain ; took down theirs , when we presently boarded them , without the least resistance , crying , vive le roy. one would scarce believe with what earnestness and violence the seamen pillage , when they enter a ship , breaking open trunks and boxes , and rifling every thing , nay , they were so violent in plundring these dutchmen , that some of them fell on the captain , who was smoaking quietly with his lieutenant , tearing the gold buttons out of the neck and sleeves of his shirt , and taking six caupants of gold from him , which is a sort of long money of japan , of the value of ten crowns a piece . monsieur d' auberville having embarqued all the spoil he received from the seamen that boarded her , sent back the boat to our commandant ; who landed some men in it , soon enough to recover eight of those eleven chests of silver , which the enemy had carried off in their sloop . our men soon discover'd them , by a track of rix dollars that were scatter'd on the sand , which lead them directly to the place where the dutchmen had hid them ; but our persuit being vigorous , they they had not time enongh to convey them to a counter about 2 leagues distant . some of the seamen got no less than 3 or 400 crowns in the plunder , for their share , and afterwards their thoughts run on nothing else but more prize and pillage . this was a new pink , of about 70 tun , and came from batavia ballasted with rice , to load nutmegs and cinnamon at ceylon . we fetcht her out of the road of mevelle , and brought her to an anchor hard by our squadron ; the prisoners we desperst amongst us , monsieur duquesne took six of the chief of them , with the captain and lieutenant , whom he treated at his own table , and omitted no part of civillity , that might lessen the sense of their present loss and imprisonment . chap. xvii . another small dutch vessel taken . having chosen a pilot , and some seamen to conduct the prize , we sail'd the last of july in the evening , and came to an anchor nearer land , but sail'd again early next morning , still on the watch for more prize . we were very much delay'd here by a calm that lasted four days , and the slow sailing of the prize , which could not keep us company ; we took in some of our sails to stay for her , this made the commandant resolve to send the lyon with her to pontecherry , where the squadron was to call , while we cruis'd about the island . being thus separated on the 6th . of august , we perceiv'd a ship a head of us , when we presently made all the sail we could to come up with her before she could gain the land , which she endeavour'd with all the speed she could ; at a distance we believ'd her as big as the rock , but after giving he chase for 2 hours , we found she was a small vessel of thirty five tuns ; carrying dutch colours , we fir'd one gun at her without ball , to make her strike , which she presently did , and lay by till we came up , seeing us hang out english colours , but the captain of this little vessel was not a little surpriz'd , when he saw us take in the english colours and hang out french , and took down his own , when we presently commanded him aboard ; who answering he had neer a boat , we sent our sloop , who brought him , and 20 more dutch prisoners aboard , whom we distributed amongst the several ships . this poor man lookt upon himself as lost ▪ with his whole family , and the first favour he desired of the commandant was , to take pitty on his wife and six children which he had , which was promiss'd him ; when monsieur duquesne gave orders to bring his chest aboard , which when 't was searcht , there was found neither money nor merchandize of value in it , any more than in the vessel , so he had leave given him to return with his wife , who was a negress ; but the command of his ship was given to another , and a pilot and other seamen put aboard . chap. xviii . six dutch ships under the fort of negapatam , avoid being attackt by the advantage of a sand bank . after we had cruis'd for some time upon the isle of ceylon , we left it , and made towards the main land ; the 9th . of august we anchor'd within five leagues of the negapatan , which is a town on the coast of coramandel , where the dutch have a fort , and a considerable factory . next day , having weigh'd anchor early in the morning , we arriv'd there betimes , and every one being greedy of action , we were overjoy'd to see six ships there , that seem'd to us of a considerable burthen . the fort discovering us , set up dutch colours , and three of these ships , of which the greatest , as admiral , hung them out on the main mast top ; we answer'd them presently with english colours , which did not puzzle them a little to discover what we were ; in the mean time we made in with full sail , ready and forward to engage . but just as we thought to seize our prey two accidents happen'd that baukt us extreamly ; the wind blowing from the land , and a sand bank which vve discover'd , hinderd us from coming within shot of them ; we past on still sounding , and were once in four fathom and an half , the ships mudding the water as they past . these delays and these turnings , gave them time to discover what we were ; so that the admiral who anchor'd at large , suspecting our tacking about so long , made close into the land , intending to run herself aground , if pursued , others follow'd her example , and two rang'd themselves under the cannon of the fort. monsieur duquesne meeting with such difficulties , would undertake nothing of his own head ; but call'd a a councel of war , in which it was resolv'd to run no riske , for besides that there was nothing to be done , we were in great danger of running a ground on the bank , so we tackt , and stood to fea . an hour after we discover'd three more , which we reckon'd would make us amends for our former loss , but as soon as we came nigher , we discover'd them to be danes by their colours , and so had nothing to say to them ; they lay at anchor before trinqubart , five leagues from negapatan , where they have a fort and factory . chap. xix . the indian princes take the factories in their dominions into their protection , and defend them from the insults of a stronger enemy . we anchor'd two leagues farther over , against a factory that belongs to us , where there are only two french who have but four or five port-holes , with as many guns to defend them , which rather make a shew than a real strength ; when they discover'd our squadron they hung out a white flag , notwithstanding , that they had reason to believe us dutch or english . but in the iudies , each factory sets out their own national colours be it in time of war or peace , be they ne're so weak , or the approaching enemy ne're so strong : for if the english , for example ▪ insult a french factory , the great mogul , or another prince , in whose country the factory is , resents it as done to himself , and oblieges himself to make amends for any damage receiv'd . a little after we hung out white colours , which very much surpriz'd our french , who did not know what to make of such a novelty , but when we added the admiral flame on the main mast top , and considering the building of our ships when they came to an anchor , they no longer doubted , as they told us afterwards , but that it was monsieur duquesne's squadron , which they had every day expected , upon which they presently came to complement him ; our sloop which was sent to them , met them half way , and brought them aboard , where we long'd for their company ; as well to learn news of them , as to meet with our country-men , in so distant a part of the world , with whom we might happily entertain our selves , and be inform'd of what was necessary , we did them some honor , for going to the councel chamber , where monsieur duquesne expected them , they past through two double lanes , lin'd with soldiers and seamen , who prest hard to see them , that they could scarce go along , they told us little news , and next day we parted for pontecherry , where we with reason expected to hear more , and with more certainty . chap. xx. the french squadron arrives before ponticheri , the chief factory of our east-india company ; situated on the coast of coromandel . the coast of coromandel is very beautiful all along ; the pleasant mixture of meadows and trees ever green , making a charming prospect , you meet with mountains here and there , which intercept it , but are themselves a prospect no less pleasant : and some rising grounds , which you overlook and loose your sight in delicious ▪ fair , and wide extended plains ; besides a number of beautiful habitations by the sea side , where you meet with another entertainment , which to me seem'd very diverting , which is a great number of catimarons , in which the negros of the country go a fishing , they are made of two or three pieces of a tree , bound togeather with coco cords , with a mat sail of a triangular form , as they sit in them their breech touches the water , and yet they are not afraid to launch out ten or twelve leagues in them ; the sea is some times cover'd with these catimarons , which sail so swiftly , tho' with nere so small a wind , that at a distance you would take them for birds skiming up and down on the surface of the waters . we past by a dutch factory , before which there lay only one bark , that was not worth the taking coasting a long , we at length arriv'd at porta-nova at eleaven in the morning , near which we saw four pagods hard by one another , in which the negros worship the devil , we saw there three ships , of which the biggest carry'd a flag on the top of the main-mast ; these were worth the attacking , but whither they were willing to spare us the paines , or rather prevent their own danger , they hung out danish colours , and nothing could impose upon us more , tho' we can't vindicate our weakness in this matter , considering they lay at anchor before a dutch factory , and knowing too , that the danes had but three ships in the east-indies , which we had just left at frinquebart ; after having made a faint to discover them , we left them to continue our course . we had so little wind , that vve scarse expected to arrive the same day at ponticherri , and being afterwards down-right becalm'd , we were oblig'd to anchor 2 leagues short of the courtoir , which is a fort belonging to prince gingi , a friend to the french nation , being now within 2 leagues , we took our own time , and next day being saturday , the 12 of august , the wind blowing a little fresh , we sail'd , and at eight in the morning arriv'd at pontecherri , where we found the lyon and the dutch pink , who came thither but the day before . we had scarce anchor'd within half a league of the land , when the greatest part of the officers of the fort came to wait upon the commandant ; the fort saluted us with eleven guns , and we could return but nine , because the deck was so incumber'd . next day monsieur martin , director general for the french east-india company came aboard , where he was receiv'd with a salute of five guns , and nobly regal'd by monsieur duquesne , who deliver'd him his majesty's letter , by which he enabled him , and a few days after perform'd the ceremony of girting him with a sword by his side . our arrival here sprea'd a great and general joy , which appear'd even amongst the negro's of the country ; who in their way exprest their satisfaction , and no doubt our own french had reason to rejoice , to see us come with a force sufficient to make the indies tremble ; and their joy was equal to the consternation of the enemy , who secretly dispatcht notice to all the factories on the coast , to be on their guard , against six french privateers , the stoutest , and the best , that had yet been sent from europe into those parts . this allarum which the english and dutch gave one another , did not a little encrease the glory and reputation of france ; they were no more to be seen strutting in these parts , and hectoring the fort of pontichery , threatning to burn the director in 't , as they had done but two months before our arrival , with i don't know what other rodomontado's ; of the contrary , let their strengrh be what they please to bluster it in these parts , they did not care for seeing us , or having any thing to do with us . we began with debarking the eight chests of silver we took out of the dutch prize , and four musketeers conveyed the captain and lieutenant to the fort till farther orders ; our commandant went a shoar at the same time , and was receiv'd with a salute of five guns . monsieur martin entertain'd him so nobly , with the other officesr of the squadron , that feasting and hunting was all our employment , while we lay at anchor here . chap. xxi . the negros before we debarkt bring plenty of fresh provisions aboard . mony of ponticheri . the negros constantly came aboard us with fresh provisions ; as piggs , hares , henns , bananes , lemons , oranges , chibbols , reddishes , giraumont , and several other sorts of pulse ; which were not so cheap as we expected , for the negros at the first sight of our six ships , knowing we should have need of all , presently rais'd their prizes , to that degree , that whereas before one might have bought thirty henns for a crown , they now cost a fanon a piece , which is six sols french. the fanon is a little piece of mixt gold , of the shape and size of a half pea , and no bigger ; there is another of pure gold , call'd a pagod , of the value of a half a pistol , shapt like the fanon , only bigger , and the figure of an idol imprest on one side ; they have besides silver roupys of the value of half a crown ; and for their small mony of caches and doudous of copper , there goes fourteen of these last to a fanon , and two caches to a doudou . the negros found they were such gainers by us , that from morning 'till night you might see them fishing up and down in their catimarons ; and indeed they furnisht us with the finest fish that ever i tasted , which they caught in such abundance , and with so much speed , that for three pence half penny we could buy as much as would satisfy eight persons . our men fed on mutton , pigs , and a power of herbs , which they through into the pot ; which with other provisions made very good fare , but the rice , of which all our bread was made since we took the dutch pink , was not so agreable ; especially to us who were so little us'd to it , besides the untoward way of making it , for after washing it in salt water , they bakt it with a little salt , and we were often forc't to eat it mere dough and full of chaffe . chap. xxii . the author's reflections on the sallys of his youth , and the fatigues of his voyage . voyages of this kind , teach youth a great deal of experience ; and by the miseries they meet with , convince them of the folly of their extravagancies . i am sure this voyage instructed me largely in the knowledge of my own , for which i need not now be beholding to the examples of others . i suffer'd all that 's extream in hunger and thirst , and those coroding miseries , gall'd me into more wisdom , and fretted me into a sense , of my , and a better vallue for my father's house , and a soberer course of life , which i so much slighted before ; this i got , whatever i lost ; but i went far and paid dear for 't ; if any price can be too dear for wisdom . chap. xxiii . the negros flock to the sea side to see us land , others come to help us in their boats . i was one of the first that landed , tho' it be very difficult at ponticheri , by reason the sea all along the coast rolls in mighty surges on the shoar , so that without a great deal of care , boats are apt to be lost in landing and thetefore anchor at some distance , and wait the negros coming to take them a shoar in the chelingues , which are flat bottom boats , the planks sow'd togeather with coco cordes , being light and very high of the sides , they humour the roling of the surges , which has no sooner cast them on the shoar , but the negros leap out , striving who shall carry you out , first on his back . i saw a great number of them at landing , of all sorts ; some half naked , others thinly clad in muslin shirts , and turbants on their heads , and several with their bodies painted of divers colours ; they saluted us in raising the right hand to the top of the head , which is the most respectful way of saluting amongst them ; you see the caze's rais'd of each side , and a magazine of the companies , and behind it there 's a stable , in which there were eight persians horses , which the officers rid when they went a hunting , and two suret oxen , which drew monsieur martin's coach. the suret oxen are a rarity worth the seeing , being no less than ten or eleven foot high , and proportionably thick ; they draw a cord of two inches thick through their nostrils for a bridle ; tho' they appear very dull and heavy , yet they 'll trot continually in the deep sand , and the roughest ways . a few steps farther , as you go towards the fort , is a sort of a street which leads to the bazar , the place where the market is kept ; encompast round with a parcell of paultry shops , where the negros sell tobacco , pipes , sugar , colours , onions and others things of that kind . chap. xxiv . a short description of pontichery , and the garrison ; of the negros and negresses . povichery , commonly cald pontichery , is situated on the coast of coromandel , depending on prince g'ingi , in 12 deg. nor. lat. and a 114 deg. of long ; the french have within these two years built a fort of four towers , mounted with twenty four guns ; neither the walls nor situation seem'd strong to me , but the garrison , compos'd of a 150 french soldiers , are able to defend it against any attack . monsieur martin and the chief officers are lodg'd in 't , with the capacins , who serve the chappel which is built there . a great many of the soldiers are settled there , and married to portuguese women , so that they scarce ever desire to return to france again , they have built themselves houses , in which they live very happily ; and tho' that bread and wine is a little scarce , they have every thing else in great plenty . they drink punch , rack , and lemonade , to which they accustom themselves very much ; and if they trade ne'er so little , and are good husbands , they may lay up mony ; so that 't is not to be wonderd , that most of them having come hither for ill things done in france , they are not fond of returning thither , from this very hot and distant country . all the inhabitants are black , and of a comely stature , having long hair and beards ; their cloathing is nothing but a white cavage , with a turbant on their heads of the same colour , with gold pendants set , with pearls in their ears , the chief merchants cover part of their bodies with a red or yellow scarfe , which they throw over their shoulders , and wear baboaches , which are a sort of shoes , never going barefoot like the rest , and are follow'd by several servants , who carry their parosals or umbrellos . the women are generally little , and inclind to love ; they are girded with a callico scarfe , one end of which crossing their shoulders , covers their breasts : they gather their hair about their heads , and knot it about their ears , which are loaded with gold rings . they are as fond too of adorning their arms and legs with braceletts ; and wear gold rings on their toes as well as their fingers , and add to these , odd bizzarre ornaments , another of making hols in their nostrils , where they hang a ring of gold or any other mettle which is their greatest pride . chap. xxv . an ample description of the different sects , manners and religions of the inhabitants of pontichery . i have yet spoke only of the best sort in general , of whom there are several different in this town ; as the moors , the faquiras , the brames , the heathen malebars and christian malebars , the talingars , the marchois , and barias . they are as so many several tribes , who never inter-marry , and whose manners and religions differ from the marquoise and the parias's the meanest and the basest , of them all ; their habitations are seperated from the rest ; they go barefoot , wearing only a bit of linnen just to cover their nakedness , the marquoise follow fishing for the most part , and wear rush bonnets like miters , they make use of chelingues , and catimarons , and eat any thing that 's offer'd them . the parias are shoemakers , and the most infamous of all , the nastiest in their way of living , and eat the bodies of dead creatures tho' they died of sickness , not sparing the rotton stinking gutts , and are very vile and miserable , but the brames and the faquers are those who are most esteem'd . the brames are the gentlemen , and only they are permitted to wear silk strings in bandaliers , and three lines on their faces , two white , and one red in the midple ; their heads are shav'd , except a tufft which they leave on the top , they wear muslin turbants , and commonly shirts of the same , with a delicate callico , to touch which is a crime that deserves punishment amongst them . so that a french man one day ignorantly touching one that belong'd to a brame , who was bathing himself , they came to the fort in crowds to complain of him to monsieur martin , and to demand him in order to have justice done on him , they pretended he was burnt , so they were obliged to hide him , and after often remonstrating to them , that what he had done , was out of ignorance not disrespect , they were at last appeas'd ; they eat nothing that has life , neither flesh nor fish , nor so much as eggs , living on rice , milk , roots , and the like . they won't be so much as seen eating , and are so jealous of their honor , that they think it a great disgrace to enter into the house of a mean person . these brames , as all the rest , have a great veneration for cows , and will not on any account suffer them to be kild ; being so useful to mankind by their work and labour ; and when our men kill any , they are forc't to do it in private , for fear of provoking these idolaters , who on the tenth of jan. the first day of their year , celebrate a feast in honor of them . on these days after feasting themselves they lead all the cows and oxen into a lake , where they wash them by the sound of drums and the trumpets , and paint their foreheads and horns ; after which they lead them to a publick place , and each holding a nosegay in his hand , they dance round casting water on them , and often prostrating themselves on the ground the brames direct these ceremonies ; and glory in being the most zealous observers of these sort of superstitions . and are the instructors of others . the name of their idol is ram , and when they salute any one with respect , they call him by that name . for they not only worship this suppos'd divinity , but the rest of the statues , which they believe serve him ; they carry them about on sollemn days ; some have eight and some four heads on a body , siting on a bird , that holds a serpent in his beeck . others squatting on their tails like monkies , have the head of an elephant , and belly of a woman ; they pray to them often , and are careful of washing their heads with coco water , and rubing the rest of their bodies with oyl . if you inquire into the reason of their sensless superstitions and ridiculous follies they readily answer , that they received them from their ancestors , in whose example they glory in , without the least desire of being better inform'd . the faquirs of ponticheri , as at other places , are persons of no certain body , who wander up and down doing pennance , and that little cloathing they weare is so wretchedly poor , they vow chastity , and voluntary poverty , and when alms is denied them , they wound themselves , to move compassion . as for the first vow of chastity , they have little pretence to it , and the very opinion the people have of their sanctity , is the occasion of the most loathsome obscenities in the female sex. however these faquirs impose penances on themselves , which they inviolably observe as long as they live , viz. as to have both their arms always rais'd above their heads , one foot constantly lifted up , and a great many other painful postures , which they continue in to their deaths . i saw one with his head in an iron cage , which he carri'd night and day on his shoulders , eating through the barrs ; these wretches , as well as others , paint their bodies and faces of a great many different colours , which makes them look dismally . tho' their superstitious rites are for the most part the same , yet they worship a great many several false gods , as trees , rivers , the sun and moon , &c. in an eclipse they meet by the sea side , crying out hideously to the noise of some instruments of brass , bathing themselves , and believing that as they wash themselves , they clear and brighten the eclips'd planet . they burn the bodies of the dead , and before the french settled at ponticheri , these men's wives in proof of their conjugal love and fidelity , burnt themselves alive with the corps of their deceas'd husbands ; but we afterwards chang'd this custom amongst them , and indeed 't was no very difficult matter to perswade them to it , being ready enough to embrace an opportunity of being releas'd . when any one dies , they carry the corps on a beer , cover'd with callico , and strow'd round with bannany leaves , to the place where it is to be burnt ; attended with a mournful sound of trumpets , their relations meeting them by the way crying out , aloud apa , which is as much as to say , father ; jumping and beating their breasts with so much violence , that they often faint away in the ceremony , while the rest of his kindred stay behind to comfort his children , &c. when they are near the funeral pile , they set down the beer , to change the situation of the body ; placing the head where the feet were ; after which , one of the company , who never ceast crying all the way , having washt his hands , lays three small quantities of rice on the funeral pile ; and taking four little pieces of wood , and putting one on each hand , a third at his feet , and a fourth at his head : he afterwards makes three holes in a pot full of water , and sprinkles round the corps three times . when they presently take it up , and carry it to the place where it is design'd to be burnt . then they lay it on the funeral pile , the face to the wood , and the legs crost under the belly , and after covering it with straw and cows dung , which they spread over it very neatly , they set fire to it ; blowing the trumpet till the corps is quite consum'd ; and the pots in which the water and rice was carried , they beat to powder with sticks . but if the corps is to be interr'd , the grave is made with steps to go down , and a rising at the bottom , on which it is seated cross leg'd ; the relations strew flowers and ashes on 't , and then cover it with earth . the mallebar christians have built a fine vaulted church , in which the missionaries of ponticheri commonly officiate , and where the jesuits say mass ; i have seen the negros so devout , that it very much edify'd me to see their zeal to be so solemn and pure . flesh is very little us'd amongst these people , particularly here ; where they live wholly on rice and fish ; they won't eat or drink after an european ; much less tast of what he has drest , these malabars may marry at the age of four or five , but then they are separated again till eleven or twelve ; when they are permitted to dwell togather . while i was a shoar the marriage of a rich merchant , who serv'd the company , was sollemm'zd , and after this manner ; two bambouss were plac'd at each corner of the fort , encompass'd of the out side with fireworks ; in the evening he came fourth , according to custom with his wife , in a rich palanquin , carried by twelve negros , preceded by two hundred flamboys rank'd in very good order ; their nearest relations accompany'd them a horseback , and of all sides was continually heard the confus'd noise of fifes , drums and kettle-drums ; ten or twelve dancers richly drest follow'd them , dancing from space to space to the sound of little bells ; and when the married persons past before the bambouss that were prepar'd , the fire works were lighted , which were so intermix'd with petars and musquets , that they made them entertaining enough . this solemnity having lasted a good part of the night , they regaild themselves with bethel , chocolet , bannanes , and made themselves drunk with rack , which is stronger then aquavitae , and very much in use amongst the indians , as is bethel , a leaf very like the ivy , which they eat , after spreading a little lime on 't , made red with ginger , lapt up in a piece of raique resembling musk ; this is of an excellent tast and smell , and serves to redden the lips , and sweeten the breath . the women , for the most part , all along the coast are hard favour'd , and go barefoot and bareheaded like the men , from whom 't is difficult to distinguish them ; only for a piece of cotton cloath which covers them from the navel to the knee ; they wear their hair lank , very much oyl'd and greas'd , with holes in their ears , that an egg would almost pass throw ; and black lank breasts , with nipples almost as big as an apple ; they carry their children on their hips , their legs dangling on each side . i have seen of them that were not above four months old creeping on the sand on all four , and muddling like ducks in the water . they smoak perpetually , and without scruple indulge themselves in the vilest lusts , and so readily prostitute their bodies on all occasions , that their lusts exceed all other qualifications . chap. xxvi . the french spuadron sails , to fight fourteen dutch and english ships that lay under the fort of madras . in the mean time our ships took in fresh water , and debark't what was to be left at ponticheri ; and amongst the rest four brass guns , of 18 pounders , to strengthen the fort , the biggest of those it had before , being but twelve ; and while we were refreshing our selves after our long fatigues , the commandant understood by a letter of monsieur martin's , that there were fourteen dutch and english ships ac madras , who expected us there , with a resolution of fighting us . he accordingly took the best measurs he cou'd , and prepared to fight them : omitting nothing that might prove advantagious for the attacque : and thereupon he presently ordered us to turn that little vessel we had taken off of the isle of ceylon into a fire ship , and to unring the dutch pink , which after monsieur poureire had taken her top mast , and plac't it in the room of his own which was split in the action at amjouam , we left her naked at ponticheri ; from whence we departed the 24th . of august at two in the afternoon , carrying the captain and lieutenant along with us prisoners . in about an hours space , we saw conjumelle , a place situated by the sea side , the sweetest on all the coast ; the dutch having a factory , hung out a flag there . the wind blowing fresh in the evening , we took in some sail for fear of coming to madras in the night ; the passage from ponticheri thither , not being above 20 leagues : so sailing gently the rest of the night , we discover'd a ship a head of us , which hoist sail as soon as ever she saw us ; we took it for granted she was a stout ship , sent out by the enemy to observe us . so we presently brought down our hamocks , having put all the chests in the hole , since our departure ; so that in less than half an hour we were fitted for the fight , which we the more eagerly desir'd , because it was st. lewis's day . and now we perceived the ships , which seem'd to us to be rang'd in a line under the cannon of fort st. george ; which is a strong and noble one , hanging out english colours ; we had mass said betimes , then took a short breakfast , and after hoisting the white flag , and adorning the ships , and the round tops with flower deluce't shields , we made all the sail we could , till we came over against st. thomas's , a town belonging to the portugues , 2 leagues from madras , where formerly stood the noblest fort of the country . this place is remarkable for the martyrdome of st. thomas the apostle , who suffer'd here ; his sepulcher is this day to be seen on a rising ground hard by the town ; the shoar was cover'd with people , who came to be spectators of the action that was like to ensue . chap. xxvii . combat of madras . we now perfectly discovered the number of the enemy's ships , and their strength ; i counted fourteen , of which only eleven carry'd guns ; that is , six dutch , with their admiral , which seem'd to carry 60 guns , with a flag on the main top mast ; and five english , of which the admiral , who was 60 guns too , had a flag also on the main top . monsieur duquesne , observing the greatest of them anchord next to us , and that the rest lay between them and the fort , hung out a flame of orders , to command the several captains aboard , to concert the manner of the attack , and to gain the wind . 't is indeed convenient , that the lyon and the dragon should coast it from st. thomas's to gain the wind , and throw out a small anchor by the sides of the lesser ships , that the others follow'd by the rock , the flowrishing , and the bird , should attack the rest ; and that while we fir'd on the dutch admiral , which was our part , monsieur d' auberville should endeavour to approach it with his fire ship by the favour of the smoak . these orders given , each took his post immediately to execute them . never men more heartily desir'd to come to action than ours , and we had reason to expect an answerable succes , and by the manner of our falling on , our thoughts ran more on a certain victory , than an uncertain fight . the lyon and the dragon who made all the sail they could , were presently within shot of the fort , which began to fire upon them ; yet notwithstanding they past by with little or no damage ; and according to orders , came and anchor'd over against the ships they intended , and fir'd furiously upon them . it might now be about one in the afternoon , and we followed them so close , that the enemy had scarce answer'd them again , when we came up with the dutch admiral , and gave her a broad side . 't is not very common to see six such ships as ours attack eleven large ones , and to bear all their fire , and that of a strong fort too ; the least of whose guns were twenty four and thirty six pounders , and indeed the fire was so terrible of both sides , that nothing was to be seen but fire , smoak and ball . 't was then that monsieur d' auberville disdaining danger , in the midst of that shower of ball , attempted to fire the dutch admiral ; who seeing a fire ship coming towards him , in vain endeavour'd to avoid it ; monsieur d' auberville shew'd great courage and conduct in this undertaking ; so having quickly fastned the fireship to the admiral , with chains and graples , and set fire to it , he leapt into the boat , which return'd safe to his ship , in spight of all the fire of the enemy . all expected that this undertaking would have had the greatest succss , and that the admiral could not escape being burnt ; nay , the dutch themselves were of that opinion , for they presently quitted her , and got into 2 boats to make off . but unhappily the graples ( being only made of hoopes ) breaking , she fell off , and drove ashoar , consuming none but her self , which the dutch observing , they with great joy return'd aboard again , from whence they fir'd as before : the fight still continu'd with great obstinacy , till 5 in the evening ; when the commandant gave orders to cease firing . we had not a man kill'd , except a valet of a mandarin , whose bowels were carried away with a cannon ball ; but we suffer'd more in our masts , which was partly the reason we quitted them so soon . chap. xxviii . after the fight , we took and burnt an english ship in the face of the enemy . having anchor'd about a quarter of a league distant , where we past the rest of the day in refitting ; between ten and eleven in the evening we had a false alarum in our squadron , i don't know how ; a sloop that in all probabillity knew not what had past , came directly to the dragon ; the seamen on the watch discovering her , fir'd at her which made her retire presently ; however this alarum'd the whole squadron , which immediately had orders to be in a readiness , and to keep a strickt guard all night , for fear of a surpize , tho' the contrary winds , and the disposition of the ememy was a sufficient security against it . but in affairs of war one can't be too vigilant ; for then , whatever harm happens , it cannot be imputed to folly or neglect , however this unaccountable trifle of a sloop disturb'd us all , and depriv'd us of our rest that night . next morning we saw the ships lying nearer the fort , and rang'd in a better line then they were before . we then perceiv'd our oversight in not boarding them to rights at first , by the much greater difficulty of attacking them a second time ; they had now plac't themselves at such a distance from each other , that the fort might fire at us , without hurting them ; a piece of management they had neglected the day before . considering the difficulty of a second attempt , and the uncertainty of succeeding , we resolv'd to pursue our course , tho' with an easy sail , that we might give them time to folus , if they thought they could make any thing of it , but there appear'd not the least disposition in them ; on the contrary they fir'd several guns for joy that they had escapt us so cheap ; but we understood afterwards that they buried some officers , who were kill'd in this action . however we still pursued our course under a slack sail , eying a vessel we discover'd at anchor two leagues before us . the bird , which kept a head of the squadron approacht within shot of her , and sent in his sloop arm'd , with an officer ; who found nothing in her but such trifling things as the english had not time to take away , we left some men to sail her , but she prov'd so slow , that we chose rather to set her a fire than to be troubled with her , which he did , ( after taking out of her whatever might be of any use ) not far from a dutch factory , nam'd pailliacat , and in the sight of the enemy . chap. xxix . an english vessel chast , and run aground . we afterwards lancht out into the ocean , and by that means lost the sight of masilipatam , where they make the finest painted calico's in all the indies , and the most vallu'd in europe ; after some days , having regain'd the coast , the 30th of august , in the morning we perceiv'd a vessel near the shoar without a top-mast ; tho' we made towards her with dutch colours , yet she hung out none , and we observ'd that she had not so much as a flag staff , which made us believe she was a moor , and monsieur duquesne being farther convinc't of it by her building presently tackt about , and stood away . next day , being the last of this month , we discover'd another about three in the afternoon , which presently hoisted sail , and fir'd several guns at her departure , we presently made all the sail we could after her , and gave the chase signal to the lyon , and the dragon , who gaining the wind , got between her and the shoar , to prevent her runing her self a ground ; the rest of us kept under the wind to intercept her course ; but notwithstanding she being far a head of us , and making all the sail she could , ran herself aground at a place call'd cangam , near a river which bears that name , before we could come within shot of her . it was now too late to attacque her , or so much as to perceive how she lay ; in this uncertainty we anchor'd so , that she could not escape us without being seen , and in the morning , monsieur duquesne sent monsieur de la neufville , second captain of the bird , to view her with all the sloops . this little squadron of arm'd sloops , as is necessary on such an expedition , quickly reacht the place , where that change of waters is observ'd , which is caus'd in the sea by the overflowing of this river ; we now began to sound ; by reason of a vast number of little rocks that lay under water here abouts , beyond which this ship had run her self aground ; we went two fathom and a half water , without being able to come near her ; so that we could not immagin , how 't was possible for the vessel to get so far in . about a quarter of an hour after , we saw a topmast floating on the side of the ebb , with seven seamen clinging to it , who were half drown'd , and who by signs , of crosses , desir'd us to save them ; monsieur de la neufville going towards them took them up in his boat , where they no sooner were , but the seamen fell a rifling these miserable people , for the money they had hid in the wast bands of their breeches . they were , portuguese , who inform'd us , that 't was an english ship of 36 guns coming from massilipatam , that from the time she was run aground , the captain debarkt with 40000 roupies in silver , which is 20000 crowns french , and her richest lading that could be best carried off : that the english , who were but fifteen , sav'd themselves a shoar , except two or three , whom we saw on the deck ; adding also , that they themselves had made the same shift , in order or get a shoar , bnt the tide of ebb instead of landing them , carried them farther out to sea. we saw her struck at one end , and so we judg'd , there could not be above three foot water where she was ; the vast surges that roll all along on this coast , went over her stern , so that in the condition she lay , there seem'd to be little likely hood of getting her off , but by pieces . they ask't the portuguess if the sloops could come at her without danger , they answer'd , that we must steer directly towards her stern , but monsieur de la neufelle not judging it so easy a matter , resolv'd to run no such hazards on the bare word of strangers , in an enterprize , which in the opinion of every one , would have succeeded better than he expected . the negros appear'd thick on the shoar , to see what we would do ; both the english and they expected to see the ship pillag'd or burnt ; but they were not a little pleas'd with their mistake , when they saw our sloops tacking and going off again , accompanied with great rains . we were afterwards inform'd that there was aboard a great deal of scarlet cloath , and masslipatam calico's , so that we lost a considerable booty . chap. xxx . two english ships richly laden escape our squadron , which anchors before balazor . our admiral happily avoids being burnt . the calm hinder'd our departure this day , but the next being the 2d . of sep. we sail'd with a fresh gale that just began to blow . the two following days we discover'd another ship , and presently made what sail we could after her ; sometimes , she made towards the land , as if she intended to run a shoat ; then she would tack , and stand out to sea , as if she did not know what course to take . at last seeing the lyon and the dragon ready to come up with her , after some hours chase , she struck her topmast , which she would have hoisted again immediately ; the dragon hanging out a white flag , fir'd a gun at her , which oblig'd her to ly by , till the admiral came up . she prov'd a moorish ship , bound from the maldive islands , laden with coris's , which are certain shells that pass for small mony at several places , as bengale , siam and guinne . we sail'd together almost to balazor , where we arriv'd later than we expected , by reason of the calms we met ; however on the seventh we came in sight of it at 4 in the evening . two english vessels which lay in the road as soon as ever they saw us at a distance , presently hoist sail ; thinking it better to quit the place than to expect us , tho' they were secure enough ; the great mogull on whom this country is dependant , suffering no vessel to be attackt in 8 fathom water . they made towards the mouth of the ganges , to anchor at a good distance from us ; expecting as they said , a convoy of twelve ships , because they were richly laden with coupans and gold ingots from japan ; but we had the wind so scanty , that they could hardly fly , or we pursue , but we observ'd we were the better sailors , for when they came to an anchor , we were within two cables length of them . the commandant order'd three guns to be fir'd , to give the director of the french factory notice of our arrival , and sent his sloop to balazor next day for fresh provisions , which did not return again in three days , being no less than seven leagues by land. monsieur pele the director , and several other merchants came aboard , who brought two ships laden with provisions with them , which by reason of the wind , were oblieg'd to anchor at two leagues distance from us till it chang'd , but there appearing no likely hood of it , we went and joyn'd them . he receiv'd us with a flag , and one of them saluted us with seven guns . the fresh provisions were distributed amongst the ships of the squadron , of which we stood in great need , for we were half famisht . monsieur duquesne writ to monsieur deslandes , director general , who commonly resides at ougly , a town situated on the bank of the ganges , fifty leagues from balazor ; to make ready two thousand sacks of biscuit , with the merchandize that was to be transported to france against the 15th . of december , when he expected to return . the same day about two in the afternoon , we had the saddest alarum that cou'd happen aboard , a fire began in the lyons room through the negligence of the mate , but the countermaster happening by good providence to be a sleep there , suddainly wak't and cry'd fire , every one scar'd and alarum'd , run to draw water , and to wet linen cloaths to extinguish it ; it had already reacht the cable room , but we follow'd it so close , and took such care , that it did little damage . about three days before , and i know not for what reason , ( which ought to make us admire and thank the divine providence the more ) we remov'd the powder out of the lyons hold , ( which is put there in times of action , ) and that very happily ; for if it had continued there , the forecastle blowing up ; we should have had but little time to have sav'd our selves in the sloop . chap. xxxi . the squadron leaves balazor for mergui , which we could not gain ; is disperst by a storm , and suffers extreamly . the 13th . of september we parted from balazor for mergui , we had little wind that day , and a calm at night ; so that after having several times weigh'd and cast anchor in vain , we were forc'd to make use of the currents , and to drive with the tide when it serv'd us . on the 18th . at night there happen'd an eclipse of the moon , which lasted from seven , till thirty minutes past nine , a third part was darkned ; i believe neither this nor that i mentioned before , were seen in france ; for 't was about two in the afternoon when we saw it there . 'till this day we were still troubled with weighing and casting anchor continually : the 29th . in the evening this long calm chang'd into a violent storm , that after loosing two anchors we were oblieg'd to hoist sail tho' the wind was against us ; the storm encreast so , that about midnight we thought we should a lost all our masts . in the morning we saw none of our ships but the bird , the tempest having separated the rest . the rendevouzse was to be at negraille , in case we could not make mergui our port , for which , the wind was quite contrary , and so violently accompanied with hail , that we `struck our top sails three or four times a day ; being fearful we should want water if this weather lasted , and tho' we had supplied our selves for six months at ponticheri , we had so wasted it , that we had not enough for one month . monsieur duquesne began to manage it with care retrenching the rice , which consum'd a great deal of it , and order'd biscuit in its place , and stinted the whole company to a pint a day . i never was more sensible of the violence of thirst ; the salt victuals , and the extream heats had almost parcht me up , once in the extremity of this suffering , i offer'd five crowns for a pot of water , but cou'd find none that would accept of it , each labouring under the same evil , so that there was no remedy but patience , which is but a small relief to him that is stinted by nature . at length the wind chang'd , and continued good for five or six days , in which we recover'd what we had lost of our way ; but it becoming changeable again , we sail'd sometimes losing , sometimes gaining , without hopes of seeing mergui so soon as we expected , which very much afflicted us . the last of september in the morning , we discover'd a sail a head of us , steering the same course ; we made what hast we could to know what she was , and after three hours chase , we came within shot of her , who hung out a flag all red ; we hung out ours , which they saluted by hoisting their topmast three times for want of guns . monsieur duquesne sent his sloop to bring the captain aboard , who shew'd him a pass-port sign'd by monsieur martin ; he was accompanied by three old men like himself , clad in muslin shirts , and turbants on their heads , and each a long beard , they were rich moorish merchants , bound from massilipatam for mergui : they had a flag all red by way of distinction , and to shew they were more than ordinany ; for the common flag of the moors , is no more than a cimiter crost with its scabard on a red ground . we regail'd them with wine , tea , and sweetmeats , and after viewing exactly and admiring our ship , they departed without selling any of their goods , which they held at too dear a rate . next day we lost sight of them . the fifth of october , discovering another ship we steer'd towards her for some time , believing she was one of our squadron , of whom as yet we had heard no news since we were separated at balazor ; but as she made off with all the sail she could , and that 't would have carried us too far out of our way to have persu'd the chase , we quitted her , to make our best advantage of the little wind we had ; it never was so changeable , for if it favour'd us for a day , 't was a calm again at night , or perhaps contrary for four or five days after ; in the mean time the water in the hold was very much diminisht , and our thirst encreast more and more with that little we drank of it at meals , and the violent heats . chap. xxxii . a wonderful shower of rain falls : we discover the isle of the andamants , a barbarous people . god who never abandons his own in such extremities as there shew'd us in some measure the same favour he formerly did the isralites in the wilderness ; and by a large and unexpected shower of rain , which supplied us all with the means of quenching our violent thirst , that tormented us so much . how eagerly did all endeavour to tast of this celestial manna , every one , sought vessels and all other shifts to save as much as they could , and then with what greediness did they drink it , i am sure no champaign wine ever drunk like it to me ; we fill'd 27 barrels with this water , which refresht us very much in the midst of our distress , not so much as knowing where we were . we continu'd a long time in this uncertainty , but having at last a good wind , we judg'd by the latitude , that we were not far from the andamants , nor by consequence from the coco islands , which are but ten leagues thence ; which was the reason we lay by every night , or five or six hours together , for fear of running upon them . the 12th . of october before sun rise , we discover'd the isles of the andamants , which we left on the right , lying in 13 deg. 40 minutes north lat. and a hundred and 16 deg. forty nine minutes long. the inhabitants are the most cruel and savage in the world , they neither trade nor correspond with any other whatsoever , not so much as suffer any to land upon their coast , and if by chance they are so unhappy as to be driven upon 't : these barbarous savages immediately kill them , and dress them for food . chap. xxxiii . the great straights that monsieur duquesne was in for want of water , makes him anchor at the great isle of cocos . an hour after discovering the isles of the andamants we saw those of the coco's , which we endeavour'd to gain , that we might take in water at any rate : we had the wind almost quite against us , but in such extreamities as these , the utmost was to be try'd , for fear of missing them , and tho' they were in sight of us , yet we several times lost hopes of gaining them , in the mean time we tack'd so often , that on sunday the 15th . at 3 in the afternoon we anchor'd on a little island which lay south-east and by south of us , bord'ring to the south east of all the rest , but plac'd wrong in the carde . we observ'd it to lie in 14 deg. n. l. of one side ; at about two leagues distance from it there is larger islands , which lay to the east of us . the commandant sent the sloop arm'd a shoar , in case they should hinder their landing ; but none opposing it , they ransak't the whole island with all the eagerness and nicey , as such violent thirst could inspire them with , without being able to discover spring or river , and consequently any inhabitants ; they past the night easy enough , by reason of the abundance of cocos they met with , which supplied the defect of water , of which they brought us the boat full next day , and two lizards of a prodigious length , with three tortoises's , one of which was big enough two make two meals for the whole crew ; but as it was not that we wanted most , monsieur duquesne sent the sloop presently to the other island , ordering the officer if he met with water , to give notice of it by a signal of two fires . the bird which could not get so near the wind as we , lay at a loofe , and therefore could not come at an anchor with us , till four in the afternoon , in the morning chavilier dair came aboard us , as well to know our necessities , as to inform us of his own ; for he told us we wanted not only water , but meat for his table . monsieur duquesne reflecting on the miserable condition the last tempest had brought them too , the dangers they had run , and those they shou'd be expos'd too , in case they attempted to gain merguy while the wind was contrary : he resolved therefore , in case there was no water in that great island , to steer his course directly to negraille , it being a place design'd for our rendezvouze , and winter quarters , if we were not able to reach merguy , or force the siamoi's to entertain us . about two in the afternoon , we saw the sloop returning , and presently we hoist sail and met her , in order to take our measures , according to the news she brought us ; which indeed was such , as could not be more welcom than in our present distress : our company was all on the deck to see the sloop returning loaden , tho' yet uncertain with what , shouted for joy ; they askt what she brought , and being answer'd , water , at that word immediately all our trouble were dispers'd , by this pleasing draught , of which we drunk unmeasurably ; and then anchor'd with satisfaction near the great isle , about a league from land. chap. xxxiv . we would not loose a moment of time in going a shour ; where we loaded fifty tun of water and wood , tho' not without great toil , by reason of the landing , which is very troublesom at low water . the sloops being obliged to anchor at large , we were forc'd to go up to the neck in the water , to get a shoar ; by reason of the vast number of small rocks that inviron this isle . they who admire shell-work , may glut their fancy here ; for the strand is cover'd or'e with the most beautiful shells that can be seen . the island produces no pallatable fruit but cocos , the vast plenty of which was very benificial to me , and some others , whose curiosity had oblig'd us to lie in a part of the island where there is no sweet water to be had ; we kindled a great fire , and past the whole night by it , eating and drinking cocos ; not being able to sleep , by reason of the maraingevins , that continually stung us ; they are little flies , like those they call cousins in france ; but much more troublesom and pernicious , they appearing only in the night . every one will justly wonder , that the same fruit should yeild both heat and drink , yet such is the coco ; the tree is lofty , crooked at the foot like the pinetree , its branches are gather'd at top ; the fruit is commonly as big as ones head , the bark being so exceeding thick , you cannot find the coco till you have stript it , at the end there 's a hole , which you no sooner touch with your knife but there spurts out a clear water , very sweet , and refreshing ; they are of a small size in this island , but i remember at moelly they were so large , that three of us could scarse deal with one of them : you must split the coco to get at the kernell , which is white and about the thickness of your finger , and tastes almost like a hasel-nut ; of all fruits this is perhaps the most useful ; the indians besides meat and drink , draw a certain oyl from it , into which the water turns after it has stood sometime ; they make bowls , and cups , of the shells and ropes , and tow of the bark , to bind and caulk their boats with . this island is nothing near so steep as others i have seen , but then 'ts so wooded with high trees , that it is one impenetrable forest all over ; besides a great many curious and unknown birds , we saw lizards of 5 or 6 foot long , and as thick as a mans leg ; whose deep mouths were set with teeth as dangerous , as their claws are with talons , however they fled at the sight of us , and do no harm if not attackt ; their flesh is wonderful white , and some of our men eat of it , and found it good . it is stock'd with different sorts of insects ; amongst the rest there 's one very little annimal which seems to be all legs , very remarkable by their various colours , and a pretty shell on their backs . there 's another creature of the shape of a serpent , which i have often heard cry distinctly in the trees ; tocquets , so being ignorant of its other qualities , we call'd it by that name , as none of us saw any fallow deer while we were here , i believe the place is scarce fit for them , and much less for the habitations of men , for i believe it never was inhabited . 't is true , that in the eastern part of the isle , i observ'd two little hills , whose seeming fertility , together with the beautiful verdure of a meadow at the bottom , inclin'd me to believe there might be some cattel feeding thereabouts , tho' i saw none , we arriv'd here tuesday the 17th . and departed saturday the 21st . of octtober at 8 in the morning for negraile , or rather for mergui , if the wind permitted , which blew very faint , so that 't was the day following before we reach'd a certain island that lies ten leagues distant from the cocos , and in 14 d. n. 50 min. lat. it has a chain of rocks that runs a matter of three leagues out into the sea . sailing pretty near it , we left it to the southward of us . chap. xxxv . monsieur duquesne quits his design of going to merguy , by reason of the contrary winds ; and anchors at the negraille islands , where he meets the rest of his squadron . here monsieur duquesne lost hopes of gaining merguy , and without striving any longer to come near the wind , resolv'd to go to negraille , whether we presently steer'd our course ; the 24th . we discover'd the land of pegu , and we anchor'd in ten fathom water , tho we were above 8 leagues from it , sailing again next morning : about 4 in the afternoon we understood that there lay four ships at anchor between the great and the little island of negraille , which we made no doubt were our own . who had stood in to that place . so the commandant having given them the signal of knowledge , in seting his topgallant in the form as a banner , they answer'd him with the same signal , and sent their sloop to us , which could not get aboard us ; so night coming on , together with the danger of the banks , that are very shallow in divers places , oblieg'd us to anchor again over against the diamond , a little island 3 leagues from negraille , which we left to the right when we came to an anchor . this next day , being the 26th . we continued still at anchor waiting for the tide , when about eleven we saw a ship , which after having doubl'd the most northerly point of the great isle , came and anchor'd within half a league of us ; we commanded the capt. aboard , who was a portugues , bound from madras , where he was an eye witness of the action we were engag'd in . he told us the news of the english admirals having lost his nose by the bursting of a gun , and that the dutch had no less then two hundred men kill'd , which are not stories like those the enemy publisht after our departure from madras , and spread over all the indies ; of the falsness of which i shall hereafter give you an account . this evening three sloops having observ'd our ship , we enter'd by the favour of the tide , amongst the rest , where we anchor'd within musket shot of two lands ; we debarkt five or six sick men on the little island , and built two tents for them on a lovely and spacious plain , that presents it self to our sight at landing . we lay 8 days there , feasting on venison , and wild-boar , and very large tortoyses , which we took on the isle of diamonds , with which the whole company feasted themselves twice a day , for all had free leave to go a shoar , not excepting the very prisoners . chap. xxxvi . the squadron lying at anchor , monsieur duquesne orders five arm'd sloops to chase an english ship ; who carry'd out to sea by the winds , were like to have been lost . the death of monsieur de la villauclers , lieutenant of the bird. that we might the better forget our past misfortunes , monsieur duquesne , according to his usual goodness , furnisht us with fusees , powder and ball , to go and shoot some fallow-deer ; of which there were large numbers in this island ; our ship was already on the bar , when news was brought , that an english ship was arriv'd at the point of the great isle ; none of the squadron being in a condition to go out after her ; he sent out five arm'd sloops , under the command of monsieur neufeville ; as soon as the english saw them , they made full sail ; however they came within musket shot of them , and fir'd at one another ; but the wind rising , and the enemy making off , monsieur neufeville was oblieg'd to tack about ; the wind and tide which still encreast , drove our sloops a matter of 7 or 8 leagues out to sea , and in vain they endeavour'd by rowing to recover the land ; four of which with much a doe return'd back , after they had been the sport of the winds , and suffer'd extreamly through hunger and thirst ; having had no provisions with them . they could give us no account of the fifth , which was monsieur neufeville ; i heard this sad news a shoar , which troubled me the more , because there was a lieutenant my very good friend aboard ; we gave them for lost , but it pleas'd god , almost by a miracle , to restore 'em safe , about two days after , in which there were 25 men , so spent with toil and hunger , that they excited our compassion . about this time died monsieur de la villeau clerk , lieutenant of the bird , dyed of a fever : the greatest part of the officers assisted at his funeral , and we buried him in the plain with a discharge of seven great guns . chap. xxxvii . a desceiption of the islands of negraille , and an account of what past while the squadron lay at anchor there . negraille consists of two islands about a cannon shot distant from each other , and about 4 leagues off from the terra firma of pegu ; one of which is three leagues in compass , the other twelve ; they are situated in 116. d. of lon. and 15 d. n. lat. 't is strange that so convenient and happy a place , should only be inhabited by an innumerable number of wild beasts ; as tigers , elephants , wild oxen , staggs , and wild-boars , which live there undisturb'd in the midst of the greatest plenty ; no other island is so stor'd with game , or has better hunting ; besides the beasts i have nam'd , which are seen in vast droves ; there 's plenty of ring-doves , wood-cocks , teal , parrots , and an endless number of strange birds of divers kinds . the are swans , lizards , and serpents of a great length , and a great number of crocodils , call'd caymans , who in the day time hide themselves in rivers , the better to surprize the beasts when they come to drink ; this subtile creature fastning on the nose of the wild oxen , draws them in , and after drownding them eats them . at the little island where we took in water and wood , are seen two spacious and beautiful plains , cover'd with good feeding , in which the sight loses it self : through the midst of it , a pleasant river takes its course ; whose water is exceeding good , and easiy to be come at ; there we bath'd our selves almost every hour in the day , under the thick shady trees , and in large and greedy draughts , quencht the violence of our raging thirst . all this place is marshy , and in many places with salt water ; yet in the woods there are places where they don't reach , and where there is sweet water always to be found ; which the beasts drink of , who come thither in troops of a hunderd at a time , and feed quietly together ; without fear of being disturb'd by the huntsman . one of my companions and i going a hunting , we follow'd some harts and hinds very warmly , which carried us further into the wood than we were aware of ; so that after two hours pursuit , being quite tir'd , and intending to return back again , 't was more than we could do , to find our way , tho' we still flattered our selves with hopes ; but after long trying in vain , we at last began to despair , and almost to give our selves for lost ; being already over-power'd with hunger thirst and weariness . we past through a great many thickets , the paths being only beaten by the wild beasts ; the sight of whom diverted our melancholy wanderings in a desart island , destitute of all subsistance ; expos'd to tygers , wild-oxen and serpents ; in this sad condition , knowing not what to do , we adrest our selves to god ; and took observations of the sun ; steering our course by it . so after much labour and fatigue , and beating about from four in the morning to 4 in the evening , we at length discover'd the plain in which our companions were encamp'd ; from whence we went to our tent , rejoycing that we were not oblieg'd to lie in the woods , that night . these two isles differ but little , save only this , that the greatest , nourishes a great many tygers , and greater variety of strange creaturs then the less , where the conveniency of water , and the beautiful walks renders it very happy and proper for human habitation . the hunters had so disturb'd these wild inhabitants , that the oxen , whose calves , they every day kill'd ; became so furious , that the femals ran at all they met . a captain of the marines belonging to the bird , being a hunting with 2 others , was set upon by one of these creaturs ; she broke his leg , and tore out his bowels , while he was climbing up a tree to save himself ; this spectacle so frighten'd his companions , that instead of shooting at her , they fled and left him expos'd to her fury ; but however they went back afterwards and took him up half dead , bringing him to the tent ; whom we were oblieg'd to leave at pontichery , his wounds and bruises , not permitting him to return to france . chap. xxxviii . the squadron departs from negraile for balazor ; hinder'd by calms ; monsieur duquesne in vain endeavours to supply himself with fresh provisions at cheduba . while we were taking in water , and wood , and other necessaries for our departure , we saw a vessel anchoring half a league off from the diamond ; monsieur duquesne taking notice of it , sent the lyon after her ; who found she was a portuguese ketch , that came to take some tortoises before she went to pegu ; the dragon joyn'd her a little after , so these two frigats lay cruising out till the twelfth of november , when we sail'd out from between the two isles of negraile , to be the readier to sail when the wind should present . we had no sooner anchor'd again over against the diamond , but monsieur duquesne sent for the captain of the ketch aboard ; he was a genoese by nation , and 't was from him we understood the enemy reported they had kill'd two hundred of us in the fight off madras , and fourscore of our officers , of whom were monsieur duquesne himself , and father tachard ; whom we buried in the night at st. thomas's ; we were not a little surpriz'd at this news , for what likelihood was there of father tachards being kil'd , who all the time of the fight was in the hold , and so could not be lost , unless the ship sunk ; and how was it possible , for us to lose fourscore officers out of thirty , which was the whole number we brought out of france . however a report attended with such particulars , did not fail to gain belief every where ; and they manag'd it so , that at ponticheri it past for a certain , truth ; and all along the coast , none knevv the contrary , but themselves ; vvho vvere so far from believing it , that they could not conceal that they were more afraid of us than ever ; the best part of them removing with their best effects from madras , for fear we should return and make a descent : and this did not look like the security , and triumph of victors . yet this boasted victory , serv'd till our return , to conceal the disgrace of having eleven large ships , under the protection of a fort , insulted by a squadron of six ; i can't imagin what people will think of them , when they see monsieur duquesne reviv'd again , and the fourscore officers rais'd from tht dead ; and our whole company as compleat as before , excepting only four that were kil'd . tuesday the fourteenth of november , having taken about fourscore tortoises , we sail'd for balazor . that day a seaman of provence deserted us , who enrag'd , because he could not revenge himself for some hard usage he thought he had receiv'd from his officers , remain'd at the great isle of negraille ; whither we had sent the sloop in the morning to look for our men that had been a hunting since the day before ; without taking any other provision , but a little rack and some biscuit in his pocket , a hatchet , and three great nails ; in all probability to make a catamaron with , in which by the favour of the tide , he might gain the country of pegu , which was but four leagues distant . scarce had we lost sight of negraile , but the little wind we had , turn'd into a downright calm ; which lasted a long while , and was very tiresom by reason of the violent heats , and a malignant fever that began to spread amongst the seamen ; which we with reasnn attributed to the extraordinary fatigues they had gone through , and to the pestilential serenes of these marshy islands , which are damp , unwholesome vapors rising after sun-set ; and the whole crew , that before enjoy'd so perfect a health , became very much infected ; so that monsieur duquesne through a necessity of being supply'd with fresh provisions was oblieg'd to stop at cheduba , an island in the kingdom of racam , situated in 18 deg. 23 min. n. l. and 115 d. 34 m. l. where we say for a while , and sent three sloops ashoar . as soon as ever these fearful islanders perceiv'd them , they fled to the woods ; there came a band of them afterwards to the sea side with lances and bows in their hands , making signs that we should not land ; notwithstanding which two of our men did , ( and put them out of pain , ) by letting them understand as well as they could the reason of it ; but 't was impossible to perswade these savages to supply us with any fresh provisions for our mony , or by the way of exchange , tho' they had plenty of fowl and cattel . they are of a swarthy complection , and go naked ; have very thick hair , and are taller than ordinary . 't was no small mortification to fail of being supplied with those provisions and necessaries we expected to meet with here ; our distemper encreasing daily , and having scarce fresh provisions enough to serve the sick , the number of whom by this time amounted to 60 , and 't was not long before i was one of them , but was so happy as to have but six fits of the fever . chap. xxxix . the squadron anchors before balazor , where we supplied our selves with fresh provisions , and took in goods for france . whatever care we could take to mannage our fesh provisions , the number of the sick soon consum'd them ; so we were forc'd to have recourse to monsieur duquesne , who at the instance of father tachar'd stinted himself of his own , to supply them , who else had perish'd through want. i can't hear omit the indefatigable pains this good father took with them ; he toil'd with the almoner from morning till night , visiting some , serving others , and administering the sacraments to the dying , and performing the utmost that lay in his power . what the commandant spar'd , prov'd but inconsiderable , when divided amongst fourscore sick persons , who yet were glad of it till they got to balazor , to the sight of which we came the last of november in the morning ; we sail'd four days along the coast , and the banks of the ganges , which is one of the four principal rivers of the world ; and on the third of december , we came to an anchor within three leagues and a half of the land , where after firing three guns of notice , as the first time , the commandant sent monsieur fauche to give notice of his arrival . we presently prepar'd to set a shoar at the mouth of the river , those , who had the disease of the country , and to get fresh provisions aboard for the rest of the sick ; the number of whom was too great to let the english know of it , who had a factory too at balazor , and might make their advantages of it . monsieur deslandes , director general , arriv'd from ougly . 2 days after ; almost at the same time as the mergui , an english built ship of 18 guns , with two others , that the french took from the siamois , which were partly laden with salt-peter , and some bales of goods , that were to be put aboard the squadron ; we unloaded 'em out of hand , and several other great barks , who every day brought us the rest of the goods ; while we were loading , monsieur deslandes continued a board us , whom the commandant entertain'd very nobly , and honour'd him several times with the discharge of guns , as well from his own ship , as the rest , who complimented him thus in their turns . we were very ill furnisht with fresh provisions here ; the beef and mutton was meer carrion , so that two of the captains who were careful of the health of their men , threw , what fell to their share over-board ; i never saw any flesh so red , or so likely to procure a flux ; however our captain who did not much concern himself with such things , and the violence of hunger , made us digest them with rice , which was now our bread for four months . this fare was none of the best , and i long'd to go to balazor to mend my diet , but could not get leave , by reason that at our first landing there were some of the seamen who got drunk with aquavitae , and quarrell'd with the english , one of vvhom they kill'd with a knife , which was the occasion of hindring the others going a shoar , without so much as excepting some of us , who were not given to such kind of quarrels . the two mandarins being gone to balazor , to inquire out a convenient passage to their country , understood that them was a moorish ship bound suddainly for mergui , they agreed presently for their passage with the captain , and afterwards came to take their leave of monsieur duquesne , and father tachard , who was glad to be rid of the burthen ; the father who had them under his protection , and who was in honor oblieg'd to see them us'd respectfully , having receiv'd them from the hand of the late king of siam ; procur'd from monsieur duquesne a compliment , to dismiss them with five guns . we recommended to them the mierable state of the french who languisht in their prisons , and monsieur chamoreau , captain of the lyon , besought them in particular , in the behalf of a brother of his , who was actually a prisoner there , tho' to be plain with them , i believe their interest was very inconsiderable : and if i may believe the account a jesuite gave me of them , 't would be as much as they could do to keep their own feet out of the fetters , when they came home . father duchast , whom a long residence in siam , had render'd him knowing in the maxims and policies of this nation , arriv'd at ougli , and came to salute father tachard , and to put into his hands a great quantity of provisions , which the jesuits of this town sent to those of ponticheri ; after he had put them aboard us , he he return'd very well pleas'd with his voyage , and us too ; for he was so civil as to let us have all the curious stuffs he had brought from ougly at reasonable rates . monsieur vasseur , second lieutenant of the rock , dying next morning , we threw him into the sea , with 7 guns discharg'd for his funeral . chap. xl. the squadron parts from balazor to return to ponticheri , we found a great number of moors there , who fled for refuge to the french. the near approach of an ill season ; but cheifly the earnest desire of monsieur duquesne , to return to france , made us hasten our departure ; after having taken in fresh water , and all other supplies necessary for our voyage , we commanded our sick aboard , whom the land air had perfectly recover'd . and on saturday the 30th . of december , we parted with monsieur deslandes for pontichery , being follow'd by the company 's boat loaden with powder and ball for the fort. we took our course south east and by south , with a fresh gale , which soon turn'd into a calm ; and lasted from the first , to the fifth of january , 1691. when it began to blow a fresh again ; and on the tenth in the evening , we discover'd the land of madras ; at which the commandant lay by , for fear of passing beyond it in the night , resolving to stop there the next day , if he discover'd any shiping , tho' the fright and consternation the enemy was in , gave us little ground to expect it ; yet nevertheless we met one , whom the fort had no sooner warn'd of our arrival by six guns , but she fled ; not believing it a sufficient protection . we follow'd her with all the sail we could make , and at last came up with her , notwithstanding she had been so far a head of us ; about four in the afternoon seeing the lyon and the dragon within shot of her , she run herself within a little bank at sadraspatam , where her men presently went a shoar . but in vain had she sought for safety there , if the sea , which was very ruff , had not hinder'd us from boarding her ; yet we earnestly desier'd it , being ready to run any riskque in the pillageing and burning of her , but monsieur duquesne judging otherwise of it , pursued his voyage , and this evening came to an anchor some leagues beyond madras , from whence we departed next morning being the twelfth , and arriv'd at pontichery at one in the afternoon ; the fort saluted us with nine guns , and we answer'd them with as many : father tachand went a shoar presently , taking with him what he had aboard , intending to make his residence there . i could not immagine that the loss of his reverence , could produce such different effects as it did ; there were some who were very much afflicted at it ▪ and a great many others , who of the contrary were very little concern'd : and most of the seamen , who are little verst in the merits , and worth of men , were as incensible of the loss of him , as if they had never enjoy'd the advantages of his company ; however he wanted not the civility of seven guns at his departure . the publick is like to be oblieg'd to him for an account of his voyage , which at parting he put into the hands of monsieur duquesne , to deliver it to the rr. ff . jesuites , who were to see it printed , but it contains no return ; i read nothing in it which i had not seen , and which i have not inserted in this ; except a letter from one of their fathers , who is at present in china ; which contains a full account of the revolution that happen'd at siam , and this has very much enlarg'd his relation . since our departure from pontichery , they had planted on the shoar a new battery of eight guns , 18 pounder each , being those we had brought from france ; and we found above twenty thousand negros there , who had fled thither for refuge , under the french pavillion , to avoid the troops of the great mogul ; who had besieg'd gingy , the caputal of the prince of that name . this is a very great town , about fifteen leagues up the land ; the strongest , and the only one , able to resist the power of the mogul ; with whom this prince has continual war : and whose troops , tho' to the number of fourscore thousand , where , as they told us , shamefully oblieg'd to quit the siege , through the vigorus resistance of the garison and the town , where the prince of gingy commanded in person . two great lords of the country who where at pontichery when we lay at anchor , had the curiosity to come and see our ship , accompanied with five and twenty servants , which they took out of above three hundred , that each of them had ; we put all things in as good order as we could , and brought all our company above deck , the number of which they admir'd at ; but the sea incommoding them very much , and not being able to stand on the deck , they returned immediately ; with a salute of 7 guns and 7 vive le roy's . chap. xli . the squadron leaves the indies to return to france , passes the line the third time , without any inconveniencies , in the 170 d. of long. the beginning of our navigation is happy . after we had taken some hogsheads of water aboard , and some other provisions we wanted ; the commandant took leave of monsieur martin , who saluted him from the fort with three discharges of eleven guns . that day we gave the parting gun ; so on wednesday the ●4th : of january we sail'd by four in the morning to quit the indies for this time ; and return to france ; the wind was very favourable to us , and soon carried us a considerable distance , from a land , which we wisht six thousand leagues off us . it seem'd to me as if this long voyage we now entered on , would never be ended , and tho' we sailed ne're so swiftly , and i had made the voyage already , yet i fancy'd we should never come to the end of it : however we made such way , that february the 24th . 3 in the afternoon we past the line the third time , in 107 d. of long. without any inconveniency of calms or heats . such a happy beginning of a voyage was no little comfort to us , and the hopes 't would continue so , sweeten'd our toil , and made the time more pleasant than before . the 16th . we had the sun in our zeinth , that is , darting his beams perpendicularly on us , casting no shadow , but on the contrary an excessive heat , which we were forc'd to bear , without so much as one drop of water to refresh us between meals ; this heat diminisht insensibly as we departed from the sun , and enter'd into cooler climates ; which however did not hinder our experiencing great miseries and fatigues , and had we not been unaccustom'd to 'em , should scarce have been able to have undergone ' em . the 25th . in the morning we past the tropick of capricorn , and met with blustring winds in these latitudes , which forwarded us very much on way ; but afterwards became so outrageous , that we cou'd more willingly have embrac'd the most tiresome calm . chap. xlii . a dreadfull tempest happens in the heigth of mascarin , which disperses the squadron , and is in great danger of being lost . being now the time of carnevall , monsieur duquesne was obliged to give us wine , instead of rack , which we had drunk for four months before , at this time every one is desirous to fare a little better than ordinary , but in vain did we attempt it at sea , where good chear is generally scarce , but especially in such long voyages as these ; the seamen danc'd morning and evening , and were very merry ; which joyn'd with the fair wind we had , serv'd to lessen the time , which was more irksom to us , than any thing else . the wind already blew so strong , that we sail'd no less than 3 leagues an hour ; and encreasing on tuesday the 1st . of march , obleig'd us to furl all our sails , except the fore-mast ; and the air was so thick and cloudy , that we cou'd scarce descern from ship to ship , which prov'd but too fatal an omen , of that dreadful tempest that ensu'd . sure nothing cou'd be more frightful and amazing , than to see the air condens'd , and our beloved element representing a dismal scene of death . the winds spent their utmost rage , and seem'd to groan beneath their burthen ; while the yawning seas torn with their fury , eagerly desir'd to make a prey of us : yet still kept us in suspense , even in the arms of death ; about four in the afternoon , the foremast sheet was blown to rags , and the vast noise and universal rouling of the ship , fill'd us all with confusion and horror . and now being about 3000 leagues from land , we saw ourselves exposed to the outragious element ; without sails , and distitute of all means that might tend to our safty . the vast prodigious waves no sooner rowl'd over our decks , and fill'd our ship with water , but greater still return'd , and seem'd to sink us to the bottom ; so that sometimes we had scarce time to take breath , and hardly knew whether we were in the ship or the sea . in this miserable condition and approaching danger , every one plied the pump ; and the short remainder of the day , we spent in fastening a sprit sail to the yard of the fore-mast sail , which we had no sooner done , but as an addition to our misery , a dismal shout was heard at the sight of one of our ships , which driven by the violence of the storm , was just ready to run fowl of us , and split us both . all that 's horrible and amazing in death ; presented it self to our view ; himself at the last moment of life , knew not what course to take , or what he should do to avoid it ▪ we unfurl'd our two sprit-sails , which were no sooner loose , but the winds blew them into a thousand shatters however they serv'd to clear us of the ship to which we so happily shew'd our lights ▪ that hoisting her foremast sail she past by , without damage on either side . in the midst of so many alarums and continual dangers , we past the rest of night in pumping , and rummaging the inside of the ship , which was so wet that there was not a dry place to be found in 't to lie down : rivers of water ran continually over the deck ; the boxes , chests , and all the hamocks were thrown down , and nothing was to be seen throughout the whole vessel but the perfect picture of a shipwrack , to which the winds and seas seem'd to conspire ; this night we had the the jack staff carried away by one single wave . we waited for day break with more impatience than our friends for our return ▪ as tho' 't would alay the storm , or rescue us from danger ; at last it came , but alas it only serv'd to give us a clearer sight of our misery , so that friday in the morning , the wind and the seas having abated nothing of their rage , but still encreasing ; and finding our selves quite spent , we with horror beheld the wild and almost inevitable death that waited for us . we had recourse to god as the only means left , and with tears in our eyes , and terror in our hearts , we implor'd his infinite goodness , by the suffrages of the blessed virgin , and st. joseph ; whom we pray'd to interpose their credit to obtain mercy for us . in the mean time we ply'd four pumps continually , and having discover'd two great leaks , the one afore , the other aff't we were oblieg'd to make a well in the bottom of the keel , and to draw the water thence with buckets and pails to prevent sinking . 't was strange , that tho' watching and fasting had quite spent us ; yet we shou'd gather strength out of our very weakness , and work and toil on , without so much as reflecting on our miserable condition ; each of us thought of nothing but disputing his life , which he saw prest and attackt with a thousand dangers at once . we continued thus toyling in our misery , till four in the evening , when not knowing what farther course to take to save our selves , or to resist the violence of the storm , we a second time adrest our selves to god , vowing upon a deliverance to have a service , or each his particular mass said at st. anns in auray . we crept up upon the deck , and our almoner on his knees , under the quarter deck , as did all the rest invok the aid and mercy of heaven , in the name of two hundred and fifty saints more , who poured out their souls in the same devotion , imploring the mercy of god ; never was a more moving spectacle seen , and i then with horror read our ruin in the disparing looks of monsieur duquesne , who kneeling on his bed , and looking fixedly on the raging seas , mounting high in the air , and threatning us with ruin , seem'd to tell us there was no more hopes left but in the immediate favour of heaven : the vow being made , he let himself fall on his bed , saying his only hopes were in the infinite mercy of god , and that 't was invain to strive any longer . this , i own threw me into the last despair , yet we were resolv'd to try once more what we could do ; resolving to save our selves , or perish ; we try'd to hoist a second time our fore-mast sail , where we us'd care in taking of the rise ; each with fear and impatience waited the success of a course , that was either to save or ruin us ; and at this very time we were quite consum'd with the labour of the merciless sea. a little after a seaman , whom the sea had swept out of the ship , was thrown in again by the waves , and sav'd . but god at last show'd us mercy , and pitty , and was pleas'd to put an end to all our fatigues and sufferings ; for unfurling the foremast sail , it resisted the wind ; when full of joy and acknowledgement for so visible a protection , we began to pursue our way ; and in our turn , triumphing over those waves that had so insulted us for two days together . we ran thus the rest of the night , and next day , being saturday , the wind began to alter about four in the morning ; so that at break of day we saw our selves out of that danger , which continually threatned us for eight and forty hours together , without sleeping , or eating , or drinking , save a little biscuit and rack . when we had stopt the two leakes as well as we could , we fell to settling all things in the inside of the ship , that were in confusion ; for nothing cou'd be seen but chests and arms , &c. scatter'd up and down ; fowls and beasts drown'd ; in short , an emblem of an universal deluge : each now taking breath , began to provide for himself , some prest with hunger , began to search for victuals ; but the kitchins being spoiled we could have none drest in three days time ; and others almost dead for want of sleep , fell to drying their beds and cloaths in the sun. never was the returning spring , after a long and torrid winter , more greatful than the sight of the sun to us , which compos'd the remainder of the storm , and hush't it quite asleep : this was a truly happy day to us ; but seeing our selves all alone , we reckon'd we were preserv'd by heaven , only to carry home the dismal news of the loss of the rest of the squadron ; we sail'd on , still continuing our way , and endeavouring to discover what was become of the rest of the ships , whose rendevouze was appointed at martinico . chap. xliii . as we approach the cape of good hope , we meet with contrary winds , with much fatiegue and sickness . monsieur duquesne finds part of the squadron which he gave for lost . the begining of the month we sail'd with all success imaginable , during which time we often saw certain dark birds with yellow beaks , but towards the end , as we approacht the cape of good hope , meeting with contrary winds we suffered great fatigues , which were very prejudicial to our men , and occasioned the bloody flux , and other distempers ; and the cold increasing daily , was as great a mortification to us now , as ever the heats had been before . the severity of the climate had not been so tiresome , if our passage had been more speedy ; but we scarcely had sailed above fourty or fifty leagues , but the wind chopt about , which forc'd us to ly by till it came fair again ; and these delays were very uneasiy to us , by reason of the continual rains , and excessive rowlings of the ship . the third of april , i remember amongst a number of other misfortunes , we had thunder , lighting and contrary winds , opprest us , all at once ; which gave us all imaginable disturbance , and the excessive roulling and tossing of the ship would not let us take one moments rest , or suffer us to stay a minute in a place , and sure nothing could be more irksom than our present condition was , especially the little hopes we had of a speedy deliverance . the next day we received an unexpected comfort ; for about seven in the morning we perceiv'd , through the vast fogs that arose , two ships a head of us , to whom we gave chace , though all alone , and had suffered so much in our rigging ; they immediately made us the signals of acknowledgments , in furling the fore-sail , and lashing the fore-top-sail ; to which we answer'd in the same manner , and had no sooner hoisted up a white flag , but they did so too : we quickly perceiv'd they were our own ships , and as soon as came near them , they severally saluted us with five guns a piece , and a vive le roy ; the first was the lion , whose poop , as well as ours , was carried away ; the second was the dragon , who for eight days had been seperated from the rest : if we were glad at the sight of them , they were not less surpriz'd at our return , they believing us lost ever since they had seen a top-mast floating on the sea ; they told us , that the squadron had suffered extreamly , and that the bird had been forced to heave her boat and four guns over board to save herself ; and that the flourishing and the rock were nigh being lost , all the goods in the first being spoiled , and the last having been obliged to pump continually to save themselves . chap. xliv . we gave thanks to god for finding our selves on the bank of needles , which we happily passed , and the gentle trading winds succeeding , we sailed prosperously . as bad as this news was , we were glad to hear it , for we never expected to see or hear of one another more , and great wou'd have been our satisfaction in pursuing our voyage together , if the south west winds , which lasted eight days , had not obliged us to lie by ; at last they chang'd , and having seen a little bird , of the size of a sparrow , we judg'd we were not far from land. having sounded several times without finding ground , though according to the variation , and the point of the pilots , we shou'd have been on the bank of needles . the 7th . of april we saw a whale , and several birds , as cormorants , and velvet channels , were sitting on the water , which gave us to understand we were very near land ; so that next day being the eighth , the dragon having found ground , hoisted a flag to give us notice of it , we presently huddled over a few prayers , according to custom , and sounding all along we found ground in a 100 fathom water . it was wonderful strange that in this place , where the sea is always so boisterous and violent , it prov'd a dead calm , followed by so gentle a breeze , that we past this bank of 24 leagues in length , with our top-gallant sails only : thus having doubled the cape of good hope we took heart , and hoped for a prosperous voyage hence forward , the winds being now so favourable . and indeed we made great way , for after having sailed 200 leagues beyond it , we began to breath in a temperate air , and to have fair and clear weather , constantly accompanied with the gentle trading winds ; it seem'd as if god was now pleased to give us a little comfort , after so much misery and sufferings ; and , to say truth , we extreamly stood in need of it , for the vessel was not able to bear any more weather ; our men were very sickly , and grew so more and more , with what they had suffered in doubling the cape ; so that every day some of 'em died , either of the flux , or of the scurvey . yet still we had reason to believe our selves happy , the cold abating by degrees , and warm weather succeeding , which was no small relief to those who were ill of the latter distemper ; the sea was now no longer dangerous , but on the contrary all was calm and pleasant , as if we had made an in-land voyage . chap. xlv . our pleasant navigation invites us to fish . a description of an extraordinary fish call'd a requiem . this happiness , and the diversions we gave our selves of gaming , dancing and reading , charm'd the fateigues of so long a voyage ; besides these , we often delighted our selves with fishing , and in one calm day we caught numbers of tons , goldfishes and bounites , and a large fish call'd a requiem , by fastening a great piece of bacon to the hook . this monstrous creature is between 15 and 16 foot long , and almost as big as a man , it has no shell , but a skin thick and rough like shagrin , with a muzzle half round , distinct from the rest of the head ; four fingers below , towards the belly is plac'd the larger mouth , whose two jaw bones have each three rows of teeth , which are large and flat , yet very sharp , so that whenever he eats he is forc'd to throw himself on his back . it seems as if nature , wonderful in her productions , wou'd by that means suppress the devouring appetite of this greedy creature , which i have seen return three times to the same bait , tho' the hook had torn his gills before . this monstrous creature does not shun men , as other fish do , for he no sooner sees him in the water , but he follows him , and when he designs to quit the prey , he throws himself upon it , carrying away that part on which he fastens first ; he is never seen but in a calm , following ships to catch whatever meat or rubbish the seamen throw out . certain little fishes of the size of a sardine which swims before , ( free from the insults of this creature as devouring as it is ) and serve him as a pilot , for from thence it is they are called by that name ; they are such faithful companions to him , that when he is taken with the hook , and drawing in , they lie on his back , and suffer themselves to be drawn in also . i had forgot to mention how we found in the belly of one we took , a knife and six pound of bacon , which in all probability it got at the hook ; i believe there is no creature in the world so hard liv'd , and difficult to kill . i took notice of one thing , among several others on board our ship , that was peculiarly amazing in this fish ; which was this , that it being cut in peices , and each peice , seperated from the heart , yet they all mov'd alike , which surprized us very much . this fish has a sort of marrow in the head , that hardens against the sun , and being powder'd , and taken in white-wine , is very good for the chollick . chap. xlvi . monsieur duquesne meets with two more ships of his squadron and sail together , in order to anchor at the isle of the ascention . while we enjoyed the innocent diversion of fishing , a more sollid entertainment diverted us for some time , the wind which we had directly in our stern , made us dispatch no less than 40 leagues a day , sailing now as expeditiously since our departure from pontichery , as we did unsuccesfully before . the 25th . of april , the dragon having given a signal about 3 in the afternoon , that she saw two ships , the admiral ordered her to give chase to them ; they seem'd to be dutch bound for st. helens , from whence we were not fat ; but when we came up with them , we discovered they were the bird and the flourishing , which we had not seen in two months before . our squadron had now been all re-united , if the rock , which they told us , was a head of us , had been in company ; we made use of the wind , which was very favourable to joyn her at the isle of ascentions , near which we should pass to take some tortoise aboard . we never had more need of going a shoar , for our company was harrast and quite spent with our poor diet , and continual pumping night and day ; for our refuge was nothing but a little brandy at our meals , with biscuit and stinking flesh , and this was but a small relief to the sick , who dy'd 3 or 4 at a time , and were pittyed in vain by others , in whose power it was not to help them . you might see fifty at a time , some dried up with a fevour , and others consum'd with the bloody flux , a third sort bloated and disfigured with the country-disease , for we could not get one drop of good wine , or a bit of fresh meat for them , since our fowl and sheep , design'd for their use , perished in the tempest , which surpriz'd us in the height of mascarin . you may imagine that the long continuance of such ill diet , began to be very loathsom to us ; the scurvy , and weakness of a continual flux had brought me to nothing ; but i was still preserv'd , and tho' i had the same distemper with the rest , yet not the same destiny ; for i often saw my self surrounded with the sick , and dying , without the least fear of death , being fully perswaded i should recover when i went a shoar at the isle of ascention , which we all impatiently long'd for . the admiral , who without doubt , is one of the most expert in the art of navigation the king has , believed we were now drawing near it ; and accordingly , after having run some leagues more on the eighth of may , at two in the afternoon it appeared to us . we no sooner came near the shoar : but an infinite number of various sorts of birds , inhabitants of this desert island , came in flocks , as it were , to meet and receive us ; they crouded so thick about us , that we killed them with half-pikes . here we anchored in 30 fathom water , over against a great sand-creek , where the tortoises go ashoar , which is at the foot of the mountain of the cross , so called , because of a cross which the portuguese have planted on the top , where all ships that touch there , are obliged to leave a letter in a bottle , to inform them from whence , and where they are bound , as also the day they past by . chap. xlvii . a description of the isle of ascention , and of the great tortoises that are found there . as soon as we had cast anchor , the seamen began to fish , and catch vast numbers ; next day i went ashoar , although it was very difficult landing , the sloop being obliged to set us ashoar on a steep rock , where we were forced to creep on all four , with a great deal of trouble and danger ; several of our sick that were landed here , died presently , not having strength enough to bear the air , and the difficulties of climbing the cliffs . there is no water found in this uninhabited island , nor any thing to be seen but parch'd barren hills , and vales without verdure ; nay , not so much as a blade of grass , or any herb ; so violent and piercing are the rays of the sun. it 's situated in 7 d. 30 m. of s. l. and may be about five leagues in compass . at first it appeared full of mountains and craggy rocks , cover'd with birds dung , who make their nests on the top of them ; but in the west of the island , two high mountains rise , which are a little green , being better moistned by the frequent dews , which causes the ground all about , to abound with the largest , and best tasted pursloine that ever i met with . as weak as i was , the desire i had to be cured of the scurvy , in taking the air at land , which is the only remedy for this evil , made me run up and down this part of the island ; where i observ'd one thing that was very extraordinary : the birds which stood thick on the rocks , suffered us to come so near them , that we might take them with our hands , and i stooping to gather some pursloine , several hovering round my head , came and pearcht on my hat , of which i took four alive , and kill'd two more with my cane . the great numbers of these birds , destroy the young tortoises as soon as hatch'd , for they love their flesh so well , that they are continually pursuing them ; and before they leave the egg , or are able to gain the sea , or swim on the surface of the water ; they kill them with their beaks ; but after they are grown bigger , the lightness of their shell makes them swim with more strength , and defends them from these birds of prey . yet notwithstanding this vast destruction of them , their number is immense ; the tortoise being one of those creatures , that multiply most . nor will they admire at it , who consider it as one of the largest fish , that has its nutriment from this element . it s shape and colour being known by most people , i thought it unnecessary to give you a particular description of it here ; i shall only say , that its head resembles that of an eagle , and the fins , which are about a foot and half long , are hid under their shells : and for that reason , when the requiems ( a fish i have mentioned before ) meet with the tortoises , they always seize upon that part first , and so kill them ; their shell being but thin , and uncapable of resisting so great a strength , as that of the requiem : this battle i have often seen my self , and so can the better attest the truth of it . some who have been ill inform'd , have said , that they make use of their paws in fighting , as the land tortoises do ; but nothing is more false than this , they having nothing like a paw , only a few prickles at the end of their fins , which they crawl ashoar with , and dig holes in the ground to lay their eggs in ; which having done , they immediately return to sea again , leaving them covered , to be hatch'd by the warmth of the sun. great care and diligence must be used in the taking of them , for they are very quick-sighted , you must range your self in the night , in several places of the creek , where they are known to come ashoar , and when you perceive them at a sufficient distance from the water , run to 'em and throw 'em on their backs , and then 't is impossible for 'em to rise again . the tortoises that are taken at the isle of ascention , are the biggest that ever i saw ; there are some that weigh three or four hundred weight , sufficient to feed so many men at a time ; the flesh is very wholsom and delicate , and the eggs , which are exactly round , and are found in great quantities along the coast , are almost as big as an hen's , but their shells are so thick , that if you throw them against the ground , they will rebound without breaking . chap. xlviii . we leave the isle of ascention , and happily pass the line a fourth time by the 346th , deg. of long. and come to an anchor at martinico . after having stay'd here three days , to refresh our selves with pursloin and fish , we left it on the 10th . at four in the afternoon , and the eleven tortoises which we took on this isle , were a great support to our sick ; the goodness of god still favouring us with a fair wind , on the 22d . of may we past the line a 4th . time , by the 346 deg. of long. and indeed we stood in need of an expeditious return , for we had no less than 60 on board who lay sick on their beds , and they who were on their legs were so spent , that they mov'd compassion : amongst the first were monsieur baron , the almoner , and the king's secretary , all three afflicted with the same distemper , viz. the scurvy , and dy'd within a few days of one another , notwithstanding all care imaginable was taken of them ; only mr. baron had the honour of seven guns given him , being a major officer ; so that our ship by its shatter'd condition , and our own miseries , resembled those hospitals , where one sick person is no sooner dead , but another takes his place . in the mean time we made the best of our way towards martinico , where monsieur duquesme had orders to touch at ; and just as we expected to discover it we met with a squadron of 10 ships , the admiral of which had her flag on the main-top mast , which made us believe they were the enemy ; however superior they seem'd to us in strength , we presently prepar'd for a fight , brought down our hamocks , and threw the chests into the hold ; at least making a shew of courage , tho' we desired nothing less than fighting , in the miserable condition we were in . each reason'd differently of the matter , as he was more or less concern'd for his life , his goods , or his liberty , which he now reckon'd in the utmost danger . monsieur duquesne , whom glory and interest had rendred more discerning than the rest , inferr'd that if this was an english squadron sent to intercept our passed , france must be the sufferer , for we shou'd never be able to resist them . but while this was considering on he resolv'd , that during the rest of the day we shou'd go as near the wind ( which we had of them ) as possible , and that when night came on , we shou'd steer a false course to avoid them , which was the only way we cou'd take in the present exigency . a capuchin , a passenger ( who was our almoner since the death of the former ) gave the general absolution above deck by order of the commandant ; after a succinct exhortation in few words , put us in mind of that courage and bravery we had formerly shown on the like occasions ; exhorted us as much as his fears wou'd permit him , to abate nothing of it in the present necessity , when our lives and liberties was both at stake . this discourse out of season , made me resolve on a certain thing i scrupled to think of before , which happily had no further consequence ; for night had scarce conceal'd us from the enemy , but immediately tacking about we made a false course ; in the morning we found our selves as secure as we cou'd wish , and in a few hours in sight of martinico , where we came to anchor over against st. peter's fort , thursday the 7th . of june . there rod at anchor in the harbour four of the king's ships , commanded by monsieur le chevalier de arbouvill , who , as an inferiour officer to our commandant , struck his flame , and saluted us with seven guns , and we in return answer'd with the same number . chap. xlix . we put the sick a shoar . the whole squadron rejoins , and prepares to return immediately to france . we immediately debarkt the sick , and lodg'd them in an house for that purpose , upon the shoar near the river ; who were furnished with bread , wine , fresh meat , oranges , lemons , bananes , ananes , and all sorts of refreshments ; as were the rest of the company , which with the plenty of fish the negroes brought on board , were sufficient to restore us to our former vigour . we understood there , that the ten ships we met in our return , were english , bound home from barbadoes , whom the squadron of monsieur le chevalier de arbouville had oblig'd to raise the siege of guadaloupa , with the loss of 500 of the enemy , and a great many cannon , having understood since by some french prisoners , who had made their escapes , that they were so much concern'd at the sight of us , that as soon as 't was night they presentlv tackt and stood a false course as well as we . they told us also some news from france , and amongst other things , that of the death of monsieur segnelay , and of the worthy choice his majesty had made of monsieur de poutchartraine to supply his place . the death of this minister was the reason we met with no new orders at martinico , as he promis'd our commandant , nor the flute loaden with provisions which he was to send thither , which was the occasion of a greater scarcity there than we expected , meal and fresh provisions being somewhat scarce at martinico , eversince the war. this island is so well known in france , by the relations that have been made of it , and the trade it maintains there , that i ought not to speak much of it , except some small matters i observ'd in the short stay i made there ; but that which pleas'd me most was , the many fine houses scituated on the mountains all about , whose avenues , allies and arbours are compos'd of jessamins , orange and lemon trees , which are as common there , as apple trees in normandy . the women there wou'd be very agreeable , but for the pale colour which is contracted by the air of the island , where the heats in my mind are too great for any , but the natives to live , happily there . not being to make any long stay there , we began to wood and water , after we had clean'd our ship and stopt the two leaks we had . at this time the rock , whom we had not yet seen , came from an adjacent harbour where she had lain three days at anchor before our arrival , and came to an anchor over against the fort of st. peter , driven by the wind and tide ; she rang'd our side so close , that intending to pass betwixt us and the flourishing , she struck against our head and broke the beak , which so provoked monsieur duquesne , that he resolv'd to have the head pilot drawn under the keel , but he was discharg'd after three days lying in irons . chap. l. the squadron departs from martinico for france , where they at last safely arrived . death of monsieur questilly , captain of the dragon . it must be own'd that idea's which the mind forms of a future happiness are sometimes wonderful , and delude the time till we arrive at it . i was restless till i came to martinico , and when there , as uneasy till i reacht france , nor was it without reason , for whatever advantage we had by being there , there was none but desired to leave it , when he reflected on the number of those that died there daily . the standard , a ship of the company 's coming from the indies with two others , named the game and the loure , brought a pestilential distemper thither from brurill , which had not yet ceast ; so that the most healthy and vigorous amongst us , upon the least excess , were carried off in 4 or 5 days at most , in spight of any remedies that could be used . this mortality which might have very much lessened the company , and rendred them so weak as to be scarce able to bring the ship back again to france , made the commandant resolve to hasten away ; we took in wine and new biscuit , and after imbarking the sick , we sail'd the 2d . of july at nine in the morning , followed by monsieur le●ehvaler de arbouville , who was to convoy two and twenty merchants to rochfort . we were presently becalm'd , which hindred our coming within sight of the english islands till the 8th . when making all the sail we could we left the convoy behind us the merchants sailing very heavily . by leaving martinico we thought to have left the distemper that reign'd there , but it follw'd , us and did not take it's leave till it had swept away sixteen of our men , in the first fifteen days after our departure . monsieur de questilly , captain of the dragon , struck to it , as well as others ; to whom we gave the accustom'd honours , and the commandant put monsieur de aubervill , our lieutenant in his place . in the mean time the wind continuing good , we past the tropick of cancer on the 21st . and except a few days sailed very succesfully the rest of the month , and during those few we met with very rough seas , fomented by violent storms ; but the very thought of approaching france made us easy , though we had reason enough to be otherwise ; so nothing disturb'd us afterwards , seeing our selves near the end of so many fatiegues , and so long and hazardous a voyage . the 9th . of august the rock hung out english colours , to give us notice that she discover'd a sail which we saw behind us , making all the sail she could to us ; we were willing to gratify her curiosity , furl'd our sails , and gave her time enough to come up with us , and after she was near enough to discover our strength , she stood away presently without daring to come any nearer . monsieur duquesne having hung out french colours , which she did too without taking them down , tho' we hung out english colours again . next day the lyon was dispatcht to discover cape finister , who believing she had sight of it , gave us the signal ; but her mistake was very great , and our joy short , for we did not discover it till next day ; the bird , who kept the head of the squdron , having got a clear view of it , we gave god thanks by singing te deum , the wind being at north east , and therefore contrary , we came within cannon shot of the land , tacking till it chang'd , which it did that very evening , and carried us so happily for seven days together , that at last we arrived at the heighth of our wishes , that is , within sight of france , and came all six to an anchor under the island of groye , saturday the eighteenth of august 1691 , at nine in the morning : whence sailing again the 19th . we entered for lewis full of joy for our happy return , thanking the divine providence who had preserved us through a thousand dangers in this long and painful voyage , from which we parted from the island groye , the 27 of feb. 1690. finis . the canarie or fortunate islands the voyages of the sieur le maire , to the canary - islands , cape-verde , senegal , and gambia . i had been almost three years employ'd about the hotell de dieu of paris , ( that is , the hospital of god ) when i heard that monsieur d'ancourt was ready to part for cape-verde , in quality of director-general of the royal african company ; when i immediately resolv'd to accompany him , and he consented to it : and having agreed on terms , the 14. of jan. 1682. he presented me to the gentlemen of the company who confirm'd what we had settled . after imploying a few days in settling my affairs , and in taking leave of my friends , we parted for orleans ; where we took boat for nantes on the loire : and tho' this passage is commonly made in two or three days , yet we were seven or eight about it , and that not without danger too . the wind was still contrary , and so violent , that the river was almost as boisterous as the sea ; the rivers too overflow'd so , that we lost the channel ; so that only discerning the tops of little trees , all the rest being under water , we found our selves sometimes fast on the trunks , like birds perching on trees . at last , however , we arriv'd at nantes , and after ten days stay , we took horse for brest : what we saw of britany as we past , was not very entertaining ; tho' it 's known , this province is good and fruitful in many places ; but all along as we past , we had a very unpleasant prospect . being arriv'd at brest the 4th . of february , we expected to sail in a few days ; but the ship was not ready , but ill careen'd , and had not half her furniture ; and we were to wait till she was new masted , and till she was fit to meet with stormy weather , and the enemy which we expected . two months were spent in this work ; the ship was call'd the st. catherine , of four hundred tun , carrying forty guns ; 't was built at flessingue , and design'd for a cruiser ; captain monsegue commanded it by orders of the company . the port of brest , where the frigat lay , is the best we have in the ocean ; the greatst ships ride there in safety , and shelter'd from all weather as in a chamber ; whence 't is call'd by that name . ships may sail out of it at low water as well as at high ; for they always ride a-float . it 's as straight at the month as a river , and has two half-moons of each side , and on the right a strong castle , old built , which defends the entrance . this port goes in a spiral line ; it 's a large half league long , and about two hundred paces wide : it 's situated between two mountains , which cover it . all these advantages it receives from nature . in this port i saw the greatest and the beautifulest ships in the world ; amongst others , the admiral , nam'd the royal sun ; it has not so much gilding as the royal lewis of toulon , but 't is better built ; longer , and a better sailer . it carries 120 guns , and the great cabine is magnificent , richly gilt , and the cieling is of the design monsieur le poune : there are about fifteen more but of a lesser size ; yet very proper , and beautifully built . besides these , there were about fifty more of 90 , 80 , 70 , 60 , and 50 guns , without reckoning smaller frigats of a lower rate : next to the royal sun , are the queen , the crown , the glorious , the beautiful , the good , the thunderer , the the lightning , the diamond , &c. these vast machines give just wonder , and appear like floating palaces . our ship being compleatly equip'd , it sail'd out of the chamber into the road the 20th . of march ; five of the kings ships were fitted out at the same time , of which four were to joyn those of toulon , and the fifth to convoy some ships belonging to the east-india-company . wednesday the 9th of april 1682. i embark'd with four sons of a family which went with us : as monsieur dancort continu'd still at brest , these gentlemen and i diverted our selves a little with hunting , believing we might as easily go a-shore again as we came aboard : the director's cook who came aboard about some business , made use of a little skiff which was row'd by two lads , which we us'd to go a-shore in ; and were now got 2 leagues on the sea near cameret , without minding which way he should get back : we were so earnest taking the diversion of hunting , that we did not care where we put a-shore , without minding the danger we ran , in passing over craggy rocks hanging over the sea , into which i had like to fall two or three times . and after all this pains , we had the disappointment to meet with no game ; we were forc'd to employ our selves in killing larks , which prov'd afterwards more of use to us then we imagin'd then : tir'd therefore with this sort of hunting , we past to a better entertainment , and fell to a hare-pasty , which we brought with us , and a glass of good wine . after we had spent our provisions , we return'd to our little boat , and were no sooner at sea again , than a sudden storm arose , in which i thought we should have perish'd every moment . one of our gentlemen who was very much fatigu'd , had fall'n asleep as soon as ever he came into the skiff , and was waken'd by our noise , and the tossing of the boat ; and when we were half way , tho' he was scarce throughly awake , he was so sensible of the danger we were in , that he cry'd out , we were certainly lost if we did not return again . our little rowers were almost spent , but not their courage , who pretended to chear us , saying , there was no danger of the boat , tho' she rowl'd so ; and if the worst came to the worst , 't was only swimming for 't : but they were mistaken as to me ; and besides , the waves were so great and violent , that instead of landing us , they had dash'd us in pieces against the rocks . we follow'd the counsel of our companion , and turn'd back again , rowing with all our might ; and at last , with much ado , got a-shore , where we waited for calmer weather . in the mean time , while we were enjoying our safety a-shore , we heard a single gun , and saw at the same time the top-sails loose , which is the usual signal of sailing : there were several lighters near us , which might have carry'd us aboard ; but we could not prevail with any of the masters to whom they belong'd , to give us a cast . thus we saw our ship under sail , the admiral saluted with seven guns , making the best of her way , running before the wind , with all the sail she could make ; and i was not a little troubled to be left behind thus , and all my things aboard . we follow'd the sight of our vessel , haling her as loud as ever we could baul , and discharging our fuseels , but all in vain , the vessel disappear'd ; one of our companions , who was but an ill footman , took cameret road , believing he should find us there ; and being in search of him , we spent a good part of the night in looking after one another . many misfortunes attended us on our way ; for ever and anon , one was bogg'd in the marshes , another would fall into a ditch , each calling on the other for help , and all cursing the chase : hunger follow'd our other miseries , when at last we got into an inn , where every thing was proportionable to our short purses ; wretched provision and beds : however , all that we had was spent that night , and we were forc'd to depart fasting next morning . as we went again in search of our stray'd companion , and coasting by the sea , we perceiv'd masts , which at first we took for high trees which grew by the sea , not so much as flattering our selves that we should ever see our ship again , which we thought had been far enough off ; but coming near , we found we had not lost our passage , for she anchor'd in camaret road , three leagues from brest . great was our joy , and we had now no more to do but to find out our companion , and go aboard : we endeavour'd by signals to give notice of us to the ship , but with no better success than the day before ; so that the sloap did not come to fetch us . as we sought all imaginable ways to get out of our troubles , we observ'd a bark at sea plying towards the ship ; i don't know how we came to fancy that he whom we sought might be in it ; but we fancy'd right , and he was the first man we perceiv'd from the shore ; so we made signs to 'em at a distance , which he understood , and the bark made towards us : but it being impossible to come near , by reason of the rocks , 't was our business to get aboard as well as we could . at last we did ; and after a great deal of rejoycing at our meeting so happily again , we thought of nothing but taking our rest : but this was not the time ; for the sea was so rough , that the waves went over the ship , and we were wet from head to foot. this , joyn'd with the excessive cold , and the danger we were in of being cast-away , which the seamen themselves fear'd not a little , cast us into a fresh concern , till after much difficulty and hazard we got aboard . at our leisure we revolv'd all our past dangers , and presently fell to eating after hard fasts ; we remain'd some time in the road , waiting for monsieur dancourt , who was still ashore at brest . on sunday , at noon , april the 12th , 1682. he came aboard , and immediately we sail'd . when we were about three leagues at sea , we met the ship nam'd the burning , which lay at anchor , waiting the tide to enter into the bay of brest ; she was mounted with 80 guns , and came from havre , to take monsieur de prouily , lieutenant-general , aboard , who was afterwards to sail to algiers . we saluted him in the usual manner , with 7 guns , and crying out three times vive le roy ; he answer'd us with as many , against the usual custom of the king's ships , who always return two guns less ; in all probability , he did it in complaisance to monsieur the intendant , who was then aboard him , and who was monsieur dancourt's friend . after thanking him with three , we pursued our way with a north-east wind , leaving the cape to the west , steering west-south-west , where we took the point of our departure , in 48 degrees 20 minutes of southern latitude , and in the 11th degree of longitude ; but as i am not very expert in the art of navigation , i shall not oblige my self to be thus exact in these sort of observations , but when it is indispensibly necessary . tuesday , the 21th of april , we perceiv'd two ships to the east of us ; by their steering to get the weather-gage of us , we judg'd them to be privateers ; we presently put our selves in a posture of defence , which prevented their making any attempt upon us , believing there was little to be got by us but ball. sunday the 26th , in the morning , being in 32 degrees , as many minutes , of northern latitude , and in 4 degrees 13 minutes of eastern longitude , we saw cape-cantin , the coast of barbary , and the kingdom of morocco , from whence we were only six leagues distant ; if the night had lasted we had lost our way , for we sail'd to the west of the maderas , which is above 140 leagues thence . wednesday the 29th , we perceiv'd the isle of anecerotte , one of the seven canary islands ; which we left about ten leagues to the south-east , where we met with a calm , and excessive heat . thursday , the 30th of april , we found our selves in 28 degrees 30 minutes of southern latitude , and 4 minutes of longitude , taking the first meridian at the isle de fer , according to the custom of our nation ; so that not being above ten leagues distant to the north-east from the great canary , we tack'd on this isle till night , about a league off land. we could not anchor by reason of the little wind that was stirring , and the darkness of the following night ; this oblig'd us to tack about to the east ▪ and to keep out at sea till three a clock in the morning of the opposite side to the land. friday , the 1st of may , having tack'd to the west , in the road of the great canary , about nine and a half we anchor'd in 24 fathom , and found a sand that was partly grey and partly red , mix'd with coral ; the town , with its situation stands on the south-west side , is a league and a half from the road , and defended by a very ordinary castle . when they had given us notice from the top of this castle , they set up the pavillion of spain , which we saluted with five guns ; to which they return'd not a gun , i suppose 't was for want of powder . there is very good anchoring in this place , if one don 't come too near the town , to which the rocks , that lye under water , render the approach very dangerous ; it 's defended by a castle situated on a mountain , from being attack'd by sea ; it 's peopled by twelve thousand islanders brave enough , and able to oppose any invasion ; our ship anchor'd in 18 fathom water before the town . it 's about a league in compass ; the houses , for the most part , are well enough built , but low , not above two story ; they are all terras'd a top , so that the roofs not appearing , one would think they had been burnt . in the day time you scarce see a man in the streets . thô the bishop , the governor , and the best sort , have their residence at teneriffe , yet in this capitol is the episcopal seat , the tribunal of the inquisition , and the supream council , which is the parliament of the seven islands . there are four monasteries in 't , one of dominicans , and one of franciscans ; the two other are bernardines and recolets . these islands , which were formerly call'd fortunate , deserv'd the name , if the goodness of the air , and the richness of the soil , be consider'd ; they abound in wheat , barley , honey , cows , sheep , deer , and all the necessaries of life : the wine of malvesia is in such great plenty there , that the english , the french , the spaniard , and dutch , &c. furnish themselves thence every year . the happiness of this place , to be able to subsist independent of all other countries , for the necessaries of life , made the heathens formerly believe , that 't was the elizium fields , design'd for the abode of happy souls after death . they are not so happy in their water as in other things , but this they remedy by pouring it into vessels of the figure of a mortar , made of a very porous sort of stone , through which it filters it self , and afterwards becomes very good . their harvest is commonly in march or april ; in several places they have two in one year . the soil is so exceeding rich , that i saw a cherry-tree that had not been grafted above six weeks , bear fruit , flowers grow of themselves without any care ; and it abounds in oranges and cittrons to admiration . the great canary , as well as teneriffe , and the palme , continued idolaters some time after the conquest made of them by the spaniards in 1460. the ancerotte , fort-avanture , the gomer , and the fer , first receiv'd christianity ; and the three others at last follow'd their example . the spaniards , resolving at last to reduce these islands to their obedience , sent a great number of the inhabitants slaves into spain ; they who remained were civiliz'd , and live after the manner of their conquerors ; and these , above all the other inhabitants of the canaries , are civil to strangers . monsieur dancourt was very well receiv'd there by the governor of the island , with whom he din'd , conducted by the consul of our nation , nam'd remond , originally of liege , and a very honest man ; he too regal'd us very much , both with wines and fruits , and continued two days with him , in which he made exceeding much of me . i was four times at the convent of the bernardines , the provisor having given me leave at the request of the abbess ; there were some french women there , of whom one was of paris , who was my interpreter ; there being some sick in the convent , they were very much concern'd least i should take the infection . the presence of a physician , made them make use of the opportunity ; and several of them pretended to be sick who ail'd nothing , that they might have more liberty . they express'd a great deal of civility to me , and loaded me with bisket , and wet and dry comfits , with lemonade , malvesia , and all manner of fruit , which they sent me on plates , and china dishes , garnish'd with roses , violets , orange-flowers , jessamin-flowers , and tuberoses , without reckoning nosegays ; and i presented them too , which they civilly receiv'd . how their women are habited and how they carry their children on their backs how the negros dance in a round as they have no great confidence in their own physicians , they are very glad when they can meet with one of france : the lawyer did all he could to perswade me to stay at the great canary , offering me his house , his table , and many other advantages ; but i was resolv'd not to break my word with monsieur dancourt , so i thank'd the spaniard for all his kindness , and order'd what i thought was most proper for his wife , and such things as might be found in the island , where they are very scarce . he would have given me money , which for the honour of my nation i refus'd ; i thought to have return'd thither again next morning , he having desir'd the consul i might , saying he would gratify me in another way , seeing i would not take money ; but i had not time , the sloop coming to take me aboard on saturday night . i was almost enchanted with this island , and with much ado i parted from it ; if ever i leave france again , it shall be to live in the great canary . but i can scarce prefer any thing to france it self for happiness ; but before i leave this island , i must not forget to tell you , that it 's 30 leagues in compass , and almost round . saturday the 2d , towards evening , the wind blowing hard at north-north-east , we sailed , and slacking again about three a clock in the morning , we steer'd our course in sight of the pic , a high mountain of the island of teneriffe , with a design to anchor in the road of holy-cross ; our pilots observ'd in this latitude , that the needle varied to the north-east , three degrees thirty minutes . sunday the 3d , being to the farthest north of the great canary , with a scanty wind at north-north-east , we had the cape to the west all night . monday the 4th , in the morning , we arriv'd at teneriffe , the richest of all the canary islands ; in sight of holy-cross , a little town on the east point of the island . one may anchor there in 25 or 30 fathom water , however we did not anchor at all , and remain'd ready to sail again all day , waiting the sloop that was sent ashore . thô the governor of holy-cross permitted those who went in the sloop to land , yet he acquainted the governor-general ( whose residence is at laguna , three leagues from the sea ) that there was some french who desir'd to come ashore to be supply'd with provisions : the answer was , to make them prisoners if they did . perhaps the reason was , that they were afraid we might have some aboard that had the plague , thinking we came from the levant . the pic is one of the highest mountains in the world ; they say one may see it 40 leagues off at sea. as for us , we saw it but 12 or 15 , by reason of the fog , which made it appear to us like a cloud in the point of a diamond ; it 's always cover'd with snow , thô it never snows below , nor ever freezes . as for teneriffe , it 's reckon'd to be the highest island in the ocean , and the best peopled for its bigness , containing 15000 inhabitants ; it 's this which produces that excellent wine of malvesia , which passes for the best in the world. this wine is not known in these islands , but since the spaniards became masters of it ; for they first brought the plant from candia ; and now they prefer this wine to that of the place from whence it derives its original , and there comes a greater quantity from thence than from candia . the seven canary islands lye in a line one by another , almost exactly from east to west ; they are very mountainous , but well peopled , and very fertile ; the least is 60 miles in compass . as i had formerly heard speak of a wonderful tree in the isle of fer , whose long and narrow leaves are always green , and supply'd all its inhabitants with water , i was willing to inform my self about it ; and i ask'd if it was so as i was inform'd ; that there falls so great a dew on this tree , that dropping afterwards , as a clear water into stone basons , which they set a purpose to receive it ; it supplies both all the men and beasts of the island , providence thus wonderfully supplying the want of fresh water . they told me 't was a meer fiction , yet some there were too , who said , there might be such a tree in the island , but that it did not yield such a quantity . tuesday the 5th , we continued our course to the southward , in 27 degrees 40 minutes of southern latitude , and in 360 degrees of eastern longitude ; about six in the evening , the south point of the great canary lay east-north-east from us , about 7 leagues off . wednesday the 6th , it blew so hard at east , that we were extreamly shatter'd in our masts and rigging , and the main-mast bow'd so , that we expected it would come by the board ; this tempest ceas'd a quarter of an hour after , and we enjoy'd a calm again . thursday the 7th , at noon , being in 23 degrees of southern latitude , and 28 minutes of east longitude , we pass'd the tropick of cancer . wednesday the 8th , we approach'd the coast of barbary , being , at noon , in 20 degrees 47 minutes of south latitude , the wind blowing hard at east-north-east ; and observing 't was impossible to gain cape blanc before night , and that we were four leagues from land , being in 28 fathom water , we presently tack'd about , steering east-south-east . and saturday the 9th , about eight a clock in the morning , we found our selves within a league of land. we rang'd the coast as far as cape blanc , where we anchor'd in 14 fathom water to the north-west , about a league from the point of the cape ; which is , according to our elevation , in 20 degrees 30 minutes of south latitude , and 359 degrees 10 minutes of west latitude . when the portuguese first discover'd this cape , about the year 1454. they call'd it cape blanc , for that being sandy and barren , they saw not the least verdure ; it 's level like the sea , whence they call'd it the sea of sand. from cape cantin to this cape , which comprehends 300 leagues , one sees nothing but a sandy plain , call'd by the ancients the desart of lybia , and by the arabians zaara ; it's inhabited only by wild beasts , as lyons , tygers , onces , leopards , and such like creatures . these desarts reach to mount a●las on the north , and to the country of the negroes on the south ; they are of so vast an extent from east to west , that they can't be pass'd on horseback in fifty days . by this way , the caravans of fex pass to tombut , melly , borneo , and the other kingdoms of the negroes . when a storm rises in these desarts , the sand buries men and camels , and often the stuffs , and filling up the pits by the way , the passengers dye with thirst ; as there is no beaten path there , they make use of the compass as at sea. there 's a sort of a gulf in the very point of cape blanc , which takes its name from the island which it forms , which is call'd arguin ; this gulf advances above 15 leagues into the land , for which reason we lose the sight of it in passing the point . the portuguese had a fort formerly in this island , from whence they traffick'd with the azoaghes , arabs , or moors , who exchange with them gold , gum-arabick , ivory , and ostridges feathers , which are in great plenty there , by reason of the great number of these birds . 't is said of this creature , that its memory is so bad , that it forgets where 'thas laid its eggs , and often treads on them . i can't easily believe what i am told , that one of them will feed eight men. they bring these merchandizes to hoden , which is four days journey up land , and where arrive the carravans of tombut , gualata , and other places of inward lybia , and of the negroes country . these people observe the law of mahomet ; don't stay long in a place , wandring from one place to another along the desarts , according as they find pasture for their horses , camels , oxen , sheep , and goats ; on the milk of which they live . they are divided by tribes and families ; they acknowledge no other king but him who surpasses the rest in riches , and him they willingly obey as their captain . their traffick with the negroes consists in horses and camels ; they receive two , six , eight , ten slaves , for one horse , but for a camel only two . the fort of arguin was taken by the dutch from the portuguese , and again taken from them in the war of 1672. by monsieur ducas , captain of the royal company of africa ; he had but 120 men to this expedition , and lost but three of them . the cowardise of the dutch eas'd this conquest very much , for nothing was more easie than to prevent it ; we had but six guns , of which , the biggest was but an eight pounder , nothing defended us ; and , with all this , we wanted water , it being impossible to drink of that , of one single well in the island , which stinks . this fort remain'd to us by the treaty of nimeguen , as did all the other places which the company occupies ; notwithstanding this treaty , the dutch send several ships thither every year ; which is a manifest infraction . the captain of our ship landed there with 30 men , thinking to have met the ship call'd the town of hambourgh , but it was sail'd away , we found only one bark in the dock which was not finish'd , and which we burnt ; and another little vessel , in which were some moors and dutch , who abandoning it , swam for 't . 't was found loaded with tortoises , which were very welcom to our men in the sloop , whose provisions were all spent ; they are very large on this coast , and very plentiful , one alone will feed 30 men ; they eat like veal , and are meat good enough ; its shell may be about 15 foot round . cape blanc abounds in fish , besides the common fish , as parguese , vielles , gold-fish , junny , and sea-dogs , and others , of whose names i am ignorant ; our men catch'd some of them , and fed very happily on them for eight days , which we carried on this coast . as far as the mouth of the river of senegal , there are some shatter'd habitations of moors , thô the country be very barren , and scarce any thing lives there but fish . saturday the 16th , we continued our course to goree , and past in sight of the river senegal ; of which i shall speak hereafter . tuesday the 19th , we discover'd cape-verde , being in 14 degrees 45 minutes of southern latitude north. this cape was thus nam'd by the portuguese , who discover'd it the same year as cape-blanc . they nam'd it cape-verde , because the great number of trees they saw there , of which several are always green . it 's high , and yields a pleasant prospect ; on the top are two round mountains , which , from their resemblance , were call'd breasts . it advances very far out into the sea , and passes for the greatest in the ocean , after cape de-bon-esperance ; there is a great concourse of tides there , which bear to the southward . it s situation is ill mark'd in the card , which places it in 14 degrees exact , whereas it 's in 14 and a half . after doubling the first point ( for there are two ) we see a little island which is uninhabited ; it 's nam'd the isle of birds , by reason of the great numbers seen there at its first discovery . when we had pass'd this island , we doubled the other point to discover goree , which lies behind the cape , almost opposite to the breasts . the coast runs inward to the north-west in a creek , where is found the best water of all this latitude ; which is a great relief to the ships . being arriv'd at goree , wednesday the 20th of may 1682. and anchoring in the road , we saluted the port with seven guns , which return'd the salute , gun for gun ; the first was with ball , in honour to monsieur dancourt ; when he went into the sloop , our ship saluted him with five guns , all the ships in the road did the same ; and when he was landed , the fort saluted him with seven more . after shewing the letters of the company , who had made him director , he took possession of his employment ; he found affairs in a very ill posture , by the conduct of two persons , each of them pretending to the chief command . the one was a frenchman , and commandant of goree for the company ; and the other their agent-general along the coast . but as this is none of my business , i shall meddle no farther . the island of goree , was called so by the hollanders , because it resembled an island of zealand of the same name . it 's about a quarter of a league in compass , and runs long ways north and south , about a league from the land ; it has , to the south , a rock slopeing of one side , and of the other is wash'd by the sea. the whole island , indeed , is surrounded almost by rocks , which hinders the entrance into it , except a little creek , by which vessels may enter . as the portugueses were the first who have made long voyages on this coast , 't was first discover'd by them , as well as all the rest of africa , to the sea , ocean , and atlantick side ; having fallen into the possession of the dutch , they built a fort on the weakest side of the mountain , for the defence of the island , and of another wretched fort , which was below , not able to defend it self . monsieur the count d'estrees , vice-admiral of france , in 1678. in the month of november , seiz'd on this fort , which the governor render'd to him , without making any defence ; as they could not spare men to garison them , they were both raz'd . messieurs of the company , who govern the island at present , have a little re-establish'd that below , by buildings , which serve them for magazines , and by the raising an ordinary wall on the ruins of the old fort , only to avoid being insulted by the negroes . monsieur dancourt presently employ'd himself in promoting the trade , visiting the counters establish'd along the coasts , and in giving orders to the commissaries ; and afterwards , in seeking the amity of the negro kings and chiefs . to this end , he began to visit the country up and down for a matter of fourscore leagues ; that is , from the mouth of the senegal , to that of the river gambia ; which are the two mouths of the river niger . i accompany'd him in all his journeys along the coasts , when i inform'd my self of all that concerns the country , of their religion , manners , and customs of the africans of cape-verde . we began the 6th of december with senegal , whither we could not go by sea , because of a north wind that was just contrary to us ; notwithstanding the affairs of that place requiring the presence of monsieur dancourt , because of the death of the governor , which happen'd a little before , he resolv'd to go thither by land , and to send the fame , a ship commanded by captain d'oyere , as well to carry merchandise , as to bring back those which were exchang'd . it 's easie to pass from senegal to goree , but not to go thither ; and this ship having a contrary wind , spent a month in her passage , which was but 40 leagues in a straight line ; but she was forc'd to work and tack , which made it 500. we gave her for lost , when we , at last , happily saw her arriv'd in the road. our journey by land was not so tedious , but that 't was still more painful , for the road furnishes passengers with no sort of necessaries ; no , not so much as carriage . and in the whole town of rufis , which is but three leagues from hence , we could find but one horse for monsieur dancourt , and six asses ; two of which carry'd our provisions . thô 't was now december , yet the heat was excessive , which was very painful to us ; and we travell'd from sun-rise to sun-set , only stopping a little at noon , when we rested a while under a tree , to eat of some little provision we had brought with us . at night we lay in some town , where we found necessaries neither for our selves , nor mill for our beasts , thô it be the ordinary food of the negroes , who live often only on roots for the want of grain . our hosts receiv'd us after their best manner , but their extream poverty made their best but indifferent . their houses are made of straw , as are those of their very kings ; thô in some places they are more commodious than in others . the first are about four foot diameter , the roof is a sort of dome , the outside of which is straw , and the inside palms , the whole handsomly work'd ; the dome , or roof , is supported by five or six forks ; the wall is of palm or straw , neatly wove together . they have neither doors nor windows to their houses , only a little hole like the mouth of an oven , so that one must creep on all four to enter into them ; though the heat must needs be excessive in such a place , yet they make fires in them , which are always accompany'd with a great smoak . this inconveniency pleases them , for they love smoak : their floor is sand , into which you sometimes sink up to the mid leg. now the negros beds are made the negros houses their beds are yet less commodious than their houses ; they are made of a great many sticks about two inches thick , set at two fingers distance one from the other , joyn'd together by a rope almost like a hurdle ; thick twisted sticks ( as is all their wood ) fills betwixt every two , and seem only plac'd to break one's sides . these beds , as well as the roofs of their houses , are supported by forks ; and thus they lye on them without any more to do , only the better sort have a mat , which serves them for a quilt . from what i have said , it 's easie to conclude , that if this country suffers not its inhabitants to be happy by reason of its barrenness , they themselves too contribute to their misery by their sloth . but to return to our journey , which this digression has interrupted : after six days fatigue , we came to a town call'd bieure , which stands at the mouth of the river of senegal . as there are as many customs as countries , we observ'd that in this , the men concern themselves with nothing , 't is the women who manage all the traffick ; who , under pretence of carrying the merchandise , held a dishonest correspondence with our seamen . we left our beasts in this place , and monsieur dancourt sent from thence to the habitation , to send us a vessel to carry us the other five leagues , which yet remain'd , to the island of st. lewis ; where we arriv'd two hours after midnight . this island , situated in the middle of the river , five leagues above the mouth of it , is about a league in compass . messieurs of the company have their magazines there , and a commandant and commissaries . it 's thither the negroes bring their skins , ivory , slaves , and sometimes ambergreese ; as for gum-arabick , it 's brought to us by the moors , as i shall say hereafter . they give in exchange to the negroes , linnen , cotton , copper , tin , iron , aqua-vitae , and some glass trifles ; the profit deriv'd from this commerce , is eight hundred for one. the skins , and ivory , and gum , are carried to france ; the slaves are sent to the american islands , to make sugar . the best are bought for ten pieces frank , and sold again for a hundred crowns . for five or six pots of aqua-vitae , one may have a good lusty slave ; so that they are bought cheaper than they are transported , for their transportation is very chargeable . the river of senegal is a branch of the niger , coming out of this river about 600 leagues above the mouth of it , and runs through the kingdom of cantorsi , and thence divides it self into several branches ; of which , the chief are gambia , and riorgande ; of the last of which , i am wholly ignorant . the senegal separates the azoaghes , moors or bazanez , from the blacks ; so that of one side of the river are moors , rather white than black ; and of the other , men perfectly black . the first have no certain abode , but wander from place to place , camping where they find pasture for their cattel ; whereas the second , that is , the negroes , are fix'd , and have their certain towns and habitations . the first are free , and acknowledge no superior or head , but whom they please ; the last have kings , who tyranize over them , and make them slaves . the moors are little , meagre , and of a bad mien , and a crafty subtile genius ; the negroes , of the contrary , are tall , thick , and well proportion'd , but dull and stupid . the country inhabited by the moors , is a sandy waste , wherein no green thing is to be seen ; but that of the negroes , is rich in pasture and mill , and abounds with trees ever green , but scarce bear any fruit that 's fit to eat . from these moors we have the gum-arabick , they gather it in the desarts of the inward lybia ; it grows on the trees as that that 's gather'd from cherry and plumb-trees ; they come to sell it about a month or six weeks before the overflow of the niger . how the mores ride on their camells horses and oxen with their merchandise . 't is the custom , partly , to subsist them when they come to traffick ; and to this end , to buy their oxen of them , but they must slaughter 'um themselves , or they wont touch them , and they have some amongst them appointed for this work. yet , thô they abound themselves in cattel , they seldom eat of 'em , except when likely to dye of distempers or age. 't is an incredible trouble to trade with them ; for in all their dealings they are either insolent or false . the traffick being manag'd on the river , they can't play their tricks so easily , for they embark the merchandise as they receive it from them . it 's manag'd in the months of may and june , thirty leagues above the factory . when all is over , they put a thousand affronts on you ; when they catch a frenchman , or any other white , they 'll kill him to revenge a quarrel of twenty years past . about two months ago , they took a mariner that understood arabick , whom one of the captains of the company had sent to arguin , and demanded no less than fifty slaves in exchange for him . never was nation more false and perfidious ; they are very dextrous in the use of fire-arms , the effect of which they dread to that degree , that three whites , one day , hinder'd 400 of them from seizing a vessel with which these came to traffick , a shot that fell amongst them having frightned them from the execution of their design . 't was understood afterwards , that the greatest part of them were moors of the side of mount atlas , who came to depose cheiratick , one of the most powerful negro princes of these countries ; and of which i shall speak hereafter . they retire into the inland parts as soon as ever the niger begins to overflow . the kingdom of senegal was the chief of the negroes countries , and was formerly very considerable ; at present 't is not so , thô they have a king truly brave , for , through want of strength , he is become tributary to another . it s power extends along the water-side , the space of 40 leagues , without reckoning some little seigniories near , which are tributary to it , and about ten or twelve leagues up the land. this king is call'd brac , which is a name of dignity : absolute as he is , he he is exceeding miserable , often wanting mill to eat . he is so delighted with horses , that for the most part he 'll content himself with a pipe of tabaco , and a little aqua-vitae , to spare the mill to his horses ; he uses them in plundering the weakest of his neighbours , and driving away their oxen , in which their riches consist ; and sometimes makes them slaves , and sells them for aqua-vitae . when it grows low , he shuts up what is left in a coffer , and gives the key of it to one of his favourites , whom he sends thirty leagues off , on some trifling message to his wives , that he mayn't drink in the mean time ; and so makes it last as long as he can . but whatever he does by his neighbours , he makes his subjects feel him , running up and down his own country , remaining two days in one town , three in another , obliging them to maintain himself and his whole train , which is compos'd of about 200 subtile fellows , refin'd by their conversation with the whites , from whom they only learn what 's bad . when they have ruin'd the villages , they make slaves of whom they please on the least pretence . but if the prince is perfidious , his subjects are no less , for they 'll sell one another without regard to proximity of blood or relation ; so that the father shall sell his son , and the son his father and mother , as it happens . when they have such a design on any person , they will desire his help to carry their merchandise to the factory , and when they have them there they sell them privately , and deliver them when they don't understand the language . behold an example of this kind , which happened some time ago , and confirms what i have said . one of these barbarians had form'd a design against his own son to sell him , the son perceiv'd it , but dissembled the matter ; understanding the french tongue , while his father was absent a little , he comes to the magazine , declares he had a slave , treats , and agrees for the price , and delivers him up . this pretended slave was his father , who , when he was going to be iron'd , rages , and cries out , he was his own son who offer'd to sell him ; the other denies , and marches off . but his guilt was not long a punishing ; for returning home with his goods , he meets a chief lord , who stript him of all he had , made him a slave , and sold him to the factory . after the states of brac , we meet those of cheyratick ; that is to say , the thrice great , the emperor . on this last depend ten little kings , and other little sovereigns ; his empire extends it self of both sides of the river senegal , and contains near 300 leagues of country . his lands bear dates and mill ; and yield good pasture , in which great numbers of beasts are nourish'd . his people are call'd foules , they are not black , nor so white as the moors , but are of a middle colour . they are more civiliz'd than the other negroes , and receive strangers very kindly ; and when any of our mariners are ill us'd by their captains , as it often happens , they run to cheyratick for shelter , who receives them very kindly . his ordinary food is mill , beef , and dates , and drinks milk , and never any wine or aqua-vitae ▪ observing the law of mahomet more exactly than the other negroes . he is able to bring 50000 men into the field , but for want of provisions can't subsist there long . passing beyond the states of cheyratick , you come to the countries of the faregotts and enguelland , 3000 leagues from our habitation , we traffick too with them ; they differ in nothing from the foules . as i did'nt go any higher , my knowledge is bounded here , and i know nothing beyond it . after this river has roll'd from cantorsi , and divers great islands , it casts it self into the sea by two openings , in 15 degrees 32 minutes of south latitude . between the sea and the river , there is a sort of dike , or hill of sand , which in the widest part is not above a little cannon-shot ; this obstacle occasions continuing its course for six leagues , before it rolls into the sea , thô their waters run even . but as at length this dike is pierc'd in two places , three leagues distant one from the other , through them , and it loses it self , at last , in the sea ; between which an island is form'd . at each of these mouths , several banks of sand are gather'd , which the river drives down , and the sea drives back , and makes a very dangerous passage for shipping . the continual motion of the sea finding a resistance from these banks , causes it to rise to an incredible heighth , and strands or shatters the ships to pieces ; and then there is no escape for the equipage , for if they swim for 't , the requiems are sure to devoure them ; else this passage is not dangerous , but when the tides are low , and not then when the niger overflows . that which is singular in its inundations is , that they still force new passages through the dike into the sea ; it 's about twenty years since , that it forc'd a passage over against that island which is the habitation of the french ; they were oblig'd to remove up higher . this mouth is stopt now , making its passage in other places ; and they so fill one another up , that none ever remain but the two last . several european nations traded formerly to this river ; at present none but the french. having spoken several times of the inundations of the niger , it will be proper to observe when , and how this happens ; yet without insisting on physical causes , if happily they may be discover'd by particular circumstances . behold such as have appear'd to me . the heats are excessive in the torrid zone , for it does not rain there at all , or , at most , but very little , unless in the months of july , august , and september . to the south of the equinoctial line , the rains fall earlier , and in greater abundance , during that time , and are accompanied with raging storms , and follow'd with so great a calm , and such excessive heats , that it 's as much as one can do to fetch ones breath . two or three hours after , the tempest rallies , and so alternately during the three months . this causes violent distempers , fevers , cholorae-morbus , ulcers in the legs , worms of four or five foot long in the extremities , and frequent convulsions , follow'd by paralyses and death . all that 's said of the causes of the inundation of the river nile , is well known of all , and therefore i shall not repeat it here . that of the niger must have the same cause , which i believe is , that the sun in repassing the line of cancer , which in france makes the summer solstice , and here the winter , amasses the vapours , which dissolve afterwards in heavy and continual rains ; and , probably , cause these overflowings . these rains commence in aethiopia , in april , continue may and june . here 't is about the 15th of july , they encrease for forty days , and decrease for as many . this inundation , which enriches the country , is not general , nor extends beyond the neighbourhood of the river . at this time , the bed of the river is not known ; its channel neither being deep enough to contain its waters ; nor having current enough to sweep them into the sea , they drown'd the valleys and the lower grounds , and cover all . 't is dangerous at these times to sail on these rivers , and chiefly on the river of senegal , unless you understand the channel very well ; for when the waters come to retire , a vessel may be left on an eminence , or in a deep place , from whence it can't be drawn out . it 's about 15 years since a thing happen'd that confirms the truth of what i say : messieurs of the company , willing to take the advantage of the inundation , sent barks to discover the country , about the place of the separation of these arms of the niger ; they were willing to try if it was practicable to pass from the river of senegal to that of gambia ; the trade of which , the english , who are masters of the mouth of it , hinder others from , by the means of a fort which they have there . and as there it no attempting this discovery but at this time , when , by the advantage of the inundation , you pass over rocks that are dry at other times , they mann'd their barks with 30 men , who pass'd almost 400 leagues from our habitation , but they encounter'd so many difficulties , that but five return'd ; having once lost the bed of the river , their bark , amongst others , sat dry on some trees , but happily , 't was not far from the chanel ; so they made a shift to hale it into it again . after monsieur dancourt had dispatch'd in these quarters , what he judg'd was most for the advantage of the company , finding the barhure , or entrance , was free to pass , by reason of a gentle easterly gale that blew then , he pass'd it in a bark design'd for that use , which put us aboard the ship call'd the fame , which waited for us in the road , being willing to avoid the fatigue of a land journey . the 10th of june 1683. we weigh'd anchor , and sall'd for goree ; we coasted it all along , and the prospect was very charming , of long extended groves of trees ever green . after he had run along all the coast , and given his orders in all the coutoirs , we return'd to our course which we had held , and spent eight days in coming back . mark what i have observ'd of these places in the little time i was there . the people who inhabit the coast , from the mouth of the senegal to the river of gambia , are divided into three , namely , the geloffes , the sereres , and the barbesins ; they are govern'd by several little kinglings , but very absolute in their several governments . the most considerable of them all , is the king of amel , sovereign of the geloffes ; the name of amel is not appropriated to him , 't is a name of dignity . as all their governments are much alike , ( as are the people , and the country ) i shall by an account of this one , give you an account of all the rest . the geloffes inhabit from the mouth of senegal , going south , within six or seven leagues of cape-verde ; this makes from north to south 40 leagues of coast , and from east to west 100 up the land. the country of the sereres has for its king him whom we name portugady , from a town of that name , which belongs to him . jain is the name of his dignity , it includes ten or twelve leagues of coast , and almost 100 up the country . the kingdom of the barbecins , otherwise of jovialle , ( for the same reason i alledg'd concerning that of sereres ) is govern'd by a king whose name i have forgot ; he has no more country than the precedent , with whom he is often at war. besides these three nations , there is another , who are a sort of portuguese ; a nation who name themselves so , because they were formerly subject to them , and are descended from those who first inhabited this coast , after the discovery of it . from the negresses , whom they married , were born the mulato's , from whom are descended a more swarthy race : they may also be fugitives too of cape-verd , or cacheau , another colony of this nation , on one of the branches of the river of gambia , distant thence three days journey . as they have followed the religion of their old masters , they are partly jews and partly catholicks ; they wear a cope like our chaunters . no one is greater than another , but at the same time they are false and malicious , having all the vices of the portugueses , without any of their vertues . almost all these places are sandy and barren ; the heats are more violent there in january , than in july and august in france . it rains there in the manner as i have said already , speaking of senegal . the country is peopled , and abounds with trees : they begin to cultivate their grounds at the end of june , and sow a little after the rains ; they gather in their harvest in september ; so that in three months time they manure , sow , and reap . this shews the good nature of the soil , and if better improv'd by the inhabitants , who are very lazy , that it would produce grain in abundance : i mean , their mill. their manner of cultivating is pleasant , they go four or five together into the field , which they call cougan , or courgar , and with a sort of a round shovel of iron with a wood head , they break up the earth , which they cast before them , not entring the sword of the ground above three or four fingers deep , still with the pipe in their mouthes , and talking two hours for one they work . and when the ground is thus cultivated , they sow it as they do pease in france , without taking care to lay up any grain ; and are so excessive careless , that they don't gather half what 's necessary for them , and then they live on a black insipid root which they dry , and on another call'd gernot , that tastes like a hazel nut : if their harvest chances to fail , they die of hunger . 't is not above five years since such a thing happen'd , seduc'd by the promises of a marabou , the name of their priests . he was of those azoages , or arabs , of whom i have spoken : under a pretence of religion , he made himself master of the whole country , from chegratick to the sereres ; telling them he was raised up by heaven to scourge the tyranny of their kings ; he offer'd to prove his mission by miracles , and particularly by that of making their grounds bring fourth more abundantly , and that without any labour of theirs . their laziness was sufficiently charm'd with such a promise , they all side with this impostor , particularly those of the kingdom of damel ; their king was depos'd , and their neighbours plunder'd in this revolt . they liv'd still in hopes of the miracle , and past two years expecting it , but to no purpose , so that they eat one another for want of food , and were oblig'd to give themselves up for slaves : time at last disabus'd them , and they drove away the tyrant and impostor , and damel was restor'd . they entertain no marabouse ever since ; and if they catch any , they make them slaves . besides , they have white and black beans very like french beans , and melons full of an insipid water . they make use of corn in making their couscouse , as they call in arabick ; or laguerre , in their own language , which is their most common food . the fruit which we call bananes , and in the canaries , the apple of adam , is common amongst them ; they rear oxen , and cows , and goats ; and he who has the largest stock is the most esteemed of . their beeves are no larger than a calf of eight or nine months in france . i believe the drought is the cause ; for along the river of senegal , they are as large as in europe . how the negros gather the wine from the palme trees how they mount the palme trees how the negros make incisions to get the palme wine how they are habited through the incisions which the negroes make in the palm-trees , there distils a liquor of a pearl colour , which is call'd palm-wine ; 't is sweet and pleasant to drink the first day , but it will intoxicate ; and afterwards it loses its sweetness , sowering every day more and more ; tho' the older it is , it still the more affects the head. one of these trees may yield about three pints of this liquor . they commonly regal strangers with it , and the most considerable persons are never without it : this same tree produces a sort of little coco's , from which they draw the punick oil , of the smell of violets , of the taste of olives , and the colour of saffron . it enters into the composition of musselin oil , and alexandrin nicolas . these trees pay custom to the alzair , or lord of the town . as the palm is high and without branches , and that it 's necessary to make incisions in two or three places below the leafy tuft , ( which is the glory of the tree , ) they climb up after this manner ; they have a sort of a hoop made of brass , which may be ty'd or loosen'd as one will , into which they enter ; they as 't were sit upon 't , and placing their feet against the tree , supported behind by this hoop , as firmly as if they were on the ground , they reach the top , make their incisions , and fasten the basses to receive the liquor which distils ; 't would frighten one almost to see them so high , and supported by so slight a thing . all along the coast , there is a prodigious variety of animals , of which i don't pretend to describe all the several sorts , being little vers'd in this sort of learning , i shall only speak of those i know , of which one may see a great number in europe , by the care which divers princes have taken to have them transported , as they are seen there in their natural wildness , before they are tam'd ; what i am about to say of them , will perhaps give a more particular idea of them . the greatest numbers of these fierce creatures are seen about ponds and pits which the rains have fill'd ; morning and evening they come thither in droves , as do the tamer sorts : there you may see elephants , lions , tigers , leopards , onces , wolves , tiger-cats , civit-cats , foxes , wild goats , &c. that which is remark'd of the elephant is , that he is not to be attack'd in a place where he may freely turn himself , else he throws all down with his trunk , and treads them to death . i don't know at what time the female brings forth her young , but she has often three at a time : he lives on grass and leaves , which he conveys to his mouth with his trunk ; they often pass the night in towns , and so little fear frequented places , that instead of avoiding the negroes houses , they 'll go directly to them , and toss them out of their way like nutshels . the lion seeks his prey with art , he never sets directly upon 't , but fetches a compass , creeping along on the ground ; and when he is within reach leaps upon 't ; he is so mild and manageable when young , that we have had of them as tame and familiar as dogs . the tiger is more fierce than the lion , and is much of the same heighth and length with the greyhound , he sets indifferently on men or beasts ; the negroes kill a great many of them with their zagaies and their arrows to get their skins , but tho' wounded near so much , they still defend themselves , and seldom fail of killing some before they fall . the leopard is fierce and active ; unless he meets a man in a narrow place where he can't avoid him , he won't set upon him ; but if does , he flies upon him , fastens his tallons in his face , and tears away as much flesh as they can grasp , and so kills him . he is a mortal enemy of dogs , and devours them where-ever he meets them . the once , which is said to be fiercer than the tiger , is in my opinion the same species , or at least that which we call a panther ; his skin is more beautiful than a tiger's , tho' he is spotted alike . the tiger-cat is so nam'd by reason of his white and black spots . he is shap'd like our cats , only four times as big ; he is of a devouring nature , and eats apes , rats , and other animals . the civit-cat has the head and snout of a fox ; he is large and spotted like the other , and very wild ; every two days they take the civit from him , which is a certain muscosity , or clammy sweat which he has under his tail in a hollow place . i have seen no rinoceros's , tho' there are some here . there are several sorts of apes , as the munky , with a long tail , and the baboon , who has none at all : i have not seen of this last sort ; as for the first they abound every where : of these there are three sorts , of which two are very low , and do little mischief . of this little sort , there are some they call weepers , having a lamentable sort of a cry . of the other sort , there are some almost as big as munkeys , not only their hands and feet resemble a man's , but their very actions ; so that the negroes say of them , that they can speak if they will , but that they won't for fear of being forc'd to work . they know that we take delight in them , tho' they are so mischievous ; which i believe gave occasion to the negroes of senegal , to bring us rats in cages ; as if we took delight in none but mischievous creatures , saying , that as our humour rerembled theirs , 't was not much to be wonder'd that we lov'd them . 't is incredible what waste they make when the mill and other grain which they live on is ripe ; they assemble 40 or 50 together , and then go to the cougan ; one of them stands centry on a tree out of the field , and hearkens and looks about on all sides , while the others are gathering the harvest ; as soon as ever he perceives any one , he cries out as loud as ever he can , to give notice to the rest ; who presently at the signal , fly with their prey , leaping from one tree to another with strange agility ; the female , which carries her young ones against her belly , leaps too as the rest , and as if she carried nothing . they eat a great deal of veneson here , and boars are common ; but have no taste like ours , and their flesh is white like pork . the wild-goat , the kid , and the hare are found here in great store . i have seen none here like those in france ; but some others , who have horns like the capriorn ; on the mountains in swisserland , only they are strait . a great many sorts of birds are seen here , that are not known in europe , of which a great many live only on fish ; among the rest , there is one nam'd the great throat , it 's twice as big as a swan , having a beak of a cubit long , and a skin hanging below , that makes the throat look like a sack. it swallows whole fishes as big as ordinary carps . the cormorants and the vultures are the same as in europe ; of the last there are some as big as eagles , that devour young children when they can meet 'em alone . i have seen strange birds , and of such various colours , as i am not able to describe : the nightingals don't sing there so agreeably as in europe . i have already spoke of the ostridge , of which some are of a prodigious size ; those that fly are delicate meat , and several parts of them are of several tastes ; they are as thick as a swan , their feathers grey and black . the wild geese are very good ; but the teal above all , are of incomparable relish . on the river senegal the grey exceed the rest in goodness . the partridge perches on the trees there like other birds ; as do the hens which the portuguese call pintades : these hens are speckled white and grey , having a little red crest above the ears ; they are larger than ours ; and i look upon them to be a sort of a partridge . the parrots there are of two sorts , the one little , and all green ; the other bigger , have a grey head , a yellow belly , green wings , and the back partly yellow , partly grey : these never talk , but the small ones have a sweet clear voice , & learn whatever they are taught . of all these several sorts of birds , i have seen none so industrious and careful , as a certain little one that builds his nest in the palm-tree after a singular manner , and by a marvellous instinct , secures it from the serpents that creep up the trees ; they build at the very extremity of the slightest branch , to which they fasten a stalk of a rush or straw , the strongest they are able to carry , and about a foot and a half long , and at the end which hangs down in the air they build their nests , leaving an entrance at the top a little of one side : it looks like a ball hanging in the air. the branch to which it is fastned is so weak , that it can bear nothing that would approach to hurt it , and so they are out of fear . the sea is very fishy all along the coast , and almost all sorts are there ; of which the most devouring have broad and long teeth , in two or three several rows ; those which they most commonly eat are parquese , the gold-fish , vieiles , tunny , mullet and racoas , of the shape of a salmon , negers , sales , sardes , and a multitude of sardines , that fill the sea at certain times . the requiem , the monster of the sea , that 's shap'd like a sea-dog , is in length from three or four foot to eight : she parts with her young alive , and has the matrix like our dogs , and the rest like a fish : this is the most dangerous of all , and eats whatever comes in its way ; it 's dangerous swimming near the place where they are , for there 's no scaping . the mursouin , or sea-pig , is of the bigness of the requiem , and good to eat ; it won't meddle with a man : it has fat , but of an ill taste ; its ribs and entrails are like those of a hog , except that they have two stomachs , the one at the end of the osophage , the other adhering to one side , almost as big as the first ; and to this last there is a little opening , which performs the communication from one to the other : it 's fill'd with little cells , like those in the wax before the honey is separated from it ; the duodenum , if i remember right , has its rise in this last ; i had not time to examine it thorowly , because the seamen had quite mangled it . the whales , as vast as they are in length and thickness , so that they are often as big as a vessel of 26 tun , yet don't overset any ships , as is commonly reported of them , unless it be little barks or sloops . the souffleur almost like a whale , but much less , casts water like it , but threw one passage only , which is above his snout , whereas the other has two there . there is another , the name of which i don't know , that has a bone four foot long in his upper jaw , travers'd on the sides with others that are less , but very sharp , rang'd like the steps of a ladder within , which he uses to catch others withal . there is one which the sea-men call spronton , that has a great bone in the same place that the precedent has , with this difference from the other , that it 's strait , and sharp pointed ; i believe it 's the same with that which we call naruval : this bone of which i speak , resembles the pretended horn of the fansied vnicorn : he can pierce a ship with it , so as it shall take in water , if it does not happen , that in drawing the bone out again he breaks it ; in which case he stops the hole he has made . the succer , so call'd from his fastening himself , as he is of the bigness of a soal ; when he fastens himself to the helm he retards the ship , but does not stop it , as is falsly reported of the remora . the amphibies are not common on these coasts , nor are the crocadile , the sea-horse , the sea-calf , the lemantine , or the tortoise often seen here , unless at the mouth of the river of senegal and gambia . in the marshes and ponds are found little crocodiles of about five foot , of which some are venomous , and some not . there are some that are perfect serpents ; they retire thither where there are most ants , because these little creatures make them a sort of forts , in raising from space to space little hillocks of earth , of ten , fifteen , and twenty foot high , hollow below like an oven , and so dispos'd , that at a distance one would fansie them to be a village . in gambia there are crocodiles of thirty foot long , and thick in proportion , so as that they 'll swallow a buck whole ; they are very dangerous ; their tail is as long as all the rest of their body ; their skin is so hard , that a zagage will scarse pierce it . there are some of them that live on fish , and others that devour men ; and in order to surprize them , they 'll keep themselves at some distance in the places frequented , and when they get near those who swim , or are in cannoos , or come near large oxen swimming , they clasp them with their tails , and eat them ; they move only the upper jaw , the lower not stirring ; they do little mischief out of the water ; when the negroes kill them they eat them ; they leave their eggs on the land , and cover them with sand ; as soon as they are hatch'd they return into the waters , or the woods . the sea-horse , such as is seen in the niger , is as big as an ass , and is shap'd like a horse ; his skin is as hard , and without hair ; he lives on the land as well as in the water , out of which he does not go but to feed . he ruins the mill and rice , for he destroys ten times more than he eats ; he is dangerous to the negroes canoos , which he is apt to overturn , yet without hurting the men ; he has two great teeth that serve the same use that ivory does . the sea-ox , that lives on the land as well as in the water , resembles a calf of six months old . there are more lamantin's in the river of senegal than in that of gambia : he is like the marsovin for bigness , for flesh , and fat. when he is out of the water he makes use of his fins instead of feet . this is all the knowledge i could get of this kind . i now proceed to speak of the manners and genius of the negroes . the negroes are all well made , and proportinably tall : you see none lame nor crooked amongst them , unless by accident ; they are stupid and without address , even in the least things ; great lyars , but greater thieves ; thievery is the only thing they are dextrous in , and are such masters at it , that they 'll steal from us before our faces , without our perceiving them , drawing with one foot to them , what they would be at , and taking it up behind . when any mountaineers ( for so they call those who live up land ) come to traffick with us , there is no sort of cheat which the negroes of the coast don't put upon 'em ; for under the pretence of helping them to carry their goods , and serving them as interpreters , they retain half from them of what we pay them , as though they had a real interest in the goods . the severity with which their kings punish those who steal in the night , and such as are taken in the fact , can't cure them of this distemper , notwithstanding the greatness of it ; which is no less than to be slaves to those whom they have robb'd . whoever's oblig'd to make use of the negroes for interpreters , are very unhappy , and expos'd to all their knavery ; they scarce interpret a word honestly , and in the sence 't is spoke , and always contrive it to our disadvantage ; which often makes our markets litigious . they are every way insupportable , but chiefly when they think themselves necessary in any affair : their intemperance is excessive , still swallowing aqua vitae , for palm-wine is not plentiful enough amongst them to be always at hand . their drunkenness is accompanied with a total depravation of reason , and a furious brutality . they don't know what belongs to restitution , and have no shadow of civility : their ignorance is so great as not to know that twice two makes four , or their age , or the day of the week ; for which they have no names . their maraboux , who have some little tincture of arabick , write their griz-griz in that tongue : i shall explain this word hereafter . these people have but one good quality , which is hospitality ; for they wont let a stranger of their nation pass without making him eat and drink , and that sometimes for several days . having a mighty value sor their aqua-vitae , when they would drink of it , they do it privately , and out of the sight of their guest , that they mayn't be oblig'd to give them share ; they make the mountaneers pay for their hospitality towards them , by cheating them of the aqua-vitae they receive in exchange for their goods , and generally send them away with half what they brought . they are all extreamly poor , having no other riches but a few oxen , the richest may have forty or fifty , or three or four horses , with as many slaves ; but they are extraordinary , when they have any bracelets of gold , to the value perhaps of eleven or twelve pistols each . tho' they have neither wit nor sense , they love praise to that degree , that they have a sort of people call'd guiriotz , who have nothing else to do but to perform this piece of service ; the guiriotz carry a sort of a drum , of four or five foot long , made of the trunk of a hollow'd tree , which they beat with their hands or with small sticks ; they have timbrels too of the morisco fashion , which resemble our ball baskets , crost with little strings , which they touch with one hand , while they strike with the other . i observ'd they made use of another instrument that is sufficiently harmonious , if they knew how to play on 't ; it sounds like a harp , and consists of a range of several calebasses or strings of different sizes , rank'd under stops , and dispos'd in a tuneable order , like those of the harpsicord . i have seen another of their instruments that would be proper in the chamber of a sick person : it 's a sort of a lute , made of a piece of hollow'd wood , cover'd with leather , with two or three strings of hair. it 's cover'd on the stops with little plates of iron , and adorn'd with little bells like a tabor . the guiriots tune these several instruments to their own wretched voices , and so sing the panigericks of the most considerable persons : which commonly run thus ; that they are great lords , rich powerful as the whites , who are the chief slaves of the king ; and a great deal of this kind of stuff . these are transported with these praises , and recompense them largely ; nay , they go so far as to strip themselves of their very cloaths to reward them for them , tho' ne'er so groundless and extravagant . and indeed , when they don't reward these fellows , they are for taking their revenge , crying them down again , and vilifying them up and down as much as they had extoll'd them before ; which is look'd upon as the greatest affront imaginable . how their lords and conciderable persons are accouterd . these guiriots employ themselves sometimes in singing our praises too , but they find but little encouragement for 't ; leaving the negroes to enjoy and pay for this sort of happiness : they praise us in these terms , that we are great , rich , and lords of the sea. the habit of the blacks is very plain , the poor have only a cotton rag , about half a quarter of a yard wide , to cover their nakedness : it 's fasten'd with a string that serves them for a girdle ; they let the two ends of the cloath hang down behind and before , which they reckon very honourable , and a great ornament . the lords and considerable persons are better habited , they have a cotton frock made like the cordelier's robes , with long and large sleeves ; they are not platted in the neck , having only a hole for the head to pass through , like the shirts of the europeans ; they wear them of all colours , some blue , some yellow , some fillimot , &c. since these jackets reach but half way down the thigh , they wear withal a sort of breeches of the same , which reach from the waist to the knee : these breeches are so large , that they take up no less than five ells of linnen ; they resemble a womans petticoat that is gather'd at the bottom , and in which only two holes were left on the fides to put the legs through ; the largest are the most fashionable . they wear on their heads a sort of bonnets that are straight at the entrance , but wide at the other end ; almost like the cowls of the capuchins of the jacobins . the common sort go bare-foot , but the people of quality wear sandals made of a piece of leather beneath , in the form of a sole , and fastned at top with a thong , which tyes them to the foot , like the sandals of the ancients . their hair , though short , is very well platted ; they set it out with gris-gris's of silver , leather , coral , copper , &c. they wear rings at their ears of tin , silver , and copper ; but they who are of the race of slaves , are not allow'd to wear their hair. the girls and women are naked from the waist upwards , unless the cold obliges them to wrap themselves up ; they cover the other part of their body with a paigne ; that is , a cotton cloth strip'd after their fashion , and of the bigness of a little towel that reaches down to the mid-leg : their hair too is tressed and set out with coral and other little ornaments : their coifs make a topping on their heads of half a foot high : the higher they are , the more they are esteem'd . the girls and boys go quite naked to the age of eleven or twelve . the women and men adorn their arms and legs with corral , and bracelets of gold , silver , tin , and copper , according to their ability . the cotton with which these people cloath themselves , would be very plentiful amongst them , if they bestow'd that pains , on 't which they should ; but they content themselves with what 's just enough , and sometimes with less : the women spin the cotten , and the men make the cloth , which is not above five fingers breadth in the piece , for want of necessary utensils to make it wider ; for otherwise they are as good weavers as in france ; but forced to join ten or twelve pieces together , to have a paigne of an ell wide . mill is the ordinary food of the western negroes ; the women who make it ready , make sanglet or coscouse of it : which are their terms to signifie two sorts of meats . they begin at break of day to make their sanglets , for it requires full six hours to make it ; they go two or three together to prepare it , pound it in wooden mortars that are high and deep , not having any mills for that purpose : when mill has quitted its husk , they winnow it with fans made of palm-leaves , to separate it from the chaff : then they boil it with milk , or butter , or a bouillon of flesh , or dry'd fish , or with water . the coscouse , which is their best victuals , is made too of mill beaten very fine , which they fan as before ; when it 's clean , they put a little into a very narrow bowl , and sprinkle a little water on 't ; after which they knead and turn it , then sprinkle a little more water , then knead it again , which they repeat till they have reduc'd this mass into little balls ; afterwards they dry them , and then put them into an earthen pot full of holes , on another in which they boil meat season'd with spice and palm oil : this ragou is very fine well prepar'd , and the sand well dress'd out , which is seldome done . when they go to war , they carry a little sack of a foot long , and the thickness of one's arm , full of coscouse thus dress'd . as the women dress it every day , they take no small pains . and if the wives of europe were to take the same care of their husbands , they would think they were very hardly us'd . they drink palm-wine , which is not very plentiful , and stinking water of the pits ; and often of the salt-water of the sea , where it has strain'd through ; they drink milk too when they have it . as ambition is a vice or a passion unknown to those people , they little mind the building of cities , or castles , or houses of state and grandeur ; nor have they materials for the doing of it , if they take the pains : they live but in villages , where the houses are such as i have already describ'd , which differ according to the quality and ability of the person . they who live near the palm-trees inhabit in the best , tho' they too have neither windows nor doors . the house of a great lord shall consist sometimes of thirty pavillions , which they call combettes , and sometimes of forty or fifty : an ordinary persons shan't have above two or three : the king 's has above a hundred , tho' cover'd with straw like t●e rest . those of persons of quality are enclos'd with palasades of straw or thorns , supported from space to space with states ; the combettes communicate all one within another , by ways dispos'd in the form of a labyrinth : round the house , according to the capacity of the owner , are seen beautiful trees , but in another order than nature has plac'd them . the palace of king damel exceeds all the rest ; before you come to the gate of the palasades , which makes the first inclosure , you see a spacious field , where his horses are manag'd , of which he has no great number : without , by the side of this palasade , are the appartments of the great lords . from this place you go into the palace by a large avery , it is adorn'd with a great number of trees , which we call'd calbassiers , because their fruit resembles a calbasse . persons who are employ'd nearest the king , have their appartments by the side of this avenue ; and their nearness to , or distance from the combette royal , shews their degree . each of their appartments being also inclos'd with palasades , you must pass a great many courts before you come to the king 's ; few persons daring go into his appartment . all his wives have their distinct lodgings , and each five or six slaves to wait on them . the king may lie with which he pleases , without creating a jealousie in any of them : there is one commonly whom he loves above all the the rest ; and when ever he is weary of her , he sends her to some village with her slaves , and gives her sufficient lands for her maintenance ; to her succeeds another . of thirty which he keeps one half are in the country . the negroes from this coast to gambia , observe the law of mahomet ; but in the parts towards siera , liona , and the golden coast , they have for the most part no religion at all ; or , at least , worship the first thing they meet in a morning . formerly they were idolaters , worshipping the devil , to whom they sacrificed bullocks ; and tho' they eat flesh , yet they believe a transmigration of souls . and there are some of them who would not have certain lizards kill'd , that run about their houses , saying , it 's the soul of their fathers or their mothers , that come to make merry with them ; which they call folgar . they derive their religion from the arabian azoughes , of whom i have already told you , the ordinary people have very little , as having but small knowledge of it ; the great ones are more religious , having commonly a moorish maraboux to live with them , who have a great ascendant over them : they say their sala or prayers three times a day , morning at sun-rise , about noon , and in the evening , some in the afternoon ; the ordinary people pray little , nor do not trouble themselves with the building of mosques . the king and the grandees have mosques ; they are cover'd with straw like their other houses . they first stand a long while in them , looking towards the sun-rising , then they advance two steps forwards , muttering some words to themselves ; then prostrate themselves all along on the ground , with their faces to the earth ; to raise themselves on their knees , make a circle round them on the ground , and twice or thrice about their heads : they afterwards kiss the earth at several bowings , putting sand on their foreheads with both their hands ; and repeat the same ceremony again for the space of half an hour . one prays that he may have no enemies , but such as he may be able to defeat ; that their deity would do them no harm ; another , that he would give them handsome wives , and plenty of mill , and so forth . nothing being able to divert them while they are at prayers ; nay , tho' they saw their very houses a fire . they believe predestination , and when any misery befals them , they say it comes from their god ; so that if one negro is kill'd by another , he says , that their god has kill'd him : yet for all that , they seize the homicide if they can , and cause him to be sold for a slave . they are so superstitious , that they imagine , the having a certain spells about them , they cannot be touch'd by any wild beasts that approach them ; and while they are thus defended by inchantment , they believe nothing can cause their death nor draw them into misfortunes . they have a certain character , which they call gris-gris : they are billets , the characters of which are arabick , intermix'd with necromantick figures , which the maraboux sell them . some , as they imagine , preserve them from being wounded , enable them to swim well , and procure them good success in fishing ; others to have a good many wives and children ▪ to prevent their being made captives ; and for whatever they love or fear . they have so strong a confidence in them , that there are some of them that would stand the shot of an arrow without fear : they are ●●ir●ss'd with them , having them on all parts of their bodies , that often a zagaye will scarce enter them . the great lords above all others , have their vests and bonnets cover'd with them , and are so loaded with them , that they are often forc'd to take horse , as not being able to go a foot : they likewise put some of them on their horses to make them the more lively , and hinder them from being wounded . these gris-gris's are lapt up in linnem , handsomly folded , and cover'd above with red leather neatly drest : there are some no above an inch thick , work'd with the point of a diamond ; of which they make necklaces , into which the maraboux often put nothing at all , as i have found upon opening of some our slaves had : they have of them before and behind over-against their stomachs , large ones , and about two inches thick ▪ they make some of them of a horses tail , or the horns of a deer , or a wild bull , cover'd with red cloth ; they set two of these last on the forepart of their caps : thus equipp'd they have a horrible air , and exceeding fierce , and engage one another with the utmost confidence in their combats , but not in those with us , and against our muskets ; so that 't is a saying amongst them , that there is no gris-gris against the pouse ; for they call the musket so . the maraboux ruine them with these gris-gris's ; for there are some of them that cost them three slaves ; others four or five oxen , according to the vertue they ascribe to them . the opinion the negroes have of these gris-gris , has made some of our ignorant french believe there are a great many conjurers amongst them ; there are certain times when these pretended sorcerers make a thousand grimaces , singing and roaring : as they say , when the devil beats them . when they think any person is insulted by the devil , if it be a woman , they put her into men's apparrel , with a zagage in her hands , and leads her singing with a dismal voice ; and by this ceremony they believe they drive him away . i have often observ'd that these suppos'd sorcerer● are mere cheats ; for when we take a cudgel and beat the possess'd person , we find it has the same effect , and that the devil returns no more . during their ramadan , which is the lent of mahomet , and which lasts the whole month of september , they use the ceremony of circumcision , which they don't perform till the child's eleven or twelve year old : a maraboux cuts the foreskin , which the person circumcis'd eats ; who must not complain what-ever pain he feels , whilst 't is a cutting ; nay , they often laugh while they are searing them with a red-hot iron to stop the blood. as long as the ramadan lasts they have their folgar , or feasts of joy every night ; but , during the whole day , they neither eat , nor drink , nor so much as smoak ; nay , some of them won't even spit ; but , when once the sun is set , they make a vast noise with their drums , and continue eating and drinking till sun-rise . tho' according to the alcoran 't is not lawful to have above four wives , yet they take as many as they can maintain . as soon as they meet with a young woman they like , they demand her of her father ; if he consents to it , they agree on the price ; her quality or beauty raises her value . her dowry are so many oxen , which turns to the profit of the father ; which never exceeds five . this agreement ended , they bed without any more ceremony . if they give her for a maid , they lay a white cloth on the bed in which they are to lie , on which , if blood be found , she is allow'd to have been a virgin. then they produce this cloth publickly in the village , accompany'd with several guiriot's , who sing the praises of the woman , and the happiness of the husband . but , if she proves otherwise than she was given for , the father is oblig'd to take her again , if the husband requires it , and to restore him his oxen. but this rarely happens ; for by an unlawful knowledge before marriage , they are assur'd what she is : but , if she is return'd again , she is not the more despis'd ; for , tho' she be not a wife for one , yet she may be a concubine for another ; so the father still gets more and more by her : so by this accursed gain , he might as innocently murder his daughter . if afterwards the husband grows weary of his wife , he puts her away , and is quit of her , losing his dowry : and she may part from him too , restoring her oxen. when the king would gratifie any great lord , he gives him one of his wives ; but he can't turn her off , tho' the king may take her again when he pleases . the funerals of the negroes are perform'd with great state and ceremony . a marabou washes the corpse of the dead , and adorns it with the finest calicoe he had in his life . all the relations and neighbours come to bewail him , and ask him a great many ridiculous questions ; if he was not well with them ? what harm they did him ? if he had not riches enough ? if he had not handsom wives enough ? and the like : and , seeing he makes no answer , they depart , and make room for others , who repeat the same questions , while the guiriot's incessantly sing his praises . and because 't is the custom to make much of all those who come to compliment the dead , they kill oxen , and sell his slaves , that they may have aqua-vitae to be merry withal . when the assistants are well satisfied , they bury the dead in the house where he died , of which they open the dome . afterwards , when the corpse is in the ground , the mourners re-double their cries , and four persons making a square , with four callicoes which they hold , hide him so as he can't be seen . the marabou comes afterwards , and speaks some words in the ears of the dead , and covers him with a calico ; and afterwards they put the dome in its place ; on which they hang some clothes , white , red , or any other colour they fansie . hard by they set up a pole , on which they hang the bow , the quiver , and the zagages of the defunct . they set him a pot of coscouse , and another of water , which is his provision for one year ; for they fansie he eats after he is dead . in some places they compass the house with thorns , or a deep ditch , to secure the corpse from wild beasts ; who , notwithstanding , sometimes devour it . this being finish'd , the mourners still continue their cries eight days longer . when it 's a boy that 's dead , the women and the maids sing , and the boys run with all their force one at another , with their naked sabres in their hands , clashing as they meet , and striking one another's sabres ; with a great many other actions , that would be tedious to mention . the negroes have few artisans amongst them , the most common are smiths , weavers , and potters ; the first make knives , slaves fetters , and bracelets of gold , silver , copper , and iron , and ornaments for knives and sabres , and covers for gris-gris's , and the handles of their sabres . they have no farriors , because they never shooe their horses . when they are at the forge , they are always two or three together , under the shadow of a tree , sitting on the side of the forge , the pipe in their mouths . they use so little fire at it , that you could searce boil an egg over it ; they light it with a bellows made of two skins , which they press to make it blow , and resembles a bladder fill'd with wind. their anvil is almost like the stone which the mower makes use of to sharpen his scythe with ; when they beat upon it , 't is so sunk in the sand at the third or fourth blow , that they must raise it again , which spends most of their time , to little purpose . their weavers are little employ'd , wearing but few cloaths , as i have already said . the potters make but one sort of pots ; the greater of which serve for kettles , and the lesser for pipes ; the bowl of which only is made of clay , the shank of it being a little hollow stick , fastned to the earthen head. they are generally idle , and spend most of their time in unnecssary discourse ; and if necessaries be wanting , they are not much concern'd , but rub on , unless they go and live on a neighbour . the management of the house gives the wife very little trouble , except it be the eating part ; for the kitchen furniture of the greatest lords consists only of some earthen pots , a few wooden vessels , and calkasses half broken , which they make use of instead of cups . their children , tho' young , don't incumber them much , for they leave them naked on the sand , where they creep all day long : those who are very young indeed , they carry always on their backs , with their legs against their sides , drawing their feet before , and binding them behind with a calico cloth , with which they gird themselves withal . whatever they are a doing their little ones are always ty'd up behind them , even when they are pounding their mill ; whence 't is , that they have all great bellies and flat noses , for the mother bowing and raising her body as she beats , makes them strike their noses against her back ; which the children endeavouring to avoid ( which notwithstanding they hardly can ) holding themselves back , they advance their bellies : i believe this is the only reason that the negroes are flat nos'd . they value beauty as much as we , and particularly in the eyes , mouth , lips , and nose : allowing for their blackness , there are negresses as handsom as any of our european ladies . and are more witty than the men , but very subtil , and smooth tongu'd . the caresses of white men please them wonderfully . but , in the mean time , these dames being very mercenary , they will not grant them favours for nothing , although their husbands consent to their debaucheries . but 't is not so amongst one another ; for if one lies with another's wife , they will kill him if they can with their sabres , or their knives ; or , if it be with their concubines , they will have their revenge . the women are always smoaking ; they are very merry , and above all things love dancing in the evenings , and at the new moons : they dance in a-round , clapping their hands without stirring , except it be those in the middle , and sing the first thing that comes into their mouth 's , sense or nonsense . these last in dancing hold one hand on their heads , and the other behind , advancing the upper part of their bodies , and clapping their feet on the earth : their postures are lascivious and infamous , and chiefly when boys dance with them ; a cablasse or a kettle serves them for musick ; for some sort of noise they must have . the men exercise themselves in wrestling , and in approaching one another use ridiculous postures ; in holding out the finger , the fist , or the foot at one another . on this occasion there is always one who acts the guiriot , and who makes some sort of musick to encourage them . being naked , they hardly come to the ground without being hurt . and when one receives a fall , the guiriot extols him who gives it , encouraging him to more victories over his adversary , who flees from him . the greatest part who live by the water-side are fishers ; they train up their children early to this art ; and make use of canoo's ; they are little boats , made of the hollow trunk of a tree , and all of a piece ; of which the largest may contain ten or twelve men , being about 30 foot long , and about a foot and a half wide . these canoo's both sail and row . when the wind is high , and the water rough , the canoo often overturns , but they little mind it , for they are good swimmers , & it does not sink to the bottom , so they easily set it right again in the water , and then get into it as if nothing had happen'd : but row in them with such speed , that the lightest of our sloops can't overtake them . when they go a fishing , commonly they don't go above two in a canoo . they launch out as good as six leagues into the sea , and for the most part fish with a line ; but as there are great fishes which won't bite at a bait , they strike them with irons pointed like the head of an arrow , or with long sticks sharpned at the end , and of the length of a halp-pike , with a cord fasten'd to it , with which they draw them to land , after wounding them . they dry the little fish like sardins , and they open the great ones , as they do cod. as they don't salt them , they commonly stink before they dry ; but 't is then they reckon them most delicious , for they don't love fresh fish . they sell it to those who live up land ; and would from them make great advantage of it , if they 'd take the pains of carrying it to the towns ; but the others being as lazy to fetch it , as they are to carry it , betwixt them both the fish stinks , and becomes useless . besides their trade with us , they keep particular markets for themselves , but trivial , that i have admir'd to see them come six or seven leagues with a little cotton , some callicoes , beans , gourds , palm , pallets , &c. another time i saw a man come six leagues to bring a bar of iron half of a foot long . not but that sometimes one meets there with goods of greater value , as rings of gold , and gold ear-rings , nam'd by them dougaret , of the same metal , but it 's in so small a quantity , that in the whole market you shan't find to the value of fifty pistols . formerly they dealt wholly by the way of exchanging one thing for another , but since their commerce with the europeans , instead of money they trade with rastade , and little glass baubles , and iron bars . the best things they bring us in these markets , ( which they keep at the end of some town ) is elephants teeth , bullocks hides , and some slaves , which they come to goree to sell ; and for which messiears of the company give them iron , aqua-vitae , rassade , &c. by which they make a considerable gain . the government there is hereditary and monarchical , yet 't is not the sons of the king who succeed , but his nephews , his sisters sons . this custom , which may seem a little odd , is grounded on this reason , that 't is not certain that the children the prince has by his wives are really his ; whereas it being undeniable , that the children of his sisters are certainly hers ; and so it follows , that they are rather of the blood royal than his own . when the prince comes to the throne , every body strives to congratulate him , because he has carried it from his brothers ; of whom there being commonly many , the empire always becomes contested , and falls to him that has the greatest force and the best success . the king is approach'd with difficulty and reverence ; and few are admitted into the heart of his court. when any great lord , tho' he be his relation , would have audience of him , he pulls off his frock at his entrance into the court , being quite naked from the waist upwards ; when he draws near the place where the king is , he throws himself on his knees , afterwards bows his head , and with his both hands strews sand on his face and head , then rises , and repeats the same ceremony often at such a distance , till he comes within two steps of the king : being there , he stops , and declares the motives he had for demanding audience : his compliment ended , which is made on the knee , he rises without daring to look at the king , resting his hands on his knees , and from time to time sling sand on his forehead . the prince , who carries it very high to his subjects , makes a shew as if he scarce heard him , and so diverts himself with something else ; yet , however , at last , he vouchsafes him a short answer , with excessive gravity . and then the suppliant rejoyns the courtiers who are found there . i don't believe there are any kings in the world more absolute , and more respected than the negroes , which proceeds from their severity ; for on the least offence of the subject , an order is sent to behead him ; all his goods are confifcated , and his whole family enslaved . the middle sort are happier than the great , being subject only to captivity on these occasions . the azoaghes , the maraboux , and the french , have much more liberty than the negroes ; and we a great deal more than these . when the europeans approach him , they salute him with reverence ; and he presents them his hand to lay it on theirs . at this time he either sits or lies after the fashion of the negroes , on a bed , spread with a quilt , cover'd with red leather , with a pipe in his mouth ; he makes them sit down by him , and asks what they have brought along with them . as we never have these audiences but when we have some favour to request of him , or to complain of his officers , or of some injuries offer'd the whites , we never come without presents ; which commonly consists in ten or twelve pots of aqua-vitae , a little sugar , some garlick , five or six ells of linnen , and some bits of coral . when an envoy has any thing about him that pleases the king , as coat , stockings , shooes , sword , or hat ; he desires to try them , and then makes them his own ; he did thus a little after our arrival to an envoy of monsieur dancourt ; from whom he took a brocard waistcoat , his stockings , hat , and shooes ; so that he had been forc'd to return naked , if by chance he had not carried other cloaths with him , that were of a lesser value than the other . while the aqua-vitae lasts , he is never sober ; so that their 's no expecting an answer , till it 's all out ; when he is sober he dismisses the envoy , giving him two or three slaves , which he sends to his guards to take away at the first village . miserable are they who fall under their hands at that time , for they never stand to chuse , but the first at hand serves the present occasion . whatever care one takes to supply ones self with provisions when one comes to solicite any thing at this court ; yet you run the risk of starving ; for the king demands them ; and eats above one half himself ; and in return , he gives you a kid , or a quarter of a cammel , which is very ill food , a little coscouse , and some palm-wine . while i was in this country , a pleasant thing happen'd ; which shews the power that presents have over these kings , and what little regard they have to justice : two little tributary kings to damel , were at strife concerning the succession to a little poor sovereignty ; they were brother and son to the late prince , and bottom'd their pretensions on divers reasons , too tedious , and too inconsiderable to be mention'd here . they propos'd to end their difference by force , or the king's decision ; the king having forbid the first , they were forc'd to stand to his judgment . on the day appointed for giving judgment in their difference , the two parties met in the great place before the court , accompanied with great numbers , that seem'd to form two battalions , about thirty yards distant from one another ; they were arm'd with darts , bows , zagages , javelins , and morisco knives ; the king follow'd by six hundred men , accoutred with their gris-gris's , appear'd mounted on a fine barbary horse , and so plac'd himself betwixt the two rivals . tho' they all spoke the same language , yet they made use of interpreters , who told the king again what they heard . the son of the deceas'd ended his discourse , in remonstrating to him , that seeing it had pleased god to bestow the sovereignty in dispute on his father , the right of it now belong'd to him , which he hop'd his majesty would confirm to him . the king having heard him attentively , said to him with an air full of gravity , god has given it you , and i give it you again after him . such an answer presently dispers'd the party of the uncle , who retir'd all alone . the guiriot's with their instruments and their drums , celebrated the praises of the victorious , saying to him , you best deserv'd it , the king has done you justice ; for you are more handsom , more rich , and more valiant than he . while this poor prince thought to enjoy his happiness , he was surpris'd to see himself stripp'd next morning of this ▪ sovereignty , with which he was newly invested ; for his uncle losing no time , made such a noble present to the king , that he forgot that of his nephew , and dispossess'd him in the morning of that which he had given him the night before , installing the other in his place . this change of fortune made the guiriots change their note , and now bestow'd all their praises on him whom they despis'd before : such is the perfidiousness both of prince and subject . to return to what concerns the king in particular ; when he goes a progress he has no need of vivandiers , for he is provided for , by the several villages , through which he passes . they serve him up sometimes 50 wooden dishes of causcouse , season'd after several ways ; he receives those which agree with his pallate , and gives the rest to his attendants , who are frequently as hungry after dinner as before ; for you must know , they have all great stomachs . they all eat very nastily , lying along on the ground , taking it up by handfuls ; making no use either of napkins or plates . no body eats with the king but the grand marabou , or one of the most accomplish'd lords , and very often he eats alone . he will by no means suffer the thoubabes ( for so he calls us ) to see him at meals ; i believe he conceals himself from us , as believing we eat better , and with more decency than his custom will allow ; or rather , that he is asham'd of his poverty . amongst the meaner sort , all of a family eat together : their first dish is couscouse , and when they have done with that , they fall aboard the flesh , which they tear in pieces with their fingers , making no use at all of their knives ; and after they have gnaw'd it , they put it into the dish again for the next . they use only their right-hand in eating ; which is always at noon and night ; for they reserve the left-hand wholly for labour , and on that account they esteem it an indecency to eat with it . the king has several ministers of state under him , who assist him in the government , and in the exercise of justice . condy , who is a tributary sovereign , is after the manner of our constable , and is general of his forces , the grand geraff is the chief justice throughout all the dominions of king damel ; he goes the circuits from time to time to execute justice , and hear the complaints of the people ; and he generally does justice out of hand , for he punishes a thief with slavery . it being a rarity for a man of a mean condition to be inflicted with the punishment of death . the king 's alzari exercises the same employ as the geraff , but his power is more limitted : he has under him alkaties or alkairs of great villages , that are as particular lords of them . when a negro is accus'd of any crime , of which he can't easily be convicted , in order to his justification , they oblige him to lick a red-hot iron three times : if it burns him , he is reputed guilty ; if not , he and his accuser leaves the court , and the process falls without costs . the negro kings go to war with one another on every small pretext . and when any such occasion happens , the condy assembles all the great lords , and the rest of the subjects ; of which he composes his cavalry and his infantry . they seldom have a body of above 12 or 1500 men , so that their war is only a sort of skirmishing excursion . in all the kingdom of damel you can scarce raise 200 horse : the men of quality in the army , especially the horse , are loaded with gris-gris , as i have already observed ; so that when they are once dismounted , they are not able to march four paces on foot . their horse are arm'd with zagayes , which is a sort of a dart , long and large , with three or four spears , bigger than those of arrows , and have several small hooks , that tears open the wound when they draw it . they can cast these zagayes a great way , and go very rarely without them : besides these they have a cimeter , and a morisco knife , about half a yard long , and two inches wide : they guard the blows with a round buckler made of thick leather ; and tho' they are encumbred with so many utensils , yet they have their hands and arms at liberty , and can fight smartly . the foot are arm'd with a cimeter , a javelin , and a quiver fill'd with fifty or sixty poison'd arrows , that wound mortally , if they are not immediately seer'd with hot irons . the teeth of their iron-headed arrow produces another miserable effect ; for they can't be drawn back , without making the wound more dangerous than before . their bow is made of a cane , resembling that which we call a bamboo . that which they make use of for the string , is another sort of wood , very curiously fitted up for that purpose . they are so dextrous in shooting out of bows , that at fifty yards distance they 'll hit a mark , the breadth of a crown piece . they march without any order of discipline , even in the enemies country . the guiriot's excite them to battel by the sound of their instruments . as soon as they are within shot , the infantry discharge their arrows , and the horse cast their javelins . this discharge is follow'd with blows of zagayes . they spare their enemies as much as possible , that they may make the more slaves ; from which their persons of quality are not exempted . and as they are naked and expert in the using their bows , &c. their wars are always very bloody . they are very resolute , and had rather lose their lives , that be guilty of the least cowardice . the despight that is show'd to a coward amongst them , and the fear of losing their liberty , does very much augment their courage . their first shock being over , they often renew it again for two or three days together ; afterwards send a marabou of each side to treat of a peace . when they have agreed on the conditions , they swear upon the alcoran , and by mahomet , to the observing them ; tho' they know very little of the one or the other . the prisoners on either side receive no benefit of the treaty , but continue slaves as if the war was eternal . see here the best account i cou'd give of these countries , if i can discover any thing farther , before my return into europe , i shall give you an exact account thereof , in compliance with the desires of my friends , who enjoyn'd me to communicate my observations to them . my little knowledge of writing , and my indifferent style , will soon let them see , i am not capable of transmitting to them these relations . all that they must attribute to me , is fidelity and truth in them , which i preferr before all the romantick amusing accounts in the world. finis . the bookseller's advertisement to the reader . a particular person that is very knowing , having travelled the coasts of africa , and seen the author of this voyage at gozee , has sent me these following relations : i thought my self oblig'd to publish them , for the benefit of the publick , and affix them to this ; withal , acquainting you , that they are not the remarks of the sieur le maire . relations of the islands and adjacent places of the rivers of bresalina , gambia , zamenee , st. domingo , geve , &c. the kingdom of the barbasines who are almost all mahometan negroes ) is of small extent , having not above six or seven leagues of coast : it joyns with that of the joloffes , beginning at a village called jovalle , situated on the sea-coasts , and inhabited by some mulatters and portuguese . there is another small village which they call coringua , which is nearer to cape verde , and a dependant of jovalle , where commonly they drive the greatest trade . about six or seven leagues higher you meet with the river bresalma , whose mouth is very large , but choak'd up with sand-beds , that nothing but canoo's , shalops , and little barks can go into the river : the trade of this kingdom is very inconsiderable , the country affording no valuable commodities ; yet the portuguese buy salt and provisions here . on the same coast , two leagues higher , is the river gambia , which has two channels for vessels , one to the north , and another to the south , where ships of four hundred tun may easily enter . you must first sound the passage with a sloop , for fear of striking upon the sands : being pass'd , you meet bending towards the north , the kingdom of baria ; whose king lives a quarter of a league from the sea. the inhabitants are call'd maudingues , and are for the most part mahometans . the isle of dogs , to which you may go dry-foot at low water , is directly opposite , in the river . the french did formerly inhabit it , but they had their throats cut by the negroes . since which it has been wholly deserted , being of no consequence . the flouppes negroes , of whom i shall speak hereafter , are directly at the entrance of the south-side . six leagues farther up the river to the north is the town call'd albroda , where , before the war , the french had an establishment : but the english have one now , at a village call'd zeelfray , about a league higher on the same shoar . they have also a regular fort in the island over against it ; which is not above half a quarter of a league about , built on a gravelly rock . this fort has above fifty pieces of cannon mounted , which are of no great use for want of men to manage them : they are forc'd to fetch all their water and wood from the main land. these are they who have the best share of all the trade that is driven on this river ; which chiefly consists in negroe slaves , ivory , and wax . it is navigable above two hundred leagues . a description of the river zamenee . the river zamenee is inhabited by several sorts of negroes , those at its mouth towards the north call themselves floupes , a people extreamly savage , with whom no nation has any commerce . they are all pagans ; having every one his god according to his particular inclinations ; one worships a bullocks horn , another a beast , or a tree , to whom they offer sacrifice according to their own manner . their dress is like those of cape verd , and the inhabitants of the river gambia , which consists in a piece of cotton cloth , striped after the manner of the country , which barely covers their nakedness . they have no succession of kings , the most absolute and most powerful amongst them commands . they understand cultivation very well , and make very good improvements of their lands , which they sow with mill and rice . their riches consists in bullocks , cows , goats ; of which some of them have great quantities . they possess the coast all along as far as the river gambia , and about six leagues into the land. their towns are well peopled , and about a quarter of a league distant one from another . the negroes or filouppes that inhabit the south entrance of this river , are exceeding barbarous and cruel ; for when they can catch any white men they give 'em no quarter ; and some say they eat them . these are in possession of the country all along the coast to a town called boulol , which stands at the mouth of the river of st. domingo . this coast is much better peopled than that of gambia : the villages are about two leagues distant one from another , and about half a league from the sea. about seven or eight leagues farther , the ebbing and flowing of the sea makes a little river , which leads to the town of jam , where the portuguese make great quantities of wax , which they traffick with by land to gambia and cacheaux . the adjacent countries are inhabited by negroes who are call'd bagnons ; and these have a king that lives twelve or thirteen leagues from the sea. a description of the river st. domingo . the river of st. domingo runs from east to west , winding a matter of two hundred leagues . 't is also inhabited by different sorts of negroes , and by the portuguese , who have several towns there . at the north entrance of it there is small fort belonging to the portuguese , mounted with four guns , and commanded by serjeant and four soldiers . four leagues higher on the same shoar , near the village of boulet , is the little river of linguim , which runs a matter of nine or ten leagues under ground , and then loses it self . it is possest and cultivated by the bagnon negroes , who are all idolaters , and very much dreaded by their neighbours . the village of quongain is directly at its entrance , where abundance of portuguese and gourmets inhabit , who make great store of wax there . the river boguinda is on the same coast , about three leagues higher than the tide comes : it spreads it self twelve or fifteen leagues into the land , inhabited by the same sort of people , who , as i have told you before , traffick altogether with wax . 't is the ordinary passage from cacheau to jam. on the entrance of the river of st. domingo to the south , is a large wood called matteformose ; and a village inhabited by the flouppes , much more civiliz'd than those i have mention'd before : with whom a trade is maintain'd for slaves and provisions , but chiefly for great quantities of rice . going up the river about two leagues , you meet with a small rivolet , which is not navigable , but separates the flouppes from the papels . the papels are pagan negroes , all idolaters , as the former . they have a king who dwels five or six leagues from them : when any considerable person dies , they sacrifice bullocks , cows , kids , and capon to their gods , which are for the most part one or more trees , the horn of an ox , &c. in the same road , about four leagues higher , you find the town of cacheau ; now in the hands of the portuguese , who have three forts there ; the chief of which may have about ten or twelve guns , and the other two , three , or four each . a captain-major has the government of it , who has a dependance on the governor of cape verd , they are every year recruited with thirty or forty portnguese soldiers , who are generally banish'd criminals ; they supplying the places of those who die for want of wholsome diet , by necessity , or by an over addicting themselves to women . 't is design'd them a place of exile , tho' they often find it happy enough . there may be about three hundred inhabitants in the town , who are for the most part mullato's ; the other may have wives or concubines . there is in the town a receiver of the king's customs ; for the ships that come to traffick there pay ten per cent. for coming in and going out . there is a grefferi or writer , who holds the place both of publick notary and sheriff : 't is the governor who administers justice . there is a parochial church , a curate , and a visitator , who is in the nature of the great vicar of france ; for he always makes visitations on behalf the bishop of st. james . there is also a convent of capuchins , where there are seldom more than three or four religious . the inhabitants of the town have little boats and barks , in which they trade on the rivers of nonne , pougues , serlione , and to the islands of the bezagots , where they have a great commerce with wax , slaves , and some small pieces of ivory . the portuguese have yet another town , a great way higher up the river , about one hundred and fifty leagues from cacheau , call'd farim , pallasodo'd round ; but the inhabitants are not so numerous as at cacheau ; tho' the greatest part of them , have somer-houses here , where their gourmet's make calico's , and some small quantities of wax . there is also a curate , and a captain-major ▪ who is dependant on the town of cacheau . the negroes that inhabit the adjacent countries are call'd maudingues : all the villages from cacheau to farim are peopled by the gourmets of the portuguese , who gather cotton , &c. going southward out of the river of st. domingo , you meet several islands , the first is call'd the three islands , which effectively has that figure . possessed by the gourmots or negroes , who have freed themselves from the slavery of the portuguese ; and most of them , tho' they are baptis'd , have renounc'd the catholick faith. they cultivate this island , which produces great store of cotton , of which they make their cloth. they have cannoo's to serve them in their traffick with the negroes ofthe of the continent . the place which they pass is call'd the bott . they are very careful not to let any vessels or barks approach their island . over-against it is the island of bussi , in possession of the papels , who have a king not very absolute . the sea is so shallow there , that one may pass to it without being up to the mid-leg . 't is dangerous trading with them , till their ways are throughly known ; for their strange mistrust , makes them believe there is no sincerity in us . i know that several english and dutch , have been there massacred for endeavouring to trade with them . they abound in provisions , as oxen , foul , fish , mill , &c. but they are of a very indifferent relish . their island is about ten leagues in circuit , and has two ports , the one to the east , which is call'd old port ; the other to the south , which call'd white-stone harbour . right over-against it , is the village of cazelut , and many small islands , which are not inhabited . very near it you find the island of bisseaux , about two leagues distant . a vessel of three hundred tun may pass betwixt them both , if the channel be well known . 't is about forty leagues in compass ; the papel negroes that inhabit it are almost all pagans . there are in this island nine kings ; which one is superior to the other eight ; which properly are no more than deputy governors . when any of the king 's die , they take care to strangle above thirty persons , chiefly the young girls , and those slaves that have been the most faithful to the deceas'd , whom they bury along with them . they put with him into his tomb all his riches , as his gold , silver , amber gris , stuffs , &c. when they chuse another 't is after this manner ; they are only the gearges that make pretensions , which are , as i may say , the dukes and peers of france . they gather together in a ring , in the middle of which is the tomb of the deceas'd king , made of reeds and very light wood , which is sustain'd in the air by several negroes , who in dancing toss it up , and he on whom it falls , they chuse for their king in the room of the deceas'd : they often sacrifice to their gods , bullocks , capons , kids , &c. there are several good harbours in this island , the best of which is call'd port-risseaux , where ships of sixty guns may ride at anchor in safety . the king's palace is within half a league of it : there is one parish , and a convent of capuchins ; several of the portuguese are married to the negresses of the country . there are several of those heathens sons have received baptism , and embrac'd the catholick doctrine . the king has his guards , his army , and several women of all ages . he has a-about fifty cannoo's of war man'd with about thirty men each . for their arms they have only a cimiter hanging on their shoulders by a short belt. and are cloath'd only with the skin of a kid , which hangs loose behind , and is fasten'd before betwixt their legs , to hide their nudities . they go to war agaiust the biaffares , who inhabited the continent , twice or thrice a year . the portuguese formerly built a fort there , mounted with eight guns , to hinder strangers from coming to that isle , that they might engross it all to themselves : but the negroes will not suffer it , for they are all sticklers for the liberties of their country , which occasions a welcome to all manner of strangers , that come to traffick in their ports , who may negotiate in the island with all imaginable security , without dreading any insult , if you offer none . when you arrive at their ports , you are not suffer'd to land till the king has a sacrifis'd a bullock ; which done , you have liberty to disembark . just over-against the port is an island call'd sortiere , full of trees , where the negroes make their grand sacrifices every year , in which the king himself assists . vessels anchor very safely there . a description of the river geva . the river of geva winds it self about 70 leagues into the continent , from north-east to south-west . all the villages of either side ( which are about a league from the sea ) are inhabited by the biaffares . at the entrance of the river , towards the north , is a village call'd gouffode , about a league from the harbour : there it is where bullocks and poultry are to be sold ; and they also traffick for some slaves . on the same river , abous five leagues higher , is the town of geva ; the greatest part is possessed by the portuguese and gournets , which is encompass'd with pallasadoes . they have a parish-church , a curate , and a captain who commands them , and is dependent on the governor of cacheau : the adjacent places are inhabited by the negro biaffares ; most of the portuguese have barks in the port , in which they trade to serlienne , with a sort of fruit call'd cocters , which both in shape and taste resembles the marous of india ; they are both white and red , for which they drive a great trade , especially with the biaffares and mandingues . they also send their barks to trade with the bizagot negroes on the river nounne for elephants teeth , &c. indigo in the leaf , which they die their cloaths with . the barks can go no higher than goree ; but their cannoo's will go up several little rivers of small note . just over-against the port you meet with several little islands , especially that of boulam ; well stock'd with trees , and about six leagues in compass , lying just at the entrance of the river riogrando , but not inhabited . the other islands are so inconsiderable , i do not think it worth while to mention them . i shall say nothing of cape-verd , senegal , or the canary islands , understanding that the sieur le maire , with the assistance of monsieur d' ancourt has said more than i am capable of saying . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a36936-e16310 departure from paris . brest . great canary , the capital of the seven islands . it s situation . it s strength . it s bigness residence of the states and of the parliament . religious houses . the canary islands formerly call'd fortunate . their happiness . belief of the heathens . the richness of the soil . extent of the great canary . the pic. the island of teneriffe . the situation of the seven canary islands . remark . cape blanc . why it 's call'd cape blanc , or the sea of sand. observation on the ostridges . manners and religion of the people . how they traffick . fort of arguin . belongs at present to the french. remarks on the tortoises . the plenty of cape-blanc . 1682. cape-verde . it s discovery . it s extent . it s situation . goree . monsieur dancourt finds the affairs of the company in an ill state. the isle of goree . it s extent . discover'd by the portuguese . monsieur d'estrees makes himself master of it . observation on the way . the great scarcity hereabouts . negroes houses . the negroes love smoak . their beds . their sloth . bieure . the women only manage the trade . st. lewis's island . it s situation . commerce . traffick of slaves . the river of senegal . different manners of the people . their different genius . gum-arabick . they are great cheats . their insolence . they dread fire-arms . the kingdom of senegal is very inconsiderable . it s extent . brac. character of the king of senegal . how he spares his aqua-vitae . how he tyranizes over his subjects . the treachery of his subjects in selling one another . a particular instance of this kind . cheyratick . extent of his empire . his food . the countries of the fargotts and the enguellands . concourse of the river senegal . sort of fish . particular of the overflow of the niger . when , and how the overflow of the niger happens . the cause . an attempt to sail from senegal to gambia . 1683. what people they are who inhabit the coast ▪ from the mouth of the senegal , as far as gambia . the geloffes . the sereres . the barbecins . nature of the soil . at what time they cultivate their grounds . how they cultivate their grounds . the little care they take to live . a cheat of one of their priests , or marabouse . it causes a revolt . in what their riches consists . how they get the wine out of the palm-trees . their way of mounting them . of the several sorts of animals there . the places where they are commonly seen . of the elephant . of the lion. the tiger . the leopard . the once . the tiger-cat . the civit-cat . apes , how many sorts . thoughts of the negroes . their waste and cunning . deer in abundance here . the stag. several sorts of birds . nightingals . parrots . observation on the industrious care of a little bird. the abundance of fish . the requiem . marsouin or sea-pig . the whales . souffleur . observation on a fish . spronton . the naruval . the succer crocodiles . the crocodiles of gambia . sea horse . sea-ox . lamantin , a sort of fish . character of the negroes . their deceit in traffick . they have no fear of punishment . how knavish they are . they are troublesome , intemperate , and brutal . their ignorance . their good quality . their poverty . their great love of praise . their instruments . another instrument the guiriot's , whose employment is to sing praises . their revenge if not rewarded . the habit of the blacks . habit of the most considerable . how the women and maids are habited . the boyes and girls go quite naked . their food call'd sanglet and coscouse . how the women prepare the sanglet . how they make the coscouse . their provision for the war. their drink . they have several houses . houses of the great . the house of king damel . the appartments of the kings wives . the religion of the negroes . their pagan opinions . from whom they derive their religion . at what times they say their dayly prayers . mosques of the king and the great ones . their exercises and ceremonies in their mosques . their ridiculous prayers . they believe predestination . their superstition . their gris-gris , or relicks . their confidence in them . how they are made . ramadan , or lent. folgar , or their feasts of joy. their inclination to many wives . ceremony on this occasion . the funerals of the negroes . of their artisans . their way at the forge . their kttchen vtensils . how their children are nurs'd . how the women dance and sing . the exercises of the men. their fishing . their canoo's . their way of fishing . their neglect to preserve their fish . their markets . their government hereditary . how the king is approach'd . how absolute and respected he is . who are well receiv'd by the king. how much he loves presents . what presents are brought him . remark on the reception of envoys . the presents of the king of the negroes . remarks on the injustice of the negro kings . what is the conduct of the king when he goes a progress . the negroes manner of eating . the officers of king damel . how and for what the negro kings make upon one anocher . the arms of the horse . the arms of the foot. their way making peace . notes for div a36936-e27860 the kingdom of the barbasine . the river bresalma . the river of gambia . the kingdom of baria . the isle of doggs . albroda . idolatry of the negroes . their habits . have no kings . their riches . the cruelties of the negroes or flouppes . the river of st. domingo . the river boguinda . the wood of matteformose . the papels sacrifice . the town of cacheau . the town of farim . the three islands . the isle of bussi . their treachery . the village of cazelut . their cruelty when any of their kings die . how they elect their kings . their arms and habit. the river geva . the isle of boulam . the history of the sevarites or sevarambi, a nation inhabiting part of the third continent commonly called terræ australes incognitæ with an account of their admirable government, religion, customs, and language / written by one captain siden, a worthy person, who, together with many others, was cast upon those coasts, and lived many years in that country. histoire des sevarambes. english allais, denis vairasse d', ca. 1630-1672. 1675 approx. 354 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 151 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-01 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a64809 wing v20 estc r13659 12002160 ocm 12002160 52248 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a64809) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 52248) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 79:1a) the history of the sevarites or sevarambi, a nation inhabiting part of the third continent commonly called terræ australes incognitæ with an account of their admirable government, religion, customs, and language / written by one captain siden, a worthy person, who, together with many others, was cast upon those coasts, and lived many years in that country. histoire des sevarambes. english allais, denis vairasse d', ca. 1630-1672. roberts, a., 17th cent. [20], 114, [6] p. printed for henry brome ..., london : 1675. written by d. vairasse. cf. halkett & laing (2nd ed.). preface signed: d.v. translation of: histoire des sevarambes. translated by a. roberts. the second part has separate t.p. with imprint date 1679. advertisements on p. [1]-[4] at end. reproduction of original in university of michigan libraries. with: the history of the sevarites or sevarambi ... the second part ... london : printed by j.m. for henry brome ..., 1679 (wing v20a). created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in 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and edited 2006-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the history of the sevarites or sevarambi : a nation inhabiting part of the third continent , commonly called , terrae australes incognitae . with an account of their admirable government , religion , customs , and language . written by one captain siden , a worthy person , who , together with many others , was cast upon those coasts , and lived many years in that country . london , printed for henry brome , at the gun at the west end of st. pauls church-yard . 1675 the publisher to the reader . there are many , who having read plato's commonwealth , sir thomas more 's vtopia , the lord verulam's new atlantis , ( which are but ideas and ingenious fancies ) are apt to suspect all relatons of new discoveries to be of that kind ; and chiefly when they find in them any thing extraordinary and wonderful . but although these persons are to be commended for being wary and cautious , yet it is but so long as they keep within the bounds of moderation , and do not pass to the excess of incredulity . for as some men , through a believing simplicity , are easily imposed upon , and receive that for a truth , which in effect is not one : so others , on the contrary , through a contrary humour , are apt to reject , as fabulous , that which often proves to be a real truth . this clearly appears in the case of vergilius bishop of collen , who was like to have suffered a severe punishment for affirming , that there were antipodes ; neither could any thing save him but a publick recantation . columbus was looked upon ( here in england , and afterward in france ) as a brain-sick fellow for saying , there was land on the west parts of the ocean : yet the voyages since made round the world have justified vergilius his opinion : and the discovery of america ( where we have many flourishing plantations ) has sufficiently evidenced the truth of columbus his assertion . the histories of peru , mexico , china , &c. were at first taken for romances by many , but time has shewed since that they are verities not to be doubted of . those remote countries were for thousands of years unknown to the people of europe , and so are still many others perhaps , and at this day we know little more of them , than what lies upon the sea-coasts . but how should we have a perfect knowledge of remote countries , lately discovered , since there are many parts of europe very little known yet , and some not at all ? nay , the british islands are not perfectly described : and before their last civil wars , the highlands of scotland ; many parts of ireland , and other smaller isles about , were very little known to the people of england : and their customs , laws , and religion , are things we have not yet had any very good account of . few travellers make it their business to write histories , and make descriptions of those countries they have travelled in , for most of them being merchants , or seamen , they mind little more than their trade ; and being intent upon gain and profit , seldom busie themselves in making observations . besides , few of them are qualified for the writing of books if they were never so willing ; and fewer have time and opportunity to apply themselves to that study ; so it falls out , that we have few exact relations of remote countries , although they be often seen , and even described in maps . for an instance , the isle of borneo lies near java , and in the way to china , it is one of the biggest in the world according to geographical descriptions , and yet we have very little knowledge of it , although the dutch have very large dominions in java , and other islands about it , and sail daily by it in their way to jappan and china . many other places there are which sailers take no more notice of than as it is necessary for their ships to avoid them . and how can it be expected we should have any good descriptions of them , unless some great powers should undertake it , and send fit persons for that purpose , with all the helps and encouragement requisite in so useful and honourable a design ? among all remote countries , there is none so vast , and so little known , as the third continent , commonly called , terra australis . it is true , geographers give some small and unperfect descriptions of it , but it is with little knowledge and certainty ; and most of their draughts may be suspected , and look'd upon , as imaginary and fictitious . sure it is , that there is such a continent ; many have seen it , and even landed there , but few durst venture far in it , if any there were ; and i do not think that any body hath made any true description of it , either for want of knowledge , or other necessary means and opportunities . this history will supply that defect , in a great measure , if it be true , as i have reason to believe upon these grounds : first , upon the testimony of the reporter , who doth not only herein affirm this history to be true , but did it also by word of mouth , a good while before , and again near the time of his death , when he gave his papers to the gentleman , who did lately put them into my hands . these two gentlemen came to know one another at smirna , a little before the dutch fleet departed from thence , in or about the year 1607. and being both bound for holland ; they came together in the same ship where by a daily converse they contracted a very strict friendship . this fleet being attacked in its return , there were many men killed and wounded ; and among the rest , the author of this relation , called captain siden , was mortally wounded , and lived but little after the fight . upon his death-bed he made his friend heir of what he had in the ship , and spake to him in this manner : as the gentleman , himself , hath often declared to me . sir , since it is gods decree that i should live no longer , i patiently submit to his divine will without any murmuring . but before i die , i am willing to dispose of a chest i have in this ship , where you will find some money , and a few jewels , of no great value , i confess , but such as they are i give them to you , and i am sorry they are not better worth your acceptance , i give you also the chest , and every thing in it ; and though , it seems , the whole is worth but little , yet you will find a great treasure in it , and that is the history of my adventures in the south continent , as you have heard me relate to you several times . you will find it in a great disorder and confusion for the most part ; and written in several languages , as being intended only to serve for memoires till i could digest them into an orderly contexture . but since god will not permit me to do it my self , i commit it to your care , knowing you are an ingenious person , and give you full power and authority to dispose of the said papers as you will think most convenient ; assuring you upon my death bed , as i have done before in several discourses , that they contain nothing but truth ; which , i hope , time and further experience will bring to light . these were the last words of the dying gentleman , who a few hours after gave up his soul to god ; and who , according to his friends testimony , was a very sober , discreet , and worthy person . after his death his heir examined the papers , and found they were written , for the most part , in latine ; the rest in french , italian , and provencal ; the diversity of which languages put him to a great deal of trouble , for he did not understand them all , neither was he willing to trust the writings into strangers hands . these difficulties , together with the confusion of the wars that followed , and several troublesome affairs , were the reason why he kept this history concealed all this while , not knowing whom to trust it with . but being come from holland into england since the peace was proclaimed betwixt the two nations ; and having contracted some acquaintance and friendship with me , he did me the favour a while ago to intrust me with his papers , and desired my assistance in putting them into an orderly method . i perused them , and found the matter , therein contained , so extraordinary and wonderful , that i was never at rest till i had disposed them into a good order and contexture ; which i , at last , effected , not without much labour and pains , with the gentlemans help and counsel . now we were a while uncertain in what language we should publish this history , he being inclined to do it in latine , or french : but at last i prevailed with him , and perswaded him to let me print it in english , taking the whole task upon my self . but before we proceeded in that design , i was desirous to enquire after the truth of this discovery some other way , and told him it were very material to send into holland , to know of the officers of the admiralties there , whether any such ship , as the golden dragon , herein mentioned , was at any time gone from thence for batavia : to which he readily answered , he had satisfied himself therein , and found upon examination , that a vessel of that name was gone from the texel , at the time herein expressed , with all the other circumstances . but this was not enough to satisfie me , because i had nothing but his bare affirmation : i therefore went to mr. van dam , advocate to the east-india company but this could not be done , because the dutch gentleman was then in flanders ; whereupon he intreated him to write to him , and desire him to give the best account he could of it ; which he readily consented to , and having sent a letter to his friend concerning this matter , received the following answer , which we have faithfully translated out of french , and inserted it here . sir , according to your desire , and for your friends satisfaction , i shall tell you ; that when i was at batavia , in the year 1659 , a dutch seaman , named prince , hearing that i had been near the south-continent , told me , that some years before ( i do not remember how many , nor at what height ) he was cast away in a new ship , called the green , or golden dragon ; which carried a great deal of money , designed for batavia , and about four hundred people ; who for the most part had got into the said land , and kept there the same discipline they had at sea. that having entrenched themselves , with what they had saved , and among the rest , most of their victuals , they made a new pinnace out of the broken pieces of their ship , casting lots for eight men ( whereof this seaman was one ) to go to batavia , to inform the general of the holland company of their disaster , to the end he might send ships to fetch those who had been cast away . that pinnace being come to batavia , with much ado ; the said general dispatched presently a frigot , which being come to that coast , they sent their long boat ashore with many men , who landed at the place and height to them described before , but found no body there . they ranged along that coast till they lost their boat , and some of their men , through the badness of the weather , which that coast is very subject to , and so returned to batavia without effecting any thing . the general sent a second frigot , which likewise came back , with no better success than the former . people speak differently of that country , some saying , that in the inland , there are people of a great stature ; others , that they are little and subtile , and that they carry those they can catch into the inner parts of the land along with them . i was like to have landed there , but , as through gods special favour , a sudden calm in the night saved us from being cast away ; soon after a sudden storm made us alter our minds of landing there , and we thought our selves happy to get to sea again . this is all i can tell you of this business : your friends may hear more of this ship from those who belong to the east-india company . general maetsuycker was then , and is still , general in batavia ; but i had this account only of the seaman above mentioned . the land of this country is reddish , and barren , and the coasts as if they were enchanted by reason of frequent storms , which hinder much those who will land there : and that is the reason why the aforesaid frigots lost their boats and men . they could not land every where ; and this seaman is of opinion , they could not find the right place . i remain bridges , oct. 28. 1672. your most humble servant th. s. this is the true copy of the letter sent to this french gentleman , who has given me the original and i have it still in my possession . he added , that the savoyard took a copy of it , and told him , that he himself had made great enquiry after a gentleman of his country , who was said to have gone in this ship. that the same gentleman had been a great traveller , and had left an estate near nice de provence , where he was born , and that his kindred , not having heard from him for many years , were much troubled to know what was become of him . all these things are , in my opinion , very strong arguments to establish the truth of this history , since they agree so well with the history it self in all the circumstances of time , place , and person , and are attested by so many credible witnesses , which are yet alive , for the most part , and who living in several places , not knowing one another , and having no interest in the publishing of this story , cannot rationally be suspected , to have all joyned together to give credit to a fictitious narration . but i leave the reader to the liberty of using his own judgment , and content my self with shewing the reasons which have been able to convince mine . i wish that those who shall read this most delightful and admirable relation may reap some profit out of it either in point of pleasure or utility , it being a very ingenious piece , and the most perfect model of government i ever read or heard of in my life . d. v. the history of the sevarites , or sevarambi . my , natural genius , the manner of my education , and the example of others , inspired me in my young years with a restless desire of travelling the world , that i might my self be an eye witness of those things i had either read or heard of . but the authority of my parents , who designed me for the gown , and my want of sufficient means , were powerful obstacles to my desires ; and would have confined me at home , had not fortune , mightier than all these , ordered it contrary to their intent , and according to my wishes . for before i had attained the fifteenth year of my age , i was sent into italy , in a military imployment , which kept me there two whole years before i came home again into my own country ; from whence , soon after my return , i was obliged to march into catalonia with a better command than that i had before . i continued there in the army for the space of three years , and would not have quitted the service , if my fathers untimely death had not called we home again to take possession of a small estate he left me , and to obey my mothers absolute commands , who called me back , as the only person , after so great a loss , that was able to dry up her tears . these considerations made me to return ; and after that , to leave the sword , and to put on the gown , and change a souldiers life for that of a lawyer ; to which study upon this occasion i did wholly apply my self ; read the institutions , the codex , and the digests or pandects , where having made a pretty good progress in four or five years time i was perswaded to take my degrees in the university , which i did accordingly with an indifferent good success . then was i received into the soveraign court of judicature of my country in the quality of an advocate , as being the first step to higher dignities , exercised my self in declamations upon fictitious causes , and pleaded real and choice ones in apparatu , as they term it , with some applause and credit . i was well enough pleased with these kinds of exercises , in which young men love to shew their wit and eloquence to the publick , and where they get more praise than money ; but when i descended to the lower practice of the law , i found it so crabbed , so mean and slavish , that in a short time i was quite weary of it . i carefully examined the ways and means by which lawyers attain to riches and dignities , and found there was much of fraud and indirect proceeding in them , and that unless i did comply with men of that calling in all these vices , i should never get either wealth or credit by my practice . now being naturally inclined to ease and pleasure , and loving frankness and honesty , i clearly perceived i was no ways fit for that imployment . so while i was thinking and contriving how to cast it off with some plausible reason , a fatal accident took away my loving mother ; and although her death made me absolute master of my self and estate , yet it laid so much grief and sorrow on my heart , that all things at home became odious to me , insomuch that i made a strong resolution to leave my native land , if not for ever , at least for a long time . pursuant to this design , i disposed of all my concerns , except of a small estate in land , which i reserved for a place of retreat in case of necessity , leaving it in the hands of a faithful friend , who ever since gave me a very good account of it so long as he could hear from me . having in that manner ordered my affairs and taken leave of my best friends , i travelled into the chiefest provinces of the kingdom of france 'till i came to the famous city of paris , where i spent almost two years without going above fifty or sixty miles from it . but the former desire of seeing more countries , and an opportunity while i was there of travelling into germany made me depart from that populous city to go and see the several courts of the german princes , those of the kings of swedeland and denmark , and at last the low-countries , where i made an end of my european travels , and rested my self , till the year 1655. in which i took shipping for the east indies . the causes and motives which induced me to take this long voyage were these : first , my natural curiosity of seeing countries , and the wonderful relations i had heard or read of those remote parts of the world . secondly , the earnest solicitations of a friend who had a concern in batavia , and was bound for that place . and last of all , the great gain and profits which i was told would accrue to me by this voyage if it should prove successful . these arguments and invitations easily prevailed with me , so that having in a short time ordered my affairs , and prepared my self for this purpose , i went with my friend aboard a new ship , called the golden dragon , bound for batavia . she was a vessel of about six hundred tuns , and thirty two guns , and carried near four hundred people seamen or passengers , and great sums of money , where my friend , called monsieur de nuits , had a great concern . in order to our voyage we weighed anchor from the texel on the twelfth day of april 1655. and with a fresh easterly wind sailed through the channel betwixt france and england with all the speed and good success we could wish , till we came to the open seas , and thence prosecuted our voyage to the canary islands with variety of winds and weather , but no storms or tempests . there we took in fresh provisions , such as the islands afford , and which we had occasion for ; and steering from thence towards the isles of capo verdo to fetch a constant trade wind , we came in sight of them without any accident worth my relating it is true , we saw several sea monsters , flying fishes , new constellations , &c. but because those things are usual , that they have been described by others , and have for many years lost the grace of novelties , i purposely omit them , not being willing to increase the bulk of this book with unnecessary relations which would but tire the readers patience and my own . to proceed therefore with my intended brevity , i think it will be sufficient to tell you that we made the coasts of brasil , and got there another trade wind , which carried us towards the cape of good hope with indifferent good success . we doubled the cape without any danger , and pursued our voyage with all chearfulness and alacrity , till we came to 38 degrees of south latitude , on the second day of august of the same year 1655. till this time and place fortune had smiled upon us , but now she began to frown , for about three or four a clock in the afternoon the sky began to change its former clearness and serenity into thick clouds , lightnings and thunders , which were the forerunners of the vehement winds , rain , hail and tempest , which succeeded soon after . the very approach of this violent storm did much terrifie our seamen , and although they had time to take down their sails , tie fast their guns , and order every thing as they thought fit , yet foreseeing the terrible hurricane that hapned immediately after , they could not chuse but dread the violence and fierceness of it . the sea began to foam , and turn its smooth surface into mountains and vales. the winds ran all the points of the compass in less than two hours time . our ship was tossed to and fro , up and down again , in the horridest manner imaginable ; one wind drove us forward , and another beat us back again ; our masts , yards , and tackling were broken , and the storm was so violent that a great part of our seamen being sick could hardly hear and obey command . all this while our passengers were kept under deck , and my friend and i lay at the main mast sadly cast down , and both repenting , he for his covetous desire of gain , and i for my foolish curiosity . we wished our selves a hundred times in holland , and as often despaired ever to see it again , or any other land , for any would have served our turn then . he was a very honest young man , but no souldier nor seaman . at the begining of the storm i was full of courage , and well resolved to submit to the will of god without any murmuring or fear of dying , but he did not understand that philosophy , the dreadful image of death appeared to him with all his horrour , and i think i might have seen it in his face if we had not been in the dark . i have admired he did not die for the very fear of it : at first he sigh'd and and groaned only , but a while after , when the storm increased , he broke out into the saddest howling in the world . he accused his fathers counsel and command , who had sent him , but chiefly his own folly in obeying . he called his dear mother , brothers , and sisters , and bad them an eternal farewel , as likewise his beloved country , which he had no hopes ever to see again . he lamented and deplored the cruelty of his fate that put an end to his life in the flower of his age by so horrid and untimely a death . in fine , he made such sad complaints , and was so eloquent in his affliction , that i was moved with compassion more than with the fear of being drowned . pity first wrought upon my heart , and drove out of it all the stoicity my reason had laid there in store ; then fear and infirmity came in , so that i began to howl and lament with my afflicted friend , as if i had been as weak as he , and had it not been for some ridiculous expressions of his , which made me sometimes laugh , i think i had been as much dejected as he . mans weakness and simplicity is much to be admired in such occasions as this , and shews that custom , prejudices , and opinions , have more influence upon his mind than true reason he so much boasts of , and which in such occurrences as this forsakes him , and leaves the mastery of his soul to weak and silly passions . death is but one and the same thing what shape soever it assumes to appear in , and we commonly fear the manner of death more than death it self . before this storm ( wherein none of our people perished by the special grace of god ) i had been exposed to a great deal more danger than i was now ; i had been exposed to the mouth of canons , i had fought in battels , and in sieges , where many thousands of men had lost their lives , and where we marched upon the slain to a seeming inevitable death : yet the fear of it did hardly make an impression on my heart because it was an usual thing , and the contempt of danger as much accounted courage and gallantry as the fear of it cowardliness and infamy , yet death is still but one and the same thing . while my friend and i were thus lamenting , the master and his crew were not asleep , neither did they neglect any thing that could contribute to our preservation ; they used all their art , and all their endeavours , some about the stern , some about the pumps , and others about several other parts of the ship ; and god did so bless their labour , that they kept her up while the violent hurrricane lasted , which at last fell into one particular wind , that got the mastery of the others , and drove us to the southward with so great rapidity that we were not able to keep out of that course , but must yield to his violence . after two days running that course the wind changed a little , and drove us to the southeast for the space of three days , the weather being so foggy that we could see nothing at five or six yards distance . on the sixth day the wind slaked a little , but drove us still to the southeast till towards night , when of a sudden we felt a very great calm , just as if our ship had fallen into a pool or dead lake , which caused no small wonder in us . two or three hours after we were thus becalmed the weather cleared up , and we spied a great many stars , but could not make any good observation by them . we judged in general that we were not far from batavia , and a great many leagues from the south continent : but it proved afterwards we were much deceived in our conjecture . the seventh day we continued in this great calm , as if we had been ordered to celebrate the sabbath day after six days labour and toyl ; during this calm we searched and examined all the parts of our ship , and found her pretty tight , though she was a new ship , and had never gone a voyage before . but she was so strongly built that she endured the rage of the seas without springing any leak able to endamage her . the eighth day at noon a fine breeze began to blow , and drove us to the eastward , much to our joy and satisfaction , for besides that it made for our purpose , we were afraid of being becalmed ; at night the weather grew dark and misty , and the wind stiff and violent , so that we feared another storm the fog continued all the day following , and the wind blowing by fits and puffs , which did sometimes put us to great danger , at night the wind changed , grew boisterous and drove us again to the southeast with great impetuosity , the fog growing still thicker and thicker . about the middle of the night , the wind being very high , and our ship running very swiftly , she struck of a sudden upon a bank , much contrary to our expectation , and stuck there so fast that she remained there without any motion as if she had been nailed to the place . then did we think our selves absolutely lost , and looked every moment to see our ship staved in pieces by the fury of the seas and wind , and every body fell to his prayers seeing neither art nor industry could avail . but god , whose mercies are great , shewed us salvation where we expected nothing but destruction ; for the morning being come , and the sun having expelled the darkness of the night , and dissipated the thickness of the fog , we saw that our vessel stuck upon a bank near the shore of a great island or continent . the discovery of this land turned our despair into hopes , for although it was unknown to us , and we could not tell what good or bad fortune we should have in it : yet any land was then welcome to men who had during many days been so miserably tossed upon the water betwixt life and death , hopes and despair . about noon the weather grew very clear and hot , the sun over-powring the mist and fog , and the wind abating much of his violence , so that the sea did by degrees lose much of his rage and agitation . in the afternoon about three a clock it ebbed from the shore , and left our ship with less than five foot of water upon a kind of a muddy sand where she stuck very fast . the place where she stuck was not above a musket shot from a pretty high but accessible shore , whither we resolved to remove our selves and our goods whatever should come on 't , and in order to it our long-boat was let down , and twelve of our stoutest men were sent ashore well armed to discover the country , and to chuse a place near the sea where we might encamp with some safety without going far from our ship. as soon as they were landed they carefully viewed the country from the top of a rising ground not far from the shore , but saw neither houses , nor inhabitants , nor any signs of either , the country being but a sandy barren land , where grew nothing but bushes and little shrubs wild and savage . they could see neither river nor brook in the parts they had discovered ; and not having time to make a farther search that day , nor counting it prudence to venture any farther into so unknown a place , they came back again to the ship three hours after their landing . the next morning we sent them ashore again with provisions , and order to send the boat back again to fetch our people by degrees , and likewise our provisions and goods , which were all whole by gods mercy without any the least damage . all these orders were executed with great care and diligence , so that the day after our being cast upon the bank we got all ashore with a good part of our provisions and goods most useful and necessary . the first who landed pitched the camp on the side of a rising ground near the sea over against our vessel , which could cover us on the land side from being seen by any body that should come towards the shore , and afforded us a convenient station for a sentinel to discover a good way round about . thither did we by degrees carry our goods , leaving in the ship but ten or twelve men to keep her till we could tow her off upon high water , if it was possible , or dispose of her otherwise . one of the first things we did so soon as we were landed was to call a council , to advise what order we should take for our mutual preservation . it was presently resolved that we should keep for the present upon the land the same order and discipline we kept at sea , till such times we should think fit to alter it ; so after this resolution it was agreed , we should humble our selves before god almighty , to give him most hearty thanks for preserving our lives and goods in so special a manner , and to implore his divine assistance for the future in a place altogether unknown to us , and where we might fall into the hands of some barbarous people , or starve there for want of provisions , if he in his mercy did not provide for us as he had done heretofore . after this resolution and humiliation our officers divided our people into three equal parts , whereof two were ordered incessantly to work about the camp in drawing of a trench to secure us from any sudden invasion , and the others were imployed in discovering the country , and fetching in wood and such kind of supplies . those who were left aboard the ship had orders to see what condition she was in , and what could be done with her . after an exact examination they found that her keel was broke by the violent shock she gave against the sand , and that she stuck so fast in it , that it was impossible to tow her off if she were never so sound , so that they thought the best way was to take her in pieces , and build a pinnace or two out of her ruines to sent to batavia with all speed and diligence . that counsel was approved of , and the fittest men for that purpose were employed for the execution of it with all diligence . the parties that were sent to discover durst not venture far in the plain for fear of some danger or ill accident , till such a time that the camp was better fortified , and the guns carried thither from the ship. they brought in only wood , and some kind of wild berries , of which they found great quantities upon the bushes and shrubs of the place ; some spreading along the shore found a very great plenty of oysters , muscles , and other shell fish , which did not only refresh our people , but did also much save our provisions , which upon examination we found could not hold out above two months according to the ordinary allowance : the consideration whereof made us think of some way to husband it , which could be but by getting and saving . in the first place we used all diligence to get our nets and hooks ready , for we had found that the sea thereabouts was very full of fish ; we fed as much as we could upon the berries of the plain , and upon the shell fish of the shore ; and on the other side we shortned every ones allowance , and reduced it to eight ounces a day of the ships provisions . but our greatest want was sweet water , for although we had made a well in the trench that afforded as much of it as we could use , yet it was somewhat brackish and ungrateful by reason of the nearness of the sea. our adventurers made every day some new discovery , and having gone so far as almost ten miles about the camp without finding any the least sign that the country was inhabited grew every day bolder and bolder : they saw no living creature in all this sandy plain , but some snakes , a kind of a rat almost as big as a rabbet , and some kind of birds like wild pigeons , but somewhat bigger , who fed upon the berries we have made mention of . they killed some of them with their guns and brought them to the camp , where after trial they were found to be very good meat , especially the birds . these new discoveries made us a little remiss in our fortifications , and we contented our selves by drawing a small trench about our camp , casting up the earth inwardly , and thought it was enough in a place where we found no inhabitants . we planted some guns upon the most convenient places , and setting all thoughts of fear aside , dreaded nothing so much as hunger , and the injuries we might receive from the weather , which we were not yet acquainted with , for it had proved very temperate since our landing upon that coast , where we had been fourteen days before our pinnace could be perfected . but about the seventeenth day she was ready to put to sea with provision for eight men for six weeks time , which was as much as ever we could spare . now there arose great strife amongst the seamen about the sending of the pinnace to battavia , for few would venture on that voyage , yet it was necessary that some should go . whereupon it was agreed that a number of the best seamen should be taken out of the whole crue , and that they should cast lots among themselves to determine the difference , which was done accordingly . the lot fell upon the master himself , upon a seaman called prince , and six more , whose names i have forgotten . they seeing it was the will of fortune that they should go , submitted to it joyfully , and after having agreed upon a signal we should give them , to find us out if ever they should come again with relief , and taking their leave of the company , they went aboard the pinnace , and with a good land gale sailed to the eastward till they were out of our sight . we made publick prayers for their prosperity with many sighs and tears , trusting in gods goodness and mercy . the same day we advised among our selves what kind of government we should keep as most convenient for our present condition , for some of our officers being gone in the pinnace our sea discipline was somewhat altered , neither did we judge it proper for the land , upon better consideration . the business was debated pro and con , but after some contestation it was agreed that we should live in a military discipline under a captain general . and other inferiour officers , which together should compose a soveraign council of war with authority to direct and order every thing absolutely . now the question was whom we should chuse of all the company . all were inclined to defer that honour to van de nuits , my friend , as being the person of most eminent quality among them , and who had the greatest concern in the ship , but he modestly excused himself , alledging that he was young and unexperienced in military affairs , and therefore not fit for such command , and that it was necessary in such an occasion to make choice of a person of riper years and greater experience in that kind than himself was , who never was a souldier . then , observing some trouble and irresolutions in their faces , he went on in this manner : gentlemen , i give you many thanks for the esteem and good will you shew towards me , and wish heartily i were worthy of it , and capable of this command ; but since i cannot be your general my self , give me leave to recommend one to you who is very fit for that imployment , having been a commander in europe in two several armies and a great traveller in most parts of the christian world. you know his person , and i dare say you do all love and esteem of him as i do , although he is not so well known to you as he is to me , who have had long experience of his probity and good conduct . then ( poynting to me ) he said , the person i mean is captain siden , to whose command and authority i will readily submit if you please to chuse him for our general . this unexpected speech , and the looks of the company , who all turned their eyes upon me , put me somewhat out of countenance , but being soon come to my self , i answered , that his recommendation proceeded more out of affection and love than out of any knowledge of either merit or good conduct in me ; that i was a foreigner among them , and born in a country far from holland , and that i thought there were many in the company far more capable of that command than i was , and therefore desired to be excused , chusing rather to obey my betters than to use any authority over them . i had no sooner ended my speech , but one swart ( a stout and active fellow , who never went out of my company in all the discoveries we had made in the country ) took me up somewhat briskly , and said : sir , all these excuses will not serve your turn , and if mr. van de nuits counsel and mine be taken you shall be our general whether you will or no ; for besides what he hath worthily spoken of you , all the company ( and i particularly ) know that since we were cast upon this land you have shewed your self most active and industrious for the common good and preservation of all , and are therefore most fit to command us . we are seamen and traders , altogether ignorant of military discipline , which you alone can teach us here , since there is no body among us that understands it , and who is so well qualified as your self , upon which consideration i declare that you are the only sit person to command us , and that i will submit to no mans command but yours . this blunt fellows speech , which he pronounced with a strong and loud voice , did so affect the minds of the company , already disposed by van de nuits recommendation , that all with one voice cried out , captain siden must be our general . when i saw i could not avoid the taking of this command , i made sign for silence , and spake to them in this manner : gentlemen , since you force me to accept of this command , i accept it with thanks to you all , and do heartily wish your choice may prove to your advantage and satisfaction . but that all things may be done in good order , and carried on vigorously i beg a few things of you , which if you please to grant me i will do my best endeavour to preserve you from all danger , and to keep you in that civil discipline and society which may best conduce to the publick good. the first thing i beg , that every man here will take an oath to obey mine and the councils authority without any repugnancy , upon pain of such punishments as we shall think fit to inflict upon them . the second is , that i may have the priviledge of chusing the principal officers to be elected , and they to bear such commands and offices as i shall bestow upon them for the time . in the third place i beg , that in council my single vote may pass for three votes . lastly , that i or my deputy may have a negative voice in all publick deliberations . all these priviledges and prerogatives were presently granted me , and i was saluted by all the multitude in the quality of their general , and had a tent larger than ordinary set up in the middle of the camp for the first badge of my authority . i lay in it that night with van de nuits ; and had his advice in several things , which were afterwards put in execution . the next day we called all our people together , and in their presence i made van de nuits over-seer general of all the goods and provisions we had , or should hereafter have . swart captain of the artillery , arms , and ammunitions of war. maurice , an expert and active seaman , admiral of our fleet , which was to consist of a long-boat , a little boat , and another pinnace we were a making out of the pieces of our broken ship. morton , an english man , who had been a serjeant in the low countries , i made captain of the eldest company . de haes , a sober and vigilant fellow , was made second captain , one van sluis , third captain , one de bosch , fourth captain , and one brown , major general . i gave all these men leave to chuse their inferiour officers with my approbation , which they did accordingly . i had two servants with me , the one called devese , who had been my serjeant in catalonia , a stout and understanding fellow , sober , and trusty , who had served me ever since i left the wars , and followed my fortune every where , him i made my lieutenant general ; and the other , named tursi , my secretary . our officers being all chosen , we numbred our people , and found we were three hundred and seven men , three boys , and seventy four women , all in good health ; for although there were many of them sick when they first landed , they were all well again in less than a weeks time , which was no small argument of the healthiness of the country . i distributed all these into four parts , and gave maurice six and twenty of the best seamen , and the three boys , to man his navy . swart had thirty for his artillery . i disposed two hundred men into four companies , and van de nuits had all the rest to attend him , and take orders of him in the camp , or out of the camp. we had two trumpetters , which used to say prayers in the ship besides their office of trumpetting . i took one of them , and gave van de nuits the other , and they both were confirmed in both their imployments after the dutch fashion . all our affairs being so ordered and setled , in the evening i called our superiour officers together , and told them , that before our provisions were all spent we should go about by sea and land to discover the country , and endeavour to get some fresh provision , as likewise to discover some fitter place for a camp than that we were in , where in a short time all things would grow scarce , and where we had not so much as good water . that my opinion was we should send several parties of men well armed to make new discoveries , and go farther into the country than we had gone yet . they readily assented to my proposals , and told me they were ready to obey my orders . whereupon i commanded maurice to man his two boats , and to send them all along the coasts , as far as they could conveniently go , the one , on the right side of the camp , and the other , on the left . i ordered morton to take twenty men out of his company , and to go all along the shore on the left hand . de haes was commanded to take thirty out of his , and to go through the middle of the country ; and i my self drew forty men out of the two other companies , and left my lieutenant to command in the camp in my absence . we all took three days provision , and good store of powder and bullets , with swords and half pikes , and i commanded all my men to be ready early in the morning , and to wait for further orders , which they did accordingly . the next day , which was the twentieth since the first day of our landing , and from which we shall hereafter reckon as our principal epoche , all my men were ready by break of day , and came to receive my commands , which were the same i had given the night before , with this addition only : that if they should meet with any thing considerable they should presently send advice thereof to the camp. i likewise gave orders to morton to keep with the boat as near as he could , and to come every night to the shore to joyn with the boats-crew before sun setting , i my self intending to keep the same method with maurice . as soon as these orders were given we went our several ways all full of hopes and alacrity . i marched my men in rank and file , and i divided them into three parties , the first that had the van was composed of six musketteers and a corporal , the second of twelve and a serjeant , i my self brought up the rear . we marched within musket shot distance one from another in that manner as near the shore as we could , that we might be within sight of our boat. the sea was very calm , and the weather very still , though something hot . at noon the boat came to us at a place where we stood near the shore , and there we took some rest and refreshment for the space of two hours . all the country we came upon for ten or twelve miles was much like to that about our camp , and we did not so much as find a brook or a spring in all our way , all being dry sands , and nothing growing upon them but bushes and thorns . after we had taken some rest , we marched five miles beyond the place where we had halted , and there the ground began to grow more unequal , and to rise here and there into small hills . two miles farther we found a brook of sweet water , which gave us no small occasion of joy , chiefly when we saw that a little farther up in the country there was some small plots of green trees upon the banks of the brook ; there we halted again , and made signs to our boat to come to us , which they did immediately , coming into the brook with the tide ; and finding it was a very good harbour for such a vessel as theirs , they rowed up a mile into the land till they came to a plot of green trees , where we pitched our camp for that night . maurice brought us some fish he had taken in the sea , and some oysters , and other shell fish . we strook fire , went to supper an hour before night , and then to sleep , keeping a good guard about us , and hiding our fire with green boughs we fixed in the ground round about it lest it should be seen at a distance . the next day early in the morning i sent three of my men back again to the camp to give them notice of the brook and the trees we had found , and to tell them we intended to proceed farther . but before we removed from that place i sent five men up the brook to discover more of the country . they came back two hours after , and told us that the country above was a little more hilly than below , but dry and barren , and like that which lay towards our camp. our boat fell down towards the sea after these men were come with this account , and had carried us over the brook , which was deep and not fordable , unless we went two or three miles higher . when we had got over we marched on along the shore still within sight of our boat , and found that the country grew more and more unequal . when we had gone five or six miles further we came to a pretty high hill , which was barren and without trees . we got on the top of it , and from thence discovered a wood of tall trees four or five miles beyond this hill , which trees stood upon a high ground that shot a good way into the sea. at the sight of these green trees we did much rejoyce , and resolved to go thither after we had taken a little refreshment . we marched on through a sandy plain that lay betwixt us and the wood , and reached the foot of the high ground in less than two hours time , got up into the wood , and found it did consist of very lofty trees , not thick , and under which there was not much under-wood , so that it was easily pervious ; there i kept my men very close to one another , and doubled the van , that they might be the more able to resist if they should be set upon by any men or fierce beast . as we went we cut down several boughs , and strewed them upon the ground , whereby we might know the way we came in our return . in that manner we marched on in as direct a line as we could till we came to the other side of the wood , where we spied the sea again , and saw trees over the water at six or seven miles distance , which demonstrated to us that this water was a great bay between two capes . the place was very delightful to behold , and afforded a very fine prospect over the bay , which made us wish we had been cast away nearer to it than we were . we had left our boat on the other side of the wood by reason of the great way she must go about before we could meet her again . i sent down ten of my men to the water side , where they found a vast quantity of oysters , and other shel-fish , which was no small encouragement . as soon as they were come up i sent three men to maurice , and bid him row as fast as he could towards the head of the cape , where he should meet with a party i intended to send immediately that way . i sent another party towards the inner part of the wood on the land side to see if they could find any sweet water . those who went towards the head of the cape travelled almost two miles before they found any , but at last they perceived a declivity in the ground , which led them down into a kind of a vale , very full of green and thick trees , at the bottom of which they found a fine stream of sweet water , running into the bay. in this pleasant place they stopped , and sent three of their company to bring me notice of it ; they had not been come a quarter of an hour but the ten men , who were sent on the contrary side , came back again , and told us they had gone a great way in the wood , which they thought grew wider and wider towards the land ; that they had found a heard of deer near a little brook , whereof they had killed two , and shot at two more . they had cut these deer into four pieces , and carried them upon their backs , which was no uncomfortable sight to us . we left the place where we stood , and marched towards the vale above mentioned , having before dispatched five of our men towards the camp , to give them notice of what had hapned to us , and sent them part of our venison for a token of the good fortune we had met with . when we were come to the vale , i liked it so well , that i resolved to encamp there that night , and to remove our old camp thither , as soon as possibly we could . my men made presently a fire , and fell a roasting of their venison ; and i sent five of them to meet with the party which were sent to maurice ; they marched but two miles farther before they came to the head of the cape , where they joyned with the other party , and there standing all together , upon the most eminent place they could find , looked for maurice his coming . he as soon as he had received my orders , rowed to the rendezvous with all the diligence possible , and came to the place half an hour before sun setting , where having pulled the boat upon the ground , they all came to the new camp before it was night . they found us very merry , some about the fire roasting of meat , and others lying upon beds of dry leaves and dry moss , which they had gathered good store of in a little time . we passed all the night in that place with a great deal of joy and quietness , and the morning being come i got up betimes , and bid maurice and his crew to prepare for the old camp , whither i intended to return by water with only two of my men besides the boats crew . i left one to command the rest , and ordered him to keep in that place till he heard farther from me , promising to be with him again in less than three days , and that in the mean while they might supply their wants with hunting , fishing , and shelling ; so we went towards the boat. we soon reached the place where she lay , put her to sea , and rowed to the old camp the same day , a gentle breeze favouring our voyage ; we arrived about sun setting , and were received by our people with general demonstrations of joy . they had heard of the new camp , and all asked me if they should not remove thither ? i answered , we would do that with all speed , it being the best place to pitch upon of all those we had seen . morton and de haes were come to the camp two or three hours before my arrival , and came to give me an account of their expeditions . morton told me , he had marched his men fifteen or sixteen miles to the left side of the camp through a sandy and barren country , where they had not found so much as a spring or brook of sweet water ; that at night they were gone to meet the boat on the shore , according to my orders , and lain there till the next morning , which being come , they departed early from that place , and proceeded to the westward in the same manner as the day before , through a rocky and stony country , without finding any water till noon ; at which time they came to a pretty broad river , where they stopt till their boat came to them . that they had observed the tide came into this river with great noise and impetuosity , and that the water was salt where they came to it at first , as being not far from the sea , which had obliged them to go up the river till they should find sweet water . that going up along the banks they had at the last found a stream of sweet water , which refreshed them much , and so proceeded in their discovery ; they had been set upon by two great crocodiles , which ran out of the river to devour them , but that they having spied them before they could come near , had fired at them , and the report of their guns had so frighted those monsters that they ran into the water with more haste than they were come out of it . that seeing the danger there was along that river by reason of these , or other fierce creatures they might meet with ; and having no provision to go on any further in a country where they could get nothing but some shell-fish , and those only upon the sea-shore , they thought they should proceed no farther , but come back again the same way they were gone , according to my command of not staying longer without some special reason . de haes told me he had marched twenty miles the first day through a sandy plain , directly to the southward . that at night they were come to a little hill full of heath , where they lay till next morning . that when the sun began to shine they saw a very great mist five or six miles beyond their post , which clearing up by degrees , as they marched towards it , they discovered a great pool or lake of standing water , which could be no less than ten miles diameter . that being come near this lake they had seen abundance of reeds and rushes growing about the shore , and an infinite number of water-fowl , that flew from place to place , and made a very great noise in their flight . that they had gone a good way about this lake before they could come to touch the water by reason of the marshy and muddy ground about it , where they could not march without danger of sinking , till they came to a sandy place near a hill , somewhat higher than that they lay upon the night before . that having got to the top of it , from whence they had a very large prospect round about , they could discover nothing but a large heath , and at great distance towards the south , a long row of very high mountains , which stood like a wall , and reached from east to west as far as they could see . that after this discovery , they , being afraid of wanting victuals , were returned to the camp on the third day according to my command . i found by these relations that i had had far better luck than these two captains , and we were all the more encouraged to go to the new camp on the eastward ; that we saw it had such conveniences as we could not find any where else , and that all our hopes lay on that side . the next morning i called a council , where i propounded our removal to the green vale. it was embraced presently , and ordered that we should transport our people and goods thither by degrees , beginning with those which were most necessary and easie to carry . the new pinnace we were making was almost finished , and would be ready in four or five days more , and fit to transport our guns , casks , and other lumber . in the mean while we used both our boats to remove our provisions , and sent many of our people by land , with such axes , nails , spades , and other implements of that kind as we had there . the major went with the first party , my lieutenant with the second ; and when i saw that most of our people and goods were removed to the new camp , and that the pinnace was ready , i sent her loaded with diverse things , and travelled thither my self by land. i omitted to tell you that maurice had doubled the cape in his second voyage without any danger by reason of the calmness of the sea , and the stilness of the weather , which was clear and serene , without any rain or great wind above six weeks after our landing , and so temperate that we felt neither heat not cold in the first month except about noon , at which time the sun was something hot ; grew hotter every day as it drew nearer to us , and brought the spring about august : for in those countries it begins then ; contrary to our parts , where the summer ends at that time . maurice told me , that at the head of the cape he had found many small rocky islands , which lay together very thick as far as a great one that lay at the very mouth of the bay , and defended it from the fury of the waves ; he was of opinion that it would prove an excellent harbour for ships , if the passage into it was not too difficult , or too shallow for great vessels by reason of the many rocks that lay between the cape and the great island which divided and sheltered the bay from the main ocean . well maurice , said i to him , when we have removed all our goods and people , and they are settled in the new camp , we shall have time enough to discover those islands , and i will leave the discovery of them to your care and industry . in less than twelve days after the first discovery of the vale we had transported all our people and goods from the old camp to the new , which in my absence van de nuits and other officers named sidenberge . that name obtained so in two or three days time that it was impossible afterwards to change it . our men , partly by my order , or of their own accords , made several good huts along the brook side upon a piece of ground almost a mile long , which abutted to the bay on the east side of the cape . wood we had plenty enough upon the place , and our fishermen took so much fish in the bay that we knew not what to do with it for want of salt to season or smoak it . but maurice quickly supplied us with that , for being gone upon some of those rocks which lay at the mouth of the bay , he found there as much of it as would serve the whole company twenty years if we should be so long in that place that salt was naturally made by the water of the sea , which in great storms being slung upon those rocks , filled some hollow places in them , where the heat of the sun did afterwards turn it into salt. there were every day great parties sent into the woods to discover and hunt the deer , of which many herds were found up and down , and many of them killed by our men . we saw every day multitudes of water-fowl fly over the bay , which made us judge that they had some particular haunt there . maurice with his new pinnace and his longboat ventured every day further and further into the bay , and in the islands , and made several good discoveries . he found a place near the great island where grew abundance of reeds and rushes , and thither it was that an infinite number of sea-fowl of al sorts did repair . he found another place where there came many green turtles to lay their eggs upon the sand , from whence we might draw the greatest part of our subsistance . in fine , we found so many things to shift withal that we were certain never to want victuals if we should live there a thousand years . the greatest want we were sensible of was that of powder , for though we had saved a good quantity of it , yet that was a thing that would be consumed every day , and that we did not know how to get again when our stock was spent . we foresaw likewise that our cloaths , hooks , and vessels would in a short time be worn out if our friends , that were gone in the pinnace for batavia , should be lost , and no relief sent us . but we had already so many experiments of gods mercy towards us , that we hoped he would not forsake us . the spring came on apace , and we laid up every day new victuals , by the means of which we saved the ships provision as much as we could , and chiefly some casks of pease , and other kind of pulse we had brought from europe . it came in my head to sow some of these in the ground , and having told some of my officers of my design , they all readily agreed to it . in order to it , we felled a great many trees above and below the camp , and having cleared the ground of all bushes and underwood , which we burned upon the place , we made several furrows in the ground , and sowed our pease in them , covered them carefully with the earth we had taken up , recommending our endeavours to him that gives the increase . some of our huntsmen venturing far in the wood killed abundance of game , and not being able to carry it all with them , they hanged two deer upon an old and thick tree with an intent to fetch them home the next day . but when seven of them came to the place the day following , they saw upon the tree a great tiger gnawing on the dead deer before that terrible creature perceived our men , which i suppose was occasioned through his hunger , which made him so eager about his meat that he minded nothing else . our people were much surprised at the sight , and stood still behind some trees , and two of them , having cocked their guns , well charged with bullets , they aimed , and shot a him both at one time , and fetched him down the tree . the tiger made a hideous cry when he fell , but being shot in two places through the body he died immediately ; they stripped him of his spotted skin , and taking down the dead deer brought them in triumph into the camp. i was glad of their success , but yet new fears came upon me upon that subject ; for i judged , that since they had found this mighty creature in the forrest , there might be a great many more in it , which at some time or other might come to our camp , and fall upon our people unawares . i suggested this to the council , and it was resolved , that without any delay we should make a strong pallizado about our hutts . we fell to work the next morning , and in less than ten days after we had empaled our camp on all sides , so as to be secure from any sudden invasion of men or beasts . our huntsmen also became a little more cautious than before , and did not dare to straggle in the woods least they should meet any of those dreadful creatures . it was now seven weeks since we were cast away , and hitherto we had had no strife nor quarrel among us so long as we lay in fear and danger : but as soon as we thought our selves secure from men , beasts , thirst , and hunger , when we fed plentifully upon fresh meat and fish , and we did not labour so much as before , then our people began to be wanton . we had a great many women among us , of which i hitherto forbore to speak , because i saw no great occasion for it . but now that they began to act their part , and stir up trouble among us , i must a little speak of them . some of them were poor women , who compelled by poverty , and their hopes of preferment , were perswaded to go to the indies . some had their husbands there , or other relations , but most of them were whores taken out of bawdy houses , or spirited away by fellows , who sold them to the master for a little money , notwithstanding the punishment ordained by the laws against such practices . these whores seeing themselves at rest , and the men idle for the most part , began to smile at them , and by amorous speeches to draw some of them to themselves ; they found many so well disposed that they needed no spur to be put on , so they would sometimes come together in the night , and enjoy one another in the best manner they could . but as we lay altogether in a little camp , and that there was a guard kept in the night , they could not meet so secretly but some body or other would discover them and become a sharer in the prey . these practices did often occasion quarrels , and jealousies , which at last came to blows , but chiefly upon this particular occasion . two young fellows lay both with one woman , and did not know one of the other ; once she appointed a meeting to one of them in the night , and the other coming to her a while after , and requesting the like favour that very night , she denied him , and put him off upon frivolous pretences . the fellow being subtil , and of a jealous disposition , suspected something of the truth , and resolved so narrowly to watch her that he would find the true reason of her denial ; he did it accordingly , and caught the wench with her other gallant in the fact , the sight whereof did so move his anger , that he drew his sword and stuck them both in the ground , and then slunk away without being seen . the unfortunate couple cried out , and were found in that posture , first , by the next sentinel , and then by the whole guard , who having taken the sword out of their bodies , and out of the ground , into which it was run above a foot ( such was the strength and rage of this jealous lover ) carried them to the chirurgeon , who presently dressed their wounds , then came to me to give me an account of the business . the next day i assembled the council to advise what should be done about this horrid fact , but we knew not whom to accuse . we examined every body that could be suspected ; we asked the wounded man , whether he had any enemies which he could himself suspect ? he answered , that as he had neither wronged nor disobliged any body of the company , so he could not fasten any suspition upon any man. we examined the wench , but she would accuse no body , although she suspected , and it may be knew the author of the crime ; but knowing that it was a just indignation and excess of love that had moved her other lover to take that revenge , she was so generous as not to accuse or mention him in the least . this put us into a great perplexity , and we did not know by what ways or means we should find out the criminal , when at last it came into our thoughts to draw out our men into the fields , and see which of them wanted his sword , for no body would own that which had been found in the unhappy couples bodies . when they were all drawn up , we called every one of them according to the order of the list , and found out the fellow by the want of his sword. he was immediately apprehended , and brought to his trial . we asked him , what was the reason he was come into the field without his sword ? to which he answered boldly , he came without because he had none . had you never any in this camp , said i to him ? yes sir , i had one yesterday . what have you done with it ? i lent it last night to one who was to go to sea this morning ( for it was true , that a party of maurice his men were gone early in the morning to some of the islands . ) then we asked him , what the mans name was he lent his sword to ? i do not know his name , said he , although i lent him my sword , and did sometimes converse with him , as i do indifferently with any one in this camp , where i know every one by his face , although i am ignorant of the names of most men in the company , and i do think that it is the case of every man here as well as mine . then i asked him , whether he was a seaman or a passenger he lent his sword to ? he was a seaman , and told me , he had lost his own sword when he borrowed mine ; and because he would not have it known that he had lost his weapon , he intreated me to let him have mine upon his urgent occasian . then did we send for the sword with which the fact had been committed , and asked him , whether he knew that sword ? he readily answered , he might very well know it , since he had wore it ever since i trained up all the men of the camp into a military discipline , whereof himself was one . sir , saith he , this is my sword , and the very same i lent last night to him that borrowed it of me . how came this sword to be found in the bodies of the two wounded persons if your hands did not thrust it through them ? and please you general , it doth not follow that i thrust it into their bodies because it is my sword , he that had it of me might use it to commit that cruelty instead of using his own , thereby to shake off all suspition from himself , and lay the guilt on me . i confess that there are many apparent arguments against my innocency , but i am sure there is no evident proof , and i hope you will never find any . after this strict examination , finding we could not convince this fellow till maurices crew were come from sea , we deferred his trial until another time . but it fell out by fortune that the men of the boat being upon one of the sandy islands where they turn tortoises , and some of them having a mind to swim , went into the sea to wash and cool themselves in that element ; and as some were more forward than others , a great shark snapped the forwardest of the company , who being warned by that dreadful example , got out of the water with all the hast possible . the story of this fatal accident , as likewise the description of the person who had been devoured , came to the knowledge of the prisoner we had examined , before we could bring him to a second trial . when he was tried again , he cunningly catching hold on the opportunity , said confidently , that he had lent his sword to him who was devoured , of whose face and person he made a very exact description in our presence . so that we could not do any good , nor bring any evident proof against him . we all admired his confidence and subtilty , and hearing that the wounded persons were like to be well again , we were contented to keep him in bonds till they were both out of danger . the woman was soonest well , and here you may admire the humour of some of that sex. as soon as she was cured she came to the young man who had wounded her , and expressed the greatest love to him that can be imagined , under pretence that she had been the cause of all his trouble . but i think the true reason was , that she looked upon this fellow as a man well in his body , having never been wounded , and who consequently was far more vigorous than her other gallant , who had lately received a large wound through the body . this accident occasioned new laws , and new customs . we considered , that as long as we had women among us they would be the occasion of trouble and mischief if we did not betimes take some good course , and allow our men the liberty of using them sometimes in an orderly manner . but we had but seventy four women , and above three hundred men , and therefore could not give every man a wife . we consulted long upon a method , and at last pitched upon this , we allowed the principal officers each of them one woman wholly for himself , with the priviledge of chusing according to his rank . the rest we distributed into several divisions , and ordered it so , that every man , who was not past fifty years of age , might have his woman-bedfellow every fifth night ; we laid aside the old men , and the four wives that were going to their husbands in batavia , and who professed to be very chaste and honest . these kept together , and lived a while very reserved , but when they saw that all the other women lay freely every night with a man without incurring any blame , and that the relief we expected from batavia was long a coming , they began to grow melancholy , and to repent that they had chosen chastity for their share , by which means they were deprived alone of those delights and pleasures which they saw all the other women take so freely and so plentifully . they shewed their discontented minds by a hundred actions , and they nor we were never quiet till we had distributed them among the rest , and then they were satisfied . here we had a very great proof that multiplicity of men to one woman is no friend to generation , for few of these women , who were common to five men , proved with child ; and on the contrary , all those who lay but with one man presently got a great belly . i think that is the natural reason why multiplicity of husbands was never allowed in any nation , although poligamy of wives and concubines was ever used , and is still practised in most countries . now the time was come that we were to set up the signal we agreed upon with the eight men of the first pinnace sent to batavia . i therefore commanded our men to chuse in the forrest a tall and streight tree to set it up at the head of the cape with a white sail the largest we had , which was done accordingly . i commanded also a great fire to be made every night at the same place , that the ships sent to our relief might see it in the dark , and take their aim by that . we were in good hopes that the pinnace was got to batavia without any great difficulty , considering the good weather we had had , and that the general would send us relief with all the diligence possible . but god it seems had ordered it otherwise , for the weather , which for almost two months had been fair , began to grow rainy , and stormy , so that we saw almost every day great tempests in the ocean , although our bay was not much agitated by them by reason of the high ground , and the many little islands that sheltered it from the violence of the winds and waves . it rained almost every day for a fortnight together , but the sun shined hot every day also , so that we had a mixture of rain , wind , and sunshine at the same time . it was well that we had been provident in powdring and smoaking of meat and fish , which we laid up in great store in the empty casks we had brought from our ships , for if we had not done so , we might have wanted victuals while this bad weather lasted , which was above a fortnight . it grew a little better after that space of time , but not so good but we had winds , rains , and storms at sea ; then sudden calms , at the least once or twice a week , which made us despair of ever hearing from batavia , and made us resolve to provide for our selves there , without depending upon any relief from thence . the weather grew very hot , and since the rain fell all things were visibly grown in the fields , and our pease did thrive the best that ever i saw , so we were like to have a great crop of them , which encouraged , us to break more ground , and to sow a great many more . there was an infinite of fish and fowl in the bay , and upon a calm day we could take as many of them as we pleased ; but our nets began to wear out , and we were forced to tear some of our cables to make new nets of them , which we made a shift with for a great while , necessity being the mother of arts. our huntsmen had made such a noise in the wood near the camp , and so chased the dear , that they were quite gone from that part , and none could be seen ten miles about us . that made them resolve to take another course , and to go by water to the other side of the bay , or to the bottom of it , where we saw wood all round . maurice was first ordered to make discoveries on the other side ; which he did , and found there were great woods there , and a little river that ran into the bay. he rowed four or five miles up that river and saw nothing but trees , and some marshy ground along the bank of it , yet we supposed there would be many deer found on that side if we should put it to a trial . in order to which , fifty of our men having taken victuals and ammunition for a week , went to the banks of that river in the pinnace , and the long-boat , and having landed there , made themselves huts , keeping the long-boat with them to use it according to their occasion , and sending the pinnace back again . a while after being gone into the forrest to seek for deer , they found great herds of them , whereof they made a great slaughter ; they likewise found a kind of beast like a swine , but bigger , and slower in his pace , and using to go a rooting in the woods in great numbers ; they killed first one of them , vvhich upon examination proved far better meat than any of our european pork . maurice being desirous to discover the great island that lay at the mouth of the bay , landed there with twenty men ; the first part of it that lay inwardly he found to be but stony and rocky places , but when they were gone a little beyond , they found it to be a pretty big island , consisting for the most part of moorish ground , which being almost dreined by the heat of the summer was turned into very good pasture ground ; they found hundreds of deer feeding upon it , and abundance of fowl of all kind , so tame that they would let a man come within a yard or two of them , they marched to the eastward of the place , and found that this land was divided from the continent by a narrow channel only ; it was found afterward that in the spring time the deer swam from the continent to the island , which island was not above twelve miles diameter . these new discoveries being so happy filled our hearts with joy , and a certain assurance we should not want for victuals if we were ten times as many , and made us bold to venture farther . maurice had observed that the bay ran a great way in length towards the southeast , and supposed there was some great river that flowed from that side of the country into the sea , which was not unlikely . he therefore , having obtained leave to take a weeks provision , and a sufficient number of men , sailed that way with a resolution to go as far as he could with his pinnace , and we having prayed for his good success minded our other concerns , in hopes of his happy return . by this time our pease were almost ripe , and nine or ten days after we had a most prodigious crop of them , every peck yielding above a hundred , which is almost incredible ; and we expected another crop that promised no less than this if it should come to perfection . we dried them carefully , and laid them up in store for the winter and so we did with every thing that would keep , using for the present such as could not be preserved . it was above a quarter of a year since we were setled at sidenberg , and having heard nothing from batavia , we concluded our pinnace was perished , and gave it over for lost ; but our greatest trouble was , that above ten days were past since maurice was gone and we heard no tidings of him : this cast a general sorrow upon our hearts , and in that great affliction we did not know what counsel to take , we durst not send the long-boat in search of him for fear she should be lost , knowing that without our vessels we could hardly be able to subsist . our huntsmen had made a kind of a new plantation on the other side of the bay for conveniency of hunting , and without our boats we could keep no commerce with them . all these reflections , and the fear of worse accidents increased our affliction throughout all the camp , where we lay lamenting the loss of our pinnaces above a fortnight before we could hear any thing of either of them . maurice did not come , and we did not know what to think of him and his vessel , knowing there had been no great storms since she was gone , and that being in so calm a sea she could not have perished by tempests . we did not think neither that she was fallen into the hands of enemies or pyrates , having reason to believe from our former experience that there were no men in those parts . wavering so betwixt hope and fears , upon a calm day we saw maurices pinnace and two vessels more coming along with him towards us . while we were looking upon them , wondring how he came by these two vessels , and what they might be , we spied ten sails more at a good distance coming after them . this unexpected fleet put our camp into a great apprehension . we ran all to our arms , prepared our cannons for our defence , and sent scouts towards the shore to observe the motions of this fleet. in the mean while they drew near to the shore , and at musket shot they all cast anchor in good order ; but maurices pinnace came very near , so that we could see him and his men from the shore , and hear him plainly speak to us . he bid us not be afraid , and desired us to send the boat with three men only to fetch him ashore ; after some contestation we sent the boat , which being come aboard him he leapt into it with one of his men , and took down with him a tall and grave personage in a black gown , a hat on his head , and a white flag in his hand , and so came ashore to us . i , with some of my officers , stood at some distance , but when we saw this man landed we went to meet him . maurice told us in few words , that he was sent from the governour of a city situate about sixty miles above the bay , where we had received all the kindness and civility imaginable , and desired us withal to express all manner of respect to him . upon that advice we did bow to him in very humble and submissive manner , which he received with a great deal of gravity and mildness , and stretching his right hand towards heaven , said in very good dutch. the eternal god of the world bless you , the sun his great minister , and our glorious king , shine kindly upon you , and this our land be fortunate to you . after this , maurice having told him that i was the general , he gave me his hand , which i humbly kist , and he took me about the neck and kissed me in the middle of the forehead , and then desired to march to our camp , where we received him in the best manner we could . he looked upon our huts and pallizadoes , and nodded his head in sign that he liked it very well ; then spake thus to me : sir , i have heard the history of your disaster , and knowing of your merits and gallantry , i have made no difficulty of putting my person into your hands ; but that i may not keep you any longer from the relation your officer maurice will make unto you of what hath hapned unto him since his departure from hence ; i desire to rest a little in your hut while you satisfie your curiosity , and hear those things which will be necessary for you to be acquainted with , and that i hope will set your minds at rest . we made no answer , but making a low reverence left him in the hut , and went to maurice , who expected our coming in van de nuits hut . we were no sooner with him but we began to ask him questions concerning his journey ; and he having begged our leave and favourable audience spake to us in this manner : maurices speech . noble general , and worthy officers , with your leave , and even with your command , i departed from this place about three weeks ago , with a design to make further discoveries in the bay. the first day i sailed to the southeast of it above twenty miles , and saw nothing on either side but great woods as you see here , distant one from another five or six miles at the least . at night we cast anchor at a mile distance from the right side of the river , and lay there till next morning . from thence with wind and tide we sailed up further to the southeast about five miles more , and there we found the banks on each side of the river came near one to another , within two miles distance . we sailed up still , though with a little more difficulty , till we came into abroad place , where the water spreads it self into a great lake , from the middle of which we could hardly see the shore on either side ; we only saw ten or twelve small islands dispersed up and down the lake , and most of them shaded with tall green trees , very delightful to the eyes . by this time the wind was somewhat altered , and the lake was so calm that we could hardly perceive any motion in it ; but as the place was wide we rid to and fro as the wind did serve , not much caring which side of the lake we should go first to , yet when the wind would serve we endeavoured as much as we could to make to the southeast . about evening we had a fine breeze , which drove us to the southeast according to our wishes , and that night we cast anchor betwixt two or three of those small islands , not above two or three miles distant one from the other , with an intent to visit them the day following . we lay at anchor all night , and took our rest without any care or fear , not thinking there had been any inhabitants in those places , but we found we were much deceived , for as soon as it was broad light we saw about us ten or twelve vessels , which did so encompass us about , that we could go no way but we must fall among them . this struck a great terrour upon us , and we thought verily vve should all be killed or taken , for vve had but one of these vvays to chuse , to fight , or to surrender our selves , and lie at the mercy of unknovvn men , vvho might use any cruelty upon us . this last consideration prevailed , and made us all resolve to fight it out to the last man ; so vve all ran to our arms , prepared our guns , and vvere very vvell resolved to defend our lives , for vve could not run avvay , the vveather being very still , and the men vve savv about us having several shallops vvell manned vvith rovvers , vvho rovved tovvards us vvith great svviftness . when they vvere come vvithin musket shot of us they all stopped , save a small vessel , vvherein vve savv a man vvith a vvhite flag in his hand coming on to us , and making many signs in token of amity . we stood to our arms , and let that vessel come on to us , knovving it vvas not strong enough alone to attempt any thing against our pinnace . when they vvere come vvithin fifteen or tvventy yards of us the man vvho had the vvhite flag in his hand , making a low reverence , spake to us in spanish , and bad us not be afraid , for no harm was intended against us . one of my men , who could speak that language , explained what he said , and asked him why they came so about us ? he answered , it was the custom of the place , that we should come to no harm , and desired to know what countrimen we were . he told him we were hollanders . then he replied in dutch , that we were welcome into the country , and desired to be admitted into our pinnace himself and another man of his company only , proffering to remain with us as hostages till matters were better understood . we readily yielded unto his desire , so they came aboard us . he was a very lusty man , with a manly look , wearing a red gown down to the middle of his legs , with a cap of the same colour , and a shash about his waste , much after the garb we paint cardinals in . the other man was in the like habit , and a lusty man too , both about forty years of age. when he was come up to us he asked who was the commander of the pinnace ; and having been told i was the person , he came to me in a kind and civil manner embraced me , and bid us all welcome into the country . then he asked how we came into those parts in so small a vessel . i answered , that we came in a bigger , but that she was cast away upon the coasts , and that out of her ruines we had made this pinnace . then he asked me if we were all that were saved ? i told him it was so , and that the rest of our company were drowned ( for i did not think it fit to speak of our people in the camp until we were better acquainted with these men , and saw what usage we should have amongst them . ) he altering his countenance , as if he had been sorry for our loss , told us he took great part in our affliction . then did he ask me several questions concerning our voyage , our shipwrack , and the present state of europe . to which i returned such answers as i thought convenient . he seemed to be well pleased with my answers , and told us we were come into a country where we should find more kindness and civility than we could in our own , and where we should want none of those things that are capable to make moderate men happy . we returned him humble thanks , and desired to know what the name of the country was ? he told us it was called in their language sporumbè , the inhabitants sporui ; that it belonged to a greater and happier country beyond the hills , called sevarambè , and the people evarambi , who lived in a great city called sevarinde . that we were not above fourteen miles from another city ( but much less than the first ) called sporunde where he intended to carry us . then perceiving some alteration in our faces caused by his last words , he proceeded in this manner : gentlemen , i told you at first you should not be afraid , for no harm will be done you i assure you , unless you will draw it upon your selves through your distrust and stubbornness . your best way is to rely upon gods providence , and the assurances i give you , that no wrong shall be done to the least of you either in his person or his goods . you are but a small number of men in a little pinnace , in a strange country , destitute of all things , and no way able to defend your selves against our vessels which are many against one , and full of men , who no less understand how to fight than you , as you will find if you put it to a trial . they are no barbarians as you may imagine , but a very good charitable and civil people . so consider what is best for you to do . as soon as he had spoken those words , he and his companion went to one end of the pinnace as it were to give us an opportunity to consult among our selves , which we did , and presently resolved to follow his directions , and to trust to providence . he , perceiving we intended to go to him , came himself to us , and asked what course we were resolved to take ? we intend to obey your commands in every thing , sir , and think our selves happy to be under your protection ; we are poor distressed men , fitter objects for pity than for anger , and we hope to find mercy and help at your hands . you will find it in a great measure , and see in these countries such wonders as are not to be seen in any other part of the world. then he made sign to his shallop to come near , which they did immediately . they brought us bread , wine , dry dates , raisins , figs , and several sorts of nuts , of which we made an excellent feast , and drank merrily of the delicate wines that were given us . after this welcom meal , the man told me his name was carshidà , his companion 's benoscar , and desired to know mine . i told him my name was maurice , and asked him withal how he came to speak dutch and spanish in so remote a country . i will satisfie you herein another time maurice , ( said he ) in the mean while we must give order for our going to sporundè , that we may be there to day before night . then did he speak to his men in his own language , and they made sign to another vessel that stood near to come to us , they presently came , and having tied a rope to our pinnace , towed her up the lake to the southeast of it , the other vessel rowing after us ; in that manner we left the little island and the fleet ( which did not stir from their station so long as we were in sight of them ) and rowed till two in the afternoon through that great lake of salt water , which looks more like a sea than like a lake . about that time we had a gentle breeze , which carried us in less than two hours clear out of the lake into a river , where we found sweet water , and saw a fine champain country on each side of it . we had not sailed two miles in this river but we came to a pretty narrow place , where the water is kept in by two great and thick walls , and saw all along near these walls great buildings of brick and stone mixed together , and built after the manner of a castle in a perfect quadrangle . we went two miles further up along these walls and buildings before we came to the city of sporundè , which stands in the confluence of two great rivers , in a fine delicate plain , diversified with corn-fields , meadows , orchards , gardens , and groves , which make it very delightful to the eye ; the small vessel , which at first came after us , was gone up a good while before we came to the town , to give them warning of our coming . we rowed up to a great and stately key , where stood a great multitude of people , who came out to see us land. carshidà went on shore first , where he was received by some grave men in black , with whom having discoursed a while , he turned himself towards us , and made signs to benoscar to bring us ashore . he in a few vvords told us vvhat vve vvere to do , and bid us to follovv him . we vvent up the stairs of the key , ( vvhich vvas pretty high ) and being come to the place vvhere the grave men stood , vve inclined our selves down to the ground three several times . the men bowed a little to us , and the chiefest of them taking me in his arms , very kindly embraced me , kissed me in the forehead , and bade us all vvelcom to sporundè . from that place they carried us through a stately gate , and a noble street as streight as a line , to a great square building after the manner abovesaid . we vvent into it through a large gate that stood in the middle of the building , and found the inner part of it to be like cloysters vvith large galleries on all sides , and a large green in the middle . from thence vve vvere brought into a great hall , vvhere stood several tables and seats . there the grave men in black stood round me , and asked me several questions , much like unto those carshidà had asked me at the first , to vvhich i ansvvered in the same manner . a vvhile after they carried us to another hall next unto that , vvhere vve found several tables full of meat , much after our european fashion . then sermodas ( for that is the name of the grave man vvho is novv in the generals hut ) asked me vvhether vve had any stomach to our supper . to vvhom i made ansvver , that it vvas so long since we had seen such a supper that i did not think any of us vvould vvant a stomach to eat it . he smiled , and taking me by the hand brought me to the chiefest table , and made me sit next to him ; then all the other grave men sate vvith us , and carshidà with benoscar took all my men to another table . we had a very noble supper , after vvhich we were carried up into a great room , where we saw several beds upon iron bedsteads . there my men were ordered to lye two and two , and i was carried to a room by my self , where sermodas and his company wished me good night , and so went away . a while after carshidà came in and told me , that i and my men must prepare to appear the next day before albicormas , governour of sporundè , and said he would give us directions how to behave our selves , and so he bid me good night . the next day about six of the clock in the morning we heard a great bell ring , and an hour after carshidà and benoscar came into my chamber , and asked me how i had taken my rest , and if i wanted any thing ? i would have risen presently , but he told me i must not , till such time as i had new cloaths to put on , which would be brought immediately . upon that benoscar went out , and came a while after with some attendance , who brought new cloaths , both linnen and woollen , made after the manner of the country . then came in others with a tub , which they filled with warm water , and then carshidà told me it was to wash my body in before i put on my new cloaths , and so went out with all the company , leaving only a servant to wait upon me . according to his directions i vvashed , and then put on a fine cotten shirt and dravvers , vvith stockings of the same . i had also a nevv black hat , nevv shooes , a govvn of several colours , and a black shash to put about my middle . as soon as i vvas ready , the servant , taking my old cloaths vvith him , vvent out , and then came in again carshidà and his company , vvho told me that i and all my men vvere to attend albicormas and his council , and gave me directions hovv to behave my self . we vvent dovvn into the yard , vvhere i found all my men in nevv apparel , much like unto mine , but not altogether so good , and vvearing caps on their heads instead of hats . benoscar vvas vvith them , and vvas giving them directions hovv to behave themselves before the council . we stood there a vvhile looking one upon another , till sermodas and his company came in . he very kindly asked us all hovv vve did , and then , directing his speech to me , he asked me vvhether i vvas ready to vvait upon the council ? i ansvvered vve vvere all ready to obey his commands ; vvhich said , he took me by the hand , and made me march on his left side into the street . carshidà put himself at the head of my men , vvhich vvere disposed tvvo and tvvo , and marched in rank and file like souldiers , benoscar bringing up the rear . in that order vve marched through some streets till we came to a great place in the middle of the city , and in the center of this place stood a large and magnificent palace , of a square figure , and built with white freestone , and black marble , all so clean , and so well polished , that we thought it was new , though we heard afterwards it had been built a good while . in the middle stood a great and stately gate , adorned with several brazen statues , and on each side thereof two long files of musquetteers , all in blew gowns . we marched through them into the first court , where we found another lane of men in red gowns , with halberts in their hands . as soon as we were come in , we heard a great sound of many trumpets , and several other instruments of war , very sweet and pleasant , which sounded all the time we stood in that yard , for a quarter of an hour . from thence we proceeded into the next court , all built with well polished black marble , with nitches round about , and delicate statues in them . in the middle of the yard stood about a hundred men in black , most of them of riper years than those we had seen in the other courts . we stood a little in that place , till two grave men ( such as stood in the court , with only this difference , that they wore a piece of gold coloured silk hanging loose upon their left shoulder ) came down and bid sermodas bring us all up . we went up in the same order as we came , upon a stately stair-case , gilt and painted very richly , to a great hall , gilt and painted in the same manner , and there we stood a while . from that they brought us into another hall , richer than the first ; and then into a third , far beyond either of them . at the end of this hall we saw a pretty high throne , and a little lower long seats on each side of it . upon the throne sate a grave majestick personage , and upon the other seats several venerable men on his right and left . he that sate uppermost in the midst of them wore a purple gown , and the others were habited like the two men who led us into the place , who were members of the council . we were told that he in the purple gown was albicormas , and the others the chiefest officers of the city , who , together with him , govern the whole country of sporumbè . at our first coming into the hall we made an inclination of our bodies , then being come to the middle of it we bowed a little more , but when we came to a balister or rail near to the throne , we bowed down to the very ground , according to the directions given us before . then stood up all the counsellors and made a small inclination of their bodies , but albicormas nodded only with his head . then did sermodas take me by the hand , and brought me as near the rail as we could go , and bowing down very profoundly spake to albicormas , and gave him partly an account of us in his own language , as we imagined , and as we were told afterwards . methoughts their speech sounded much like the greek or latine , as i have sometimes heard it spoken in holland , and ran very smooth and majestical . when sermodas had spoken a while , carshida was sent for , who gave the council a full relation of our affairs , and of the time and manner we came into the lake , by them called sporascumpso ; how we were seen and taken in it , which was in this manner , as we understood afterwards . the day upon which we came into the lake was a solemn day in those parts , so that all the inhabitants of the islands were celebrating the same , and intent upon their exercises and pastimes when we sailed into it , and that was the reason why we saw no vessels in it at first , although there are several fishing there upon other days . but although we saw no body , yet our pinnace was soon spied from the islands , so that several vessels were sent out in the night to catch us in the morning , and secure us from going back again without leave . it being the custom of those people to keep a very strict guard about their country for fear it should come to be known to foreigners , whose designs , and corrupted lives might in time bring trouble to their state , and corruption to their manners , the peace and purity of which two things they are most careful to secure . when carshidà had made an end of speaking . albicormas stood up and bid us welcom in his own language , as sermodas interpreted it unto us . he added , that we should find all manner of kindness and good usage among the sporui , and that we should stay in sporundè till such a time as he did receive orders from sevarminas , the suns vice-roy , who lived in the city of sevarinde , whither he would send a messenger that very day to give him an account of us . that in the mean while we should enjoy all the comfort and moderate pleasure the country could afford if we would be ruled by sermodas and his officers , to whose care and conduct he recommended me and all my men , exhorting us to behave our selves modestly , and so he dismissed us . i observed , that albicormas was very crooked , though he was otherwise a man of good presence , and grave carriage , and so were many of his assessors ; and we found afterwards that among the people there was a great number of deformed persons mixed with very handsom folk of all ages and sexes ; and i was told , that the reason of it was , that those of sevarindè sent all such imperfect people as were born amongst them to this place , and would not suffer any body who had any deformity of body to live in their country . i was further told , that in their language spora signified a defective person , and sporundè the city of the maimed or defective . those that were incorrigibly vitious , or unquiet , were disposed of another way , as in the sequel or continuation of this history shall hereafter be made appear . after albicormas had dismissed us we went back to our lodging in the same order as we came from it , and found there a very good dinner provided for us . we kept at home all that afternoon because the weather was hot , but in the evening sermodas and carshidà took us out to shew us the city , and led us from street to street , where we found great multitudes of people , who came out to look on us . the town is the most regular that ever i saw , being divided into great square buildings , which contain every one above a thousand people , & they are built all after the same manner . there are seventy six of them , and so many thousands of inhabitants in the whole city , which is above four miles about . it stands betwixt two rivers , as i told you before , but the industry of that people has made it an island of a peninsula , by drawing a great trench from river to river two miles above the city . this trench is no less than three miles long , having a great wall on each side and many bridges over it , very broad and strongly built with large free-stone , as you may see your selves when you come to the place . at night we had a good supper , and two hours after we were all carried to a great hall , where we found fifteen young women , who waited there for us . they were most of them very tall and proper women , in painted callico gowns , wearing their black hair in long and thick breads , hanging down upon their breasts and shoulders . we were a little surprised to find so many of them in a row , and did much admire at them , not knowing what they stood there for , when sermodas spake to us in this manner : you wonder maurice to see here so many proper women together , and little understand the reason why you find them in this posture and habit , somewhat different from other womens dress . know you therefore that these are our slaves , and that they are here to wait upon you and your comrades . you have your several customs in europe , and so have other countries their own . some are bad and vicious in nature , and others only seem to be good or bad according to mens prejudices , and apprehensions . but there are some that are grounded upon reason , and are truly good in themselves if we rightly consider them . ours are for the most part , if not all of this kind , and we hardly have anyone which is not established upon reason . you know , i suppose , that the moderate use of those good things nature hath appointed for all living creatures is good , and that there is nothing but the abuse of them , either in the excess , or in the defect that may be termed bad , provided faith , justice , and equity be exactly observed among those good things , we conceive there are two of the greatest importance , viz. the preservation and happy being of every living creature , and the propagation of its species . the means to attain to the first are all those natural actions , without which no creature can subsist , and such are eating , drinking , sleeping , &c. but her bountiful hands do not only give us those things which are meerly necessary to keep us alive , but also liberally bestow upon us those delights and pleasures , the just and moderate use whereof may make our lives sweet and comfortable ; and that we may the better take pleasure in them she hath given us an appetite , and a palate capable to discern their various tastes and qualities according as they are sutable to our natures . for the preservation of every species nature hath likewise appointed that every male should be united to a female , that by their union their kind should be preserved , which is her chiefest end . and that they may be the more inclined to accomplish her noble design she hath given them a mutual love and desire of conjunction , and annexed a pleasure to the actual union of the two sexes for the preservation of the species , as a pleasure also in eating , and drinking to every animal . these are the eternal laws of god in nature , and these two ends , together with the pleasure we take in the means , through which we may attain to them , are not only lawful and necessary , but also laudible and commanded . besides these two great concerns there is a third one , which hath a general regard to humane society , and without which no kingdom or common-wealth can well subsit , and that is obedience and submission to the government . but every government ought to be established as much upon natural reason as possibly can be , that every member of that society may freely enjoy his natural liberty , and the moderate use of all those good things which nature hath appointed for the welfare of mankind . for if any government make those good things had and unlawful , which in themselves are good and innocent , we may conclude that such government is unjust , and contrary to the eternal laws of god and natural reason . by these arguments it appears , that those who have not in these three principal things a due regard to their own persons , their posterity and their neighbours are cruel to themselves , rebellious to god , and unworthy to live in any humane society . those considerations induced our great lawgiver sevarias ( whose glorious name and love of his imcomparable vertues shall ever be sweet and precious to us ) to fit his government as near as he could to the laws of nature established upon reason , carefully avoyding to forbid any thing that is naturally good in it self , and allowing the moderate use of them to all his subjects . among the rest of his laws there is one that commands marriage to all men and women , as soon as they are come to an age fit for generation , which law and custom we inviolably observe in all our dominions . but because many among us are sometimes obliged to travel and leave their wives at home , we keep in all cities a number of women slaves appointed for their use , so that we do not only give every traveller meat , drink , and lodging , but also a woman to lye with him as openly and lawfully as if she were his wife . according to this laudable custom , and being willing to use you as well as any of our own nation , we have appointed so many women as you are men to come and lie with you every other night so long as you remain here with us if you can find in your hearts to use this priviledge . you may easily imagine that these reasons quickly prevailed , and that he needed not use any further arguments to perswade us to accept of the proffer . we gave him most humble thanks , told him his reasons were very powerful , and the custom of this country much better than that of europe in our judgment . well , saith he , use the priviledge if you please , find out a method to agree among your selves , and so i wish you good night . as soon as he was gone there came in two men , who spake to us in french , and bid us welcome to sporunde ; one of them told us , he was a physician , and his companion a chirurgeon . he desired us very earnestly to be sincere with him , and to tell him whether any of us had any venereal distemper upon him . gentlemen , i am appointed to examine every one of you upon that score , and if any deny the truth it will turn to his damage and shame ; but if he confess it ingeniously he will get love , esteem , and a speedy cure . every one of the company said he was free from any such thing ; but notwithstanding our saying so , the man would not be satisfied till he had seen and carefully examined every one of us apart in a room next to the hall we stood in . when he was satisfied he told us he was very glad to find us all sound and free from so nasty distemper , very common in the other continents , but only known by fame in the southern lands . he told us likewise , he had lived in france and italy above six years , and seen most parts of europe and asta in the space of twelve years , and that from time to time there were men sent from sporundè beyond the seas upon the same account , by which means they had persons among them who knew all those nations , and could speak their languages . this speech unriddled to me the mystery of carshidà's speaking spanish and dutch the first time he came to us , and took us out of the amazement we were in , to hear so many european languages , and to see so many of our fashions in so remote a country , where we supposed there could be none but barbarous people , if any at all . we would have satisfied our curiosity by asking this man several questions if the earnest desire of going to bed had not prevailed with us , we therefore advised how to find a method to proceed in the choice of the women . it was at last agreed , that i , and then my two mates should chuse before any of the others , and then the commonalty should cast lots among themselves , which was done accordingly without any dispute or quarrelling , so every man chose his bedfellow . then was i brought to my chamber where i lay the night before , and my men to another long gallery , on each side of which stood little chambers , divided one from another by thin partition-walls made of white plaister , not unlike the cells of nuns and friers . every couple had one of these places , and lay there , till next day without any the least disturbance . the next morning we heard the sound of the bell at the usual time , and carshidà came to me to ask me how i did , and to tell me it was time to rise . my bedfellow had leaped out of the bed , and put on her cloaths as soon as she had heard the bell ring , and was but just gone out of my chamber when carshidà came into it . he told me benoscar was gone to my men to take them out of captivity , ( meaning out of their bedfellows embraces , and out of their cells ) where they had been locked all night lest they should use the opportunity of permutation , not allowed in those parts , lest some of the women proving with child the father should be uncertain . when i was drest i went to the hall , where my men came in like manner , and our guides carried us out to shew us the work-houses in several squares of the city , where we saw both men and women working very orderly , some in weaving and sowing , others forging , carving , &c. but carshidà told us , that the chiefest employment of the nation consisted in building and tilling of the ground . we lived there in that manner till the sixth day after our first coming to sporundè , expecting the return of the messenger albicormas had sent to sevarinde . he came at last with orders to send us to sevarminas , who was very desirous to see us . when i heard we were to march to sevarinde i was sorry i had concealed your being here in this camp , chiefly after we had found so good usage amongst those people , and did hardly know how to mend the matter ; but the reason i had at first to do so being a good and solid reason i thought it would be received , and that albicormas would forgive us the lye we told him , through the care we had for your safety in a time when we much doubted of our own . i did ingenuously confess the whole matter to sermodas , who immediately went to albicormas and told him what i had confessed to him . thereupon we were ordered to continue in sporundè till the return of another messenger , who was presently dispatched to sevarminas to acquaint him with the whole matter . he returned six days after his departure , and brought new orders from sevarindè to albicormas , who in obedience to them , sent us with all this fleet to fetch you and carry us all to the great city , where we must appear before the soveraign power that resides there , and where sermodas tells me we shall yet be better used than we were at sporundè . here maurice made an end of his speech , which filled us all both with joy and admiration , and seemed not to hold any considerable time , though it had been long , and might have proved tedious upon another subject . but the things he related were so full of wonder and novelty that we could have given him a quiet and patient hearing if his discourse had taken up a whole days time . we consulted a while what we had best to do , and resolved at last to submit to sermodas in all things , to go whither he would carry us , and wholly to depend upon gods providence and these peoples humanity . while maurice was relating all these adventures to us . some of his men , who burned with a desire to be talking of the same to their friends in the camp , got ashore , and began to discourse with our people , who gathering together in a ring about them , were all amazed at their relations , and were acquainted with the news almost as soon as we , so we needed not repeat any thing to them to let them know how our affairs stood . they were all willing to go to these fine places the fellows had mentioned and described to them , and wished themselves there already . one thing only vexed us all , and this was it , we were still in some hopes that our first pinnace might have got to batavia , which if it had , we did not doubt but the general would send ships to our relief as soon as he should be informed with our misfortune . now if those ships should come and not find us , they would conclude we were lost , and we should see our selves deprived of all hopes of ever hearing from our friends , and of returning to our native country . but maurice told us , that there was no reason to fear in either of these cases , considering that we were fallen into the hands of a civilized nation , who had ships , and sent some of them from time to time beyond the seas . and that it was probable we might get leave to go to the indies if we did not like this new country . after we had ended these consultations we went to my hut , where we found sermodas just got up from the quilt where he had a while taken his rest . he smiled at us when we came in , and asked us how we liked the description maurice had made us of the people and city of sporundè ? we answered , we could not but like and admire both of them , and wish our selves there if it was his pleasure to carry us thither . i came for that purpose , said he , and i am very glad to find you so well disposed to go ; you will find our cities far better places to live in than this camp , although through your industry you have made it already a very fine habitation . we had several discourses upon that and other subjects ; after which we asked him , whether he would not be pleased to eat and drink of such victuals as we were able to give him ? i will , saith he , eat of your victuals upon condition you will accept of such as we have brought along with us . then he desired maurice to send for some of his men , and bid them bring some of the ships provision , which together with ours made up a very good feast . when the dinner was ended sermodas told us , that since we were willing to go with him , we should use all diligence to put our selves in readiness , and order the transportation of our men and goods as we should think fittest ; that he thought it convenient the chiefest of us , and all our women should go aboard the same day , and he would leave some of his men ashore , who together with such of ours as we should appoint should take care to ship up all our things , and then come after us to sporundè . thereupon i told him we had another company on the other side of the bay , and if it was his pleasure we should send maurice with a vessel or two to fetch them . you may do so , answered he , and i will order one of our ships to go along with maurice , and carry them from their station directly to the city without coming back again to this camp. do you get such of your officers as you like best to keep you company , and come along with me aboard my ship , where you will find passing good accommodations . i took only de nuits and turci my secretary with me , and appointed devese and the other captain to command in my absence , and see every thing transported with good order and diligence . sermodas left benoscar with devese to be his assistant and conductor , and so we sailed toward sporundè , where we landed the third day after our departure from sidenberge . we were received in almost the same manner as maurice had been , with this only difference , that de nuits and i had a great deal more respect , and better attendance than he had had . albicormas was very kind to us , and particularly to me . we had several long conversations concerning the present state of europe , wherein i was far better able to give him satisfaction than any one of our company . i found he was a man of very excellent parts , learned in all solid sciences , and very well acquainted with the greek and latine tongues . we spake latine in all our conversations ; for although he understood some of our vulgar languages , yet he could speak none so readily and so eloquently as latine . he told me many things concerning the customs and government of their nation , which i will faithfully set out when i come to describe the city , laws , and manners of the sevarambi . the day after our coming to this town all our people and luggage arrived there , and nothing was left in the camp but what they thought was not worth taking . they were all used as maurices men , and had new and clean cloaths given them every man and woman . but there arose some difficulty concerning our women , for as you may remember it was ordered in the camp that one woman should serve five of our common men , and none but our principal officers were allowed to have one woman wholly every officer to himself . sermodas and his companions were much displeased with this plurality of men to one woman , and told us it was so beastly a thing as was not to be suffered , and rather than to endure it they would provide more women for our men to keep them from that filthy and worse than brutish practice . we excused our selves upon the necessity of our condition , and told him he might order the matter as he thought best himself . will you , saith he , heartily conform to our laws and and customs ? we told him , we desired to do so , and thought it our best way . well then , saith he , number out your men and women , and give me a list of them all ; and let me know likewise , how many of your women are with child , and we will take care that you shall be supplied with every thing you want in that particular according to the manner of the country . we gave him an exact account of every thing according to his desire ; and then he said , that if any one of us was willing to stick to any of the women we had , who was not with child , he might do it ; furthermore , we should agree of a method for every one how to chuse his bedfellow , for there would be a number of slaves allowed to supply the want of our women . we consulted among us how to proceed in that matter , and it was agreed , that every principal officer , who had a woman wholly to himself , might keep her still if he pleased , or take a slave of the country , chusing according to his degree ; and that the commonalty should cast lots as maurice his men had done before . some of these officers stuck to their old bedfellows , but others had rather chuse a new one than to keep such as they were already weary of ; the inferiour sort chose according to their lot ; and maurices men not being allowed to make a new choice must be content to keep those women they had chose at the first . the women who were with child by any officer were commanded to stick to the father of the child , although he was allowed a fresh woman besides ; as for those of the commonalty that had a great belly , they were obliged to stick to one of the five men who lay with them , and exhorted to chuse , as near as they could , the man whom they thought to be the true father of the child . and that was the method according to which this matter was ordered , much to most of our womens grief and discontent . the fifth day after we were come to sporundè , sermodas came to me in the morning , and told me , that i must prepare to go to the temple , where the osparenibon or marriage solemnities were to be celebrated . he told me farther , that the same was kept four times a year , and that it was the greatest festival they had , though much inferiour to that of sevarundè , which was the most magnificent in the world . i got up and put on the new cloaths that were brought me , and to every one of our principal officers who came to my chamber to go with me to the temple along with sermodas and carshidà our perpetual leaders . we went together to the palace , where albicormas had given us audience , and having passed through several courts we came at last to a large and magnificent temple , where we saw a great many young men and women together in new apparel , and wearing upon their heads , the men wreaths of green boughs ; and the women garlands of flowers . they altogether made the loveliest show that ever i saw , being most of them very proper and handsome . the farther end of the temple was kept from our sight by a large curtain which divided it almost in the middle ; we stood there near an hour , looking upon the rich ornaments , and the several objects of the place before we heard or saw any alteration , but at the last we heard the sound of several trumpets drawing near to us ; we heard likewise the harmony of many flutes and houboyes , which played very sweet and airy tunes . then came in a great number of people with lighted torches in their hands , and set them up in divers places of the temple , where hanged divers candlesticks disposed in a very good order . the windows were close shut up , and the curtain drawn , which discovered the other end of the church , where we saw at a distance a great altar very rich and magnificent , adorned with garlands and festons of fresh flowers ingeniously done up together . about it , and in the wall , against which it was set up , we saw a great globe of crystal , or very clear glass , as big about as four men can fathom , which cast such a light as enlightned all that end at a very great distance . on the other side was a great statue , representing a woman with many breasts , and suckling as many little children , all very curiously cut . in the middle of these two figures we saw nothing but a large black curtain , plain without any ornaments . while we were looking upon these objects , the musick came nearer and nearer , and at last into the temple . then turning our eyes that way , we saw albicormas ; with all his senators , coming towards the altar in great pomp and state. as soon as he came in , several priests went to meet him with thuribula , censors in their hands , and singing a canticle . they bowed to him three times , and then turned and lead him to the altar , where he and his men inclined their bodies three times to the curtain , twice to the luminous globe , and once to the statue : then he took his seat on the right hand of the place against the wall , where several high thrones were set up to receive him and his company , and so many on the other side on the like manner . sermodas brought me to a seat under albicormas his feet with three more of my men , and placed the rest over-against us on the otherside . we were no sooner set down but three of the priests went towards the young people , and called them to the altar . they divided into two parts , and all the men came orderly on the right hand , and the women on the left . then did the principal priest stand up on a high place in the middle of all , and made a short speech unto them ; which done , fire was brought in lighted by the sun-beams , as i understood afterwards . this fire being brought in , albicormas came down to the altar , where he lighted some aromatical sticks that lay upon it with that fire , and kneeling before the luminous globe , spake aloud some words , which then i could not understand . from the globe he went to the statue , and bending down one of his knees only , he made there another short speech or prayer , which done , the priests sang an anthem , which was answered by the people . when this short anthem was ended , several musical instruments began to play very sweet and melodious tunes . a chorus of men and women succeeded these instruments , and sang so divinely that we all thought we were in heaven , our voyces and musick in europe being not comparable to these . when this symphony was ended , the chiefest priest went to the young woman , who stood at the upper end of the row , and asked her , whether she would be married ? she , making a low inclination , and blushing at the same time , answered , yes . then did he go to all the others , asked them the same question aloud , and received the like answer . the same was done on the other side where the young men stood , and when all these questions were asked , and answered , the priest went again to the uppermost maid , and asked her , whether she would marry any one of the young men who stood on the other side ? whereunto she answered , yes . then did the priest take her by the hand , and brought her to the uppermost young man of the other row , and bid her chuse her husband . she looked upon the first young man , and then upon the others successively , until the came to the sixth , and there she stopped and asked him , whether he would be her good lord and faithful husband ? he answered , that he would be so , if she would be his loving and loyal wife . which she said , she would be till death should part them . after this solemn and mutual promise , he took her by the hand , kissed her , and walked with her to the lower end of the temple . all the others did successively do the same till they were all marched down by couples . but there remained eight young women who could get no husbands : five of them seemed to be full of confusion , and tears trickled down their eyes in great abundance . the three others looked not so dejected , and when the priest came to them they got hold of his robes , and went along with him to albicormas . he spake some words to them , and then they went to three several senators , and said , that since it was their ill fortune not to be able to get single men to their husbands , they made choice of them to take away their reproach that lay upon their heads , after having three times been slighted publickly . therefore they desired them , that , according to the laws , and their particular priviledge , they would receive them into the number of their wives , promising to be very loving and faithful to them . the three senators came down immediately , took them by the hand , and carried them to the altar , where they stood till all the others came up by couples . the five afflicted virgins were asked by one of the priests , whether they had a mind to chuse any of the officers ? to which they answered , that this being the first time they had tried their fortune , they were willing to try twice more before they took that course . then pulling down their vails they marched out of the temple , and got into a chariot , ready to receive them at the gate , and so went away much discontented . as soon as they were out of sight the musick began to play very merry tunes , and albicormas going to the altar spake some words aloud , and taking the three first maids , and the three senators , joyned their hands together , and spake some words , to which they made answer , and bowed very humbly to him . he did the like to seven or eight couples more , and at last leaving the office to other senators , he went up again to his throne . the like ceremony was used to all the rest , and when it was done , two priests took the fire from the altar , brought it to the middle of the temple , and the new married folks made a ring about it . every one of them had some gums or perfumes in their hands , and each couple mixing them together threw them into the fire : then kneeling down , laid their hands upon a yellow book , which two priests held in their hands , swore obedience to the laws , and promised to maintain them to the utmost of their power till the end of their lives , taking god the sun , and their country to witness of their oaths . then did they march to the altar again , where albicormas made a short prayer , they being upon their knees , and turning towards them gave them his blessing , which done , he marched out of the temple , all the company following after , and the musick playing all in a consort . next , they went into a great hall near unto the temple , where stood many tables , which were immediately covered with meat . albicormas took me and van de nuits , told us we should be his guests that day , and bringing us to the uppermost table , sate down with his chiefest officers , and made us sit with them . sermodas took the rest of my men to another table , and the commonalty of our people , who stood in a gallery all the time of the ceremony , were carried home again by carshidà and benoscar . we had a very noble feast , several instruments of musick playing all the while we fate . after dinner we marched out into the amphitheater , which stood about a musket shot from the temple , and all the way we went we found the streets strewed with herbs and flowers , and heard the acclamations of a great multitude of people , who came out to see us pass . this amphitheater is strongly built with very large stone , and is no less than fifty paces diameter , counting from outer wall to outer wall. it is covered with a prodigious high and large vault , which shelters the place from the sun , and from all injuries of weather . there are seats round about it one over the other , from top to bottom , which take up a great deal of room , and streighten the pit to an indifferent bigness . the upper seats were full of people , and none but the officers and the new married folks were admitted into the pit except some young men , who exercised themselves a while in wrastling , fencing , leaping , and in many other acts of agility , which was no unpleasant sight . then fell our people to dancing , and kept so till it was almost night , at which time the trumpets and other instruments sounded out a retreat . we marched out in the same manner as we came , and found in the streets many fire-works , which made a second day of the night . albicormas and his company went home in their chariots , and the new married people to the lodgings prepared for them , where i suppose they enjoyed one another all night to their hearts content : and sermodas carried us home again , where he explained to us several parts of the ceremony . the next morning he came to us and asked whether we would go to the temple again to see another ceremony which was but a consequence of the former ; to which we readily assenting he carried us away , and made us stand a while at the temple-gate . soon after we heard a sound of musick coming towards us , and saw the new married men coming to the temple , each of them with a long and green bough in his hand , where were hung up the wreath he wore the day before , and his wives garland , tied together with a white clout stained with bloud , which were the marks of his wives virginity . they came all into the temple in a triumphing manner , and being come to the altar laid down their garlands upon it , consecrating them to the deity , to the sun , their king , and to their country , which is represented by the statue i spake of before . after this consecration they went out dancing at the sound of the merry tunes , the instruments played till they came to their homes . this festival lasted three whole days with a general joy and merriment throughout the whole town . now our time was come to leave the city of sporundè , and to march to sevarindè . sermodas , gave us warning of it the day before we went , and carried me , van de nuits , and maurice to albicormas to take our leave of him . we went together to his house , which we found to be a noble and stately palace , though much inferiour to the city palace both in bigness and state . he received us very kindly , and told us that the day following we must take our journey to sevarindè to wait upon sevarminas . then he asked us how we liked sporundè , and the ceremonies we had seen in the celebration of the osparénibon . we answered , we liked every thing even to admiration . you have seen nothing yet , and you are going to a place as far above this as the sun is above the moon . i will not too much prepossess your minds with the glory of it , knowing experience will teach you more than i can tell you . sermodas is to be your guide , he will be very tender of you , and i admonish you to take his counsel in every thing , and to carry your selves so prudently that the great sevarminas may love and cherish you as heartily as i have done . then he kissed us in the forehead , and bid us farewell . the next morning early we were carried to the waterside on the west part of the city , where we found several great barges ready to receive us . sermodas brought me and three or four of my men into an indifferent big one , but rarely carved , gilt , and painted . our other men and women were distributed into other vessels , and in that manner we rowed up the river , which running through a very flat and champain country flowed down very slowly . we saw along the banks of it several great buildings like those we had seen below the city . we had many rowers , who relieved one another from time to time ; so we went up with great speed , and never stopped till we came to an indifferent great city , called sporumè , about thirty miles above sporundè . we were expected there at that day , and so we found great numbers of people upon the key , who came out to see us land . a little before our barge came to the city , a vessel full of several officers , cloathed like those of sporundè , came to meet us , and some of them leaping into our barge expressed a great deal of respect to sermodas , and much civility to us . we went ashore with them , where stayed for us the governour of the place , called psarkimbas . sermodas and he embraced one another , and had some discourse together , after which he kindly saluted us , and bid us welcom into the country in the latine tongue . then addressing himself to me , embracing me , and kissing me in the forehead , he said he would be glad to have a little private discourse with me sometime of the next day . i answered , i was at his command , after which we followed him into the city , which we found to be built much after the manner of sporundè , and about half as big as it , standing in a fine and fruitful soyl , the best manured and tilled we had ever seen before . we were received and used in this place as at sporundè , without any great difference , and stayed there all the day following , not observing any thing remarkable in it but the exemplary punishment which in the afternoon was inflicted upon fourteen malefactors in this manner : they were taken out of prison fast tied together with ropes , and divided into three parts . in the first were six men , who as we were told had been condemned to ten years punishment , some for murther , and others for committing adultery . in the second were five young women , whereof two were condemned to suffer punishment during seven years , to satisfie the law , and afterwards so long as their husbands pleased , and this was for having lain with other men . the three others were condemned to suffer three years punishment for having been debauched before their osparenibon was come , or the time of their marrying , which is at the eighteenth year of their age . in the third were the three young men who debauched these maids , and they were to suffer the like punishment , and at last marry them . they were carried from the prison to the palace gate , where stood a great multitude of people to see the execution . these poor prisoners were stript of all their cloaths from their shoulders to the middle of their bodies , and we saw their naked skins very plainly . i remember that one of the women , who had committed adultery , was a very proper and lusty woman , not above one or two and twenty years of age . she had a very beautiful face , black eyes , brown hair , and a delicate clear skin . but her breasts , which we saw quite naked , were the loveliest i ever beheld . this was the first time she was brought to her punishment , so that her shame was extraordinary . tears trickled down her cheeks in great abundance ; and these instead of taking off from her natural beauty , did on the contrary so much add to it that i never admired any thing like this beautiful criminal . admirarion produced love , and pity joyning with those two passions did so move the hearts of all the spectators , that there was hardly any ingenious person who was not moved to an extreme compassion . but their pity was turned to a kind of generous indignation , when they considered that within a few moments all these divine charms were to be soiled and prophaned by the cruel stripes of a barbarous executioner : yet this was an act of justice ordained by the laws against a crime which among those people is look'd upon as one of the greatest ; so there was no means to save this lovely person from the rigour of the law , and the officer had already lifted up his scourge , and was going to strike , when of a sudden her husband , running through the croud , cried with a loud voice , hold , hold , hold . all the spectators , and the officers themselves , hearing this voice were much surprized , and turned their eyes on the side from which they heard the voice come , suspending the execution till they knew what this mans meaning was . he came to them almost out of breath , as having with much ado passed through the crowd , and , addressing his speech to the chief officer , said , pointing at his wife , sir , i am that miserable womans husband , and therefore much concerned in this execution . before she receive her punishment i desire to speak something to her in your presence , after which you will know more of my mind . then having got leave of the officer , he spake to her in this manner : you know vlisbè with how great a passion i loved you for the space of three years before our marriage ; you know likewise , that since we have been united my love hath rather increased than decreased and that i have given you all the testimonies of a tender , sincere , and constant affection for these four years that a woman could expect from her husband . i was perswaded that you had for me the same sentiments , and that your flame was equal to mine ; and as criminal as you have proved , since i believe still that i have the best share of your divided heart , knowing that you have been seduced by the wicked claniba's wiles , and subtil devices to commit a crime which you would not have committed out of your natural propensity . within this three hours i have been informed of his wicked practices , and know that you could not be drawn to comply with his desires till you were perswaded i had wronged you , and done with his wife that which , in your ill grounded indignation and desire of revenge , you have since done with him ; if i had known so much before , you had not come to this place in this infamous manner , and i would rather have forgiven you the wrong you have done to our conjugal bed , and concealed your crime than brought you to this severe and shameful punishment . i cannot altogether free you from it , because you must satisfie the law and your country which you have grievously offended ; but if the tears i see you shed , and the sighs and sobs i hear out of your mouth be true signs of repentance , if you have still in your breast any remainder of that love so sincere which you once professed to me with so many obliging demonstrations , and if you promise me that you will wholly give me your heart again , i will save you from the cruel stripes that are ready to fall upon you , and suffer them mine own self , rather than see them laid upon you . speak vlisbe , and let not your silence be an argument of your obdurateness , and indifferency for me ; there he stopt , and the woman , almost drown'd in her tears , was silent a while before she could utter any words , but at last she returned him this answer , my silence , o too generous bramistes , is not an argument of my obstinacy , or indifferency , but of my shame and confusion . i have injured you contrary to the sacred laws of justice , and honour ; i have defiled our conjugal bed , and whether i have done it out of a just revenge , or out of any other cause , i am guilty , and deserve to suffer a far greater punishment than is ordained for the expiation of my crime ; do not trouble your self for me , i am a fit object of your indignation , and just revenge , and not of your undeserved pity . all that i beg of you is that you would believe that i am truly penitent , and that i would endure with gladness the cruellest torments , and at last lose my wretched life to satisfie you if it were possible . why should you receive upon your innocent body the stripes which ought justly to fall upon mine ? ah , why should i be freed from a pain due to me , and not to you ? to make it short , there was a long contestation betwixt the husband and the wife , which made all those , who could hear them , shed tears ; and at last the business came to this , that the man received the blows which were prepared for his wife . he was tied with her , and they , with all the other , were whipt three times round the palace , and then sent to prison again . it seems that the women in that country have that priviledge to be exempted from such chastisement if any body will suffer it for them , whereof i was told that there had been many examples upon several occasions . after this execution we went home again , where psarkimbas and i had above an hours discourse together about the affairs of europe , and such like matters as atticormas and all the other officers had been inquisitive of . the next morning we took leave of psarkimbas , and went to the water-side again , where we found other barges ready to receive us . sermodas went into one of them , taking me and the other person who travelled with us before , and so we rowed up the river five or six miles above it , where we found a town consisting only of eight square buildings like those of sporumè there we found other barges of another fashion waiting for us , so without losing any time we went into them , and were drawn up by horses against the stream of the river , which growing strong in this place , we could not row up any farther . the town we left behind was called sporunidè , and , as we were told , was governed in the same manner as the other were . as we went up the river we drew nearer and nearer to the great mountains de haes had seen at a distance when he was near the lake in his discovery of the island over against the old camp. they stretcht from east to west as far as we could see , and appeared very high and steep ; we had spied them long before we came to this place , but now we could see them very plain . from sporunidè we were drawn up to another lesser place fourteen miles above it , called sporunikè , where we took fresh horses , and went up eight miles farther the same day to another little town , called sporavistè , where we lay that night , and where we observed nothing remarkable . the next day in the morning we found several chariots and wagons ready to receive us ; sermodas took me , de nuits , and maurice only to bear him company , and so leaving the river on the west side we went directly to the southward , and drew nearer and nearer to the mountains , the ground rising by degrees as we went towards them , although the country be flat and plain to the very foot of them , which is the reason of their steepness . as we went thorow the country we saw here and there many towns and buildings , and came to a place called sporaguestè about eleven of the clock ; there we took some rest and refreshment till two in the afternoon , and pursuing our journey came in the evening to the very foot of the mountains , where we found a pretty big town , called sporagondò , where we were received with much kindness by astorbas the governour of it . the town consists of fourteen squares , and is the last we saw in sporumbè . we were treated there as in other places , and rested our selves all the day following ; we saw nothing considerable in it , or about it , but the rare canals which are drawn up and down to water the country , which is full of fine pastures , always green as we were told . these canals by walls , bridges , and sluces convey abundance of water from the mountains to this plain , and the work is so vaste and costly that the like could not he done in europe for fifty millions of livers , yet the industry of these people has done it without money , for they use none in any part of their dominions . we were told that we should rest there three days , and then we should go through the mountains into sevarambe , whereof we intend to give the description in the second part of this story , begging of the reader that he would allow our pen a little rest , till we have put into a method the papers out of which we are to draw the second part , where vve shall give him an account of the country beyond the hills . finis . a catalogue of some books , printed for , and sold by h. brome , since the dreadful fire of london , to 1675. divinity . a large concordance , by s. n. to the bible , folio , price 16 s. 130 sermons by mr. farindon , in three vol. in fol. 2 l. 5 s. 51 sermons in fol. by dr. franck , 15 s. dr. heylin on the creed , fol. 15 s. a guide to the humble , by thomas elborow , b. d. in octavo 2 s. a guide to eternity , by john bona , octavo , 2 s. a guide to heaven , with a rule of life 10 d. a companion to the temple , or a help to publick devotion , by tho. cumber , in octavo 4 s. holy anthems of the church , 2 s. 6 d. a looking-glass for loyalty 2 s. sermons . bishop lanyes sermon at court against comprehension 6 d dean w. lloyd's sermon before the king about miracles . 6 d — his sermon at the funeral of john l. bishop of chester 6 d — his sermon before the king , in lent , 1673. 6 d m. naylor's commemoration sermon for col. cavendish 6 d mr. sayers sermon at the assizes at reading 6 d mr. tho. tanner's sermon to the scattered members of the church 6 d mr. stanhopp's four sermons on several occasions , octavo bound 1 s. 6 d papal tyranny , as it was exercised over england for some ages , with two sermons on the fifth of nov. in quarto , 1 s. 6 d — his sermon at the funeral of dr. turner , dean of cant. 6 d histories . the life of the duke espernon , the great favourite of france , from 1598. where d' avila leaves off to our times , by charles cotton , esq in fol. price 18 s the state of the ottoman empire , with cuts , by p. ricaut , esq in octavo , 6 s bishop cosin de transubstantiatione , octavo , 2 s the same in english 2 s. 6 d the commentaries of m. blaiz de montluck , the great favourite of france , in which is contained all the sieges , battels , skirmishes , for three kings reigns , by charls cotton esq in fol. 14 s the fair one of tunis , a new piece of gallantry , by c. c. esq in octavo 2 s. 6 d erasmus coll. in english , octavo 5 s poems . elvira , a comedy by the earl of bristol , 1 s m. a. bromes s. and poems , oct . 3 s. 6 d — his , with other gentlemens translation of horace , in oct . 4 s virgil travestie , by c. c. esq 1 s. 6 d lucian's dialogues , burlesque , 2 s. 6 d horace , with a song at every act , by charls cotton esq 1 s mr. cowlys satyr against separatists physick . dr. barbettes and dr. deckers excellent practice of physick , and observations . sir k. digby , his excellent receipts in physick and chyrurgery , and of drinks and cookery . the anatomy of the elder tree . miscellanies . dr. glisson , de vita naturae , quarto 8 s lord bacons advancement of learning . the planters manual , very useful for such as are curious in planting and grafting , by c. cotton , esq the complete gamester 2 s dr. skinner's lexicon , in fol. 1 l. 5 s 14 controversial letters , in quarto 4 s. 6 d essays of love and marriage , duod . 8 d the vindication of the clergy , 1 s. 6 d toleration discussed , by roger l'estrange , esq 2 s. 6 d a treatise of humane reason , in twelves 8 d school books . nolens volens , or you shall make latine 2 s. 6 d centum fabulae , in octavo 1 s artis oratoriae , in duodec . 2 s law. the lord cook 's institutes , in four vol. fol. 2 l. 5 s sir james dyer's reports , fol. 18 s the clerks guide , in four parts , and the first part alone . the exact constable . controversies . the seasonable discourse against popery , in quarto 6 d — the defence of it , quarto 6 d — the difference betwixt the church and court of rome , in quarto 6 d the papists apology to the parliament answered 6 d the papists bait , or , the way to get proselytes , by ch. gataker , b. d. 1 s dr. du moulin against the lord castelmain 6 d a journey into the country , being a dialogue between an english protestant physician and an english papist . friendly and seasonable advice to the roman catholicks of england , in twelves , 6 d essays of love and marriage , being letters disswading from love , and answered ; with some characters and other passages of wit , in twelves , 1 s. 6 d the history of the sevarites or sevarambi : a nation inhabiting part of the third continent , commonly called terrae australes incognitae . with a further account of their admirable government , religion , customs , and language . written by one captain siden , a worthy person , vvho , together with many others , was cast upon those coasts , and lived many years in that country . the second part more wonderful and delightful than the first . london , printed by j. m. for henry brome , at the gun at the west end of st. pauls church-yard . 1679. licensed , feb. 25. 1678 , roger l'estrange . to the reader . i have here recommended to thy perusal the second part of the rare country of the sevarites : a country so curious and so pleasant , that if thou hadst ever been there , thou couldest never have had the least inclination to dwell in any other part of the world. i know some will be carping and quarrelling at this narration , like those unreasonable animals , that are always fretting to see things with which they are not well acquainted . but these poor souls that have seen nothing but the compass of their cradle , and have confined their knowledge within the narrow limits of their own territory , cannot well conceive nor imagine the glorious things , and the strange wonders that appear to travellers beyond the seas in foreign nations . captain siden was one of the most famous of his time , a man well known for a worthy and approved person . what account he hath given of these rare people is not so publick , i confess , as could be wished , because the persons and the nation , who have now a correspondency in those parts , have discouraged all others , by declaring these things to be fabulous , because they intend to ingross all the trade to themselves . the advantages many dutch families have received by them already , is incredible . the vast treasure they have heaped up in a few years , is beyond all belief . they have met with some new mines of gold in this golden country , and raised their families to an extraordinary grandeur . it is an idle humour in any of us to despise or reject strange discoveries . if all our wise forefathers had been of the same temper , the indies had always been unknown to the european people , and we should again burn such as dare affirm , that there is a jamaica or an america , a world under us . our nation heretofore , and the french court , lost the advantage which the spaniard hath well improved , through incredulity . it is therefore good in all such cases as this , to weigh the reasons and arguments on both sides , and to judge of the probabilities of this country . if any thing is here related of this country or people seemingly beyond all possibility , we must know , that as this people have the advantage of living in the earthly paradise , they have knowledges of nature and natural effects , which look like miracles . captain siden and his dutch camrades visited many places , and saw some other islands thereabouts , which are as full of curiosities as those we have here taken notice of . but that this relation might not be too voluminous , and the account too tedious to the ingenious reader , i thought fit to set some of his papers aside , and speak only of the chief country of the sevarites ; hoping that these lines may give some an incouragement , when they are at cap de bon esperanza , to direct their course a little out of the way , and to visit this country , which lies southwest and by south from the point . if the charge and danger don't discourage them , doubtless some brave generous soul may get to himself an immortal name , and wealth enough to pay his charges , if he returns as safe as captain siden did . however i wish that this narrative may give you all as much satisfaction as you can desire or wish for . the second part of the history of the sevarites . at the foot of the great mountains we rested three days upon the borders of sevarambè , in a little town called by the inhabitants cola , from the delightsomness of the place ; for it stands upon a small rising , and is watered by three pleasant rivers , banon , caru , and silkar , which render the ground thereabouts extraordinary fruitful beyond all credit , to a miracle . for some have told me , that they have usually in their fields every year four crops of corn , because the ground wants neither heat nor humidity to bring forth , and is never parched with the drought of summer ; for here as well as in all the kingdom of sevarambè , they know no difference between summer and winter , unless it be by the course of the sun and stars , which draw nearer to or farther from the northern and southern poles . sermodas had here many old acquaintances , and particularly a she-friend , who caused us to stay in this place longer than we purposed at first . for our great expectation and earnest desire was to pass over the mountains into sevarambè , to injoy the delights of that paradise on earth . but whiles sermodas was diverting himself one way , he caused some divertisement to be given us another way , that our abode there might not seem too tedious . he intreated some of the chief of the place to shew us their gardens of pleasure , and to lead us out into the fields to hunt the ostrich with beagles , and grey-hounds , or dogs not much unlike that sort which we have in europe . this hunting was performed in parks , where this sort of game was kept for diversion . the pleasure that it afforded to us , and the extraordinary actions which were thereby represented , caused us not to think the time long , or our abode in that place tedious , though we were in great expectation of injoying sweeter delights beyond the mountains in a country so far excelling all others in the world , according to the relation which had been given to us . it is the usual custom of all travellers that pass often through this town , to have a she-comrade , with whom they are wont to spend some days . for in the country of sevarambè such kind of natural delights are not allowable by the laws of the country , nor agreeable with the strict lives and sewere customs of the inhabitants , nor with the nature of the air ; for at the first entertainment of inordinate lust , such disorder happens in the blood and veins of men , that their countenances are immediately changed , and their skins are covered with boils and scabs , chiefly their noses , which have so great a correspondency with the noble members . for this cause the inhabitants of sevarambè abominate the least sign of all lasciviousness . i never was amongst a more temperate and orderly generation . all passengers therefore use to make a due preparation before they can or are admitted to pass over the mountains . at this town of cola therefore travellers stop to refresh themselves with those delights which are only allowable in sporumbe . after three days rest sermodas had provided all things needful for our passing over the mountains , some provisions and carriages . we had to each man of us an unicorn appointed to carry us . this creature by the skill of the sporvi are brought to be as tame as our horses . they seemed to me far stronger and more swift , and so sure footed , that though we climbed over rocks and mountains , there was none of them seen so much as to stumble or fall . instead of a bit and bridle we held in our hands a silken cord tyed to the horn , which was in the front of the beast , and at the least motion it would bend and turn , and go a swifter or slower pace , according to our desire . i inquired several things concerning this animal , which i could never hear of in all europe . sermodas gave me great satisfaction , and informed me of its nature , properties , and excellent qualities , so that i had brought some over with me into my own country , had not this transportation been forbidden by the law of that place . we took our leaves of cola about noon after a plentiful dinner . an unicorn of a chestnut colour , with many black spots on the right side , and white on the left , was prepared for me to mount upon . at the first when i saw the nimbleness of the beast , i was afraid to venture my self upon it , and could not be perswaded to make any use of it , till sermodas assured me , that it was one of the gentlest creatures in the world , and so extraordinary swift , that we passed over the mountains through uneven ways into severambè in a day and a half , being near threescore or fourscore miles . these mountains are not inhabited by any other thing but lions , tygers , panthers , and such wild and ravenous beasts as care not much for the society of men . we had the sight of many thousands of them in our way , and saw the roman sports of their theatres and amphitheatres in the bottoms , when we were on the side of the hills ; for there we met with these surious beasts contending for their prey . two bears were devouring an unhappy deer , which by chance was by them surprised in thicket or bush of brambles . they had no sooner seized upon it and overcome it , but in steps the lion to share in the sport . the two bears would not allow him any part , therefore one steps back to encounter him , whiles the other held the innocent deer half dead ; but the lion being too strong for the first bear , the second ran in to rescue him with that fury , that made the lion leave his hold . the fight lasted about an hour , with such a variety of sport , that we could not pass on in our journey , till we had seen the end . at last the lion had so bitten the master-bear by the legs , that he was scarce able to stand ; which when the lion perceived , he retreated from him about an hundred paces , and then was too strong for the other bear , which had unadvisedly pursued him . after a short dispute the bear ran away , and left the lion alone to his dinner with the lame bear in sight , which sent to him many snarlings and wishful looks waiting till this king of beasts had well satisfied his appetite . but when the lion had well filled his paunch with the deer flesh , and that he endeavoured to drag away the rest , the two bears seeing his greediness , gave the lion another assault , and obliged him to depart with a good piece of flesh in his mouth , leaving the remainder to the hungry bears that devoured all to the very guts . in pursuance of our journey we were carried over a high mountain named sporakas ; the top reaches to the second region of the air , and is always covered over with snow and ice in this hot country . there is a very clear fountain of water which yields a plentiful stream running down the rocks and mountains of various ascents , and by the fall and diversity of the noises and rumbling of the water , gives to the passengers a pleasant musick . when i was within a mile of the place , i thought i had heard some trumpets , drums , and war like harmony , flutes and hoboys , and such other windy and watry instruments of musick . what! said i to sermodas , what means this warlike musick that we hear ? is there not an army coming before us ? this question caused sermodas and all the sporvi to smile . no , said sermodas , we have no need to fight amongst our selves , this country is more free from all disputes and contentions than any other under the sun. we are not pinch'd with those necessities that are apt to make you europeans so mad and furious one against another . there is nothing of oppression or violence to be seen here . we are never assaulted by any enemy : all our thieves , robbers , and disorderly persons are confined to the skirts of our dominions where they live to plague one another , but they are not suffered to abid in the middle and bowels of the kingdom . since noahs flood , whereof we have more certain memoires than you in europe , there was never any disorder nor war in this place , or in the country round about , because of the excellent orders and useful laws of this country , which i shall hereafter represent to you . at the top of the mountain we lodged in a tent which nature had prepared in a diamant rock , with several apartments . the rock stood in a plain ground , as high as the great steeple of amsterdam . it occupied about an acre of ground , having many transparent turrets round about at the middle of it . there was an entrance into it so luminous and glorious , that i thought the sun had made here its abode , and that there was one within as well as without in the heavens . in the first room we rested our selves , and unloaded our unicorns . some of the company gave them provender , others kindled us a fire ; but sermodas led me and maurice by the hand to take a full view of this stately palace . when we had gone round , and seen the glory of it , and taken notice of the brightness of the diamant with the crystal turrets , and steps by which men may climb up to the top , and which are made of ice congealed and hardened into crystal by length of time , we returned to our company to take a share of the fire they had kindled ; but we were no sooner sate down in the niches about the wall , but out comes a leopard followed by a wild masty from some inner rooms where they had been sleeping all the day . now the noise of men had awakened them , and obliged them to seek another more quiet retreat . the entrance was stopt with our fardels and goods to keep out the cold wind that blew in . when therefore we perceived them running and walking about , we ran to our arms to defend our selves from their fury . but stay , said sermodas to me , we need not stir , you shall see pleasant sport , if you will sit quietly . he had no sooner spoken the words , but the leopard and the wild masty began to salute one another with grim looks and furious crys , which ended not without a sharp dispute for mastery . sometimes the one had the upper hand , anon the other would tread his enemy under foot . they were so furiously set one against another , that they took no notice of our being there , nor of the fire kindled in a corner , till two of our company , by the order of sermodas , discharged two guns upon them . the bullets killed the leopard , but the wild dog retreated into the inner rooms ; where he remainded till the next morning , that we fetched him out with fire , and dispatched him also . we were mightily afraid at their first appearance ; but when we perceived how little they regarded us , and how speedily they fell foul of one another , we were well pleased with their company , for the room was large enough for them and us . sermodas led us into every chamber , and corner of this diamant palace , where we had the sight of all manner of prospects and snapes of beasts and birds graven there with natures finger to delight passengers when they pass over these rough mountains into sevarambé . i shall forbear from giving any exact description of it , for fear this strange account , incredible of it self , should injure the rest of this story , and cause my reader to suspect the truth of all other passages of these travels in this remote country . the night we spent in such pleasant dreams , as made us europeans to laugh heartily in our sleep . we fancied our selves in a most glorious paradise , and were not willing to depart the next day . had not sermodas promised to bring me back the same way , i had prevailed upon him to have staid there a few nights , that we might have again a taste of our drowsie delights , and of our imaginary happiness , which to us was as good as any real and true . i had almost forgot a custom observed by all the crooked sporvi , when they come to this place , to prepare themselves to go down into the glorious and fruitful vallies of sevarambé . they wash themselves all over their bodies in a mineral fountain of a water , which to the eye appears very yellow , which fountain stands at a stones cast from the rock ; and though the air be cold , this fountain is hot , and of an excellent virtue : for the water cleanseth not only the filth of the body , but it hath that influence upon the humors of men , that they are freed from all those extravagant desires of lust and lechery , which agrees not with the air and manners of the sevarambi . before we went to sleep , sermodas led me and my companions out to this rare fountain : now , captain , said he to me , strip your self naked , and wash your self in this water : with these words he shewed me several corners , which seemed to be made purposely for men to bathe themselves and wash their bodies from the irregular inclinations of these other regions . after we had well cleansed our selves , we returned to our lodging , and after supper sermodas gave me this account of this custom : captain , said he to me , we are entring into a climate where men are forced to be abstemious against their wills ; where if they harboured those amorous affections which other men have , they meet with so many and such powerful temptations , that they would be far more extravagant than the rest of men , and be more deformed than any people ; for the air and nature of this country is such , that it sets a mark upon all men that touch any other women than their own . and such virgins as forget themselves , are spotted visibly to the eyes of all beholders , as you shall see when you come amongst them . for the prevention therefore of this and all other inconveniencies which proceed from lustful appetites , we have a custom to wash our selves in this admirable fountain , whereof the water hath that virtue to free us from those lecherous inclinations as well as our bodies from filth , and to oblige us to appear amongst the sevarambi with a quiet and calm spirit : so that none or few dare joyn with any other female but his own . i inquired whether they had not a plurality allowed them : no , answered sermodas , we in our country have that allowance , and this causeth us all to be so crooked in our bodies ; for this shape proceeds from the crookedness of our reason , which carries us to act and perform such things as agree not , i confess , with the excellency of our humane nature , but only with those natural propensities , which we either by art or resolution should restrain within the compass of a moderate appetite . but you are entring amongst the soberest people of the world , free from all those wild passions which cause so much disturbance in other lands . they are the perfectest and most beautiful ladies that ever you beheld , all their country and all things therein are stately , glorious , pleasant , rich and noble , and so extraordinarily full of innocent delights , that you would be content to abide there for ever . this short account , with the many relations that we had already of this country , inflamed our desires to be eye-witnesses of these rare things , and to injoy the stately advantages that this place and country afford . therefore the next morning early we washed and prepared our selves for our journey . but there happened an accident which retarded our journey for a while . as soon as our unicorns were loose and ready to be loaded , a jaccal happened to run by in sight of these animals . as soon as they perceived it , they ran after it so swiftly , that one of the foremost caught the jaccal , and killed it : for there is a natural antipathy between these two creatures , as there is between a hare and a grey-hound . at the first sight of a jaccal it is not possible to keep in the unicorn , who is naturally carried to pursue this ravenous beast . this gave us the trouble to run about a mile after them to the declive of the hill , where the unicorns were all dividing the spoils of the dead jaccal : one was tearing the tail , another was busie about the head , another was devouring the guts ; they had all shared it amongst them . when we had brought them back , we all mounted , and went on in our journey . about ten miles in our way , at the top of a very high steep hill , we saw the great city of sevarinde , and the beautiful country where it is situate . here the sporvi are wont to perform certain ceremonies before they dare venture farther ; for they imagine , that if they neglected or contemned them , the great spirit of the air , which governs in that climate , would punish them with some signal token of his displeasure , as he doth such as are given to debauchery and lechery . i and my comrades were all obliged to follow the same customs and manners , for fear of giving offence , and for avoiding those deformities and marks which are said to be inflicted upon all contemners of the laws of the land. in our travelling we had the sight of many strange creatures , animals , birds , and insects , whereof i knew not so much as the name . the trees in our road were hung with apes and monkies : the woods full of aromatick trees and sweet perfumes : the mountains and wildernesses were inriched with diamant rocks and banks of crystal : the rivers and streams of water are full of sandy gold and precious stones transparent . when i considered how rich and delightful a place the descent of these mountains was , i judged that the country beyond , and the bottoms and vallies must consequently exceed all that i ever beheld on earth . one thing i cannot omit : we saw in our travelling a beaver pursued and hunted by a creature not much unlike in shape to our rabbets , but of another nature , more ravenous and fierce . for eagles and vultures of all kinds and sorts , they were here in such numbers , that the sky was sometimes darkned with them . in the way sermodas gave me and my companions several precautions how we should behave our selves amongst the sevarites . first he advised us to talk but little : for , said he , they are the wisest of all men . if therefore you will gain any esteem , or hinder your selves from being despised , abstain from too much discourse ; for if they perceive , by a multiplicity of words , any indiscretion in you , they will contemn you , and not think you worthy to abide in the land , much less to be honoured by them . again , take heed of swearing , cursing , or damning ; for such irregularities in language were never yet admitted into that land. they spue or banish out all disorderly persons , and confine them to the borders . observe next to do as you see other men , and take heed you be not singular in any practices : but when once you are admonished by them , imitate them , and follow their good advices ; for in so doing , you will preserve your selves in their esteem , and shew them respect . obstinacy and singularity are vices not known amongst them as they are amongst you europeans . take heed that you drink not too much of the delicious wines of the country , but use all things with abstinence and moderation . refuse not any gifts which they will bestow upon you ; for they are all noble and generous in their behaviour and actions , and love not to see their favours slighted by strangers . i shall , said sermodas , inform you what to do , and give you other directions , as i shall see occasion , that you may pass with credit through the country of the sevarambi . when he had ended his discourse , we thanked him for his kindness , and promised him our ready obedience to all that he should require from us . he seemed to be well satisfied with our compliance with him from the beginning . thus we travelled along till we came to the foot of these high mountains to the passage of a large river three times bigger than the danube or the rhyne . it is called by the sporvi cocab , and by the sevarambi rocara . it runs at the bottom of the hills , and incompasseth the kingdom of the sevarites almost round , till it meets with another large river , which together unite their streams , and fall into the pacifick sea beyond the streights of magellan , about one hundred leagues southwards . at sun-setting we came to the banks of the river , but could not get over till the next day ; for there is no bridge suffered to be made , because the sevarites are not willing to give such an easie access into their country . they are afraid of two things , of the vices of strangers , and of their diseases , which causes them to set guards at the mouth of their rivers , and all the ordinary passes , lest a sudden invasion should disorder their quiet and earthly tranquillity . this caused us to stop upon the sides of the river till the morning ; for the boat which was to carry us over and our company , was then on the other side , and after sun-set there can no man be admitted into this happy country : besides there are many things to be examined of strangers before they can be received into the boat. we lodged therefore all night at the foot of the mountains in a beautiful arbour or bower of jesmine mixed with rose-trees , which in this place flourish and bear all the year long ; for here neither snow nor frost is to be seen , nor such cruel winds as hinder the fruits of the earth . the bower was about an hundred paces from side to side , so that our unicorns and goods lay and rested with us in the same place all night . whiles our supper was providing , sermodas took me and my companions to walk with him near the rivers side , and to discourse with me about the wonders of nature , the delightsomness of the prospect , the clearness of the river-water , the sweet harmony of the evening-birds , the pleasant noise of the crystal-streams , together with the comfortable brieses of wind , which amongst the branches of the chestnut , orange , cedar , elm , oak , and other trees , which here upon the sides of the mountains grow naturally without planting , and promiscuously together , made such an angelical musick , that we imagined our selves in paradise , and wonderfully contributed to our satisfaction in our walk . sermodas being in the middle of us , asked how we liked this abode : it is , replied maurice , the most glorious that i ever was in . you will see and know something more when you get over the river , and behold the excellency of those things which are there confined . i asked him how it came to pass , that we in europe were so ignorant of this country , and why this should excel all others . this question , replied sermodas , requires a long discourse to give an answer to it ; but i will not leave you without some satisfaction . you must know , that when adam , the first man , had offended his god by disobedience , he shut him out of the earthly paradise , and would not suffer him nor his wicked posterity to injoy the pleasures of that pleasant abode . they had liberty to inhabit round about , but for two thousand years paradise was guarded in such a manner , that none could enter into it all that time . afterwards came the flood , which turned and altered mountains and vallies ; therefore we have some records that tell us , that the earthly paradise , which , during the old world , was in asia , was then transported hither , and all those rare trees , with the jewels and riches , were carried hither by angels , and planted in this remote corner . and because there was no man then fit to inhabit so blessed a place , of the sons of noah , a new couple were formed , not out of the slimy earth as the former , but out of a purer and more delicate substance , out of some metal mixed with gold and silver : hence it is , that their bodies are so clean , pure , glorious , and splendid as you shall see . this couple , named chericus and salmoda , are the parents of all the sevarites ; from their loins proceed the numbers of beautiful men and women , which you shall see on the other side of the river . they had an hundred sons and as many daughters , and lived , by our records , two thousand years ; afterwards he was buried in the city of sevarinde , where you shall see his sepulchre . when men and women began to increase , his eldest son sevarias appointed laws for men to govern their actions , and to avoid all kind of confusion . these laws we can shew you in our registers , subscribed by all the men of those days . in his time there happened some sons of noah to be carried by the stormy winds upon these coasts . at their landing one of them met with a beautiful virgin called serissa , whom he ravished and got with child . she brought forth twins , a boy named bubo , and a girl called chrestona . these two being crooked , could not meet with matches amongst the sevarambi , who despised them : therefore when they came to the age of thirty , they matched and increased strangely . when sevarias our law-giver saw how numerous they were like to be , being a just man , would not destroy them , neither would he suffer the pure race of the sevarambi to be defiled or mixed with the filthy generations of the other part of the world. he sent a way bubo and chrestona with their old european father and their mother serissa , with all their children and grand-children to build the city of sporunde , and to inhabit the country on this side the river , appointing a certain tribute for us to pay as an acknowledgment that we are descended partly from the same stock : hence it is , that we are all so deformed , and a little crooked , and that the true sevarites will not be perswaded to joyn with us in marriage , and yet they love us as brethren , and have a natural inclination for all men in general , which obliges them to be courteous , kind , affable , liberal , and bountiful to them all when they happen to fall into their hands . sevarias our wise law-giver appointed to us distinct laws , and in some respects contrary to the rest of the sevarites according to the crookedness of our european nature , which he saw could not live up to that natural sanctity which became us as men . he gave us therefore liberty to make the vilest of our female sex slaves for our conveniency in times of need , and in travelling up and down our country ; but such practices as these are not agreeable with the strictness of the lives of the rest of the sevarambi , they abominate such mixtures ; and though their country inclines them as much as any to the flesh , they cannot be perswaded to make use of it out of the rules and ways prescribed to them . and if at any time they forget themselves by chance , the air and country is so great an enemy to such practices , that it distinguisheth them from all the rest by some visible mark upon their noses or foreheads , which causeth them to be immediately banished out of the country to the confines over another river on the other side of the kingdom , where they have the liberty to live deprived of all the pleasures of this earthly paradise . thither are confined all the disorderly persons , the lecherous , the filthy , and base , each sort have their distinct places of abode , or islands from whence they are not suffered to depart till they dye naturally : for our wise and ever glorious law-giver commanded us not to put men to death for any mistake , forgetfulness , or miscarriage of their lives . killing is permitted by our laws only in defence of our own persons ; all other offenders against the municipal laws of the land are banished to the borders , where they live to repent them of their wickedness , and most times dye good men . i shall give you a farther account of the excellent laws and manners of the sevarites , when we shall be on the other side amongst them ; for they will not be perswaded to venture over into these parts , for fear of infecting themselves with foreign customs and manners , and the vicious air , which is every where but in sevarambé . but , captain , said sermodas to me , when we had walked about a mile from our company , it is time for us to visit them again , for yonder comes a furious company down the mountains , which will force us to a retreat . i looked and saw a party of jaccals followed by two old lions and some young ones running apace towards us , howling as if they had been mad : hunger makes them more furious and greedy than otherwise they would be ; for they increase so fast , that in the woods and retreats there is not sufficient food for them all to fill their paunches every day . towards the dawning of the day they burst out of their caves and holes to seek their necessary provisions for them and their young ones . the foremost were not above an hundred paces from us , when they first declared their coming with fearful out-crys , which were signs to the lions round about , that they had discovered some prey . we were then without weapon , and never dreamed of any danger in so pleasant an abode . all the wild beasts understood the alarm of their fore-runners , and hasted to the place where the jaccals had made a noise . a mixture of all sorts followed them close at the heels , lions , bears , tygers , elks , leopards , and some other sorts which i shall hereafter describe . it was not time for us to stay there any longer , and see our danger hasten upon us . we took our selves to our heels , and ran with sermodas towards our bower , where all the sporvi had put themselves in a posture of defence as soon as they heard the noise . but we could not make such haste , but one of the foremost leopards caught maurice by the coat , and tore off a piece , which the furious beast devoured , and gave him time to escape ; another bit me by the buttocks , and held me so fast , that i could not get away from him . in the mean while all my company run before , every one shifting for himself . i thought my self lost , but i was resolved to struggle for my life . the less hopes i saw of escaping , because several companies of other ravenous beasts were near at hand . i turned therefore my self and pulled the leopard by the ears , thrusting one of my fingers into his right eye . the pain forced him to let go his hold , which as soon as he had done , he leaped upon me with his open jaws , into which i thrust my right hand and took hold of the tongue , necessity adding more strength to my arm , i pluckt it by the root whiles the beast held me with his paws . at that instant six roaring lions , and three bears , with an infinite number of jaccals , had overtaken and surrounded me , but none offered to touch me . i flung amongst them the leopards tongue , which they all greedily catched at with a short dispute , which of them should have it . this gave me leisure to run about a dozen paces from them before they had ended it . as soon as a lion had taken it for his share , the rest fell foul upon the leopard , which was become so troublesom to them , because of his extraordinary howling , that they minded me not so much , only an old bear made after me , and overtook me . when i saw sermodas and maurice , and all the company hastening with weapons to my rescue , their sight and coming gave me some hopes of escaping out of the jaws of an unavoidable death . the bear gallopped after me , and was just at my very heels , when i stumbled and fell flat on my face , the bears fury caused him to run about a dozen paces beyond me over my body , before it could stop ; then were sermodas , maurice , and all the rest come in with their guns , and other weapons , and one for my self . as soon as i had got a sword in my hand , i ran at the bear , and wounded the beast in the right thigh at the first blow , but at the second i thrust it in at the breast , and wounded him at the heart . in the mean while all our company were not idle , they fell upon the wild beasts with their swords and halberts in their hands , and killed in a short time twenty lions , thirteen bears , and forty jaccals , with threescore other sort of furious and ravenous creatures . we found dead the next day one like a bull with six horns , two small ones a little above the nose , two a little bigger under the eyes , and two great ones upon his head. this beast is called suja , and lives upon the spoils of other animals . we saw another having a head like a lion , a skin like a crocodile , and a tail as a fox as red as blood , the claws were bent in , but when they were stretched out , they were about a foot long , and as sharp as needles . sermodas told me , that this was the most furious beast in all the world ; for nothing can escape out of its jaws and claws , it tears in pieces all that it meets with , and were it not that it hath but a small appetite , it would devour all the lions of the woods . he told me , that the sporvi called it forabab , and that there are no females of them to be found , because they are begot by a mixture of lions and other animals which copulate together . we killed two other beasts as big as ordinary masties , but so extraordinary furious , that none are to be compared to them . we continued the slaughter near two hours , rescuing one another when the wild beasts were too hard for any of us , and had worsted us . the rest we put to flight , having wounded most of them : three of the sporvi in our company were bit in their limbs , and six of us run through the arm with the claws of the lions . after this fierce encounter , which was not above three stones cast from our bower , we went , very joyful to have escaped the danger , to refresh our selves with a good supper of roast meat and fruit , which was ready prepared for us . sermodas embraced me and maurice , expressing much joy for our escape out of this great danger , because none of us had been devoured by these furious inhabitants of the woods . after supper he walked into the air , and met with a shrub tree upon the bank of the river , called mezola , he took a stick from it , and rubbed the wound of my buttocks , and before the morning i was perfectly cured of my wounds , as all the rest of the men hurt by the beasts : for had he not applied this to our wounds , we should have been lame , and hindred thereby from passing over the river into sevarambe . we laid our selves down upon the banks and beds of earth made under the bower for strangers to rest themselves , and slept all night , only we were interrupted by the howlings of strange creatures and beasts of prey , who ranged about the bower , attempting to enter in , but we had stopt the passages and ways , so that there was no entrance for any of them . the next morning a large boat was on this side to carry us over with five grave signiors , two came to our bower to call to us before we were up , and visit us . the chief owner of the boat was named kibbus . as soon as we heard them we rose and dressed our selves . sermodas went out to give kibbus an account of our persons and misfortunes : which when he had understood , he entred in with him , and took us by the hand and kissed us , bidding us be of good chear , and that his prince would be joyful to see us . we went with him to see the slaughter of the wild beasts which we stripped of their skins , because the sevarambi are great lovers of furs ; and this was a noble present , which we intended to give to their king. as soon as we had dispatched our business , kibbus with his companions called us one after another to ask us , whether we had any infirmities or distemper in our bodies : after this he caused us to wash in a fountain hard by , and gave us green gowns , which he had in his boat on purpose for all travellers , buttoned before with rich buttons of jasper stones . they were perfumed in such an extraordinary manner , that i never saw the like . after this and some previous ceremonies , we were admitted with our unicorns into his wide and large boat , and in an instant we were carried over to a small town , where i beheld the most beautiful men and women of the world. they all knowing us to be strangers , of a foreign country , went to the banks of the river to salute and welcome us . at the head of them was a grave gentleman with ruddy cheeks , and a comely countenance , and a long beard of bright hair , which in the sun shined as if they had been of gold : he was attended upon by six most beautiful tall young men , who were followed by four of the female sex , whom i cannot liken to any but to angels : they surpassed all that lever beheld with my eyes on earth . these were his children . they took maurice and my self by the hand , asked of our welfare and country , and spoke to us in very good french. i was glad to meet in so remote a place a man that spoke that language , i desired to know his name : my name , said he , is zidi marbet . all the rest of the town did him obeisance when he passed by them ; for he was a man of great riches and authority , and of an excellent memory and wit. sermodas had some private discourse with him near the river ; afterwards he marched with us into his town to his palace , the most glorious thing that i ever beheld , and yet that was nothing to what i saw afterwards . the town lay upon the banks of the river , and had six uniform streets abutting to the water . the houses were for the most part built all of white and black marble , very curious to the eye : they were covered over with a shining slate , which seemed to be gilt with gold before every door . in a wide empty place grew several aromatick and excellent rare trees for pleasure and profit . we all admired to see the place , sometimes we stood astonished at the beauty of the men and women , anon we were ravished with the glorious and delightsom abodes . where-ever we cast our eyes , we saw nothing but that which deserved our wonder and admiration . zidi marbet walked with us with his company , and led us to his palace , which excelled all the other houses in beauty . at our entrance we saw two posts of pure ivory , ring'd round with gold , with a little court paved with white and black marble . the house was built almost in the same manner as the rest , but surrounded with the most beautiful trees , and moted with a draw-bridge of black wood like ebeny , having chains of gold instead of iron . in the water the fish were in such plenty , and so great , that we saw hundreds as we passed by . at our first entrance we stood in amaze to behold the glory of the inside , we could not sufficiently admire the beauty and splendor of the rich moveables , the hangings and tapistry over-laid with gold and precious stones , with all other things which can never be believed , if i should offer to relate them . here we stopped seven days , till we had news from sevarinde , whither we had sent word of our arrival , to know the kings pleasure . in the mean while i cannot express the delights which were given to every day ; the sweet concerts of musick , the pleasant walks about the town , the recreations of hunting , fishing , hawking , and other sports , were not wanting to us , with many other past-times . zidi marbet and his whole family were extraordinary civil to us . the town were not wanting in their respects . at the end of seven days , sermodas our guide , with the rest of our company , set forward towards sevarinde , where we arrived in six days . the journey was the most pleasant that ever i had been in . there was scarce any manner of recreation or innocent pleasure belonging to our bodies , but we found it in the way . all our senses were ravished with their delights ; the ears with the sweet harmony and tunes of all manner of singing-birds , with the grateful crys of all sorts of creatures : our eyes beheld all the most glorious sights which are to be seen in all the earth : the fields , the towns , and cities , the woods , the vallies , and mountains refreshed our eye-sight with new objects of pleasure and wonder at every moment : our noses met with the rarest perfumes ; every bush and corner yielded to us new delights of this kind . for our taste we had every where such dainties and rare wines , that are not to be expressed . one thing i took great notice of , that all those creatures which are elsewhere , are to be seen in this earthly paradise ; as lions , bears , wolves , jaccals , &c. and tame beasts , as sheep , cows , camels , oxen , horses , &c. but they are not of the same nature , as elsewhere . the wild beasts , as soon as they swim over the river of rocara , lose all their fierce dispositions , and become as harmless and mild as lambs ; for they feed upon grass and insects , without offering to meddle with any living animal . likewise they , as well as the tame beasts , have another cry , not so harsh and unpleasant , as every where else . their crys are more grateful to the ear . all things , in a word , are so ordered , as if they were purposely intended to delight and increase the pleasure of the inhabitants we saw in our journey many strange birds and tame beasts , not to be seen in any other part of the world. the fields almost in every place are watered with fresh streams and chanels , full of all manner of fresh water fish : so that in every town and village we saw many fish-ponds incompassed about with the rarest trees in nature . the ground is so extraordinary fruitful , that it is ordinary for them to gather three or four crops every year of several forts of grain . so that it is no wonder , if men and creatures are here so numerous . every two miles we met with a good town in our way , some more , some less glorious than the rest ; but built so regular and uniform , that i judged that these sevarites were not ignorant of the humane sciences and arts , which are imperfectly known in other parts of the world. sermodas informed me , that for philosophy , the mathematicks , astrology , and the rest , they were all trained up in them from their youth . they chiefly excel in all delightful sciences and arts , as musick and the mathematicks . every child about fourteen years of age can play upon all manner of instruments , with that dexterity and nimbleness , that i have often wondered to look upon them , and hear such ravishing tunes and airs , which our musicians are not acquainted with . they are not much skill'd in physick , nor in those arts , which mens vices and diseases cause the europeans to inquire into ; for seldom any distemper seizeth upon them , till they fall away with old age , and drop into their graves . i never saw any deformity amongst them , but such variety of beauties both in men and women , that we were all ravished to look upon them . these beauties in the female sex were not pitiful and effeminate , as amongst our women ; but accompanied with a great deal of majesty , modesty , and gravity together . it is not possible to instance all the several particulars and instances of their beauty ; for there was as great a variety in that excellency of the body , as there is a variety and diversity in the deformity of ours in europe . sermodas entertained us in our road with many delightful and satisfying stories concerning these sevarites . but i intend to represent them in the several chapters or heads unto which they properly belong . we had in our journey a sight of many eagles and vultures ; but i was told , that they prey upon nothing but insects : and for venemous creatures , there are none to be found . they know not what it is to live always in fear , to be poysoned by asps , scorpions , snakes , or to be devoured by flying serpents and crocodiles , which in other kingdoms swallow man and beast . so that in all respects this country is the happiest , the most pleasant , and abounds with so many necessaries to the life of man , that it is not possible to imagine any thing more . we saw many diamant rocks in our way , with which the inhabitants imbellish their houses . we saw some rocks of jasper , of sardonyx , of beryl , and emerald ; for gold and silver and brass , they find these metals , but rough , as plentifully as we do in other countries , stones . but as they never make use of money , they resine the gold for no other purpose but to adorn themselves and their dwellings , and for other civil uses . silver they have in great abundance , and brass much more easie to be purified than ours in europe or america , because nature being hotter and more powerful , performs that in the bosom of the earth which belongs to our refiners to do , and fits the metal for their use with a small alteration and labour . all manner of precious stones are to be found here in the high-ways , in such abundance , that had our merchants liberty to trade into these parts , they would bring down the price of jewels , that they would not be looked upon as they are for such rich commodities . the cattle and the sheep here are far bigger and better than ours , and all their tame beasts ; but when they want any thing , they exchange with one another : and if they are not able to purchase it in that manner , they have all that great love and affection for one another , that they never deny things that may benefit the publick society , or any of the sevarites . there is amongst them so much love , sincerity , good correspondence , that no nation hath the like besides themselves . hence it is , that poverty and want are not known amongst them . they are great lovers of hospitality , and strive to excel one another in this vertue . an example of this we had in our way to sevarinde ; for in a great town , named bubasti , ten of the chief men contended with one another in civil manner to have us to lodge at their houses , which i may justly call palaces : and to content them all we were forced to divide ourselves , and to accept of all their kindnesses neither could we get away from them in a day , they had so many new inventions and recreations to retard us till the evening , and then they would not suffer us to depart till the next morning . our first stage was at foralar , thirty miles from the river , where we met with excellencies and riches beyond all belief and imagination . the next was fustad , about five and thirty miles from foralar . the third was brobas , a large city well walled , and so glorious to the eye when the sun shines , that it dazles it . the fourth night we reached as far as crocarambe . the fifth we entred into bubasti : and the sixth day about noon we were received and welcomed into sevarinde . as soon as we were arrived and entred into the palace appointed for our abode , men and women of all sorts , but of rare and compleat beauty , came in to welcome us , bringing with them of the fruits of the country . amongst them a party of musicians , a dozen in number entred the hall , where we were refreshing our selves , and admiring all the excellencies before our eyes , and the divine beauty of those incarnate angels , the women of that place . at the first they saluted us with a short speech to this purpose in their own language , which was immediately interpreted to us by a stander by in spanish welcome , noble strangers , to our city of sevarinde , let not your misfortunes and losses grieve you , the great being of beings hath sent you to discover what i understand was never known to your world. you shall see by experience the generosity and brave minds of the sevarambi . we rejoyce to have an occasion of imitating our bountiful god , and express our liberalities to his creatures , and our kindness to men , though of another world and parentage . this brings me and my companions into this place , and at this time to mitigate your sorrows , and cause you to forget your shipwrack and calamity ▪ with these words he made a grave bow and nodded to the rest of his comrades and immediately the musick began to play so sweetly , that we reckoned our selves in heaven , and not upon earth . this sport continued about two hours with an interruption of other sports . we tasted there also some of the most delicious wines of the world ; they grow not as ours upon shrubs and short stumps , but upon great trees as high as the cedar and oak-trees neither have they any trouble with them to manure or cut them , for the wine-tree brings forth of its own accord plentifully . in an orchard of these kinds of trees about the compass of an acre , they have sometimes ten tun of this rare wine , as clear as crystal , but so extraordinary strong and pleasant , that the vin de la cindad of paris , nor the rhenish , nor frontiniack , nor florence , nor canary , nor any other sorts of wine of asia , or europe are to be compared to this divine nectar , which so refreshes nature , and strengthens the body , that the oldest persons in that country seem to be but young . their age is discoverable only by their grey hairs and long beards , which they are not to cut by the law of the land. that evening sevarminas sent us a messenger to know of our welfare , advising us to prepare our selves for the next morning to wait upon him , for he was very desirous to see us . sermodas had been with him , and had given him an account of us , and of our behaviour since our landing in sporumbè , and our entrance in sevarambé . at his return to us , after supper we desired him to give us an exact account of the extent of the dominions of his king sevarminas , and of the further most bounds of his empire . in answer to your request , said sermodas to us , i must tell you , that we have now a prince called sevarminas , lineally descended from our wise law-giver sevarias : this is the seventh thousand five hundred and ninth king , who hath since that time reigned in this land. his government between the rivers are threescore and five principalities : the chief are rostaki in the west , shafstati on the north towards the pacifick sea , roblati on the east , and manasti on the south . these are the four principal parts of the kingdom commanded by four chief officers , who are to have an inspection over the other lesser divisions . these wait upon sevarminas , and are of his privy council . the other chieftains are to reside in their several principalities , and take care to do justice , and punish all offenders with banishment to their several places appointed for their retreat . besides these jurisdictions within the rivers , there are several other places belonging to sevarminas , which acknowledge him for their supreme lord ; but they are full of all banished men , offenders of the law , and malefactors . there is the province of the sporvi , which you have seen already , commanded by the noble albicormas : the next to us is the island of the fornicators , whom these sevarambi cannot endure . these all appear with their rotten noses and poysoned faces , so that they are ashamed to shew themselves amongst perfect men . they live in woods and dark caves , men and women promiscuously , without any regard to their honesty , which they have had no care to preserve . they have an ill-favour'd old hag for their governess , a filthy bawd , named brustana . their country affords them many good things , so that they live without much labour ; but are so deformed and infectious , that none dares venture amongst them , who hath any regard to the safety of his own person or honour . when amongst the sevarites any , either man or woman , breaks the law by any such fleshly liberty , they are immediately sent over and landed there , from whence they cannot possibly return , because there is no boat dares carry them from thence . in this place they have a freedom to do what they list , and to please themselves with the choice of persons of their own disposition and temper without any restraint . the next province is that of the knaves , a cunning sort of men , who are all upon catches , continually plotting the mischief of others . when there is the least suspicion of any such person in a province of the sevarites , they never leave till they have found him out , and sent him to this place , where he is commanded by marabo : when any excels in knavery , he is there promoted in his court to offices of honour and trust . these have the largest and best province belonging to sevarminas beyond the river ; for they are numerous and increase daily in number of men and in lands towards the south . they dispossessed another generation of covetous rascals , who had been banished from among the sevarambi , and had laid great improvement upon their lands , having built many good towns and cities . when the knaves , their neighbours , had understood it , they caught it from them , and drove them out of it by a trick , sending the covetous to live in their country empty of inhabitants . the next is the province of disorderly persons troubled with the distempers of discontent , fury , ambition , and other vices . sevarminas is forced to keep a guard upon their borders , and to place next to them the stoutest and most warlike souls , for fear of a sudden irruption . there are thirteen other large provinces filled with other kind of men ; but i forbear to speak of them till i shall give you an account of an attempt which the bordering provinces made once to dispossess king sevarminas of his throne , and to seize upon the territories of the unspotted sevarites , who were forced to arm themselves , and drive those disorderly villains into their own nests , where they are now confined . since that time care hath been taken to build such walls and forts , as that they cannot now easily pass over to trouble the peace of the sevarites . i had almost forgotten to speak of the large province of fools , which lies directly south from sevarindé . if any person , by a mischance , becomes crack-brain'd or distemper'd with any kind of folly , he is condemned to be transported to the island of cracos , where he is to spend all his days in what exercises please him best . the country affords him all necessaries without pains : therefore the fools lead a pleasant life in the woods and medows . before we go out of the kingdom , i will , said sermodas , beg leave of sevarminas to have a guard , and visit the provinces of knaves and fools , where you shall see such tricks and sports , as you never saw the like . and if you desire to visit any other part of the kingdom , i will desire leave from our mighty king , who will take care to provide for your safety in going and coming . for though in this happy paradise there is nothing of evil , all things are answerable to the excellent and kind nature of the inhabitants ; yet round about the borders in the adjoyning islands and provinces , there is as much disturbance , war , tumult , and unquietness , as in any part of your northern world ; for the sevarambi have a law to send thither all those persons who desire to cause any alteration in their government or manners , or who live not according to the strict rules which they have received from their forefathers , and which by no means they will be perswaded to change . some of these banished men , after a certain number of years , and a visible sign of reformation , have leave to return , and to be admitted again amongst the sevarambi ; but others are so unquiet and unruly , that they are a trouble to themselves , and all that are concerned with them . therefore our princes and governors will not admit them again , for fear they should relapse into the same evils , and disturb this kingdom , which for many thousand years hath continued in peace and prosperity without alteration by the excellent laws of our great and wise sevarias , the first monarch of this happy land. hence it is , that we never have any change of chief governours or governments , every one knows his duty , his place and abilities , and is fully satisfied with the advantages that he expects from thence . here is no oppression nor violence , the least inclination of that unnatural disposition sends men away to the borders to prevent future mischiefs . neither have the sevarites that wicked custom of coining money , and buying and selling all things with money , the root of all northern evils . they will not admit of any such weed to grow in this land , but things are exchanged for one another . and you have seen since your entrance , there is so great an abundance of all good things , that men must be lovers of wickedness , that can be evil in the midst of such a plenty of goodness where it overflows . but i must tell you , said sermodas , of one thing more , which causeth us to continue in peace : we are not subject to the wicked attempts and temptations of any evil spirit , as you are in the northern world. those dangerous imps care not to visit this southern part ; for they have been so often caught in the snares here , that they dread the very sight of the sevarites , or of their country . you , i understand , in the northern parts lay most of your miscarriages at the devils door , who hath a room in many of your habitations , and a dwelling in every place and corner ; but we are altogether free from his company and temptations . sometimes it is true , he sends some loose devils to debauch a few indiscreet persons , but then we send them away immediately to their proper places with the fiend in their company . but , said maurice , how can you keep the devils out of your land ? they fly in the empty air , and go by night as well as by day . sermodas answered , our eyes are better than yours , but the sevarites of all men have the most refined senses . they can see when the spirits come amongst them ; for this purpose there is a constant guard kept in all the usual roads upon the borders of the sevarites , four hundred conspirers , if i may so call them , are kept in constant pay to drive away the devil with spells , when he ventures to approach upon the borders . they have a particular art to command the evil spirits , which no man knows but themselves . it is true , some of the peeping and crasty rascals creep into this land through by ways out of the usual roads ; but when the sevarites catch them , they torment them sufficiently , and deal with them as with spies , without any compassion of them : so that they seldom return to this place again , but by their cruel entertainment they keep all their other comrades from entring in amongst the sevarambi . i know that in your countries you have not that care nor vigilancy of your selves for your own good . hence it is , that all sorts of devils have so great an interest in your parts , and that you can scarce stir without meeting one or many in your way . besides , this country between the rivers bears an aromatick tree , which the devils cannot endure ; for it sends up into the air such a strong smell , that they are ready to choke when they draw near to a place where it grows , and you shall see that the inhabitants have been advised by their wise sevarias , to plant one in every garden and side of their houses . the tree is named crassarabi , and bears a leaf like a palm-leaf , but is full of prickles as a thorn and bramble-bush . the sevarites have this way to torture the poor devils that unhappily fall into their hands : they tye them with a cord invisible to you , but visible to them , answerable to the substance of the devils , which is airy , and then bind them to this tree , where they slash them with a rod cut out of the branches , which causes them to howl most dreadfully . we may chance to give you a sight of this action , if you travel into the country towards the borders . another way they have to plague and imprison them , by making gun-powder ; for when the devils come into a land , they always draw to that place where there is the greatest noise and disturbance , for there they imagine they may make a good interest . now there is no greater noise in this land than this of the gun-powder , which we make not as you do in europe , but with a wheel , as you may see , if you travel into the land. sometimes therefore it happens , that the silliest of them prying too near into the work , either to understand the art , or to know what the sevarites are doing , they are many times caught by their ears , and i have known half a dozen wound into a grain of gun-powder , and imprisoned so close , that they could not possibly get away , till the powder took fire . the best and strongest powder hath always some of these airy beings shut up . this causeth the destruction that follows when gun-powder takes fire ; for then the devils being released , break out with a vengeance , and tear in pieces all that dare stand in their way . the sevarites have many other ways to punish them for the insolences and wickednesses which they have committed in the world ; but when i have an opportunity , i shall give you an account of that . i could wish , said maurice , that our country-men in europe knew how to deal with these subtle creatures , and how to be revenged for the continual wrongs which they daily receive from their malice and evil suggestions . it is a question , said i , whether many of them would make use of that art , if they knew it ; for a great many are so pleased with their company and suggestions , that they seek them rather , than to endeavour to be rid of them . well , said sermodas , let them be in love with their own mischief and danger , the sevarites are seldom taken and deceived by their allurements : and if at any time they are carried to any wickedness , they are banished ; and if the devil be caught , he is severely tortured . this good order and many others , when i shall speak to you of their laws , preserves happiness , peace , and prosperity in this country . this discourse pleased us well , and caused us to intreat sermodas to take some other time to inform us of the laws of the sevarites . we asked him several other questions concerning their government within the rivers , concerning their customs and tributes , and whether all the country was so happy and rich as that which we had already beheld . he answered to all questions so exactly , that we thought our selves much obliged to him for his singular favour . he was well acquainted with all things , for he had been imployed about the affairs of sevarminas from his infancy , and was often sent to carry the tribute to his court. he told us , that the kings revenues were certain , and that from all parts men brought to him all sorts of necessaries for him and his numerous court. that he never had any need to demand more , for his expences were as regular as his incomes ; and that if he should want any thing more , there is none of his subjects , from the meanest to the highest , but would think himself highly honoured , if he would accept of all that they have . but as he is a great lover of justice and equity , he is content with the ancient reversions of the provinces , which are sufficient to cause him and his court to live in great abundance and extraordinary splendour , which all the sevarites looked upon as their greatest glory . sevarminas , said he , is a middle-aged man , and hath reigned in this place twenty two years , with the general love of all his subjects . he is adored by us all as our visible god. his fathers name was seravino , a prince of an extraordinary beauty ; he reigned amongst us thirty years , and mightily inlarged the palace and dwelling of the kings of this country . you shall see to morrow a place which hath not its parallel on earth for riches and humane glory , and you shall see a prince and such noble attendants , that your eyes never looked upon any thing , nor persons more deserving admiration . after this discourse , sermodas led us all to our chambers , where we had all things convenient for us , and shewing us in a great wide room hung with cloth of gold , each mans bed of embroidered silver for him to rest till the next morning , he took his leave of us , and bid us good night . we rested very sweetly without any disturbance till the next morning , when a concert of musick in the next chamber awakened us . sermodas opened first our door , and entred our room , desiring us to get up and put on the apparel which he had brought to us . whiles we were dressing of our selves , a messenger came from king sevarminas to hasten us away , because he intended to give us audience , and then to take some recreation before dinner . at the time of our appearance he appointed ten senators of his city , men of great gravity and worth , to attend upon us , and lead us to him . we were conducted through the streets full of sevarites , who seldom see strangers in those parts . their curiosity caused them to throng together to look upon us : we marched thus about half a mile through the most splendid places , and had the sight of so many rare objects , that the world cannot afford the like . the number of jewels and precious stones , the quantity of gold , silver , the excellency of the structures , arches , palaces , and temples dedicated to their god , are beyond all credit and imagination of men . but nothing surprised us so much as to look upon the royal court and the glory of it . it stands upon a small rising incompassed about with a deep river , and walled three times round with square stones cut out of a diamant rock about six foot square , and polished so well , that at the first approach our eyes could not endure the brightness of the place when the sun shines clear without a cloud . some other precious stones were intermixed of green and red colours , but all transparent . there was but one entrance over the river by a bridge . the first gate was full of ivory pillars and supporters , and embellished with large stones , black and white marble . round about in the void space were delicate walks , and gardens full of strange sorts of trees , some yellow , others green , some black , others white , and shewing to the eye such a variety of beautiful colours , that it is the most glorious prospect of the world. the second wall was all of a red stone , but bright and shining . the third and innermost wall was as white as snow , like to our alabaster , but of a stone which is not to be found in any part of the northern world. in the empty places round about between the walls , grew all manner of trees for pleasure or profit , with some that are not to be seen elsewhere . the kings palace stood within these three inclosures , having round about it a large green with several walks of sandy gold and stately images of alabaster and porphyry , representing all manner of shapes , as beasts , birds , and men in most actions of their life . these images stood upon bases of saphir , and the images were all made of a transparent hard stone as clear as crystal . you may imagine , that at our first entrance , the sun shining in its greatest brightness upon them , we were cast into a sudden maze , and surprised at the unexpected view of so many glorious things . the palace was perfectly round , with four long galleries reaching from side to side , and as many gates . it was built of precious stones , of all sorts and sizes : the tyling was of gold and silver , and the inside was so curiously wrought , and so rich , that it is not to be imagined nor believed , if i should here declare every particular . the king sate in an empty court in the middle of his palace , under a beautiful gallery inriched with all manner of jewels : round about him on the right and left stood his counsellors and attendants : his seat was a throne of six steps , over which there was a canopy of state , before it were six bases upon which stood six lions rampant of a red stone . to this place we were conducted by sermodas and the ten grandees , and led to the foot of the throne , where we were taught to do our obeisance upon our knees . the king had a rich crown upon his head , and a scepter in his right hand , and sate in a great deal of majesty and glory . sermodas advised me to speak to the king , as soon as we had paid him that respect which was due to his person and place . therefore i stood up , and addressed my self to him in this manner in the french tongue , which he understood well : most glorious and mighty prince , you see before you poor strangers cast upon your coasts by a storm , which i know not how to name , happy or unhappy ; for since our arrival in your land , we have met with so many civilities and expressions of kindness from your loving people , that we have already received a compensation for the loss of our ships and goods . we are come here to adore your majesty in obedience to your commands , and to receive from you those orders , which we shall punctually follow . we doubt not but according to your wonderful clemency , your majesty will look with compassion upon such objects of pity as providence hath made us , and to raise us up from our hard and low fortune . as all things that we have hitherto met with in your noble kingdom , are beyond all belief and credit , we are perswaded that the king of so glorious a land , must needs have vertues as extraordinary and divine . we humbly submit our selves therefore to your majesties wisdom and mercy , and that when we shall have performed what your majesty shall think fit to require from us , you would out of your compassion and goodness , suffer us to depart into our own countries , that we may spread abroad all over the world the riches , the excellency , and wealth of this earthly paradise , and the noble vertues of your most glorious majesty , and publish your fame where-ever the sun appears with his beams of light. sevarminas seemed to like our persons and our speech , to which he returned this answer : that he had sent for us , not to offer any injury to our persons : that he who was a lover of justice amongst his own subjects , could not do injustice to strangers : that the sevarites in general were of a civil behaviour , and inclinable to pity the miseries of other men ; but that he had given strict orders to have a care of our persons , and furnishes with all that we should want . he told us , that not only the curiosity of seeing us , who were come out of remote nations , famous for their industry and wit , had caused him to send for us to discourse with us , and understand our customs and manners ; but also to discover to us his kingdom and the riches of it , that we might report it in our own lands , and incourage some to venture to trade with his people : that for that purpose he would appoint a place or an island in the pacifick sea , where all the commodities and riches of the sevarambi should be transported , because the ancient laws , as well as the good and preservation of his kingdoms peace , vertues , and innocency , suffered him not to admit all manner of strangers into his borders : that he had received a good report of us , which inclined him the more to send for us , and that he hoped that our conversation and behaviour would be answerable to his expectation , and the kindness that he would shew . after this , he inquired of our country , how long we had been from it , who commanded in chief , what commodities we had of any request , what arts and sciences of any use to the life of man. to all these particulars , and many others , i gave him full satisfaction . so that , as a gratification , he sent for a box of jewels , which he bestowed upon us , together with collars of gold and ambergriese , which he wished us to wear whiles we should remain in that country . after we had continued with him about an hour , he rose up from his throne , and commanded zidi parabas , the master of his ceremonies , to lead us to lodgings provided for us in his own palace , and zidi marlorat his chancellor and chief minister , to discourse with us about a trade , and the means to open it with us . during our abode in those parts , we had several meetings with him , and assured him , that the dutch nation would be overjoy'd to meet with so civil a people , so sociable and amiable , and that they would quickly embrace the first motion of a trade with them . we extolled our home-commodities , and shewed what advantage they would reap by a conversation with us ; but the chancellor told me , that such as i was should have liberty to enter into their borders ; but russians and rascals of an ill life could not be admitted by the laws of their land. yet they should have leave to trade in sporumbe , and in the islands , which sevarminds would appoint for that purpose ; but that none of the sevarites should go thither , unless it be such banished men as are sent away for their misdemeanours . i replied to him , that if he would keep away from thence such as are banished out of sevarambè for their knavery , we would trade with all the rest ; for we and all our country-men had rather deal with honest men than with knaves . at last it was concluded to prevent the inconveniencies on both sides , that all the dutch should land amongst the sporvi , and in an island that is at the mouth of the great river rocara in the pacifick sea , about an hundred and thirty lagues from the streights of magellan . this island is peopled with a generation of men descended from the sevarites , and banished out of the country for their inordinate love of women and men . there are three good towns belonging to it , and a capacious harbor for ships of the greatest burden . i acquainted the chancellor with our art of navigation , with many other knowledges which the europeans use with great profit and advantage to their kingdoms . he seemed to be well satisfied and mightily pleased with the account i had given him . whiles sevarminas was gone to hunt and sport himself , sermodas and zidi parabas led us round about the galleries and walks , shewing us the rare fish-ponds , the stately orchards , the riches and beauty of the buildings , and all things round about , which caused us to wonder , and stand many times in a maze . the art of painting is here also , and the sevarites excel in that skill . therefore the galleries , and generally all the palace of sevarminas , was adorned with many lively representations . maurice , who was an excellent painter , admired some pictures , and told us , that he thought they could not be made but by a divine hand . the sevarites are excellent in geometry and astrology . they have differing names for all the stars that appear in their hemisphere , and understand perfectly well all their motions and vertues . as soon as we returned from our pleasant walk , we met with sevarminas about dinner-time returned from his hunting , whereof i shall give this short account , for this sport is not like to ours . the sevarites hunt not with dogs , but with tame foxes , of an extraordinary swiftness ; they hunt rabbets , hares , deer ; and all other wild beasts are hunted with tame leopards . in the morning that the king intends to see this sport , the chief huntsman hath orders to prepare all things for the diversion , twenty leopards are then let loose in a wide park , where the wild beast is brought . the king and all his nobles are mounted upon their glorious mules , of beautiful colours , with trappings of silver and gold , adorned with precious stones . the leopards , at the sight of the lion or the bear , draw near to him by degrees , and taking their opportunity , they run to him . when he feels himself overpowered , he seeks his safety in his heels , and all the mules gallop after him . i am not able to represent all the various actions and delights that are here expressed to the beholders eyes ; but this kind of hunting is much esteemed by the sevarites , and none have the liberty to make use of it , but the king and some of the prime nobles ; for it is a royal sport , and gives much satisfaction to the spectators . sevarminas at his return entred into his palace , accompanied with all his servants , in very rich attire : some of them came and spoke to us in the spanish tongue , and bid us welcome into their country . we answered their civilities with respect , and followed the train of sevarminas that walked two and two into the palace , into a great hall an hundred yards in length , and as many in breadth , where tables were ready covered with all manner of curious dainties , of all sorts . sevarminas and his queen , with three of his sons , and six of his daughters , sate down at a table , which stood at the upper end , raised a little above the rest , under a large canopy shining with gold and precious stones , of an inestimable value . as soon as they were sate down , the musick in the galleries round about began to play such ravishing tunes , that we europeans were astonished . sermodas and zidi parabas invited us to sit down at a table not far from that of sevarminas . to tell you of all the glory and state we beheld , the sweetness of the wines , the various services , and the dainty meats , of the excellent and ravishing sights , i reckon it impossible , i could fill up a volume of those things that were then presented to our senses ; so many and such variety of objects , rare and wonderful , appeared before us , that when zidi parabas saw how we were pleased with them , he inquired of us , whether we had any such delights in europe . i answered , that the pleasures and delights of the europeans are many and curious , but they are not to be compared to what we then saw . one of the table inquired of us about some other particulars ; and because he was a learned philosopher , he proposed to us several learned questions relating to the nature of things . every one had liberty to speak his mind and judgment . after all , he declared his opinion , with a repetition of what every one had spoken , and then added his own solution with that learning and gravity , that i never heard the like . this to me and maurice was almost as good as the musick and meats ; for at table it is a modern as well as ancient delight to feed the mind with rare instructions , as well as the body with meat and drink . after dinner zidi parabas went to wait upon sevarminas , and understand his pleasure . when he was returned to us again , he brought us up to sevarminas , who was then sitting on his throne with his queen larida at his right hand , and his daughters and his sons on the left . she was the most beautiful creature that i ever beheld . we paid them our respects according to the mode of their country . to please queen larida , sevarminas asked us many questions in spanish , a tongue which she understood : after all they seemed to be well satisfied . sevarminas sent us all gifts and presents of a great value . when i was returned into europe , i sold the jewels and other rarities , which the king and queen bestowed upon me , for above six millions of gold. maurice and the rest of my companions had gifts according to their qualities . we had orders to walk about the city , and take a view of the rarities of that wonderful place . to speak truth , every thing , if it were in our own country , would seem a rarity . i never beheld so much glory and riches , nor such beautiful objects , nor such gravity , and comely personages so full of majesty and goodness . they were so far from scorning or contemning us that were strangers , that they seemed they could not too much honour and respect us ; for sevarminas had given that strict order , to give us all the satisfaction that we could desire . zidi parabas led us to their publick halls through beautiful streets , paved with many transparent stones . when we entred into them , we saw their court of judicature . on both sides were the lawyers cells or little closets . these are a certain number of men , who are locked up as prisoners in this place , and not suffered to range up and down the city , for fear they should infect the rest of men with their idle notions and quirks . they are here all kept , the judges only excepted , as our mad and crasie men in europe , are confined to bedlams , and as the wild beasts to their dens ; for by this policy they preserve the city in quiet . when we were in their vast hall , and heard some entring in , they looked all to see , whether we were fit for their turn , whether we had committed some offence that deserved punishment ; but when they saw that we viewed that place only out of curiosity , they sneaked all in again , and would not so much as look upon us all the time that we were there , till the trumpet began to sound , and the judge sate upon his seat. then came in a company of sevarites leading a young girl that had forgotten her self , and given liberty to a puny fellow to play the wag with her . they had both of them great punches of flesh growing upon their noses and foreheads , which came up in the very act . as soon as their neighbours had beheld this superfluity , they understood the crime , and took hold of them both to bring them to this tribunal . the lawyers , like bees , swarmed round about , all the petty attorneys , clerks , bailiffs , sergeants , demy-sergeants , pleaders , sollicitors , probationers , &c. and such a gang of them , that i pitied the poor couple to fall into their unmerciful hands . amongst the sevarites in every city they have a hall or a convent of these persons , whom they all esteem no better than butchers and executioners , they have not that honour as amongst us in europe , nor that esteem of honest men , with which many of them cozen our world. zidi parabas made me get up to hear their pleading , but i understood not their language , only sermodas gave me an account of some passages . the crime was not to be denied , which caused them both to look ashamed , because they had forgotten all honesty , and lost their honour . the judge asked them many questions . all the cruel lawyers cryed to punish her with death , because she had not given them any thing to plead for her ; but the young man had got a bawling lawyer to speak for him when his crime came to be examined ; but all would not do : he would have made the judge believe , that this excrescence in his sace was only a natural deformity proceeding from some other inward cause , and not from lust . but the judge , a wise and brave man , of the court of sevarminas , convinced him of his errour , and made him at last confess , that the girl had inticed him with her bewitching looks . in conclusion of the tryal , the lecherous couple were sent to the island of whores and rogues , where they were to live confined for ever from all friends and acquaintances , and to spend their life in lust and debauchery , a sufficient punishment , as they imagined , for their forgetfulness . i took no great delight amongst the lawyers ; for i looked upon this place as the hell in the midst of the earthly paradise of the sevarites . after these two fornicators had been judged and condemned to perpetual banishment , where nevertheless they live in great plenty , there was brought before the judge a thief , a sneaking fellow , differing in looks , as well as in manners , from the rest of the sevarambi . the judge , whose name was zidi morasco , commanded him to be examined before him by a crafty lawyer . and it was proved plain against him , that he had stole some jewels and gold from his neighbour , with some garments of cloth of silver , covered over with precious stones , of a great value . the fellows countenance since this deed was mightily changed ; for every wicked action , especially amongst the sevarites , alters the countenances of men . the eyes being the windows of the soul , through them it discovers all the inward thoughts , fears , apprehensions , and displeasures that rowl in the breast . besides , the thieves have here in this country a mark , which immediately appears upon their chins and cheeks , a black spot very ugly to the eye . this fellow also was adjudged unworthy to live any longer amongst the religious sevarites . i asked sermodas , why the sevarambi suffered the lawyers , who i told him in our country , were generally none of the best men in the world : what! said he , have you any there ? yes , said i , to our sorrow , we cannot be quiet for them . captain , replied he , i must tell you , were it not for these fellows , the sevarites would not be able to live so quiet as they do ; nor so innocent as in all other countries : fear as well as shame must keep men in awe , and in the performance of their duties to their neghbours and superiours . and though men are not here so inclinable to wickedness as in europe , because they proceed from another stock and generation of men ; yet the pleasures of the country , together with the inticements of some subtle devils , whom we cannot always perceive , many may be brought to do what is contrary to law , reason , equity , and justice . it is therefore for the publick good , that these men are living amongst us . and though they are as bad as those whom they plead against , they are here confined in these and such like . cells , where there is a publick provision made for them , to keep them from running up and down to breed disturbances . such amongst them as are honest , good , and merciful men , are highly esteemed , but they are very rare ; and if they were known to be honest and good men amongst the lawyers , the rest would not suffer them to come near the bar , but would banish them out of their society , and deprive them of all manner of practice and liberty of pleading . the greater knaves they are , the more esteemed amongst the lawyers , though less valued by the rest of the sevarites . therefore , to keep up their credit amongst both , is a hard chapter , and not to be done without some kind of dissimulation on some side . with that he pointed at a great fat fellow , who stood up in court to see and look for his clients : do you see , said he , that knave ? do you see him ? i turned my eyes towards him , and beheld him stedfastly , and asked what he was : he is , said sermodas , one of the chief attornies of this court , a cunning fellow , his name is rekrap , a wicked villain , and a great oppressor of poor fellows that fall into his hands . after the court had examined and tryed all the causes , the lawyers departed to their dens ; and zidi parabas taking me by the hand , led me to the shambles of the city , and to view all the excellencies of that noble place . as i was passing one of their temples , i intreated him to give me a sight of that which i judged to be a rarity , or rather full of rarities ; for it was so glorious without , that i could not but think that the inside was far more rich and splendid . zidi parabas made some difficulty to yield to my request ; but sermodas perswaded him to grant it at last , when he had asked me some questions concerning the religion of our country : are you not , said he , desiled with idolatry , i mean with the worshipping of images ; for i must tell you , that this is a great abomination amongst the sevarambi . we have pictures and images in our houses , but none in our temples : we adore a great and glorious being , the creator and author of this earthly paradise : he is an infinite spirit , not to be consined within our walls ; therefore our temples are open on the top , when we are at our devotions . he is not to be likened to any outward image or representation ; therefore our ever blessed sevarias commanded us to have no images in our temples , nor to liken god to any creature or representation visible to the eye . if therefore you have never dishonoured your self with such kind of practices , you may be admitted to see and walk in our temples . i thanked him for his kind condescension , and assured him , that though it was a wickedness that many nations in europe were guilty of , yet our country-men abominate such kind of follies , and that for my own particular i never was of that religion which allows of idolatry and worshipping of images . when he understood this , he walked to the great gate of the chief temple , where he met with a grave priest standing at the door , unto whom he declared our business : the priest took me by the hand , and in spanish told me , that i should see the temple of his god. i walked round , and saw so many glorious sights and such extraordinary riches , that all europe together cannot produce the like . the priests name was ziribabdas . i desired him to tell me something of the religion of the country , and of their manners : for that purpose zidi parabas took me by the hand , and led me to a by-place much like a chancel , where when we were all sate down , in niches of beaten gold in the wall , ziribabdas began his discourse in this manner : i perceive you are a stranger to this country and to the customs of the sevarites , i know not what religion you have in your country , nor what thoughts you have of the great god , who hath made us all ; but i hope none of you are guilty of the foul sin of worshipping of images , which we hear is universally practised by the europeans . i answered him , that there were a great many nations who did abominate and hate such practices as well as the sevarites . well , said he , in regard you are free from that vice and baseness , i will shew you a great many sacred curiosities of this temple , which you have not yet seen , and i will give you a brief account of our religion in this country . you must therefore know , that we acknowledge but one only great god , maker of all things , lord of heaven and earth , who sendeth us all those good things that we injoy : reason teacheth to worship and praise him for his goodness and innumerable mercies . for that purpose we have schools erected in every corner of this city to train up youth , and teach them the principles of religion . all persons are obliged twice every week to assist at our publick devotions , which are songs made to praise our god , with instruments of musick : we have also prayers , which i and my brethren offer for the prosperity of sevarminas and of his royal family . once a year every person is obliged to present something upon a table , which stands in the middle of this and other temples , as a token of gratitude to god : now this thing is always the richest and best beloved thing that he hath . by this means every one shews , that his affection for god is greater than for any thing else . religion amongst us is the most sacred thing , and whatsoever belongs to religion is highly valued by every one . there is the greatest respect shewn to religious persons and religious things amongst all the sevarites , you shall not hear oaths and blasphemies , cursing and damning . the rules of good living are registred in the book of our law giver sevarias ; and since that time we are all so addicted to it , and all our generations so used and trained up in our obedience to these laws , that very few persons offer to break or violate them : and if at any time any such be , he is carried away and banished into the islands : by this means peace , plenty , and good manners are here to be seen every where , and men take not the liberty to do what they list . but the rules of reason are commonly observed by all the sevarites in their behaviour and actions : so that you shall not see any thing of drunkenness , gluttony , quarrelling , murders , and villanies committed scarce in a whole year all over the empire . but for our better government in matters of religion , besides our king , who is the chief moderator in all disputable matters , we have thirty chieftains under six principal heads , who are always at the court attending upon our prince . these thirty live in their precincts and jurisdictions , having under them such as have the care of and inspection over every town and hamlet . we have besides , publick meetings and assemblies to consult about matters of high moment . now there is such an excellent order and harmony in all respects , that we injoy peace both in divine and civil affairs , and there is no jarring , disputations , and dissensions , as amongst you in europe , but a blessed concord and agreement . if any be suspected to be otherwise disposed , he is immediately banished to the lonesom islands , where he can quarrel with none but with wild beasts that inhabit there . he is never suffered after to set a foot in the country of the sevarambi ; but there in those islands amongst the woods and caves he is confined , and obliged to spend the rest of his days in fighting with the lions , jaccals , wild dogs , bears , and such like furious creatures . by this means you shall see we preserve peace and quiet both in church and state. but that our governors might not act in an arbitrary way , we suffer no mans will to be a law , but that of our glorious sevarminas and his lawful successors ; but for the rest of all our governors , they have rules and laws to act by in all occasions : neither can they do any thing without the consent , advice , and concurrence of other wise men appointed for that purpose . for our belief , i must tell you , we know and are taught by nature as well as by the works of our great sevarias , that god created all things in heaven and earth : that in the beginning this paradise stood in another part of the world ; but when men began to abuse those good things that it affords , it was transported hither upon the shoulders of angels , and all the trees planted here , where they have increased : and that because the first generation of men was corrupt and wicked , there was another man and woman made to inhabit here , and to live in this blessed kingdom . we believe , that when we come to dye , our souls being of a spiritual substance , fly up to the firmament , where they rest till a certain time be appointed to joyn them again together . now our bodies decay not as yours , we lay them in places where they continue thousands of years without any alteration . i shall shew you our sepulchres , and that of our kings , where you may see all the princes who have governed in these happy regions since the beginning of the world , as fresh as if they were yet all alive . we believe , that when our bodies and souls shall be again joyned , your generation and ours shall be received together into a place appointed for us , such i mean of you as are honest and good men ; but for the rest of you , i know not what you are fit for , unless it be to be cast into the sea , or banished to a lonesom place , where they may live without doing harm . we believe that there are good and evil spirits above us , and that the sun , moon , and stars are full of creatures answerable to their light and beauty . we believe , that when this generation shall be transported somewhere else , other creatures shall succeed us in this paradise , and in other parts of the world. we have many things that we believe ; but i must tell you , that our reason directs us , and rules our judgments in all matters of faith as well as practice ; only some things of a sublime nature , which our senses cannot attain to , we must submit to the wisdom of our sevarias , who had them by inspiration from the angels , with whom he had a familiar acquaintance , and therefore his body is not to be found in the sepulchre of our kings ; but it is thought they took him with them into the place appointed for their abode , and that there he lives with them without fear of death , in expectation that all his posterity should come to him . but you must take notice , that such of our generation as are banished for their misdemeanors , will be admitted one day to the same happiness , if they bear patiently their punishment , and are sorry for their wickedness ; but such also must be purged in a fire which is in the air , through which their bodies , as well as ours , must pass to mount up to the highest station designed for us : but with this difference , that the fire shall open to let us go by ; but they must burn a while there , till their bodies be freed from all corruption and filth , some more , some less , according to their dispositions , but few stay there less than twenty years , some an hundred , others a thousand , till such time as their bodies be sublimated and fit for an higher abode . such of us as are incorrigible , shall be confined to a sad pit , where they shall be up to the elbows in mire and dirt , and be deprived of all comforts of life . whiles he was speaking this , there happened an accident , which caused him to stop and put an end to this good discourse . ziribabdas was called to receive a dead sevarite , and open the caves , in which the deceased lay in coffins of ivory and gold. he excused himself , and told me , that he had much more to say concerning the religion of their country , but could not remain with us any longer . i was glad to have this opportunity to see their manner of burying the dead . at the great gate of the temple stood near a thousand people with the friends of the deceased . when ziribabdas came to them , one who stood before the corps and the bearers , spoke to him in this manner , as was afterwards interpreted to me . most holy priest , we have brought to you our neighbour suffarali , a good man , and a religious sevarite , who hath often expressed his devotion in this place , and his respects to your holiness ; we desire that he may be admitted amongst the dead sevarites , as he hath lived amongst them with respect and honour . ziribabdas sate himself down in an ivory chair adorned with many precious stones , which stood in the porch , and then he called the friends of the deceased , inquiring of them , whether he had committed no unworthy action in his life-time ? whether he had lived peaceably with his neighbours ? whether he had not been privately guilty of drunkenness , & c ? whether he had not at his departure bequeathed something to the church ? how many children he had ? what were their names ? and such like questions , to which they gave an answer , and satisfied him fully . afterwards they carried in the corps into the temple , and laid it upon a long table of an emerald-stone , and the priests anointed the body all over with an excellent oyl , called the oyl of botamine , which signifies in their language uncorruption : for such is its extraordinary virtue , that it keeps a body from all manner of corruption or alteration an hundred years . now this is a sacred oyl , which only the priests , who are learned in chymistry , make of several ingredients ; for this cause it is no where to be found but in their temples , unto which they have their laboratories annexed . now once in an hundred years they anoint over all the bodies of the deceased from the beginning of the world : by this means the bodies are kept fresh , and so lively and beautiful , that if a dead body could stand upright , at a distance no man could distinguish the dead from the living . when the body was well anointed , they opened a large cave of a thousand yards broad , and as many long . it had as many closets as there were houses in the city . ziribabdas , at the opening of the mouth of the cave , caused some ceremonies to be performed , and then marched down a pair of stairs into this burying-place : the corps was carried after him , and i and my companions , with sermodas , were admitted to behold the subterranean rarities , and to walk up and down in the caves , so full of transparent stones , that the light entring in by two or three holes , made on purpose , caused it to be as light within , as if the sun had shined there in its meridian . in the cave were six hundred thousand separations , capacious enough to hold above an hundred thousand bodies : they were all laid one upon another in very good order . there were several alleys and walks between the separations , unto which were doors of massie gold , and in several places stood great pots full of that oyl of botamine , which the priests cast upon the bodies , when they perceive any alteration in the bodies by their smelling . by this means it happens , that there is not the least noisom smell ; but there is every where the most blessed perfume in every corner , as if you were in a garden of roses , or amongst blooming beans . when we had well viewed the caves , i intreated ziribabdas to shew me the sepulchres of their kings ; for that purpose he led us out at another door , when all the company was departed , and shewed us all their princes sitting in chairs of state , as if they were alive ; but this place was not in the cave , but round about their temple , in closets made on purpose . the princes were all cloathed in their royal attire , which they change once every year ; for that purpose the king that reigns is bound to send them vestments according to the ancient custom . ziribabdas shewed us all the ancient kings sitting in their gravity and majesty , and pointed out to some who had been very remarkable in their lives for some noted actions , by which they had obliged the nation of the sevarites , and rendered their names and memories more sacred than others amongst their posterity . he shewed us king bormarti , who was so great a lover of justice , that he banished his own son for committing a fault , and sent him to live and dye in the islands . he told of his king robarmi , who invented the art of painting , and laid the foundations of sevarinde . he shewed us the body of king darti , who built the stately palace for the kings of the sevarites , and fetched the stones from the diamant rocks and the mountains of saphyr , at a great distance from thence , upon carts driven with the wind , with sails as ships . we saw king marati , who taught the sevarites how to make boats , and to fish in the rivers . we saw the bodies of king bumorli , serabi , cussori , menari , menasti , nacri , labomor , apolori , ribolo , staraki , muraki , amlorod , and many others , who had been reverenced for some witty invention or glorious action , by which they had benefited posterity as well as their own generation . therefore their closets were more beautiful and richer than the rest , and they had the honour to have their images placed in the noted rendezvous of the city , for all men to look upon them , and for all posterity to reverence and respect them . by this honour the succeeding kings were the more incouraged to do good , and abstain from all blame ; they are the more animated to deserve well from their generation , and to invent something to advantage their people . we walked about to see all the rarities of this royal sepulchre , which exceeded in glory the richest and stateliest palaces of our european emperours and kings . to speak of the rare jewels , of the gold and precious stones , and of the excellent things that were never brought over nor seen in our world , i should be endless ; for here in every place there are red , yellow , white , and other transparent stones of rare vertues , not known to us in europe . orient pearls as big as walnuts are as ordinary as pebble-stones in our country . the common people polish them , and hang them in strings about their windows ; but they seldom wear them , because they have rarer and more glorious things to put about their necks and bodies as ornaments , than these things , which , for want of a name , i omit . ziribabdas shewed me next the gallery of their sacred hieroglyphicks , which is one of the rarest things of the world. the gallery is about half a mile long , joyning to the temple , standing upon an arch , under which are beautiful walks and closets , for the learned students in all arts and sciences to spend their time , and imploy themselves in their searches into the mysteries of nature . the wall is of a white transparent stone , as clear as crystal , and the gallery is paved with diamant stones square , at every six foot is a great large window of crystal , and the top is covered and arched over with saphyr stone . emeralds , chrysolytes , rubies , jaspers , beryls , and other precious stones not known to us , are without number about in the walls . this gallery was built in the year 3406. after the creation of the world , by king murabormati , a great philosopher , and a learned student of natures mysteries . in these walls he caused the rules of all sorts of sciences , and the principles of all manner of arts to be ingraven in black in the white stone of the walls , not in characters , but in figures and dark enigmes and representations . here i beheld the shapes of all manner of creatures of this and our world in all kind of postures and actions of life , put here to represent the sacred mysteries thereby signified to the understanding reader . in this gallery were several hundred learned students beholding and searching into the directions that were given them by these hieroglyphicks . and in some closets , near adjoyning , were several companies of men discoursing and disputing about those things which were represented upon the wall. we were introduced amongst them to look and sit with them , and observe their grave postures and mien ; but for their learned lectures and excellent discourses , we understood nothing , only sermodas told us , that here were all the wits and learned men of the sevarites gathered together ; and that for their better understanding of all manner of sciences , and to perpetuate learning , and free it from forgetfulness , they had in the gallery the rules and axioms of all arts , with all the definitions and other matters of any moment , needful to be known in relation to any skill or science ; and that when any student doubted of any matter , in these closets the great doctors were met to direct and teach the ignorant , and improve all arts and sciences ; and that by degrees as they improved learning by new discoveries , they were always engraven upon the walls , after a serious and judicial examination of the learned doctors , and their approbation of such invented things and rules : which hieroglyphicks were graven with the names of their authors for a perpetual memory . we walked three or four turns in the gallery , and saw such variety and number of new objects and representations , that i have often wondered , how any one man can have that vast memory to give an interpretation to all those things of different shapes , and to comprehend all the mysteries of such enigmes . in some places of the gallery the wall was covered over with plates of silver , and the hieroglyphicks were of gold ; but generally they were in black upon a white clear stone , and so hard , that though , as i was informed by zidi parabas and the priest , some of the hieroglyphicks have been there put above a thousand years ago , yet appear as fresh , as if they had been graven but yesterday . at the end of the gallery are two large cabinets , of a curious workmanship , and rare stone , of a reddish colour , most beautiful to the eye , curiously cut and graven . the cabinets are full of pictures and images of all sorts of creatures , which serve the learned in their contemplations : here are also a great many skeletons of many animals , with all manner of rare things , which are to be found in this wonderful country . here i saw a great saphire stone , about the bigness of a goose , in which the heavens and the earth were represented very lively to the eye . in an emerald , about the bigness of a mans head , i found in one side all manner of birds graven with the finger of nature , and in the other all sorts of beasts . i saw several other precious stones , one having the image of a man , another of a horse , another of a woman , another of a camel , another of an eagle , another of a river , another of a fish , another of other creatures , so curiously engraven , that no artist could mend natures work . these stones were useful not only to satisfie mens curiosity , and please the sight of the learned ; but also to teach them several things concerning those creatures , which were thereby intimated to them . we found several learned men observing those things , and viewing them with leisure : for that purpose are several seats for them to sit down and contemplate . here i saw also many talismans , an art altogether lost in europe , and not to be recovered but from the learning of the sevarites ; for zidi parabas shewed me a round stone , hollow within , wherein i saw , through many parts of it transparent , a perpetual motion of trees , woods , wild beasts , and many animals , which he told me , was but a talisman made to direct such as are learned in this art , how to make others for the same purpose . some are so skilful , that with a talisman they will kill any beast or creature at a mile distance ; but as the sevarites are not for the destruction of creatures , but for their preservation , they never make use of this art to do mischief , but save and comfort such creatures as are decaying , and to put life into those that are dead . only the venemous creatures and noisom flies , if by the procurement of any evil-spirited , such are introduced into the country , then the philosophers have an art to make such a talisman , as will not only destroy the flies , and disarm the beast of his poysonous and ill qualities ; but severely punish the wicked spirit , who hath been so bold as to send in such troublesom creatures into their land. for this purpose i saw upon four corners of the great church a great giant of black marble , holding in his right hand a pair of rams horns , as they appeared to me ; but in truth it was nothing but a talisman to keep off the devils and evil spirits from their meeting-place and holy assembles . in his left hand he held a book open , of white marble , in which some characters were graven , as i was told , which the devils cannot endure to see , and therefore keep at a distance from such places . besides , these learned in talismanical figures , have the art to make those talismans as have an influence not only upon bodies corporeal , but also upon the subtle spirits of the air , and will bind them to a good behaviour , or drive them with vengeance off from the place , or else so benum their senses , that they can neither stir nor move , but are as so many mazed creatures , without life or motion , when they come within such a compass . for that purpose i saw upon the top of the temple a great eagle of gold standing with its wings abroad on the highest pinacle of the temple , which ziribabdas told me , was nothing but a talisman made to drive away all subtle spirits of the air , or to hinder their malicious intents in that sacred place , and amongst the people of the city . he told me , that they have some persons so well acquainted with that art , that they can work wonders , and do any miracle by their talismans , kill and make alive , cure distempers , benum the minds and senses of men , draw together thousands of creatures and birds , and make them perform any action that may be named . i intreated ziribabdas to let me see some of the skill of these learned men in this art. i importuned him so much , that he went into one of the closets from the gallery , and fetched to us a grave signior about an hundred years of age , with a long beard reaching down to his knees , and a pair of large whiskers each near a foot long . he saluted me very gravely , and led me into a private closet , which belonged to him , out of it there was a way and a door into a stone-balcony , of a red transparent stone , with several bosses or apples of gold. he had several curious inventions , talismans , and other things of a wonderful art. one thing he took in hand , about the bigness of a bushel , having several handles to it , the substance , as i thought , was of crystal : it had several large holes : in the midst i could see many birds , all without motion , till the grave philosopher , whose name was zidi mufti , pulled a string , and set them all in a motion , then did we hear the chirping of all manner of birds , so pleasantly , that we stood in a maze and wondered ; but much more , when we saw all the birds of the air , that can be named , flying a pace towards us into the philosophers closet : there were eagles , cormorants , magpies , crows , vulturs , jack-daws , kites , sparrows , falcons , &c. i numbered above a thousand , which in less than a quarter of an hour came into the closet , and perched upon the balcony and upon the gallery . when zidi mufti saw them all come , he played another tune , and all these birds began to dance two and two , and chirp according to their kind , very pleasantly . this sport lasted about an hour , with such a variety of action , that we could have wished it might have lasted longer . at the conclusion the philosopher dismissed them , neither at that time did any of them injure one another , but were as quiet and harmless , as if there had been no enmity between them . when they were gone , he took the image of a man made in wax ; but shewing all his privy parts backwards , and with it he marched to the balcony , where he sate up and spoke two or three hard words , to the best of my remembrance they were these , bomralok kostraborab abrolakar bourakabou branbastrokobar abrovora birikabu , and immediately there came a company of men and women of the sevarites that danced all naked before us in a beautiful green : whiles he held the image in that place , they were not able to depart from thence , but continued playing and dancing , and sporting with one another above an hour , shewing such antick tricks , as i never saw the like ; for all this they were not dishonest ; but immediately as soon as the image disappeared , every one of them departed and run away ; but whiles the image stood still , they were neither ashamed , nor could they stir from the place , so great a power these talismans have upon the minds of men , as well as the bodies of beasts and birds . 't is an art which can give as much delight as profit to those that understand it well ; for they can perform those things in nature that are most wonderful , and advantageous to the life of man. in the first ages of the world this art was generally known amongst the learned : and when i saw how perfect the sevarites were in it , i wished with all my heart , that we had but some insight into the same art and skill for the good of our country ; but our ignorance would slander such knowledges , and think it to be magick , if we did not understand the depth of it , nor the causes that such men set a work , for many wonderful effects are to be produced by the inferiour causes , which are secret and hid to the most part of men ; for such is our natural unskilfulness , that we know not the hundredth part of those things that we may easily attain to . this learned philosopher gave me another diversion : he fetched his instrument for that purpose , and caused such musical sounds and voices to be in the air round about us at a distance , that we began to hang between fear and pleasure . when ziribabdas saw a change in our countenance , he desired us to be contented , and assured us , that we should receive no harm . the noise and voices continued half an hour , not in the instrument , but at a distance , and with such a variety of sounds , that i could never imagine what it was . for whiles he stayed upon the balcony , he turned the instrument round with a little wheel , which was in the inside , but this had the power by the talismanical art to cause in the air such shrieks , crys , hollowings , and sometimes such curious and melodious voices , that we were ravished and struck into admiration . we desired to know what it was that made that noise in the air ; the philosopher told us , that they were airy spirits , which this talisman had the power to attract , and to oblige to break out into those shrieks and crys . this caused us to wonder the more , that this corporeal instrument , which seemed to have nothing but material , should draw together on a sudden such powerful spirits , and oblige them to give sport to men . i concluded from these examples , that he that understands well the talismanical art , is able to do any thing in nature , to work wonders and miracles , and to delight himself with any kind of sport when he pleaseth . after these passages , i saw another philosopher , very well skilled in this curious art , bring before sevarminas threescore lions roaring , with an hundred bears , twenty wild horses , two hundred mastiffs , thirty leopards , forty wild bulls , which he caused first to cry every one according to his custom and nature , then the philosopher forced them to dance whiles he played upon a musical instrument , and they performed this as exactly , as if they had been taught on purpose ; but when he saw his time , he set them all together by the ears , the dogs , the lions , and the bears , every one pitched upon his enemy , and began a pleasant fight , which lasted two full hours , with a great deal of variety of sport , which caused sevarminas and all his court ost-times to laugh heartily . when he hath a desire to take any such diversion , he sends for some of these men skilled in the talismanical art , and they answer his expectations in all things , and bring before him whom , and what they please . we returned our thanks to this worthy philosopher for his great pains . he answered , that he was glad to give us any delight , and that if we would visit him at some other more convenient time , he would shew us some more of his skill in acting greater wonders , than what we had seen ; but that he had done this only to divert us for the present , because he saw that we could not stay with him long ; but if we would see more wonderful things , that we should do well to come to him some morning , and to spend a whole day with him , and that then he would shew us what we had never seen , nor never should see but by his and his companions means . we returned him our thanks again for his great kindness , and then departed with ziribabdas , who led us next to see the treasury of the church , which is a large room joyning to the porch , all arched above , with six windows on the top : the walls were of diamant , niched with saphirs and emeralds , in it were chests and coffers full of the rarest things in nature , offered to the service of the great god by the citizens of sevarinde . we beheld with admiration the rare workmanship , the curious things , and the excellencies that had been there laid up by many ages , and never made use of . some pictures were upon the walls of this treasury , of an admirable hand : ziribabdas told us , that the painter was an european , cast upon their coasts by a storm at sea , and that he lived and dyed in that country ; and that the father of sevarminas had such an affection for him , that he gave him a beautiful young virgin to wife , one of the most considerable of his court , and gave him an estate to live on , having made him a citizen of sevarinde : and that he lived there fifty years , till he was an old man , leaving behind him many children , girls and boys , to perpetuate his name amongst the sevarites . his name was simeon van zurich , a dutch man , who had a great skill in swimming ; for when he was cast away , all the ships company was lost , but only him : they were at a distance from the shore , and could not so well swim , or were devoured by the fishes . it was his fortune to be carried stark naked on the coast of the sevarites , in an island full of ladies of pleasure , who had been banished thither for their incontinency . as soon as it was day , he found himself surrounded by a whole troop of the female sex , who had a great delight to see him , and came to draw him into the country ; but when he saw no men , he was afraid to venture amongst them : this caused him to swim up the river into the land in the sight of these beautiful creatures that accompanied on the shore , and often made signs to him to land , and go no further ; but he continued on till he landed amongst the innocent sevarambi , who cloathed and brought him to their king. he was by him entertained courteously and nobly , and provided for the rest of his days . when we had taken notice of the treasury , and of all the great rarities that are in it , we marched into the church or temple again to see the excellent workmanship , the carving , and rare things that adorn this excellent place . ziribabdas caused us to take notice of three partitions in the temple , the one , which is at the higher end , is only for their priests and their king : the second is for their nobles : the third is for all sorts of persons promiscuously without exception . by that time we had seen all this , the night drew on apace , which caused us to withdraw towards our lodgings . zidi parabas led me , and sermodas went with maurice , our other companions followed us to our lodgings . we took our leaves of the generous and civil ziribabdas , the chief priest of that stately and glorious cathedral-temple of sevarinde , and thanked him heartily for his great courtesie shewed to us . when we came to our lodgings , we found our supper ready , and we were no less prepared for it ; but zidi parabas returned to the palace , to give sevarminas an account of his commission and of our walk , promising to return to us the next day . sermodas , my self , and companions supped that night together , the musick playing all the while we were eating . after supper we had good store of rare wines brought to us , which we received and made good use of ; but , as we understood , that the sevarites hate drunkards and drunkenness , i advised all my companions to drink moderately , for fear of giving an offence to those noble people . they followed my advice , and after an hour or two's discourse with sermodas , we went to our beds , where we had been the night before . sermodas brought us into the chamber , and then bid us good night , telling us , that he would call us up the next day , and shew us some other diversions , as pleasant as those of the day before . we thanked him , and told him , that we should be ready to wait upon him , and that we had seen so many wonders already , that we thought that we could never see any more : at those words he departed smiling . the next morning zidi parabas and sermodas , with twenty more gentlemen of the kings court , came to attend upon us , sermodas only entring the room , the rest stayed in a chamber hard by till we were dressed . as soon as we were ready , two fellows , with flutes in their hands , ready to play , saluted us , offering to conduct us to the company that stayed for us : they marched before us , making most curious musick , till we came to the company . a grave signior of them stood with zidi parabas , and told us , that we must that day ride with sevarminas into the country , and that he had sent them to call upon us for that purpose . sermodas had caused some of the excellent wines of the country to be brought , he caused some to be poured forth into a great shell of a fish , which is the ordinary drinking vessels of that country . he caused us to taste of it , and obliged all the company , before we went out , to pledge us : which when we had done , zidi parabas led us to the door , where we saw as many dromedaries ready sadled as we were men : we mounted upon them that were prepared for us ; but when i inquired for a bridle , they bid me take hold of the ears ; for in this country these creatures have ears of an incredible length , they are commonly an ell long , but very slender : so that they are fastened together as the reins of a bridle , at the end , with a clasp , or some such thing . this men hold in their hands , and with this they govern or turn them at their pleasure . i must confess , i was afraid when i was first mounted upon this strange beast , which is so swift , that in a day we rid over hedges and ditches and uneven places , above one hundred and fifty miles . we went through the streets to the kings palace , where we attended not long before there came out a great train with sevarminas himself , i and my companions alighted to salute and do him reverence . he inquired how we had thrived , whether we wanted any thing ; we assured him , that amongst so courteous and obliging a people as his subjects were , we thought that we could not possibly want any manner of thing needful for the life of man. he bid us get up again and ride along with him , we were in all near a thousand , all on swift dromedaries : the kings was as white as snow , all the rest either red or black . it seems sermodas had given the king an account of the passages of the former day : so that , to increase the more our wonder , he was resolved to shew us the excellency of his country , and many other rare things ; for that purpose he had appointed in our road towards the confines , all the ingenious men to meet us at every town with their talismans in their hands ready to shew us their skill and sport . we had not gone above two leagues southward , but we came to a town called by the sevarites magmandi , where thirty philosophers met the king ; and to welcome him , they had a talisman ready to make a louse grow in an instant as big as a camel. i saw the beast , and admired how such things could be done by a man , and as they told me , that they did it by the natural causes alone , without the concurrence of any other thing . as soon as the philosopher had turned the louse into a camel , he mounted upon it , and offered his service to sevarminas to wait upon him in his progress , which was accepted . and if i should say , that this strange camel gallopped , or rather flew , as fast as any of our dromedaries , scarce any person will believe it : yet true it is , that this new-made creature led the way before us , and returned back with 〈…〉 the wing no signs of being weary : in 〈…〉 provender the philosopher had 〈…〉 himself with a bottle of spirits , 〈…〉 he would sometimes , as i took 〈…〉 , pour into the camels ears , and-by that means kept the beast alive and vigorous . another of these philosophers had got a flea in his hand , which , with an image of wax , he turned into a dromedary , so like that which the king was upon , that i could not tell how to distinguish them . i saw the flea which he held in a silken string , he shewed it to all our company , and before us , by an application of the talismanical figure , the flea began to dilate it self into the body of a camel , and out of the body the legs and ears and head broke out almost like a snail when it goes to creep , or like a tortoise . all this was done in less than a quarter of an hour . he also had a saddle ready to ride along with us in the company of the king and his nobles . i confess , i took these two learned sevarites for conjurers , if not for devils in mens shape . when zidi parabas perceived in our way , that maurice whispered to me , he drew near to me , and assured me , that they could do more wonderful feats than that by their great art , and that what they had done , was done by the secret power of natural causes , set on work by the influence of the talisman . i told him , that i could wish , that we in our country had the same skill and knowledge : but he answered , that such mysteries are not fit but for men of the most refined wits , and that no dull or vicious apprehensions can be capable of the sublime notions that such men must have to act such wonders , and to find out the way to make such strange talismans . another of these philosophers , who stood within some golden rails adjoyning to the high-way , had in his hand a naked image of wax , representing a young girl , which image he turned about his head , with some hard words which he uttered out of his mouth , and immediately there came to the place all the young maidens within a certain distance , and threw off their garments with their modesty , in my judgment ; but the religious sevarites are not ashamed to behold what nature teaches other men to cover . these maidens leaped over the rails about threescore in number , and began a most pleasant dance upon the green grass before all our company , the philosopher having appointed a musician ready for that purpose , who played all the while upon his instrument of musick , according to which these maidens leaped and danced up and down , which gave sevarminas much sport and to all his court ; but when the philosopher began to turn away , and cover the waxen image , they took all their garments again , and departed with much satisfaction , because they had given some delight to their prince , whom all the sevarites reverence as they do a visible god ; they are therefore very joyful , when they can do any thing to please and delight him . the rest of the philosophers shewed every one in his turn what he was able to do . one held a mouse by the tail in one hand , and his talisman in the other , and threw the mouse behind sevarminas upon his dromedary , which as soon as it was there , but a moment , it had the power to attract one of the most beautiful virgins , whom i saw straggling behind the king. this thing caused the whole company to burst out in laughter ; for she was just putting on her apparel with the rest of her companions , when the talisman tyed her hands and feet , and drew her on a sudden , so that she was seen to leap all naked through the midst of us behind the king , where she remained till the philosopher drew her back with the talisman , and caused her to put on her cleaths and depart . another of these makers of talismans was blowing with a pipe at the breech of a cat , which swelled bigger than any elephant : when therefore he saw his time , he turned the tail towards the company , and by a secret talisman gave liberty to the wind to go softly out by the same hole where it was put in . the noise was so delightful , that i never heard more variety and sweoter musick in my days ; for the philosopher stroked the cats back and belly , and as he pressed it harder or softer , the wind would go out and whistle all sorts of tunes . the king himself and all the company desired the learned man to come to court as soon as he should return , and give them that sport , which they fancied very much . i looked upon the cat , whether it was alive , and i saw that it was a natural cat , much like the civet-cats ; for besides the musick , the air was filled with such excellent and glorious smells , that we were all ravished and in a maze , how this could come to pass . all the rest shewed some trick or other , but for brevity sake i omit them , to give an account of our journey . i cannot here describe the number of beautiful fabricks , of orchards full of all manner of fruit-trees , gardens with all kind of flowers , herbs , and plants , both delightful to the eye , and useful to the body . i cannot number all the other rarities and riches which this country was full of , with the pleasant chanels of crystal-water , with the bridges and arches in our way , with the many towns walled and open , most of precious stones , and adorned with gold and silver , and ivory , and all manner of riches . if i should give a particular account , no person can believe , unless he had been himself an eye-witness of the things that we saw then in our journey . we went through parascali , a good town , where the river omer joyns with rocara . the inhabitants were so civil , that they met the king with rich tables of gold , covered all over with dishes of sweet-meats , of a china substance and make . every cavaliero had liberty to take what pleased him best . whiles we stayed there , some philosophers stood in our way to give us some of the former sports : at last he that was mounted upon his camel , made of a louse , caused two great wings to grow out at the back , by the means of a talisman , which he had brought with him in his hand . as soon as they were perfected , the camel flew up to the top of the great steeple of the temple of parascali , where it stood a while with the philosopher on its back : at last it returned to us again without any harm either to the beast or the man. the next town was moramir , the third storax , the fourth bolaciro , the fifth memrak , the sixth burino , where we stopt to take a dinner prepared for us . i must not forget to mention certain images that stood in the high-way , at the entring in of the town ; there were two chief , a young maid of alabaster , and a man of white marble . the philosophers camel would not go beyond them , till he began to prick the beast forward with a talisman . if it had not been for this accident , i should not have taken so much notice of them , nor inquired after the cause of their being there . zidi parabas gave me full satisfaction , and told me , that they were the images of two unfortunate lovers of the town of burino , who had been constant to one another , till death separated them , their love and constant affection caused their deaths : for it happened , that their parents would not consent to their conjunction , which they dared not agree to without their leave , and the publick solemnity , for fear of the disgrace which usually , as a consequence , attends upon such kind of amorous indiscretions in the country of the sevarites . they were therefore resolved to love one another tenderly , and to refuse all other matches and proffers . they had been often tempted with other proposals , and with the beauty and riches of other parties ; but ziricus and malimna , so were they named by zidi parabas , flighted all things but the sight and company of one another , which they would endeavour to injoy by stealth , because they were narrowly watched by their jealous parents , who by no means would suffer them to come near together with their good will. their love by this restraint increased more and more , and their mutual affection found many tricks and arts to meet together in spight of their parents watchfulness . they found many back doors and secret corners , to which their extraordinary sympathy brought them together : yet they would not be perswaded to violate the law of the sevarites . this love continued near forty years with a constancy worthy to be chronicled ; yet their parents would never consent to their marriage . at last when they saw , that neither their affection , nor their resolution never to change could prevail upon their cruel parents , and their invincible obstinacy , they consulted betwixt themselves to depart together out of the kingdom , and to marry in some other land. whiles they were in this resolution , they knew not which way to go , because the passages were narrowly guarded . at a meeting therefore , an old crafty devil appears to them in the likeness of a man , and offers them his service to assist them over the seas . they agreed for a price to be transported to an island not inhabited , upon the pacifick sea , with some tools , and grain for their maintenance . the devil , in the shape of a sevarite , promised to bring them a ship in the dead time of the night to the great river of rocara ; for they thought he had been some sea-man or ship-master . the time and place of departing was appointed . the young couple , according to their ingagement , came to the place a little before the evening ; and when they saw that the devil was rough to them , and had cloven feet , they began to suspect , yet they were so passionate for one another , and therefore so blind , that the woman first ventured her self in the arms of the devil to be carried through the water to the ship , which they saw in the river : the young man intending to follow next ; but the wicked devil , instead of conveying the young virgin safe aboard , plunged and held her under water till she was stifled and dead , and that in sight of her sweet-heart , who as soon as he heard her begin to shriek , and saw what was practising against her life and his , it is not to be imagined what torments and trouble of mind he was in , sometimes with his sword in his hand he ran into the water up to the neck , again he would return up to the bank , to see whether his dearly beloved was yet alive , again he would run into the river , till at last , when he perceived the wickedness of the counterfeit devil , he cast himself cesperately into the river ; and though he had never any skill to swim , his love for his beloved , for whom he had a more tender affection than for his own soul , made him venture , and found a means to get as far as the body of his murdered darling , which he brought ashore , and seeing no sign of life , he killed himself , and fell upon her body . in remembrance of this tragedy the town hath dedicated these two images , the one to ziricus , and the other to malimna , with a great many lesser images of young men and maidens , that are all weeping for the misfortune of these two constant lovers . this story zidi parabas told me , whiles the dinner was bringing in to the great hall of ivory , where the king sevarminas was to dine with all his court. when we were sate down , we had all things needful presented before us , with a concert of musick mingled with rare voices of some virgins of the city . after this , a philosopher brought in a silver chain , a great white rat , about the bigness of a good rabbet , which leaped upon the table near sevarminas , and looked wishfully upon him when he was eating ; but when the rat saw that the king said nothing , the rat reached forth its paw or foot , and took some of the meat . the king was not a little surprised with the rats boldness : how now ! said he , did your master teach you this ? the philosopher by the talismanical art could make it speak what he listed , for he could govern the tongue of the little creature in that manner , that what was in his mind the beast would speak : by your leave , my lord , quoth the rat to the king , i am hungry . the rats speech surprised the king , and all the company left their meat to hear the discourse between the king and the rat ; for the philosopher told his majesty , that it would give him any answer that he would desire . they not knowing from whence it proceeded no more than we , they stood to see what the rat would say : the rat was neither ashamed , nor afraid of the company , but went from one dish to another to taste which was the best ; it met with an ostrich-pye , on which it fell aboard without any manners : the king bid it be gone , i 'le fill my belly first , answered the rat , now i am here . king , i command thee to be gone . rat , i love this company too well to run away in haste . king , make haste . rat , we must do nothing rashly . king , thou wilt eat all . rat , there is enough in the land for you and me too . king , who tutored thee ? rat , my master . several other discourses past between sevarminas and this artificial creature , which was made to speak , not by its own understanding , but by that of the philosopher only ; by the talismanical art he could make use of the organ and tongue of the rat to speak what was according to his mind . this was a curious passage , and gave the whole company great delight . the philosopher told sevarminas , that he could make any beast , that was tame , to speak in that manner , and say any thing . we found this to be too true ; for afterwards another learned man had taught a camel , another an ass , another a dromedary , another a tame lion to say any thing , with as much reason , as if they had been rational creatures , whereas it was but the organ of their tongue that was made use of by the strong power of a talisman to turn which way , and articulate whatsoever the author of the talisman pleased . we stayed not long in the place ; but as soon as we had all dined , and refreshed our selves , we mounted upon our dromedaries , and went on in our journey . the louse , camel , and the flea turned into a dromedary , going with us in our company , we passed by a curious town that stood upon an hill , which had a plentiful stream of water rising from the top , and falling from a steep place upon a diamant rock , and then incompassed the hill round with a deep chanel , over which there was a curious bridge of precious stones , with silver globes on the top , and the sides of the walls with a most beautiful arch , the most regularly built that i ever knew . the towns name is tiftani , commanded by a prince , the most considerable of all the subjects of sevarminas , he came out to meet us with a beautiful guard of young gallants , all cloathed in cloth of silver . the princess also came to the entring in of the town with a beautiful attendance of ladies in their rich attire covered over with pearls , and the richest and most precious stones . they made a low obeisance to king sevarminas , and offered him the keys of their city , which he returned to the prince muraski : that was the name of the prince , who was young , about the age of thirty years . we passed through the streets through the acclamations and applauses of all the common people , that are the happiest in the world in all respects ; for they pay but little or no tribute , and have all things in such abundance , glory , and plenty , that there is no want nor complaints in all the land , the poorest sevarite hath enough , and the richest can have no more than they use , for all the rest is superfluous . the next town was tiptanicar , where upon an high tower stood a talisman of gold , for what intent i could never learn. we went through muramni , borascot , malavisi , and several other good walled towns in our way . we lodged that night in one of the kings palaces , situate in a little lake , about ten miles in compass , in an island that stands in the middle . several boats and vessels waited for us to convey us and our dromedaries over to the island . this place is one of the most pleasant abodes of the world. here we stop'd above a fortnight , which we spent sometimes in fishing , sometimes in hunting , walking about , and admiring the wonderful things that appeared every where . sometimes the kings philosophers together with the musicians , would make us such good sport , that we were never weary , we could have spent the days and the nights in seeing such sports and pass-times . sevarminas all this while sent for me often , with de nuits and maurice , to discourse with us , and inform himself concerning the affairs , commodities , and conveniencies of our country : in which particulars i always gave him such answers as would increase his desire to entertain a trade and correspondency with our nation , and the other people of europe . when we had lived here in this castle , and pleasant island called the isle of foxes , and in the sevarites language cristako , we set forward for another place called the mount timpani , where the kings of the sevarites have another house of pleasure : it is about an hundred leagues distant towards the southwest from cristako . we passed through many woods , vallies , and an open country in our way to it , and had the sight of several rare towns , seravi , puteoli , nanti , quarok , runtour , and several others no less rich and beautiful than the former . i cannot forget to mention a rare invention which i saw at seravi . there is a large river about two miles distant from the town , which stands upon a hill without any water . the ingenious sevarites therefore have found an art to convey this great river in an artificial chanel , built and supported upon an arch of hard diamant stone , above two miles from one hill to the other , over a deep valley , into which the river did run before ; but because the valley was not so wholesom an air as the top of the mountain , they have built there their houses , and been at the trouble to make for the river an artificial chanel , so deep , that boats of an hundred tun can sail up and down in the driest time of summer ; for there is scarce any mud or dirt in the chanel over the valley : the water is as clear as crystal . in another town called runtour , there was a company of apes met us at the entry in of the town : they were so bold , that they leapt upon the backs of our dromedaries , and put us in no little danger to be cast to the ground . but one of our philosophers pulled out of his pocket a strange talisman , of a yellow colour , through which there was a hole which he clapt to his lips , and whistled away the apes . they were not gone ten paces from us , but they all fell down dead with the venemous spirits which this talisman conveyed to them without hurting any creature else ; for you must know , that what is a poyson to one creature , is not so to another , and these skillful men so well read in the secret mysteries of nature , can direct their operations which way they please , at a distance as well as near at hand . the king of the sevarites hath always one or more of these philosophers to accompany him when he goes into the country , for fear any accident might happen to his person or retinue . we found a plentiful dinner prepared for us at nanti , where the ladies of the town waited upon sevarminas at the table , and came to the rest of his company to offer their services . the governors name was forabo , an old grave signior near fourscore years of age , he had twenty sons comely and proper young men , with five daughters , all by one woman , whose name was pluralis : she was then a grave matron of a beautiful and grave countenance , her daughters young ladies followed her when she came to salute sevarminas and his lords . we made no long stay in this place , but marched next to the mount timpani , but could not get thither till the next day at night ; we lodged therefore in the town of durambi , and the next day early in the morning we set forward in our journey to mount timpani , where we arrived about sun-set . there happened nothing in this days riding remarkable , only maurices dromedary being offended that he had kicked her with his heel , cast him to the ground , and bruised his thigh and arm ; but the kings physician applying an herb called muroz , which he found in the fields hard by , cured the wound , eased him presently of his pain , so that he never complained afterwards . the nature of these creatures is such , that they must be gently dealt withal , otherwise they become furious and mad : but if the rider handles them softly , there is no beast so gentle , so easie , and useful . mount timpani is a pleasant hill crowned on the top with all manner of the most beautiful trees in nature , bearing all sorts of fruits . in the midst is the kings palace moted round . the water runs from six great fountains , which are on the top of the hill , unto which there is an easie ascent on the side of the hill : about half a mile from the castle is a town of the same name , very glorious to the eye when the sun shines . the castle or the kings palace is about a mile in circumference , with strong walls of clear stones , of a white and reddish colour , such as i never saw the like before . it was well furnished with all manner of houshold-stuff , the richest that i ever beheld : the large and spacious rooms , chambers , and halls , and galleries , with their ornaments , were not to be numbered . at our first arrival , the governor of the town , with the chief inhabitants , came to wait upon their king , who shewed them a great deal of respect as belonged to his loving subjects . all this while he had concealed the cause of his journey to that place , and would not let any person , not his own son , nor any of his privy counsellors understand any thing of it , till three or four days after our arrival ; for it becomes a great prince , who intends to act securely in weighty matters , not to let any man , not his greatest friends , know his intentions to the full . sevarminas having here a great business to put in execution , which concerned nothing less than the safety and peace of his empire , he concealed it from all the world , and gave out , that he would make this progress for his pastime and for his health . the governors name was smuriamnas , a man of an ancient family , lineally descended from the great sevarias , but young and very ambitious , and no less proud and haughty amongst his equals , which caused his people not to affect him so much as otherwise they would have done . at our arrival he came to pay his homage and respects to sevarminas his prince , and the next day invited him and all the court to a costly and sumptuous banquet . i and my companions , together with sermodas and zidi parabas , were lodged in a spacious chamber , where were twenty beds of ivory and gold , with curious curtains of silk embroidered with gold , with the walls hung with pictures , very well and artificially drawn . after supper we went to take our leaves of king sevarminas , and were immediately conducted to our chamber , where we rested sweetly , till the next morning the noise of the trumpets , bag-pipes , flutes , viols , and violins , harps , guitars , and all manner of musick played at the kings rising . this pleasant and ravishing harmony awakened us and our chamber-fellows , and obliged us to put on our apparel . we walked about the chamber a while , discoursing of the strange passages of our journey , when in came a messenger from the king to call us to him . he had an intent to walk about his parks , and view the town before dinner . he was therefore willing , that we strangers might go along with him , not only for our satisfaction , but also to shew his people men of foreign nations come to adore and worship him . the parks were all walled round with many lakes , ponds , rivers , and streams of water full of all manner of wild and tame fowl , with all sorts of beasts , deer of all kinds , rabbets , hares , and a sort of creature named buffoli , which hath no joynts in its fore-legs , and nevertheless runs as swift as any other beast . in the parks we had the sight of many trees and woods , where the birds and wild fowl and beasts use to shelter themselves . after this walk we marched into the town , all our company , where the governor at the entrance received us with his family ; but the citizens , with the chief men , stood at a distance , crying out , men , women , and children in their language , marabi , marabi , marabi , that is , justice , justice , justice . i saw at this sudden cry the governors countenance change : he nevertheless drew near to sevarminas with all the respect imaginable ; but he received him with a setled countenance , and asked what the people meant by their marabi . before he had time to answer , one of the chief of the sevarites stept forward , followed by all the rest . they all fell upon their knees , and bowing to sevarminas , they humbly intreated him , that he would listen to and pity their grievance . what is the matter ? answered he . one of them stood up , and in the governors presence spoke to him in this manner : most noble and ever glorious monarch , we your subjects are heartily glad to see you amongst us , we have longed a great while to have you here to free us from an intolerable burden . prince smuriamnas our governor forgetting the blessed rules of our great sevarias , oppresseth us contrary to all law and justice , and hath spilled the innocent blood of many of our friends , whose souls will not suffer us to sleep in quiet , till their deaths be revenged . we have often admonished him to recal him from his perverse and wicked practices ; but to all our admonitions he hath returned nothing but curses and blows without mercy : so that for these many years we have lived as so many slaves ; and unless your glorious majesty will relieve us , we must forsake him and his principality , and seek our remedy in a retreat far from him . but we expect from your justice and goodness that relief which you have afforded to many of your poor subjects in such like cases . this speech made smuriamnas faint away , so that he fell down as dead before the whole company ; but sevarminas caused him to be taken up , and his physician to take care of him . sevarminas expected this complaint before he heard it . his coming was to remove and punish smuriamnas , and place in his stead his eldest son suricolis , a young man of an excellent beauty , who waited upon him from his youth . as soon as he heard the peoples grievance , he assured them , that he would severely punish him according to law , and cause them to receive satisfaction , wishing them all to depart home with this assurance , without noise or tumult , and to be ready when his judges should be ready to examine their cause , to bring in their allegations and proofs against smuriamnas . in the mean while sevarminas would not go to the palace of smuriamnas as he was invited , nor to the town hall , where the chief of the town promised to bring him a dinner ; but he returned with all his train to the castle , where dinner was ready for us . he gave order , that smuriamnas should be kept in a close prison , joyning to the place of judicature , till the next day ; for then he intended , with the advice of his court , to punish him according to the laws of the land ; for it seems he had been guilty of murder , and violence , and oppression , and had not observed the sacred laws of the sevarites in his jurisdiction . the next day we went down into the town to accompany sevarminas , who sate down upon an high throne prepared for him , under a canopy of gold , embroidered ; round about sate and stood his religious counsellors and judges . when it was noised about the town , that sevarminas was sate in his judgment-seat , for it was not above nine of the clock in the morning , the whole town came to the place , with intention to accuse smuriamnas , who was brought before the king with his hands tied behind his back . presently there came a widow with four young infants weeping , because smuriamnas had killed her husband in his anger , for no other cause , but because he would not comply with his irregular commands . she proved it against him by no less than ten witnesses , who were there present upon the place . another stept up and said , that he had killed his brother , producing sufficient witnesses that saw the murder . another complained of the destroying of his friend privately : others came forth to declare how smuriamnas had oppressed them with cruel exactions . the king desired no other proof of these accusations , but the view of his body without a disguise , covering , or paint : for , as i said before , as soon as men amongst the sevarites have committed any wickedness , there is immediately an alteration upon the body and skin of the offendor , that declares what he hath done . that this might not appear , smuriamnas had made use of the talismanical art and of painting , by the one to keep down all tumors and rising in his face and hands , and by the other to cover all ugly colours that were upon his skin . therefore the king commanded him to be stript naked , and carried into a bath , and there to be rub'd and washed , which accordingly was done . when he was brought back , i never saw such a disfigured creature , his arms were as black as pitch , his hands all gore blood , his face as green as grass , his legs as yellow as saffron , on his back and legs appeared two tumors about the bigness of walnuts . when he appeared so odious to the company , the king passed his sentence upon him , to the great joy of the inhabitants : and because blood requires blood , and no other crime is to be punished with death but murder amongst the sevarites , the king delivered him to the will of the aggrieved parties to put him to death . they took him first and whipped him , till his body was full of scars and wounds , which they anointed with honey , and then tyed him upon an high place in the middle of their town with his face upwards . as soon as he was there , a swarm of wasps and bees flew about him , with some vulturs and eagles , which devoured him in two days : so that there was nothing remaining of his body but the bones . the king condescended to this exemplary punishment , the rather , because smuriamnas had a design to alter the government of the sevarites , and revolt from his obedience : for that purpose he had endeavoured to perswade some other petty princes to joyn with him against their soveraign king sevarminas . yet he was so gracious to call his son in the prefence of all the chief men of the town , and to restore him to his fathers estate and goods , without the least diminution of any thing . he gave him this admonition in the prefence of a multitude of people : suricolis , said the king , thou hast seen a severe example of justice upon thy father for abusing his power and authority , i might make that use of his crime , to deprive all his family from any such opportunity of doing a mischief ; but i consider , that thy religious inclinations have often caused thee to disallow thy fathers proceedings , and to blame him for the liberty he took contrary to justice and law. i consider , that thou art as likely to do as much good as smuriamnas hath done mischief . i restore thee not only to thy fathers estate , but likewise to his authority and command . take heed that thou followest not thy fathers example : let not thy glory puff thee up with pride , nor thy power cause thee to act contrary to reason and law : remember that there is a punishment for evil doers , as there are rewards for the just : behave thy self with that discretion and moderation , that thou mayst have the commendation rather than the condemnation of thy country-men , that thou mayst deserve well from me and them . this clemency and justice made sevarminas to be praised in all parts amongst the sevarites ; for thereby all persons were obliged , and thereby secured from such like violences , and the noble family of smuriamnas continued in its splendour and glory , only a rotten member was taken out of the way for the publick good . after this piece of justice , we remained there about a month , which sevarminas spent in regulating all those things-that were amiss in the government of smuriamnas through his ill management of affairs . afterwards he left there the new governor suricolis to do justice in his absence , commanding him to be impartial in all his publick actions , and to abstain from the vices unto which his father was inclinable , which cast him into the dangerous precipice of destruction . we departed from thence with the blessings and good wishes of all the inhabitants , and in three days we returned to sevarinde , where our coming was expected with much impatience ; for in the kings absence that city could not be governed well by any other person . some disorders therefore had happened , which the viceroy could not pacifie without the kings authority and presence . the whole city met us at two miles from the place , and in a most beautiful order marched along with us into sevarinde . i continued in the city about half a year , which i spent in inquiring after the conveniencies of the country , the sea-ports , the commodities and riches that it brings forth , that i might give that information to my country-men , which might benefit them in future ages after my return to my own country ; for we were in expectation of a ship from batavia , whither we had again sent some of our men with a vessel , which we had recovered amongst the sporvi , to desire the governor of batavia to send a ship that might convey away our goods and persons . but whiles i stayed there , a young lady of sevarinde , who had lost her husband by death , fell in love with maurice , and often treated us very nobly in her house . manrice was no sevarite , and could not refrain from some amorous embrances , which the lady gladly accepted of ; for it was not lawful by the law of the sevarites to match with any other generation . but to cover their actions , the lady had made use of the skill of the philosophers to keep down the tumors in her skin and body , and to paint maurices face and hands , which hindered their secret correspondency from being known abroad . i must needs confess , that maurices happiness caused me to look abroad , and see whether i could meet with the same fortune : for that purpose i walked about the city often , early and late , to see what i should by chance meet with . about a month before our departure from sevarinde , a young gentlewoman , who had father and mother , and never knew a man , invited me into a garden , where she was alone , in the spanish tongue . i was glad of this opportunity , we walked therefore several turns together , talking of divers matters : at last she opened her mind to me in this manner . sir , i understand by your countenance , that you are a stranger , our king sevarminas hath a great esteem for you , as well as my father and mother : we have often talked of you and your religious behaviour since your coming into our country ; we shall therefore be glad to be acquainted with you ; for in my fathers name i will bid you welcome , and will assure you , that he will give you a kind reception ; for he is a merchant , and conveys commodities from city to city amongst the sevarites . sir , modesty will not give me leave to tell you more of my mind ; but when we shall be better acquainted , i hope — with these words she broke off with a modest blush upon her cheeks . the young woman was most beautiful , and was cloathed in white silk , with a girdle of pure gold , all beset with precious stones about her middle . she inquired whether i were not married in my own country , i assured her , that i was not : upon this , she confessed her amorous inclinations for me , but withal told me , that every thing must be performed in due time , and that she would not precipitate the business , but wished me to ask her fathers consent , assuring me , that she would willingly leave all to live and dye with a man of that sweet temper and disposition that i was of . her loving complements i answered with caresses , and assured her , that i should think my self happy in her injoyment . we spent some time together to begin our acquaintance , and to inform ourselves of one anothers conditions and estate ; but the night obliged me to leave her for that time , and return to my lodgings . when i gave maurice an account of all particulars , he advised me not to neglect the offer , but to visit her in her fathers house ; for himself and his lady , he told me , that he was resolved to carry her with him to batavia , where he intended to live and dye with her : and though women amongst the sevarites are forbidden goods , and that it is not lawful to transport them to other countries , he was perswaded by the means of friends with sevarminas , to get that liberty and priviledge , which was never granted to any before . this discourse and his hopes made me conceive the same . i went therefore often to see the young lady , who entertained me and my companions very courteously , as well as her father and mother . after several visits , i opened the matter to the parents in their daughters absence ; they made some difficulty , because of the laws of the country , and my inclinations to return into my own country . but when i told them , that we had plantations in batavia , not far from thence , and that i would live and dye with her there , they began to yield to my request , in case sevarminas would dispense with the law of the land , and suffer me to carry her away . this i told them , that i would endeavour to obtain from his goodness . i cannot give an exact account of all our pleasant meetings , of the rare things she discovered to me , of the delightful walks , and other things which pass all imagination . but certainly her company and sweet conversation made me spend my time with great contentment . in order to our marriage , when the portion was agreed upon , i caused zidi parabas and ziribabdas , my two intimate friends , to open the business to king sevarminas , that we might have his approbation and consent to that which was not agreeable with the ancient laws of the sevarites . but in regard we had behaved our selves so religiously since our being in the country , he thought it no disgrace to grant us more liberty than ordinary . after this business had been debated in his privy council , it was resolved that this course should be taken to oblige us the more , and invite our country men to trade with his people . therefore i had a leave to marry publickly my young mistress , and maùrice also had a dispensation to take to wife his courteous lady . when all these things were agreed upon , the day was appointed , for both king sevarminas , and all the nobles of his court , assisted at the solemnity , and brought us to his royal palace , where he bestowed upon us most rich and glorious gifts , and entertained our new and young wives with a sumptuous feast , at which they had the honour to sit next the queen . the ceremony of marriage was performed in the great temple of sevarinde , by breaking of bread , and joyning of hands , with many prayers and blessings from their priests . it was concluded with a dance and musick , where all the young ladies of the court shewed their activity . before the marriage was concluded , a ship was arrived amongst the sporvi from batavia , where meen heer van plumerick commanded in chief . as soon as we had news of this ship , we went and gave an account of its arrival to sevarminas , who desired us to send for the captain van plumerick , and promised , that then we should have liberty to depart along with him , with our wives , and such things as belonged to us , to batavia , or whither we had a mind to go . we thanked him for his great and extraordinary civilities , and told him , that we would spread his fame all over the world. according to this order , sermodas was sent back to sporunde , to fetch captain van plumerick , whose ship had orders to get into the river of rocara . he came with some kind of reluctancy , not knowing the civilities and good entertainment that we had found amongst the sevarites . but when he was arrived , and saw the riches and happiness of the people and country , and found them , as well as we , to be men of faith , good behaviour , and honesty , he was not sorry for his condescension to this request . after his arrival to sevarinde , we remained there two months , which we spent in merry sports , feasts , banquets , hunting , hawking , and all manner of delights , according to the custom of that glorious court. sevarminas was well pleased with the conversation of van plumerick ; for he was a gallant man , and knew so well how to hit the humor of sevarminas , that the king gave him very rich presents . his ship had orders to draw near to the borders of the sevarites into the river rocara , because we might more conveniently load our goods , and because sevarminas had a great desire to go on board , and see the manner and fashions of our ships of war , and the great guns that were on board . to comply with his desire , we all went to the banks of the river rocara , where the ship rode at an anchor , trimmed and flourishing with garlands and pendents of all colours . sevarminas , accompanied by all his court , was carried in the captains pinnace that waited for him , with several other boats : when he was aboard , the cannon and trumpets bid him welcome . the captain presented him with some rarities , which they have not in that country . he gave him a watch , a clock , guns of an extraordinary make , with many other things of europe . after a banquet in the great cabin of the ship , he returned to the shore , very well satisfied with his entertainment . he desired one or two of our great guns ; for he intended to have some cast of silver , because he had no brass nor bell-metal in all his country . we returned with him to sevarinde , and then taking our farewel of all our friends and relations , we carried away our goods , and shipped them aboard . van plumericks ship , with our wives , and all our company , set sail towards batavia ; but a storm , or rather a hurricane at sea , had a most driven us back again on the shore . we escaped narrowly by the great skill of the mariners , and the watchfulness and vigilancy of the captain : so that in six days , or thereabouts , after the storm , we had sight of a cape in batavia , where we landed , to the great joy of all our country-men , who were desirous to see the new country that we had discovered , when we shewed them our riches and jewels , and gave them an account of the excellent people that inhabit there . finis . a catalogue of some books printed for , and sold by h. brome , since the dreadful fire of london , to 1676. dr . woodford on the psalms . — his divine poems . the reformed monastery , or the love of jesus . bishop wilkins natural religion . 130 sermons by mr. farindon , in three vol. in folio . dr. heylin on the creed , fol. a guide to eternity , by john bona. practical rules for a holy life . dr. du moulins prayers . a guide to heaven , with a rule of life . bishop wilkins real character . a companion to the temple , or a help to publick devotion , by dr. comber , in octavo , 4 vol. holy anthems of the church . a looking-glass for loyalty . the fathers legacy to his children , being the whole duty of man. gerhard's meditations in latine . several sermons at court , &c. papal tyranny , as it was exercised over england for some ages , with two sermons on the fifth of november . and several tracts more against popery . histories . the life of the duke of espernon , the great favourite of france , from 1598. where d' avila leaves off , to our times , by charles cotton esq in folio . the history of the charter-house . the state of the ottoman empire , with cuts , by p. ricaut esq in octavo . the lives of the grand viziers . bishop cosin against transubstantiation . the common law epitomized . the commentaries of mr. blaiz de montluck , the great favourite of france , in which are contained all the sieges , battels , skirmishes , for three kings reigns , by charles cotton esq in folio . the fair one of tunis , a new piece of gallantry , by c. c. esq in octavo . erasmus coll. in english , octavo . poems . elvira , a comedy by the earl of bristol . mr. a. bromes songs and poems , octavo . horace his works englished by several persons . virgil travestie , by c. c. esq . lucian's dialogues , burlesque . horace , with a song at every act , by charles cotton esq . mr. cowlys satyr against separatists . dr. guidet's history of bath . dr. barbettes and dr. deckers excellent practice of physick , and observations . sir k. digby , his excellent receipts in physick and chirurgery , and of drinks and cookery . the anatomy of the elder-tree . dr. glisson , de vita naturae , quarto . — his anatomia . the universal angler , in three parts . lord bacons advancement of learning . the planters manual , very useful for such as are curious in planting and grafting , by c. cotton , esq . the complete gamester . dr. skinner's lexicon , in folio , 1 l. 5 s. papists no catholicks . the jesuits loyalty answered . 16 controversial letters , in quarto . the growth of knavery and popery . essays of love and marriage , duod . dr. moulin's education of children . the vindication of the clergy . toleration discussed . a treatise of humane reason , in 12. school-books . nolens volens , or you shall make latine . pools pernassus in english . centum fabulae , in octavo . artis oratoriae . the scholars guide from the accidence to the university . sir james dyer's reports , folio . the exact constable enlarged . the plague of athens , by dr. sprat . six witty conversations . mr. sarazins ingenious works . coke of trade . sir ph. meadows wars of denmark and sweden . the geographical dictionary . vossius's motion of the seas and winds . mr. sympsons compendium of musick . — his division viols . banisters new airs and dialogues . old father christmas arraigned and condemned . leyburns arithmetical recreations . dr. fords discourse on the man whose hands and legs rotted off , for stealing a bible , and denying it . five love-letters . the english acquisitions in guinea & east-india containing first, the several forts and castles of the royal african company, from sally in south barbary, to the cape of good hope in africa ... secondly, the forts and factories of the honourable east-india company in persia, india, sumatra, china, &c. ... : with an account of the inhabitants of all these countries ... : also the birds, beasts, serpents and monsters and other strange creatures found there ... : likewise, a description of the isle of st. helena, where the english usually refresh in their indian voyages by r.b. r. b., 1632?-1725? 1700 approx. 360 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 98 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a35221 wing c7318 estc r21090 12259661 ocm 12259661 57814 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a35221) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 57814) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 178:5) the english acquisitions in guinea & east-india containing first, the several forts and castles of the royal african company, from sally in south barbary, to the cape of good hope in africa ... secondly, the forts and factories of the honourable east-india company in persia, india, sumatra, china, &c. ... : with an account of the inhabitants of all these countries ... : also the birds, beasts, serpents and monsters and other strange creatures found there ... : likewise, a description of the isle of st. helena, where the english usually refresh in their indian voyages by r.b. r. b., 1632?-1725? [4], 179, [10] p. : ill. printed for nath. crouch ..., london : 1700. advertisements: p. [1]-[9] at end. reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels. africa -description and travel. asia -description and travel. 2003-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-12 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2003-12 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a guinean monarch the english acquisitions in guinea & east-india : containing first , the several forts and castles of the royal african company , from sally in south barbary , to the cape of good hope in africa : viz. iames fort in the river of gambo . sherborow in york island . sierra leona in bence island dickeys cove . commenda cape coast castle fort royal. annamabo . winnebah . accra . secondly , the forts and factories of the honourable east-india company in persia , india , sumatra , china , &c. viz. spawhawn and gambroon . in persia. fort st. george . fort st. david . conimeere . cudaloor . porto novo . madapollam . metchlapatam . pettipolee . on the coast of coromandel . carwar . callicut . surrat . bombay island . ballasore . hugly . chuttanetti . daca . rhajama . on the co. of mallabar atcheen , and york fort. in sumatra . amoy , canton , and tonqueen . in china , &c. with an account of the inhabitants of all these countries ; their religion , government , trade , marriages , funerals , strange customs , &c. also the birds , beasts , serpents , monsters and other strange creatures found there . intermixt with divers accidents , and notable remarks with pictures . likewise , a description of the isle of st : helena , where the english usually refresh in their indian voyages . by r. b. london , printed for nath. crouch , at the bell in the poultry near cheapside , 1700. to the reader . having already endeavoured to inform my countreymen of the grandeur of the english monarchy , by giving them an account of the kingdoms of england , scotland and ireland , and likewise of his majestys dominions in america ; the acceptance they met with , hath incouraged me to discover to them what many have only heard of by discourse , namely the english acquisitions in the 2 other quarters of the vvorld , africa and asia . in the first , the royal african company being by their charter from king charles 2d . dated january , 2. 1662. incorporated , the limits of their trade were from sally in south barbary , to the cape of good hope . in which large tract of land , they have erected several forts , factories and settlements for securing their commerce , which is very considerable in those parts . in asia the english began their discoveries just an hundred years since , in 1600. under sr. james lancaster with 4 ships only . and soon after , the industry of others had such success , that the merchants trading thither were likewise incorporated by charter . this honourable east-india company , by the prudent management of their affairs , setled forts and factorys in twenty four several noted places , of which our unkind neighbours deprived us of some , and others were deserted for conveniency ; the names of those abandoned are as follows . ormus and jasques in the persian gulf. cambaja and agra in the great mogols countrey . armagon , pattana , and siatu on the coast of coromandell , and continent of asia , ticko , jambo , prianan on the isle of sumatra . bantam , jaccatra , and japarra , on the isle of jara . socodona and bornermasa on the island borneo . macassar on the isle of celebs polleroon in the isle of banda . firando in japan , amboina , hitto , and other molucco islands . so that now the english possess only those mentioned in the title page , the account of all those places with the religion , government and manners of the inhabitants , and the strange creatures therein cannot but be diverting , i have also given a brief description of the isle of st. helena , and the wonderful voyage from thence , of don domingo gonsales the little spaniard , which ingenious and well contrived fancy would have been lost if not here retreived . these with many other pleasant relations therein , will i hope procure as fair quarter for this as those formerly published have met with , from the friends of r. b. the acquisitions of the royal african company in guinea , and the several forts and castles belonging to them , from sally in south barbary to the cape of good hope in africa . with an account of the natives of those countrys ; their religion , government , trade , wars , marriages , funerals , and strange customs . also the birds , beasts , monsters , serpents &c. found there . intermixt with divers accidents , and notable remarks . that tract of land called guinea , in africa , comprehends 700 leagues from cape verd in 14 degrees n. latitude , to cape consalvo in the first degree of south . latitude , the portugals were the first that ranged this shore , and having intelligence of the commodities , and manner of trading , the natives by fair means and force got footing on the sea-coasts , building forts and placing garrisons and factories in several places , and found such a golden trade , that they called some coasts thereof by that name . this was an inducement ( as what will not gold attract ) to their further search all along to the cape of good hope , and thereby consequently to the east-indies ; the fair quarter , and usage , the inhabitants received from the portugals already setled there , incouraged them to exchange their commodities , which trade according to the custom of that kingdom was maintained by factors , upon the king of portugals particular account in every port and town , as if he intended the profits of merchandizing should defray the charges of his conquests and garrisons ; furnishing the natives with salt , iron , tin , copper , basons , knives , cloth , linnen , and other european goods , and receiving in exchange , cattle , corn , rice , and the like , but chiefly gold in great abundance , both in sand and melted ingots , which gave life and briskness to the further discovery of those countreys , and continuance of that trade to this day , though not so considerable as formerly . the english and other nations , desirous to share in this rich trade , in short time sailed thither , and because they had no forts to protect their persons and goods from the portugals , and treachery of the inhabitants , they were compelled to anchor along the coasts near the greatest towns , and signifying to the negroes what wares they had brought , by their plausible demeanor , they at length imboldened them to come aboard their ships , and bring their gold ; the manner of which trade was very different from that of any other countrey ; for betimes in the morning , the wind being then generally off the shore , and the weather calm , the natives came aboard in their canoes and scu●…es to traffique some for themselves , and some as factors for others , carrying at their girdles a purse , wherein were several small clouts or papers , containing the gold belonging sometimes to ten several men , which though all of the same weight and goodness , yet they readily distinguisht , and having made their bargains for cloth , linnen , or the like , at noon they return'd with the seabrize again to the shore ; and beside the agreement , these factors had some small thing for themselves , in reward for their brokage , but in process of time , the hollanders frequenting these coasts , and being well acquainted with the manner of the english traffique , and coming into the same places where the english traded and were known , they soon spoiled this golden trade , by their sinister and indirect dealing ; for anchoring with the english , whom they found to have a better trade than themselves , they secretly bribed those factors to carry their passengers and merchants aboard their own ships , and not the english ; obliging them to trade only with the dutch ; which craft the english perceiving , used the same arts to ingage the factors to themselves , so that out-vying each other , these brokers commonly gained to themselves six or seven per cent. to the vast prejudice of all trade upon these coasts , since this ill custom must be kept up by all succeeding european merchants ; it was observed that many negro merchants who dwelt up in the countrey coming to buy wares of the dutch , with great quantities of gold , and divers slaves , thirty or more according to their quality , to carry back the goods they should purchase , and taking their lodgings in the houses of these brokers , whom they acquainted with their full commissions and intentions , and to whom they delivered their gold ; these factors would go aboard the flemish ships with them to trade and barter , and if the negro merchants were not skilled in the portugal tongue , these brokers would bid the hollanders not to speak the morisco language to them , because they inhabited far within the land , thereby giving the dutch the watch-word , that they meant to deceive their countreymen , and afterward divide the spoil , so that the knavi●…h factor connived at the extravagant prizes of the hollanders , to draw the more gold from the merchant , whom he likewise cheated , sometimes by putting some of his gold into his mouth , ears or otherwise , which the merchant negro finding wanting in the scale , adds to the cheat himself by blowing into the christians ballance to make it weight ; the bargain being finished , and the negro again landed , the factor returns back to the ship , to share his ill got gains with the flemings ; this way of proceeding was very detrimental to the english , and other christians trading on these coasts , so that unless they connive with these factors , their voyage will be lost , and their goods unsold . in 1553. thomas windam , and anthony pintado a portugal , in two english ships traded along these coasts as far as benin , where they presented themselves to the king who sate in a great hall , the walls whereof were made of earth without windows , the roof of thin boards , open in divers places ; his nobles never look him in the face , but sit with their buttocks on the ground , and their hands before their faces , not looking up till the king commands them ; when they depart they go backward , turning their faces still toward him . the next year captain iohn lock sailed into these parts to trade for gold and elephants teeth ; and after him captain towerson made several voyages thither , who at the river of st. vincent , observed a kind of pease growing on the shore like trees , with stalks twenty seven paces long ; at cape tres puntas , they made him swear by the water of the sea , that he would not hurt them , before they would trade with him ; aban a negro king treated them kindly with a pot of palm or coco-wine , which they draw out of trees . the people are handsom and well proportioned , having nothing disagreeable in their countenances , but the blackness of their complexion , some of them have flattish noses , all little ears , the people go all naked till they are married , and then are clothed from the middle to the knees ; at the marriage of their daughters , they give half an ounce of gold to buy wine for the wedding ; the bride in the presence of her friends swears to be true to her husband , which the man doth not ; who have as many wives as they can maintain , yet the first has this preheminence , so that he can never take another but by her permission , but because the multitude of wives and children are counted the greatest honour and riches in that countrey , they often perswade their husbands to take more , and glory therein ; the first wife likewise has the priviledge to lye with her husband three nights successively , whilst the rest must be content only with one , so that they live very quietly together . a merchant or captain will have thirty or forty ; the king of benin had six hundred , wherewith he went in solemn procession every year ; the king of fetu's son had fourteen sons and twelve daughters , and kept an hundred slaves to wait upon them ; at cape gonsalvo they pink and colour their bodies , and offer their wives to strangers ; the king uses his own daughters when grown up as wives , and the queens with the like incestuous abomination make use of their own sons . their women are unfaithful discoverers of natures hidden secrets , not being ashamed to be delivered publickly in the sight of men , boys and girls . they circumcise both sexes ; after travel they accompany not their husbands in three months ; as soon as she is delivered they give her a drink made of rice , mays , water , wine , and mallaguett like our pepper , after which she lyes warm three or four hours , and then rises , washes her self and child , and so falls to her work as before ; next they give it a name , usually of some christian they are obliged to , then wrapping it in a kind of blanket or skin , they lay it upon rushes where it continues above five weeks , then the mother tyes it to a board and carries it on her back with the legs under her arm-pits , and the hands tyed about her neck , where it hangs all day , and never comes off till it goes to bed , and yet few or none prove lame or deformed , notwithstanding the shaking of their bodies ; they give them the breast over their shoulders , and this may be the reason of the flatness of their noses by their knocking them continually against the back and shoulders of the mother while she is walking or at work ; for it is observed that the children of their gentry whose mothers do not labour , nor carry their infants about them , have very comely noses ; they wash and rub their children every morning with oil of palms . when they are seven or eight years old , they hang a net about their necks , made of the bark of a tree , full of fetiches or little gods to secure them from the devil , who they believe would else carry them away ; they hang their hair full of shells , and coral about the arms and legs , with several feticho's of different qualities ; one being an antidote against vomiting , a second against dangerous falls , a third prevents bleeding , a fourth causes sleep , a fifth secures them against wild beasts , and the like , giving to each fetisso a different name : they soon learn to speak , go , and swim : when they are born , they are not black , but red : about seven year old they learn to spin thred , make nets , and go a fishing with their fathers , and feed as they do , picking up any nasty thing in the streets , which they eat with good appetites : the boys and girls are all naked , which makes them have no sense of shame or modesty , they being neither reproved nor corrected by their parents : they are excellent at swimming , even at this age , so that if their canoe overset at sea , ther are very little concerned , all of them swimming back again to the place from whence they came , and consequently they can dive with great dexterity and fetch up any thing from the bottom : about twelve their fathers instruct them how to make a canoe , and catch fish ; the merchants bring their sons acquainted with europeans , and with the mystery of trade : at eighteen they begin to set up for themselves , two or three together hiring a house and purchasing a canoe ; they then cover their nudities , grow amorous , and their fathers look out wives for them : the girls clean the houses , pick the rice , beat the mays , make the bread , clean the kitchen , buy and sell at market , make baskets of rushes and matts which they weave extream curiously , but their chief care is to provide meat and drink for their parents , secure their goods , and all other kinds of good huswifry ; when grown up , they are very lascivious , and boast of their gallantries , especially with strangers , whom they seem to affect above their own men : they are very careful to keep their teeth white , have wit enough , but are very wanton with the young fellows stark naked , to please whom they wash , comb , and plait their hair with great curiosity ; some paint their foreheads and eyebrows red and white , and hang pendants in their ears ; all love ribbons especially red , they have necklaces of coral , and bracelets upon their wrists , arms and legs , when they go abroad they weare a piece of silk , taffaty or other stuff wrapt about from the breast to the midleg , and have always a great bunch of keys , though never a coffer nor trunk to open ; the virgins make it their whole business to appear acceptable especially to white men , and are seldom barren before , though not very fruitful after marriage . for many years the english frequenting these coasts , made little benefit thereby ; for the inhabitants , perceiving their gold so earnestly desired by all nations , set such a rate thereon , and having been often beguiled , they grew more wary in their bargaining , and to the measure and goodness of their commodities , and though at first they knew no distinction of christians , but thought the portugals , and all other white men to be of the same nation , yet they have since learned the particular manners and dealing of each countrey , and have found the fairest trade from the english , who are therefore most welcome to them , and speed best of any other nation ; especially since the traders into these parts were incorporated , by their charter dated ian. 20. 1662. and intituled . the company of royal adventurers of england trading into africa , or the guinea company ; the limits of their trade , being from sally in south barbary , to cape de bona esperanza , or the cape of good hope , within which limits all english ships are prohibited to trade unless authorized by them . the commodities exported by the royal company to africa are iron , copper , slesias , sheets , says , perpetuana's , cowries , welch plains , manillos , boysades , chints , romberges , coral , callico's , nicanies , clouts , amber , powder , muskets , batteries of all sorts , buckshaws , knives and sheaths , swords , tallow , &c. for which they import from thence to england , gold , elephants teeth , hides , malagueta , or ginny pepper , red wood , ambergreece , with several other good commodities , besides numbers of negroes for supplying the american plantations to their great advantage ; the royal african company have erected the following forts and castles upon the coast for securing their commerce . on the north part of guinea , i iames fort in the river gambia . ii. the fort of sierna leona in bence island . iii. sherbrow in york island . on the south part of guinea , iv. dickies cove . v. comenda . vi. cape coast castle . vii . fort royal viii . annamabo . ix . winnebah x. acra . i. iames fort. this fort was formerly secured with eight peices of cannon , but was demolished by the french in the late war. it is now rebuilding much stronger , and designed to have ninety guns , and a garrison of two hundred and fifty europeans besides negro's and mulatto's . the government of this place is reckoned worth about two thousand pound a year . it is scituate near cape verde , so called from its continual greenness , which makes it a delectable place , being a promontory , which throws it self into the sea , covered with green trees , and causing a beautiful prospect by reason of their evenness , seeming as if planted by a line ; the natives , have generally small bellies , long legs , broad feet , long toes , sharp sight , quick wits , are envious , curiously neat , thieves , letcherous , subject to the pox , of which as well as their pudenda they are not the least ashamed , yet hold breaking wind backward a great incivility , and wondred at the hollanders for offering them such contempt . they have stomachs like estridges , as appears by their strange and usual repasts ; when they go to market , they wash from head to foot , and put on other cloths ; they buy only for one day ; their bread is made by stamping their millet as we do spice in a woodden dish , steeping it over night with a little maiz , and in the morning laying it on a stone , they grind it with another stone , as painters do their colours , till it be dough , which they then temper with fresh water and salt , and make rolls thereof twice so big as a mans fist baking them a little on the hearth , and then eat , them . their viands are raw flesh , handfuls of corn , large draughts of aqua vitae , dogs , catts , buffles , elephants , though stinking like carrion , and a thousand magots crawling on them ; they have little birds like bullfinches which hang their nests on the small ends of branches of trees for fear of snakes , these they eat alive feathers and all ; the negro's say that up in the countrey , they eat dried snakes , and the guts of dogs raw , which our author hath seen , and a boy who was left on ship-board in pawn for money , would privately kill the hens , that he might eat the raw guts ; they likewise eat raw stinking fish dried in the sun , yet can dispence with dainties when they have them ; they make a kind of ale of mays and water boyl'd together , and putting it into a vessel as large as a kilderkin , four or five place themselves round , and drink it off , each sending a little pot full to his best beloved wife ; they lay their hands upon the head of him that drinks , and cry aloud thrice tautosi , he must not drink off all , but leave a little to throw on the ground to his fetisso , saying i , ou , spouting out some on the arms and legs of their fetisso's , supposing that otherwise they should not drink in quiet ; they are great drinkers , and feed as unmannerly as swine , sitting on the ground , not swallowing one morsel after another , but tear their meat to pieces , and throw it into their mouths , which stand gaping to receive it , they are always hungry , and would eat all day long ; yea the europeans have great appetites while they are there ; he that gets most , drinks most of their strong liquors , for they lay up but little . ii. sierra leona . this fort is in bence island , and was likewise demolished by the french in the late war. it is also rebuilding , and will be secured by sixteen guns , and thirty europeans , besides mulatto's and blacks . an englishman dwelt a long time in one of the isles , having a fine house , and was well beloved and protected by the kings of that countrey . in the first war with holland 1666. our author being aboard a dutch man of war , this english factor writ to them divers times to come and trade with them , and told him he might do it with safety , and upon parole the englishman called abraham came aboard them in his shallop , rowed by three slaves , accompanied by a hollander and two others which belonged to him , and was kindly treated ; but afterward the captain contrary to the advice of the rest , treacherously made him a prisoner , and the three moores with him , to their great surprizal ; and ian. 1. 1667. their great shallop was manned out with thirty men , and one cannonto besiege his house , which was built of brick and freestone , defended with four great guns , incompassed with a fine wood of palmtrees , which supplied him with wine ; on one side were about twenty cabines for the natives , and on the other a spring of good water , it being the most beautiful island upon the river . being about to land , they discovered 200 moores got together about the house with firelocks , and a greater number farther up in the woods , which obliged the hollanders to make a show of going up higher , as being weaker , and so had more occasion for the wind , but the negroes thought they had been gone to bowre , and dispatch'd a canoe to give the king of boulom the alarum , which was persued by the enemy , who fired into their boat , and at length took them ; they were two young slaves belonging to the portugals , who lived with the english factory but would confess nothing of their message ; the english in the house observing what passed fired at them with their cannon , and three of their bullets fell within ten paces of the boat ; the hollanders got out of the reach of their guns , and came to an anchor to wait the tyde ; about an hour after two moores belonging to one of the neighbour islands made up directly to them in a canoe , and came within pistol-shot , but would not be perswaded aboard ; the dutch firing on them , they fled , and stooping for fear of their fire , seemed no higher than catts ; the english in the interim played upon them , though they saw they were out of their reach , to shew the natives they had undertaken their defence , and desired their friendship . the tyde coming in , the dutch retreated to their ship , wherein they found several moores and portugals , and among them the king of bouloms son called bembo , about 35 years old well proportioned , and abating his blackness , a handsom man , he was a great friend of abrahams the english factor , and when he understood he was a prisoner , interceded for his ransom , and on monday noon came on board again with an hundred elephants teeth , weighing nine hundred pound , and two civet catts alive , upon the delivery whereof abraham was dismist , the hollanders giving him a little barrel of strong-waters , a roll of tobacco , a cheese and a salvo of three guns . iii. sherbrow . this fort is scituate in york river , fortified with twenty guns , and a garrison of an hundred and fifty white men , besides mulatto's and negro's . the fort consts of two palankeys , exceeding strongly built of stone , and of a great height , in forme of an half moon . the religion of the natives ( if we may so call it ) is generally paganism , they salute the new moon with horrible roarings , and strange gestures of adoration ; they offer their sacrifices in the woods before great hollow trees wherein their idols are placed ; yet this they do rather out of custom than zeal , using neither form nor method in their devotions , every one making a god after his own fancy ; some seeming to incline to mahumatism , others to iudaism , and many of them are roman catholicks ; yet divers affirm , that god who giveth all things , and can do what he pleaseth , and causes thanders , lightning , rain and wind , is omnipotent , and needs neither praying to , nor to be set forth in so mysterious a way as that of the trinity . they believe that when people die they go into another world , and will have occasion for many of the same things they use here , and therefore put part of their housholdstuff into the grave with the dead corps ; and if they lose any thing , imagine their friends in the other world had need of it , and have taken it away . they have no letters nor books , yet keep tuesday for a sabbath , forbearing then their fishing and husbandry , and the palm wine which is gotten that day must not be sold , but is offered to the king , who bestows it on his courtiers to drink at night . on this day in the midst of the market-place they place a table on four pillars about three yards high , whose flat cover is made of straw and reeds woven together , upon which they place many straw rings called fetisso's or gods , and within them set wheat , water and oil for their god whom they imagine devours it ; their priest they call fetissero , who every festival day placeth a seat upon that table , and sitting thereon , preacheth to the people , but what his doctrine is , the europeans cannot understand : after this the women offer him their infants , whom he sprinkles with water , wherein a live snake swims , wherewith he likewise besprinkles the table , and then uttering certain words very loud , and stroking the children with some kind of colours , as if giving them his blessing , he himself drinks of that water , the people clapping their hands and crying , i ou , i ou , and so he dismisseth this devout assembly . many wear such rings next their bodies , to preserve them from the mischiefs their angry god might inflict upon them , in honour of whom they daub themselves with a kind of chalky earth , which is their morning mattens ; at their eating , the first bit , and the first draught is consecrated to their fetisso , wherewith they besprinkle it : if fishermen have not a good draught , they present a piece of gold to the priest to reconcile them to their frowning saint , who with his wives makes a kind of procession through the streets , smiting his breast , and clapping his hands with a mighty noise , till he comes to the shore , where they cut down boughs from certain trees , and hang them on their necks , playing on a timbrel ; then the priest turns to his wives , and expostulates with them , and throws wheat and other things into the sea as an offering to appease the fetisso's displeasure against the fishermen ; when the king sacrifices to his fetisso , he commands the priest or fitessero to inquire of a tree , whereunto he ascribeth divinity , what he will demand ; the priest comes to the tree , and in a heap of ashes there provided , sticks the branch of a tree , and drinking water out of a bason , spouts it upon the branch , and then daubeth his face with the ashes , after which the devil out of the tree gives answer to the kings questions ; the nobility likewise adore certain trees , esteeming them oracles , and they report the devil sometimes appears to them like a black dog , and otherwhile answers them without any visible apparition . some worship a bird called pittoie , spotted and painted as it were with stars , and resembleth the voice of a bull ; to hear this bird low in their journey , is reckoned a good omen , they saying , their fetisso promises them good fortune , and so they set a vessel of water and wheat in the place where they hear it ; and as the earth and air yield them deities , so the sea yields certain fishes whom they canonize ; upon this account , they never take the tunny fish , the swordfish they eat , but dry the sword on his back , which is held in great veneration : yea the mountains are not without honour , and if they did not pacifie their anger by setting daily presents of meat and drink thereon , they believe they would bend their sullen brows , and as their high tops threaten to scale heaven , would overwhelm the earth , and destroy them all . neither has nature alone this priviledge , but art likewise is concerned in making gods , composed sometimes of filthy things , as of a piece of putrified earth anointed with suet , grease and oil of palms , with five or six parrot feathers upright in the middle , to which morning and night they pay their devotions ; when it thunders , rains hard , or the wind blows strong , there is not one to be seen in the streets , all hide themselves in their houses , and cry , the gods of the whites are angry . the devil is so dreadful to them , they tremble at naming him , and say he beats them , and makes them do evil things for their fetisso , which every one carries about him , some are only the ends of horns filled with dung , others as the heads of some creature and the like ; which their priests sell them at their own price , and pretend they found them under the fetiche tree . when any one dies they make a new fetisso or ring of straw , and conjure it to keep company and protect the dead in their journey to the other world ; they lay the corps on a matt upon the ground , wrapt in woollen , with a stool covered with a goat-skin under the head , the body is then strowed with ashes , the arms laid by its side , and the eyes open'd ; this continues half a day , the best beloved wife sitting by the husband ( as the husband doth by his first wife ) crying aury , and wiping her face with a wisp of straw ; other women go round the house and corps , singing and beating on basons ; the eldest morini or gentleman goes from house to house with a bason , into which every one puts the value of twelve pence in gold ; with this they buy a cow , with whole blood the fittessero or priest appeaseth the fetisso , the friends and kindred assembling , prepare a hen , and then seating themselves in a corner of the dead mans house , they place all his fetisso's or gods on a row , the greatest in the midst , adorning them with garlands of pease and beans , and then sprinkle them with the blood of the hen , and hang a chain or garland of herbs about their necks ; after this the hen being boyl'd , the vvomen set it in the midst of his fetisso's , and the priest taking water into his mouth , amidst his charms , spits it out on the fetisso's , and plucking the herbs from his neck , he makes a ball of them , wherewith he besmears his face ; which ball hereby is made a fetisso , and the party deceased is now at rest . in the mean time , the dearest of his vvives fills all the house with mourning , the neighbours and friends assisting with songs and dances ; at length they take up the corps and carry it to the grave , which is about four foot deep , and covered with stakes that nothing may fall therein ; the vvomen come about the sepulchre , and expostulate thus with him in a pitiful and lamenting voice , alas , why didst thou dye ? thou hadst so much vvheat , so much maiz , thou wast beloved of thy family , and they had great care of thy person , why wouldst thou dye ? what have we deserved , wherein have we offended thee , what discontent have we ever given thee , to oblige thee to leave us ? if he be a man , they add ; thou wert so valiant , so generous , thou hast overthrown so many enemies , thou hast behaved thy self gallently in so many fights , who shall now defend us from our adversaries ? wherefore then wouldst thou dye ? others cry , he is dead , that brave huntsman , that excellent fisherman , that valiant warriour , that great destroyer of portugals , that generous defender of our countrey , he is departed this vvorld . then they throw on a little earth , but none can get into the corps , for he hath with him his houshold stuff , armour , and whatsoever he used in his life time , and vvine too , if he loved it , to drink in the other vvorld . lastly , they cover the sepulchre with a roof to defend all from rain ; if the king dyes , greater solemnity is used , yea his nobles thinking so great a personage ought to have attendants , one offers to him a servant , another a vvife , a third his son or daughter , even many of both sexes to wait upon him , all whom are suddenly slain , and their bloody carcasses buried with him ; yea the kings vvives who loved him best , refuse not this last and everlasting service , but are willing to dye , that they may again live with him . the heads of the slain are set upon poles round about the sepulchre ; meat , drink , cloths , arms , and other utensils are buried with them ; after the funeral , they go to the sea , and there use other ceremonies , some washing , while others play on basons and instruments , where the vviddow or vviddower is laid backward on the water with divers words of complaint , at last they return back to the dead mans house , where they drink themselves drunk , and wash away all further sorrow . iv. dickeys cove . this fort hath ten guns , very good saker , and minion . it lies on the southern part of guinea , and hath four palankers strongly built of lime and stone : vvith a garrison of thirty white men , besides blacks and mulattoes . there is a place called cape miserado by the portugals , either because it is incompassed with rocks that lye under water , and would inevitably destroy any vessel which should come nearer than half a league , or because the french who were formerly massacred here , cryed out misericorde , misericorde , mercy , mercy ; besides the natives of this place being very cruel , they have denominated the river , and called it duro , as being hard and fatal to the europeans . the government of this countrey is absolute and unlimited monarchy ; so that the king is the only and sole judge in all causes ; and though he admit his councellors sometimes to give their opinions , yet he follows his own single resolved determinations ; this absolute power makes him jealous of his honour , of which he will not endure the least diminution ; his highest pomp consists in sitting upon a shield , whereby he signifies that he is the protection and defence of his countrey , and the manager of all vvars , pacifying civil insurrections , and other weighty matters belonging to him alone ; his title is dondagh , which is as much as monarch . vvhen any nobleman is disobedient , and will not appear upon summons , he sends this koredo or shield , as if he would upbraidingly say , be thou lord your self , and bear the burden of the countrey . this peremptory command by the shield is sent by two drummers , who when they come near the offenders habitation , begin to beat their drums , and so continue without ceasing till they have delivered the shield , upon receipt whereof , he must speed to court without delay , carrying the shield with him , which he presents to the king , begging forgiveness for his miscarriages , and so taking up the earth before the king , humbles himself . those that address to the king for any favour , make their way with presents of ribbons , elephants teeth , or such things , which he must deliver at the house of the kings chiefest wife , who carries it to the king , requesting that the person may be admitted into his presence ; if the king accept it , the person hath leave to enter , otherwise if any complaints be brought against him , he sends it back , yet so as the presenter dares not receive and carry it away , but continues his suit by friends without intermission ; by whose frequent and renewed mediations , the king at last seeming a little pacified , remits his severity , takes the present , and calls for the suppliant , who entring the royal presence , goes bowing all along toward the king , who sits on the ground upon a mat , leaning on a stool , when he approaches within two steps , he bows himself to the earth , kneeling upon one knee with his right elbow on the ground , and names the kings title , dondagh , whereupon the king if pleased answers , namady , i thank you , if not he sits silent . if it be a person of quality and his subject , the king perhaps causes a mat to be spread on the ground , upon which sitting at some distance , he moves his request ; but if a forreigner , who comes only to salute the king , he is conducted to him without any further ceremony , and receives an immediate dispatch ; if the person have any proposition , petition , or complaint to make , an interpreter is called , who coming with his bow in his hand , opens the whole matter to the king , sentence by sentence , whereto according to the quality of the affair he receives answer , with promise , if upon complaint , that when he hath heard the other party , he will forthwith give judgment according to right . if any man come to thank the king for doing exemp●…ary justice in a difficult cause , after his presents rec●…ived , he divests himself of all his cloths and ornaments , saving a little cloth to cover his virilities , and so casts himself backward upon the ground , and instantly turning again , rises upon one knee , takes up earth with his hand , and lays it upon his head , then leaning with one elbow upon the earth he says three times dondagh , whereupon the king answers sometimes namady , i thank you , and sometimes otherwise as he thinks fit : the first address is usually performed in his own house in the presence of ●…is chiefest vvife ; but such as concern justice , or the state of the countrey he hears in the council house in the presence of his lords . vvhen some eminent person sent from a neighbour king , desires audience , one of the kings vvives goes with a present , and tells him who sent it , whereupon the person appears before the king and takes up earth . vvhen an ambassador sent from another great prince approaches the borders , he gives notice of his coming ; whereupon he is ordered to remain in the next town till all be made ready which is requisite in the kings town , there he is received with great triumphs , which consist in exercising with bows , arrows , lances and shields , as if they were fighting against enemies , with great drummings and songs of vvar ; the sport ended , the king retires to the council-house , where after a little stay , inquiry is made if the king may be saluted ; having permission , the ambassador enters , and kneeling down with his back to the king , and his bow in his hand bent to the utmost , he allusively implys , that he will set himself to the utmost against his enemies : mean time the ambassadors followers chant forth his praises , as before the kings servants sung elogiums to his honour : these encomiums they always begin with polo , polo sammach , and then add , his handy-work is not to be equalled by another man , and then , i will stick as close as pitch to him that opposes me . the council-house is open on all sides , with great attendance round about , where he receives this first address ; after which the ambassador desires leave to relate his embassy , but is put off till next day , so retiring , he diverts himself till the appointed time in feasts and recreations . the ambassador receives answer by the kings directions from an interpreter , and then is shewed the apartment for him and his retinue , where the kings slaves bring them water to wash , and the kings vvomen being neatly dre●…t , in dishes set on their heads bring rice and flesh , after which the king sends for his vvelcome , vvine and other presents , as a kettle , bason , or the like . if any european merchant bring the king a present , he is invited to eat with him , but with no black of what quality soever will he eat out of the same dish , but sends their meat to them by his vvomen . once a year he makes a great feast for the common people , buying up for that purpose all the palm-vvine , and herds of cattel , the heads of which are painted and hung up in the kings chamber , in testimony of his bounty : he inviteth also his neighbour kings , captains and gentlemen , and then prays and sacrifices to his fetisso , which is the highest tree in the town . the king comes little abroad ; morning and evening , his slaves blow trumpets made of elephants teeth , while his wives anoint and wash his body : he sits in state holding in his hand the tail of an horse to drive away flyes , adorned with rings of gold on his arms , neck and legs , and coral beads wherewith he se●…s off his beard . the kings children must maintain themselves when of age , the people not liking to maintain them idle ; the king only bestows on them a marriage-gift and a slave ; when he dies , his eldest brother succeeds in the throne , and enjoys his rice , fields , slaves and women . these people believe that the almighty whom they call kanuo , will punish all their misdeeds , and reward well-doers , and therefore when oppressed , call for his aid to do them justice , continually inculcating , that there shall a time come when all ill men shall receive their deserts . they imagin that their friends after death become spirits , whom they call iannanen , and know all transactions here below , with whom therefore they hold familiar colloquies , acquainting them with all their troubles and adversities ; when they go into the woods to hunt elephants , buffles , or upon any other dangerous enterprize , they go first and offer to the spirit of their deceased parents , either a cow , wine or rice , which they leave on the grave ; they suppose them to reside in the woods , to whom they address themselves with great complaints and lamentations when in affliction ; where likewise their most solemn acts of devotion are performed , where no women nor children are permitted to come ; the king calls upon the souls of his father and mother in every difficulty . if a woman be suspected of adultery , the complaining husband desires she may be delivered up to iannanen , or the spirits of his ancestors , and brings her in the evening before the council , where calling the spirits to her , she is blindfolded , admonished to forsake her evil life , and not to go to any but her own husband , and presently a great noise or murmur is raised , as if spirits did appear , with some unintelligible ( though articulate ) sounds , which are interpreted aloud to the whole congregation , with threatnings , that if ever she commit the like offence again , she shall be punished according to her demerits , and with her paramour , be carried away by iannanen , to whom yet none are delivered up but upon clear evidence of their guilt ; to which end they have a water of cursing or divination wherewith they extort the truth in all doubtful matters , compounded of barks and herbs boiled together , which when it is enough , the priest repeats secretly the names of the suspected persons , or other matters to which the witchcraft must be applied , and then washes the legs and arms of those accused with fair water ; after this he puts his divining staff , which is bruised and tusted at the end , into the pot , and drops or presseth the water out of it upon the arm or leg of the suspected person , muttering these words over it , if he be guilty of this or that , then let this water sc●…ld or burn him till the very skin come off . if the party remain unhurt , they judge him innocent , and proceed to the trial of another till they have discovered the criminal , who being found , the executioner instantly leads him bound and blindfold into a field or wood , and placing him on his knees with his head bowed down , he first runs him through the body with a scimetar , and then c●…ops off his head with an ax , for they do not believe he is dead till his head is off ; the carcase cut into four quarters , after great lamentations , they leave in the field as a prey to the beasts and fowls , but the friends take away the head as a great present , and boiling it in a kettle , drink up the broth , hanging the scull by their fetisso or idol . the like trial is made of other offences among the blacks , so that every one had need be very careful to prevent suspicion . v. commenda . this fort is four square strongly built of stone . it hath twenty guns , and fourscore europeans to defend it , with many negro's and mulatto's . some time since mendino the king of manou died , whose subjects and favourites made strict inquiry according to custom , how he came by his end , but the narrowest of their scrutinies not being able to make any discovery , they were forced to acquiesce , yet had such an inveterate hatred against manimassah , his brother , that they forced him to the trial , which seeing no other remedy , he underwent without any hurt , as a remarkable sign of his innocence ; whereupon he demanded to be restored to his former honour and credit , but instead thereof , the tryers told him , the king in his life time was our common father , and should not we after his death endeavour to find out what caused him to dye it were a great shame for us ; we have examined and tryed you but it shall not remain so , we will look farther into the business , and make the southsayers acquainted with it ; manimassah mad at these inhumane usages , burst forth at last into these words ; this shame is not to be suffered from my own subjects in my own countrey , i will go under the conduct of the spirits of my deceased friends , and seek a dwelling place . in this manner leaving his native countrey , he travelled northward into gala , inhabited by a mean and simple people , and won so upon them by his endearing behaviour , that they unanimously besought him to be their prince , to which he consented upon condition , that they should give him some of their plants and venison for an acknowledgement of their subjection . this they yielded to , but such was their brutish barbarism , that though they owned him their lord , they used him as there companion , for being wholly unacquainted with civility , when any of them brought him wine , rice or flesh , they came again to him to require their callibashes or basquets , which unmannerly clownish behaviour , manimassah so resented , that he withdrew from them , to require assistance from flansire king of folgia , whose daughter he had married , to reduce the gala's to his authority . the king hearing the request of his son in law , lent him many souldiers under the conduct of flonikerry his general , who unexpectedly fell into gala , and subdued the people , setling manimassah in an absolute dominion , who hath ever since continued their prince , and taught them with sorrow more respective qualities ; after this , flonikerry returned to folgia , where he was received and welcomed with great applause , and the king willing to gratifie him for his honest performances , he according to flonikerrys petition , gave him leave to go and conquer , and settle himself and his people in cabo monte an adjacent countrey , expressing his kindness in saying , i shall do the desire of his heart . he with a considerable force marching toward this place , the inhabitants being numerous and couragious , were not soon subdued , but at length tired with the continual onsets of their enemies , who shot poysoned arrows ; which made all wounds though never so slight prove mortal , a fatal invention unknown to these people , they went with their hoods upon their heads as usual , to ask favour , which flonikerry naturally inclined to pity , easily granted , bidding them go lie down with their faces upon the ground , then coming out of his fort he trod upon them with his feet ; he then made an agreement with them some hens being killed in the presence of them all , of whose blood the conquered swallowed a little , as a token of friendship . afterward the hens were boiled , and the flesh eaten among them , only the legs were kept for a perpetual remembrance , for if any man after that time broke his promise , to him were the legs shown , who upon sight thereof soon reca●…ted for fear of the punishment that would follow . flonikerry overjoyed at his success ; for assuring his new dominion , sought to win the minds of the vanquished to him , and to contract a firm league with the lords of his own countrey . but scarce were the minds of the nobility united , when miminique son of manimassah , with a great army of gala's , and others make war upon him , of whose design his father was not ignorant , having forgot the kindness received from flonikerrys arms in settling him in his new acquired dominions ; flonikerry drew together his forces , to whom the nobles joining theirs , he formed a considerable army ; wherewith marching toward the enemy , they came to a battle , wherein by the multitude of their enemies , they were at first put to a disorderly retreat , which flonikerry who was of an undaunted spirit perceiving , digged with his hand a hole in the ground , and put his knees in it , with a resolution either to die there , or to remain conquerour ; so after a long and sharp contest being even covered with arrows , he was slain on the spot . however his men to revenge their princes death , rallied and gave a fresh charge with such fury , that they turned the fortune of the day , and became sole masters of the field . the death of flonikerry , was kept secret till they sent for his brother zillimanque to take his charge , who accepting the same , pursued the victory , and drew near the enemies camp , which he soon surprized , and gave as a spoil to his souldiers ; after which he marched farther , the people all along yielding subjection without blows , whereby they soon became masters of the whole countrey , and gain'd the reputation of a mighty people ; after which he was poisoned , as was thought , leaving behind him several sons who were young , and not capable to manage their fathers conquests . however , flansire his eldest was admitted successor , during whose minority his uncle iemmah undertook the government , but flansire growing to years , took the royal authority into his own hands , and to shew that he inherited as well his fathers valour as countreys , resolves to inlarge his bounds yet farther , and to that end marcht with his forces over the river galinas or hens , taking all the adjacent places as far as sierra leona , and placing garrisons therein : having settled his new conquests , he return'd to his own native principality , where he spent a good part of his life in peace and quietness , when on a sudden there came news from sierra liona that kandaqualla his governour was driven out thence , and forced to fly with all his people to the islands of bannaneo , not being able to withstand falma of dogo , who with a mighty force invaded them ; flansire startled at this intelligence , and knowing nothing more necessary than expedition , sent to the lords , his substitutes , to raise an army and meet him at an appointed randezvouz ; but they having made a private confederacy with gamina their master flansires brother , neglected and slighted his commands . flansire , ignorant of this combination , leaving the government of his kingdom , wives and children to his treacherous brother gamina , marched with his eldest son flambore the present king of quoia , not doubting the fidelity of his provincials : he went first by land to the river of hens , and from thence in canoes to the isles of bananes , to take with him his people who were driven from sierra leona , and so bringing them back thither , he began a sharp war with falma . this falma had been formerly in great favour with the king of dogo , or hondo , but having debauched one of his wives , the king was so offended , that not content it should , as usual , be bought off with gifts or slaves , he caused his ears to be out off , and banished him his presence , but length of time so wore out the kings fury , that falma was again admitted to court , where he soon began to shew his insolence , and at length addrest the king in these terms ; sir king , considering the wickedness committed against you my lord and master , i am obliged to thank you for your gracious sentence by which i am punished , whereby every one that looks upon me derides and scorns me , and the rather because the punishment is unusual , and the like offence customarily bought off with goods and slaves : now as you were pleased to punish me , so i desire the like offence in others may be punished in the same manner . it may happen that some of the kings servants or subjects may fall into the same lapse , but if this sentence be either denied , or not performed , i shall complain against my lord the king in the ways and in the woods to the jannanen and belli , that is , to all the spirits and demons . the king having heard this audacious speech , notwithstanding this seeming threat , determined that the punishment inflicted on him should not follow upon all : but yet to pacifie him , he made him general of an army to recover sierra leona out of the hands of kandaqualla , who presided there for flansire . to repel this invader flansire as we said coming to sierra leona with an army , and making sharp war , at length by the help of some europeans he fell upon the town of falmahah , and with axes cutting down the treewall , at last they forced an entrance , and set the houses on fire , whose fury soon increased to an impossibility of being quenched , whereupon falma unable to resist , fled , whom young flambore pursued , and though he mist him , yet got great reputation , the people stiling him , the pursuer of falma . flansire having reconquered these countries , and setled kandaqualla , retreated with his forces , intending to return to his wife and children ; but on the way he had notice , that his brother gamana had usurped his kingdom , killed all his sons he could meet with , taken his wives for himself , and had set up his residence at a convenient place near the river of hens , to intercept and hinder his brothers approach ; this rebellion of his brother was attended with the invasion of manou , who dwelt near cape miserado . they fell into his countrey at cape de monto , where they burnt the town , and led away all they met with for slaves . flansire understanding these mischiefs , marched toward the river maqualbary with all speed , complaining to the kanou and iananies ( that is , to god and the angels ) of his distress in these words , to you it is known , that my father left me rightful heir to his kingdom , which falls to me by the laws of the land , seeing i was the eldest : you likewise know that my brother hath rebelled against me , and hath set himself up to be lord , be you judges between him and me in this intended fight , and if the cause be unjust that he manages against me , let the mischief fall upon his own head . then he passed with all his souldiers over the river , where the armies met , and his brother with great numbers of men being slain , he obtained a compleat victory , but still kept the field , to be ready against any other appearing rebels , his son flambore went with a squadron of souldiers into the woods to hunt civit cats , and being by his sports got far into them , they discovered some of the rebels busie in burying the dead body of gamana the usurper , who perceiving flambore and his followers , fled , imagining he had come to search them out , and left the corps , with three slaves in chains , whom they intended to have dispatch at his grave : being by this means assured of gamana's death , when they least expected it , they brought the three slaves to flansire , who having understood how all things stood in the countrey , he sent them to their fellow-rebels to admonish them to come and ask his pardon , and that he would forget their misdeeds ; which wrought the desired effect , for the rebels submitted , and received their pardon . king flansire then marched to cape miserado and reduceing monou , with great slaughter and spoil of the countrey , retired home with his forces , monou made a new insurrection to revenge the losses of falma , but was again totally subdued by flansires people . vi. cape coast castle . this castle is a strong regular fortification consisting in four bulwarks , seaventy guns , and two hundred and fifty men . in the principality of anten near tekorari , the hollanders built a fort , which in 1664. was attaqued by sir robert holms in behalf of the royal african company , with two of the kings men of war , six frigats , and some other ships , and by them with no great difficulty won , but regained the next year by admiral de ruyter , being at that time only mann'd by four or five in health , and as many sick english-men , having in it seven iron guns , and six or eight pounders . upon the retaking , the guns being drawn off to the ship , de ruyter caused it , as not being tenable , without many people and great charges , to be blown up into the air , and totally dismantled . in the mean time the negro's of the mine plundered the village of tekorari , and laid it waste with fire and sword , out of malice to the blacks of that place , exercising great cruelty upon the prisoners , cutting off their heads , wherewith they went dancing and leaping up and down , and at last carried them home in token of victory ; they were well armed according to the countrey fashion , some having caps like helmets , adorned with feathers and horns of beasts , and swords hanging on their bellies , whereon instead of handles they put the bones of lions , tygers , and other beasts , their faces are generally painted with red and yellow , which make a terrible sight . in the kingdom of fet●… the hollanders have a fort called cape corso , strengthened with great guns , and mann'd with a strong garrison of slaves , but in 1664. this with the forts of tekorari aforementioned , adia , and anemabo were taken by sir robert holmes for the royal african company , but when de ruyter in 1665. with the dutch fleet had forced the english fort cormantyn , he spared neither diligence nor cost to regain cape corso then in the english possession , and the rather because iohn valkenberge the dutch commander there , judged it dangerous that any place in that countrey should be left in the hands of the english , alledging that if during the wars in europe they were expelled thence , by consequence they might easily be kept out , whereas by the holding of this place , they had an opportunity to settle their jurisdiction in the countrey again , and in defiance of their power might defend it against them : but finding the natives sided with the english , threatning fire and sword , having also possessed themselves of a place , where a hundred men might beat off a thousand , it was judged not feasible , without great danger , and the design was laid aside . vii . fort royal. this fort was demolish'd by the war , and is now repairing . it will be very strong , all built of stone , with sixteen guns , and forty white men , besides blacks and mulatto's . in the kingdom of fantyn , the chief town upon the seaco●…ts ●…led cormantyn is the principal place of trade , scituate upon a high mountain ; it is the most delightful prospect upon the whole coast. in 1665. feb. 8. cormantyn was attaqued by the dutch , the manner thus ; the holland fleet coming to anchor feb. 6. westward of cormantyn , the next day they got four or five hundred canoes with negro's from the castle del myne , with which well mann'd they departed from the fleet , intending to land at anemabo , but were upon their approach , saluted by the negro's of cormantyn , who lay behind the clifts and bushes with muskets and cannon , playing from the fort with such fury that they were forced to retreat . this enterprize was twice reattempted upon hopes of having the negro's side with them , but without success , however they came at last to a more strict alliance with the negro's , who for security of their faith delivered several hostages into their hands ; and the design was to be executed with the first opportunity ; having pitcht on a time , at night a negro called antonio , came in a canoe sent by the inhabitants of fantyn , declaring that the people about anemabo , and adja could not be ready at the appointed hour , but in the morning they would not fail of their promised assistance , adding that early in the morning at the new cast up fort of adja the prince of oranges flag should be set up , upon which sign the dutch might land with their whole force . this concluded , the chief commanders of the fleet resolved the following morning tomake the onset , yet before hand sent a letter to the english commander in chief , requiring the surrender of the fort without opposition . accordingly at eight a clock in the morning , the princes flag being raised upon the new erected fort of adja , they lanched through with much hazard near the same fort , and marched in order along the shote with three thousand negro's , every one with a linnen cloth about his neck to distinguish them from other blacks , and came about noon to anemabo , drawing forth about a musket shot westward of cormantyn , to a hill planted with three pieces of ordnance , where they found stout opposition ; but at length overpowered they fled , and then the hollanders entred the town and set it on fire , the flame and smoke whereof suddenly surprized the garrison in the castle , insomuch that as soon as they saw the souldiers with scaling ladders , hand granadoes , and other utensils of war under their walls , they took down the red flag from the tower , and immediately as it were without a stroke delivered it up . into this castle were souldiers out of the castle of myne instantly put to secure it ; to the subduing this fort , the hollanders were not a little animated by the promise of assistance from the natives of fantyn , which they purchased of them as we hinted before , for fifty two bars of gold , to the value of two thousand five hundred pound english money . viii . annamabo . this is a strong fort built with brick and stone ; the walls are twenty four foot high . it hath fourteen guns , and thirty white men , besides natives to guard it . this fort lyes half a mile west from cormantyn , one half whereof is inhabited by the fishermen of the myne , and the other by those of fantyn ; at cannon shot distance west from this lies adja , where the dutch had a fort taken by the english in 1664. and by them kept till the attempt upon cormantyn , when they blew it up with gunpowder by stratagem , for having laid an heap of earth at the mine , they ●…ntended when any came thereon with hopes of plunder , to have blown them up by springing the mine , but little harm was done , however the english in the mean time left the place and retreated to cormantyn . between adja and anemabo lies a town called ianasia , where the english have a fort. the principal places of trade lying near the sea and frequented by the whites are cormantyn and ademabo , the former having been the chief place of the english upon this coast for some years , where they got the best sort of goods , and enjoyed most friendship , for the support whereof , they built that fort planted with forty two pieces of ordnance , and fortified with four bulwarks . the king keeps his residence in the town of fantyn , and extends his jurisdiction about ten or twelve miles round , being able in time of war to bring eight or ten thousand men into the field . ix . winnebah . this is a regular fortification strongly built of stone . it hath 18 guns , and 50 europeans besides slaves to defend it . these countries produce variety of creatures , and among others , tygers and leopards , who bear great enmity to each other , though generally the tyger is the conquerour , therefore when the leopard is pursued by the tyger , he with his tail wipes out his footsteps that so he may not be traced . some of the ancients knowing the fierceness of the tyger , attributed to him the command of the woods , but in these parts , because he hurts no man but only beasts , they make the leopard king of the forrest , for which ravening temper they are hunted and killed by all men , even for their own safety . when a leopard is killed they bring him dead to the kings town , there to be cut up and eaten , being flea'd they present his skin and teeth to the king , and the people assembled , eat the flesh boil'd as a dainty , spending the remainder of the day in revelling and dancing , as at their most solemn festivals . there is likewise a monstrous creature which the portugals call salvage , that is a satyr , it hath a great head , a heavy body , fleshy and strong arms , no tail , and goes sometimes upright , and otherwhile upon all four like an ape . the blacks affirm it is of humane race , but by the alteration and change of the woods and wil●…erness it is become half a beast , they sustain themselves in the woods with fruit and wild honey , which they get out of the trees , and as they are numerous , so upon meeting , they fight continually with each other . the negro's relate strange things of them , and aver for certain , that they not only overpower feeble women and virgins , but dare also set upon armed men. there is another strange beast , like a crocodile six or seven foot long , very slender , and the tongue of an extraordinary length . it is a beast of prey , and very strong , close set with gaudy quills over the whole body , wherewith it offends men , and defends it self against other creatures , for when the leopard attempts to seize it , it converts into a round ball , setting up the points of its quills that no hold can be fixed , their food is generally pismires , which with their tongues they lick up at a great distance . the hyaena is another strange beast which some have thought to be male one year , and female another , it hath no joint in the neck , and so stirs not his head , but the whole body at once ; he is said to imitate the voice of men , and having heard the name of some of the shepherds , will call him , and when he comes devour him : they say his eyes are of various colours , and that his shadow prevents the barking of a dog : by ingendring with this beast , the lioness brings forth a corcuta of like qualities with the hyaena , he hath one continued tooth without division throughout his mouth . the lybard is not hurtful to men except they disturb him . the dabu is said to be a foolish creature , in shape like a wolf , only his legs and feet are like a mans ; they that know his haunts , sing and fiddle before his den , his ears being so captivated with the musick , that he is not aware his legs are captivated with a rope , whereby he is taken . the zebra exceeds all creatures in beauty , resembling a fine horse , but not so swift , with curious party-colours , from head to tail , they live in great heards , and when one is shot , the rest stand still , gazing till they see three or four fall down before them . the rivers breed water elephants , as big as a large horse , but much thicker and rounder , seeming as if they were blown up ; likewise sea-cats , and other monstrous creatures . there are fowls of divers kinds , as eagles , parrots , cranes , and a bird like a thrush , by whose chirping they guess at their good or ill fortune in their journey , crocodiles are so large that they will swallow an ox whole ; but above all the monstrous serpents are remarkable , among which the most poisonous are of a grass green : some are so curiously spotted with lively colours as are scarce to be found in any other creatures . the king of benin , whom the inhabitants call king of serpents , keeps commonly one in his arms , which he strokes and fosters as it were a young child , and so highly esteems , that none dare hurt it . the negroes rost and eat some of them as great dainties . africa hath been famous in all ages for prodigious serpents and monsters . one called minia is so large , that it can swallow a whole deer without chewing devouring boars and other beasts , it l●…rks for prey within some bush , which coming within reach it suddenly seizes , winding two or three times about the body and loins , till it falls down and dies , of which being glutted , he lie●… , not able to stir till his gorged paunch has digested his meal : of this kind was that which attilius regulus the roman consul in the first punick war at the river bagrada encountred , and planted his engines and artillery against it , whose skin sent to rome , was in length an hundred and twenty foot ; the scales defended it from darts or arrows , and with the breath it killed many , and eat divers souldiers , till at last with a stone out of an engine this destroyer was destroyed . hear how the elegant lucan , as eloquently translated describes it , when iulius caesar in pursuit of cato into africa came to the place which was formerly the habitation of this dreadful serpent , and had this account given him by an african . caesar within a shady grove espies a dismal cave in which no chearing light , at all ere peep'd : but sad and doleful night a squalid filth , and mouldiness had made . from whence exhaled steams and fumes invade the upper air ; whilst caesar in amaze doth nearly view the horrour of the place his longing thoughts an african there by ( taught by tradition ) thus doth satisfie . this den o caesar which for many a year hath empty stood and freed the land from fear , a monstrous serpent by heavens vengeance bred the plague of africk , once uninhabited . the earth a greater monster never bare not hydra might with this dire snake compare , nor though the sun the mighty python slew , did ere the sun a greater serpent view . the several snakes that out of africks slime are bred , might all have been in him combin'd , an hundred feet in length was his extent ; when he upon this side the river went with his long neck stretcht out , what ere ●…e spy'd with ease he seized from the other side . with lions here he filled his hungry maw , that came to drink the streams of bagrada , and fiercest tygers all besmear'd with blood of cattle slain , became themselves his food . when first the roman armies sailing o're , and threatning carthage on the africk shore were led by regulus , whose tragick fall sadly renown'd the spartan general , here then this hideous monster did remain ; the army marching on yon spacious plain , three roman soldiers by ill fate drew near to quench their fiery thirst i' th river here , and tempted by these shady trees , to shun a while the scorching fury of the sun entring the wood , down to the stream they stoop . and in their helmets take the water up , when suddenly surpriz'd with chilling fear a horrid hissing through the air they hear and from the den the serpents head appears at once amazing both their eyes and ears what should they do ? for help they could not call the serpents hissing loud had filled all the vvood ; nor strength nor hearts had they to fight nor scarce did any hope appear by flight , nor could their trembling hands the helmets hold , vvhen streight the serpent from his scaly fold shot forth , and seized one , who calling on his fellows names in vain , was swallowed down and buried in the monsters hungry maw . his horrid destiny when the others saw they leapt into the stream to save their lives , but that alas to them no safety gives . for forth his long twin'd neck the serpent stretch't , and swimming havens in the river reach't vvho though too late , he strived to be drown'd in bagrada , a fate more cruel found . marus at last , while havens death did stay the monsters speed , had time to scape away , and to th' amazed general relates the serpents greatness , and his fellows fates . but ere his faltring tongue had fully told the tragick story , they from far behold the scaly monster rouling on the sands in spacious windings ; regulus commands , the army streight their piles and spears prepare to charge and march against it as a vvar , and ready all their battering engines make that strongest vvalls and bulwarks us'd to shake ; the trumpets then as to a battle sound ; vvhich noise the serpent hearing , from the ground , vvhere he in spa●…ious rings infolded lay , aloft his head advances to survey the champion round , and to their eyes appears large as the dragon 'twixt the heavenly bears , fire from his threatning eyes like lightning shot , and hellish blasts exhal'd from his wide throat vvhile he advanc't , you would suppose from far a moving castle made offensive vvar. and shooting forth , he in a moment flew upon far distant faces ; at whose view the startling horses could no more be held by bits , but snorting flew about the field , vvhilst this dread serpent sad massacres makes amongst the men ; some 'twixt his jaws he takes and crushes there ; some into the air he flings who falling dye ; and while his spacious rings he doth unfold with fury , sweeping round the sand , he beats whole cohorts to the ground , the army now gave ground , and ' gain retire when noble regulus inflam'd with ire to see this shame , cries out , oh stand the field , to africk monsters shall romes virtue yield ? if so , i singly will the combat try , and expi●…ting romes dishonour dye . then all alone , devoyd of fear he goes , and his strong pile against the serpent throws with skilful aim , whom not in vain he struck in his tough forehead the steel'd javelin struck , the hideous monster whose long age before had nere felt steel , sent out a yelling rore , and darting forth , impatient of the wound with his long tail he lasht the suffering ground , a shout the souldiers raise , incourag'd now and altogether storms of javelins throw , some harmless lighting on his scaly back such noise as hail on tiled houses make , some pierce his breast , and softer belly wound , those parts alone they penetrable found , black gore from thence distains the swarthy sands , at last two javelins sent from lucky hands in both his fiery threatning eyes did light , depriving him , though not of strength , of sight ; whos 's yet blind rage draws many a ruin on , until at last a huge and massy stone , shot from a bulwark battering engine stroke his bowed back with such gteat force , it broke that many jointed bone ; nor then could he lift as before his speckled crest on high ; but as he strugling lay upon the plain , another stone dash't out his poysonous brain , the sands discolour'd with black filth appear , and that so lately feared serpent , there stretcht out at length , his dismal life expires , his vast extent the general admires . some parts of africa produce dragons , of vast bulk , slow motion , and their stinging incurable ; some are said to be as big as a ram with wings , long tail , and divers rows of teeth in his mouth , his scales seem painted with blew and green , hath two feet , and feeds upon raw flesh ; another serpent hath a rundle in his tail like a bell , that makes a noise as he goes , somewhat like the rattle-snake . there are a multitude of deadly serpents in those countreys , as the ceraestes which hath a little coronet of four horns , whereby ●…he allureth the birds to him , hiding all but his head in the sands , and then devoureth them : the iaculi so called because they dart from trees on such creatures as pass by . the amphisbena hath two heads which causeth it to crawl round . the scytale is admirable for variety of colours . the dips●… kills those she stings with thirst. the hypanale causeth them to sleep to death , as happened to cleopatra queen of egypt . the hemorrhois makes them bleed to death . the prester occasions them to swell till they burst ; and not to poyson you with more names of venemous creatures , the basilisk is said to kill with her sight or hissing , as galen and solinus affirm , it is not half a foot long , having on the head three pointles like a crown or bishops miter , it blasteth the ground , herbs and trees , and so infecteth the air , that birds flying over fall down dead , it affrights all other serpents with the hissing , going upright from the belly ; if it kill any thing that is also venemous to such as touch it , only a weasil kills it ; the bergameni bought the carcase of one at an incredible price , which they hung up in their temple , ( that was curiously painted by apelles , ) in a net of gold , to preserve it from birds or spiders ; lemnius affirms that from an egg laid by an old cock after he is past treading of hens , is produced a basilisk or cockatrice . the various kinds of serpents in africa , and the tremendous effects of them upon mankind are described by lucan , lib. 9. relating the march of cato's army over the burning sands of libia . the venemous asp appears with swelling head , which in no serpent is compacted more . in scaly folds the great hemorrhus lyes whose bite from all parts draws the flowing blood . the pareas whose way his tail doth guide the greedy prester too , distending wide his venom-foaming mouth . the seps whose bite consumes the bones , dissolves the body quite . the basilisk whose hiss all snakes do scare ( hurtful before the venom touch ) who far all vulgar serpents from his sight commands , reigning alone upon the empty d sands , you dragons too , glistring in golden pride , who hurtless wander in all lands beside . you , africk mortal snakes ; aloft you fly , through th' air on wings , and follow speedily , the heards ; your strokes the mightiest bulls destroy great elephants scape you not ; for you all kill , nor need you poysons help to work your will. this thirsty way among these venom'd snakes cato amidst his hardy souldiers takes , where many losses of his men be found , and deaths unlook't for , from a little wound . a trodden dipsas turning back his head did sting young aulus ensign bearer bred of tyrrhene race , no grief no pa●…n ensu'd , his wound no pity found , no danger shew'd , but yet alas , did fiery venom deep into his marrow and scorcht entrails creep , which quite drunk up all moisture that should flow into his vital parts , his palate now and tongue is scorch't and dry , no sweat could go to his tir'd joints , from 's eyes no tears could flow . his place , nor his sad generals command could stay this thirsty man ; out of his hand he throws his ensign , water runs to have which the dry venom in his heart did crave . though he in midst of tanais did lye padus or rodanus , he would be dry , or drink the streams where ever nilus flows . the soil adds to his drowth , the worm doth lose his venoms fame helpt by so hot a land. he digs and seeks each vein in all the sand. now to the syrts he goes , and in his mouth salt water takes ; which could not quench his drowth although it pleas'd ; he did not know what kind of death he dy'd , nor his disease could find but thinks it thirst , and now full fain he wou'd rip open all his veins , and drink his blood. cato commands them ( loath his men should stay to know what thirst was , ) streight to march away , but a more woful death before his eye appear'd ; a seps on poor sabellus thigh hung by the teeth , which he streight with his hands cast off , and with his pile nail'd to the sands . a little snake , but none more full than she of horrid death , the flesh falls off that nigh the wound did grow ; the bones are bared round without the body naked shows the wound , his shanks fall off , matter each member fills , his knees are bar'd , his groin black filth distils , and every muscle of his thighs dissolves , the skin that all his natural parts involves , breaking lets fall his bowels , nor doth all that should remain of a dead body fall , the cruel venom eating all the parts , all to a little poysnous filth converts the poyson breaks his nerves , his ribs doth part , opens his hollow breast , there shews his heart , his vitals all , yea all that man composes and his whole nature this foul death discloses , his head , neck , shoulders , and strong arms do slow in venemous filth ; not sooner melts the snow by hot south winds , nor wax against the sun. this is but small i speak ; burnt bodies run melted by fire in filth ; but what fire ere dissolv'd the bones ? no bones of his appear , following their putrid juice , they leave no sign of this swift death ; the palm is only thine of all the africk snakes ; the soul take they , but thou alone the carcase tak'st away . but lo a death quite contrary to it marsian nafidius an hot praester bit whose face and cheeks a sudden fire did rost his flesh and skin was strech't , his shape was lost . his swelling body is distended far past humane growth , and undistinguisht are his limbs ; all parts the poyson doth confound , and he lies hid in his own body drown'd , nor can his armour keep his swoln growth in not more doth boyling water rise within a brazen caldron , nor are sails more swel'd with western winds ; no limb he now can weil'd . a globe deform'd he is , an heap confus'd , vvhich ravening beasts did s●…are , which birds refus'd to which his friends dust do no obsequy nor touch ; but from the growing carcase fly . these serpents yet present more horrid sights ' a fierce hemorrhus noble tullus bites , a brave young man that studied cato's worth , and as in pouncing of a picture , forth through every hole the pressed saffron goes so from his every part red poyson flows for blood ; his tears were blood , from every pore where nature vented moisture heretofore , his mouth , his nose flows blood ; his sweat is red , his running veins ; all parts are bloodied , and his whole body's but one wound become . an aspes sharp sting did levus heart benum , no pain he felt ; surpriz'd with sudden sleep he dy'd , descending to the stygian deep . on an old stump a dartlike snake did lye which as from thence her self she nimbly threw through paulus head , and wounded temples flew , 't was not the poyson brought his fate , the blow it self caus'd death ; to her compared slow fly stones from slings , and not so swift as she from parthian bows do winged arrows flee . vvhat helpt it wretched murrus that he did kill a fierce basilisk ? the poyson slid along his spear , and fastned on his hand vvhich he cut off , and then did safely stand vvith that hands loss , viewing securely there the sad example of his death so near , &c. ostriches in africa keep in great companies , and appear afar off like troops of horsemen , putting a ridiculous terrour into the caravans of merchants , it seems to be a foolish bird that forgetteth her nest , and leaveth her eggs for the sun and sand to hatch , she eateth any thing even the hardest iron , and is said to be deaf . another bird bigger than a crane soars so high in the air that his great body is invisible , yet from thence espieth his prey and falls down directly upon it , he lives so long that all his feathers fall away by age , and then is fed by his young ones . locusts or grashoppers do here often renew the egyptian plague , coming in such vast numbers that like a cloud they intercept the sun , and having eaten the fruits and leaves , they leave their spawn behind , who are worse than themselves , devouring the very barks of the naked trees . orosius says , that one time after they had done all this mischief , they did worse by their deaths , for being carried by a strong wind into the sea , and again cast up dead on the shore , their putrified carcases caused such a pestilence , that in numidia only there died eight hundred thousand , and on the sea coast near utica and carthage two hundred thousand . in some places they forced the people to leave the countrey , it being so desart and destroyed that they left nothing to sustain them , and lookt as if it had snowed by reason of the trees without barks ; the fields of maiz were as if trodden down after a tempest of rain and thunder ; they lay above two yards thick upon the rivers bank , in the river nilus in the time of mauricius the emperour , at the place where grand cario now standeth , a giant-like monster was seen , from the bottom of his belly upward he appeared like a man , with flaxen hair , frowning countenance and strong limbs ; after he had continued in the view of multitudes three hours , there came out of the vvater another like a vvoman with a comely face , part of her black hair hanging down , and part gathered into a knot , her face was fair , rosie lips , fingers and breasts well composed , the rest of her body hid under water , from morning to sun-set they fed their greedy eyes with this spectacle , which then sunk down into the water and was never seen more . x. acra . this is a strong fort erected all of stone , and consists of 4 palankers , 25 guns , and 70 white men , besides blacks . mr. ogilby in his history of africa names several other places belonging to the royal african company as madre bomba , cormantyn , ianasia , eniacham , rio , nuno , rio grande , serbro , cestos , achin , auta , ardra , benin , with old , and new calabar . but i am assured , that these mine aforementioned , are all the castles and forts , of which they are possest at this time . this countrey ( unknown to the ancients ) is properly a part of negroland , and called guinea from the heat hereof . the air is so extream hot and unwholsome especially to strangers , many of whom live but a short time after their arrival , that were it not for the rains and coolness of the nights , it would be altogether uninhabitable . it is governed by several sovereigns , the chief of whom is called , emperor of guinea ; to whom divers other kings and princes are subject . the capital city is arda . next to him is the king of benin , esteemed a powerful prince , having several large territories subject to him . upon the death of her husband . in the kingdom of benin the wife is absolutely , subject to her own son , ( if she have any ) and cannot be sold for a slave without leave from the king. a late author gives the following list of the forts , factories , and places of trade , wherein the royal african company are concerued on the coast of guinea . on the golden coast. james fort in an island in the river gambia . sierra leona upon bence island . on the coast of malaguette sherborow in york island . druw●…n . on the quaqua coast rio de st. andro . ieaque ieaque . c st apolonia . aymo in comore bay. succundo . cabo corso . fredecht burg sold to us by the danes annishan unfortifi'd . anmamabou . aggau of no defence . in the kingdom of loango moango mulemba cabenda . the captivity and deliverance of john watts an englishman , from slavery under the king of the buckamores , and the king of calanach , near old mallabar in guinea . having met with the following relation i shall conclude the account of guinea therewith . in 1668 an english ship bound for guinea , sailing to old calabar , they entred a river called the cross-river into pirats-island ; after they had taken in their negro's , and were ready to sail , the master called up the boatswain and three men more to look out the copper bars that were left , and carry them on shore to sell ; the boatswain with his small company desired they might have arms , not believing they were so harmless a people as reported ; they took with them three musquets and a pistol ; and so rowed toward the shore , but their match unhappily fell into the water , and the ship being fallen down lower toward the sea quite out of sight , and they ashamed to go back without dispatching their business , iohn watt's went ashore to the first house to light the match ; but before he was twenty rods from the water side , he was seized on by two blacks or rather tawny-moores , and by them haled half a mile up into the countrey , and thrown with great violence upon his belly , and so compelled to lye till they stript him ; and more company coming , they were so eager for his poor canvas apparel , that some they tore off , others they cut off , and with that several pieces of his flesh to his intolerable pain ; with these rags they made little aprons to cover their privities , clothing being very scarce there ; the boatswain seeing watts carried away , resolved with his two companions to venture their lives to have him again , and arming themselves they were suddenly beset with a dosen men in several canoes , but they valiantly maintained their boat three hours ; for after two or three musquets were discharged , they defended themselves with their oars and boat hooks ; the boatswain received a mortal wound in his groin , and fell down in the boat , the other two adventured into the river , endeavouring by swimming to escape the hands of these cruel infidels ; but the negro's with their swift canoes soon overtook them , and brought them on shore to the other ; they took the boatswain out of the boat , and instead of endeavouring to preserve what life remained in him , one of them with a keen weapon instantly cut off his head ; and while he was yet reeking in his blood , they in a barbarous manner cut off pieces of flesh from his buttocks , thighs , arms , and shoulders , and broil d them on the coals , and with much impatience eat it before his companions faces to their great astonishment . about a fortnight after one of the company fell sick ; and instead of being his physicians to cure him , they were his butchers to murther him , cutting off his head , and broiling and eating his flesh , rejoicing exceedingly at this rich banquet . ten days after the other fell sick , whom they used in the very same manner . watts continued still in health though the natives daily expected such another banquet , because it seems it is not their custom to kill those that are well , and so resolved to s●…ll him ; his master was free to discourse , especially since he had before learned the tata language in the west-indies , which is easily attained , being comprehended in few words , and all the negro's speak it . he began to discourse his master of the reason of their cruelty , who told him , he should be content , for if he were not sick , he should not have his head cut off ; in the boat which they took there was one musket saved that was not discharged , which his master some time after brought to him to know the use of ; watts endeavoured to keep him in ignorance , but being threatned , at length was forced to shoot it off ; but the negro's who expected some delightful thing were frustrated , and at the sudden noise and flash of fire , which they much dread , ran from him affrighted , but hearing no more noise came up again , and commanded him to do the like , he told them he had no powder which caused the noise ; but this would not satisfie these barbarians , who were about to murder him for refusal , ha●…●…ot his master prevented it ; after in discourse his master told him , that the people were naturally civil , and simply honest , but it provoked full of revenge , and that this cruelty toward him and his friends was occasioned by the unhandsome carrying away some native , without their leave about a year before , they resolving if any came 〈◊〉 they should never go off alive ; he had not been above seven weeks in the countrey but his master presented him to the king , whose name was efme king of the buckamores , who immediately gave him to his daughter onijah ; when the king went abroad , he at●…ended him as his page throughout the whole circuit of his dominions , which was not above twelve miles , yet boasting exceedingly of his power and strength , and glorying extreamly that he had a white to attend him , whom he imployed to carry his bow and arrows . at several places remote from the seaside , some of the people would run away from him for fear , others fell down and seem'd to worship him , using those actions they do to their gods. their progress was never so long , but they could return home at night , yet never without a full dose of the creature . during all the time watts was a slave he never knew him go abroad and come home sober . they drink the best palm-wine , and another liquor called penrore ; the englishman knew how to humour this profound prince , and if any of the natives abused him , upon his complaint he had redress ; as once by striving with a negro , his arm was broke , which by providence more than skill was set again ; after some months , the king of calanach called mancha , hearing of this beautiful white , courted his neighbour prince to sell him , and at length he was sold for a cow and a goat ; this king was sober , free from the treacheries and mischiefs the other was subject to , and would oft inquire of him concerning his king and countrey , and whether his kingdoms were bigger than his own , whose whole dominions were not above twenty five miles in length , and fifteen in breadth ; the englishman told as much as he thought convenient , keeping within the bounds of modesty , yet relating as much as possible to the honour and dignity of his soveraign ; first informing him of the greatness of one of his kingdoms , the several shires , and counties it contained , with the number of its cities , towns and castles , and the strength of each , the infinite inhabitants and valour of his subjects ; one of these sufficiently amazed this petty governour , that he need mention no more of his majesties glory and dignity ; it put him into such a profound consternation , that he resolved to find out some way to tender his respects to this mighty prince , and could study none more convenient , than that if he could find a passage he would let him go to england , to inform king charles the ii. of the great favour and respect he had for him ; this did not a little rejoice our englishman ; he also told him that he would send him a present , which should be two cabareets or goats , which they there value at a high rate , this king having himself not above seventeen or eighteen . he tells the king that the king of england had many thousand subjects under the degree of gentlemen , who had a thousand sheep apie●…e , the flesh of which they valued at a much higher rate than goats . though our captive lived happily with this king , yet his desires and hopes were still to return to his native countrey , at length he promised him , that the first english ship which came into the road , should have liberty to release or purchase him ; this much rejoiced his heart now he thought every day a year , till he could hear of , or see some english ship arrived . oft did he walk down to the sea-side , earnestly expecting the winds of providence would blow some in thither ; which being observed by one iaga the chiefest wizard in those parts , and much admired by the people ( though they have a multitude of others ) this man came to him one day , and inquired why he went so often to the sea shore , he told him , to see if he could discover any english vessel come in there and knowing he was a wizard , though not acquainted with his great fame , nor willing to credit his divinations , yet to please him , askt when he did believe there would one come in ; iaga instantly told him ; that the fifteenth day after , an english ship would c●…me into the road. he then demanded whether that ship should carry him away , he answered doubtfully , but said , he should be offered to the master of the ship , and if they did not agree , but he should come ashore again , and not be sold , he would soon dye of grief . these fifteen days seemed very long , many a look did he cast on the sea with an aking heart , the fourteenth day he went to an high hill , but he could discover nothing ; next morning he went again two or three times but saw none ; about two or three hours after , some of the moors came running to the king , telling him there was a canoe coming , so they call our ships , at which our englishman rejoiced , hoping to be releast , yet durst not shew it for fear of punishment or death ; for though he lived better now than with his first master , yet his service was far worse than the slaves in turkey , and their diet worse than dogs meat , the ship came in , and he runs to iaga to know if it were an english ship , who assured him it was , and so it happened ; one captain royden being commander , who hastned to dispatch his business , took in his negro's , and was ready to sail , our captive not hearing a word what should become of him , the king never offering to sell him ; this made him resolve to endeavour an escape ; he had prepared a piece of timber , and drawn it toward the water-side , on which he intended to paddle to the ship , which lay about a league off . just by the sea-side as he was about to lanch his floating stick , he espied a great alligator , which will devour a man at a mouthful , this altered his mind , resolving rather to live with infidels , than be accessary to his own death ; but next day it pleased god to move the kings heart to let him go , sending him in a canoe placed between a negro's legs , with others to guide this small vessel , for fear he should leap over-board , and swim to the ship ▪ at a distance he haled her in english to the great surprizal of those within her , the negro's let him stand up and show himself to the captain , to whom he gave an account ho●… four were left there , and he only remained alive . it was some time before they bargained , though the captain was resolved not to leave him behind . several times the negro's padled away with their canoe , resolving not to part with him , but what with his intreaties and promises , he perswaded them to the ship again , and at last they delivered him on board for forty five copper and iron bars about the bigness of a mans finger ; when he came on board , his hair was long , and his skin tawny like a mulatto , having gone naked all the time he was there , and usually anointed himself with palm-oyl . the sea men charitably apparalel'd him , and he arrived safely in england with a thankful heart for so happy a deliverance . and here i shall conclude the view of guinea . a view of st. helena an island in the ethiopian ocean , in africa now in possession of the honourable east-india-company , where their ships usually refresh in their indian voyages . with an account of the admirable voyage of domingo gonsales , the little spaniard , to the world in the moon , by the help of several ganza's or large geese . an ingenious fancy , written by a late learned bishop . before i come to relate the acquisitions of the english in india , &c. i will make a halt at st. hellens or hellena , which is now possest by the honourable east-india-company . it is called the sea inn , because the english and other nations stop there as a place for watering and refreshment in their long voyages to india . it was formerly seized by the dutch , but retaken may 6th , 1673 by captain munday , with a squadron of english ships , and 3 rich dutch east-india ships made prizes in the harbor ; since which the company have fortified and secured it , against any future invasion of dutch , portuguese , or spaniards . it was called santa helena by the portuguese , who discovered it on st. hellens day , being april 2. there is no island in the world so far distant from the continent or main land as this . it is about sixteen leagues in compass , in the ethiopick-sea ; in 16 degrees of south latitude ; about 1500 miles from the cape of good hope ; 360 from angola in africa ; and 510 from brasile in america . it lyes high out of the water , and surrounded on the sea-coasts with steep rocks , having within many cliffs ▪ mountains and valleys , of which one is named church-valley , where behind a small church they climb up to the mountains . to the south is apple-dale , so called from the abundance of oranges , lemons and pomegranats enough to furnish five or six ships . on the west side of the church , ships have good anchorage close under the shore , to prevent the winds which blow fiercely from the adjacent high mountains . the air seems temperate and healthful , so that sick men brought ashore there , in a short time recover ; yet the heat in the valleys is as intollerable as the cold upon the mountains ; it commonly rains there five or six times a day , so that the barenness of the hills is not occasioned for want of water , of which it hath two or three good springs for furnishing ships with fresh water ; the ground of its own accord brings forth wild pease and beans , also whole woods of orange , lemon , and pomegranat trees , all the year long laden both with blossoms and fruit , good figs ; abundance of ebony and rose-trees , parsly , mustard-seed , purslain , sorrel , and the like ; the woods and mountains are full of goats , large rams , and wild swine , but difficult to be taken . when the portuguese discovered it , they found neither four-footed beasts nor fruit-trees , but only fresh water ; they afterward planted fruit-trees , which so increased since , that all the valleys stand full of them ; partridges , pigeons , moor-hens , and peacocks breed here numerously , whereof a good marksman may soon provide a dinner for his friends . on the cliff-islands , on the south are thousands of grey and black mews , or sea-pies , and white and coloured birds , some with long , others with short necks , who lay their eggs on the rocks , and suffer themselves to be taken with the hand , gazeing at their surprizers , till they are knocked on the head with sticks . from the salt-water 〈◊〉 against the cl●…s a 〈◊〉 or scum remains in some places , which the heat of the s●…n so purifies , that it becomes white and good salt ; some of the mountains yield bole armon●…ck , and a fat earth like terra lemnia the sea will answer the pains of a patient 〈◊〉 , who must use an angle , not a net , because of the foul ground and beating of the waves ; the chief are mackr●… , roach , ●…p , but differing in colour from those among us ; e●…s as big as a mans arm , and well tasted crabs , lobsters , oysters and mussels as good as english. it is in this island that the scene of that notable fancy , called . the man in the moon , or a discourse of a voyage thither , by 〈◊〉 gonsales is lay'd , written by a learned bishop , saith the ingenious bishop wilkins , who calls it a pleasant and well contrived fancy , in his own book intitaled , a discourse of the new world , tending to prove that it is possible there may be another habitable world in the moon ; wherein among other curious arguments he affirms , that this hath been the direct opinion of divers ancient , and some modern mathematicians , and may probably be deduced from the tenents of others , neither does it contradict any principle of reason nor faith ; and that as their world is our moon , so our world is theirs . now this small tract having so worthy a person to vouch for it , and many of our english historians having published for truth , what is almost as improbable as this , as sr. iohn mandavil in his travels and others , and this having what they are utterly destitute of , that is , invention mixed with judgment ; and was judged worthy to be licensed 50 years ago , and not since reprinted , whereby it would be utterly lost . i have thought fit to republish the substance thereof , wherein the author says he does not design to discourse his readers into a belief of each particular circumstance , but expects that his new discovery of a new world may find little better entertainment than columbus had in his first discovery of america , though yet that p●…r espial betrayed so much knowledge as hath ▪ since increast to vast improvements , and the ●…en unknown is now found to be of as large extent as all the other known world ; that there should be antipodes was once thought as great a paradox as now that the moon should be habitable . but the knowledge of it may be reserved for this our discovering age , wherein our virtuosi can by their telescopes gaze the sun into spots , and d●…ry mountains in the moon . but this and much more must be left to the criticks , as well as the following relation of our little eye-witness and great discoverer , which you shall have in his own spanish style , and delivered with that grandeur and thirst of glory , which is generally imputed to that nation . it is known to all the countries of andaluzia , that i domingo gonsales was born of a noble family in the renowned city of sevil my fathers name being therando gonsales near kinsman on the mothers side to don pedro sanches the worthy count of almanera , my mother was the daughter of the famous lawyer otho perez de sallaveda governour of barcellona , and corrigidor of biscay ; i being the youngest of seventeen children , was put to school , and designed to the church ; but heaven purposing to use my service in matters of far another nature , inspired me with spending some time in the wars ; it was at the time that don ferando , the renowned duke d' alva was sent into the low countreys in 1568. i then following the current of my desire leaving the university of salamanea , whither my parents had sent me , without giving notice to any of my friends , got through france to antwerp , where i arrived in a mean condition . for having sold my books , bedding and other things which yielded me about 30 duckets , and borrowed twenty more of my fathers friends , i bought a little nag , wherewith i travelled more thriftily than usually young gentlemen do , till arriving within a league of antwerp , some of the cursed gueses set upon me , and bereaved me of my horse , money , and all ; so i was forc'd through necessity to enter into the service of marshal cossey a french nobleman , whom i served in an honourable imploy , though mine enemies to my disgrace , affirm i was his horse-keepers boy ; but for that matter , i refer my self to count mansfield , and other persons of condition , who have often testified to many worthy men , the very truth of the business , which indeed was this , monsieur cossey being about this time sent to the duke d' alva governour of the low countreys , he understanding the nobility of my birth , and my late misfortune , judging it would be no small honour to him to have a spaniard of that quality about him , furnished me with a horse , arms and whatever i wanted , using my service , after i had learned french , in writing his letters , because my hand was very fair . in time of war if upon necessity , i sometime dressed my own horse , i ought not to be reproacht therewith , since i count it the part of a gentleman to submit to the vilest office for the service of his prince . the first expedition i was in , was when the marshal my friend met the prince of orange making a road into france , and forced him to fly even to the walls of cambray ; it was my good fortune to defeat a trooper by killing his horse with my pistol , who falling upon his leg could not stir , but yielded to my mercy ; i knowing my own weakness of body , and seeing him a lusty tall fellow , thought it the surest way to dispatch him , which having done , i plundered him of a chain , money , and other things to the value of 200 ducats ; this money was no sooner in my pockets , but i resumed the remembrance of my nobility , and taking my audience of leave from monsieur gossey , i instantly repaired to the duke d' alva's court , where divers of my kindred seeing my pocket full of good crowns , were ready enough to acknowledge me ; by their means i was received into pay , and in time obtained favour with the duke , who would sometimes jest a little more severely at my personage than i could well bare , for though i must acknowledge my stature is so little , as i think no man living is less , yet since it is the work of heaven , and not my own , he ought not to have upbraided a gentleman therewith ; and those glorious things that have happened to me may evince , that wonderful matters may be performed by very unlikely bodies , if the mind be good , and fortune second our endeavours ; though the dukes joques a little disgusted me , yet i endeavoured to conceal my re●…entment , and accommodating my self to some other of his humors , i was so far interested in his favour , that at his going into spain . whither i attended him , by his kindness , and other accidents , wherein by my industry i was seldom wanting to my self , i was able to carry home 3000 crowns in my pocket . at my return , my parents , who were extreamly disturbed at my departure , received me with joy , which was increased because they found i had brought wherewith to maintain my self without being chargeable to them , or lessening the portions of my brothers and sisters . but doubting i would spend it as lightly as i got it , they sollicited me to marry the daughter of iohn figueres a considerable merchant of lisbon , to which i complied , and putting my marriage money , and good part of my own into the hands of my father , i lived like a gentleman many years very happily ; at length a quarrel-arising between me and pedro delgades a gentleman and kinsman of mine , it grew so high , that when no mediation of friends could prevail , we two went alone with our swords into the field , where it was my chance to kill him , though a stout proper man ; but what i wanted in strength i supplied in courage , and my agility countervailed for his stature . this being acted in carmona , i fled to lisbon , thinking to conceal my self with some friends of my father in law ▪ till the business might be accommodated , at which time , a famous spanish count coming from the west indies , published triumphant declarations , of a great victory he had obtained against the english near the isle of pines , whereas in reality he got nothing at all in that voyage but blows , and a considerable loss . it had been well if vanity and lying had been his only crimes ; his covetousness had like to have been my utter ruin , though since it hath proved the occasion of eternizing my name i verily believe to all posterity , and to the unspeakable benefit of all mortals for ever hereafter , at least if it please heaven that i return home safe to my countrey , and give perfect instructions how those almost incredible and impossible acquirements may be imparted to the world. you shall then see men flying in the air from one place to another , you shall then be able to send messages many hundred miles in an instant , and receive answers immediately , without the help of any creature upon earth ; you shall then presently impart your mind to your friend though in the most remote and obscure place of a populous city , and a multitude of other notable experiments ; but what exceeds all , you shall then have the discovery of a new world , and abundance of rare and incredible secrets of nature , which the philosophers of former ages never so much as dreamt of ; but i must be cautious in publishing these wonderful mysteries , till our statesmen have considered how they may consist with the policy and good government of our countrey , and whether the fathers of the church may not judge the divulging them prejudicial to the catholick faith , which ( by those wonders i have seen above any mortal man before me ) i am instructed to advance without respect to any temporal advantage whatsoever . but to proceed ; this huffing captain , pretended much discontent for the death of delgades , who was indeed some ki●… to him ; however he was willing to be quiet if i would give him a thousand duckets ; i had now , besides a wife , two sons , whom i was not willing to begger , only to satisfie the avaritious humour of this boaster , and so was necessitated to take some other course ; i imbarkt in a stout carrick bound for the east-indies , carrying the value of two thousand duckets to trade with , leaving as much more for the support of my wife and children behind , whatever misfortune might happen to me ; in the indies i thrived exceedingly , laying out my stock in diamonds , emeralds and pearls , which i bought at such easy rates , that my stock safely arriving in spain ( as i understood it did ) must needs yield ten for one . but having doubled cape buona esperanza in my way home , i fell dangerously sick , expecting nothing but death , which had undoubtedly happened , but that we just then recovered the blessed isle of st. hellens , the only paradice i believe on earth , for healthfulness of air , and fruitfulness of soil , producing all necessaries for the life of man ; it is about 16 leagues in compass , and has no firm land or continent within 300 leagues , nay not so much as an island within an hundred leagues of it ; so that it may seem a miracle of nature , that out of so vast and tempestuous an ocean , such a small rock or piece of ground should arise and discover it self . on the south is a good harbour , and near it divers small houses built by the portuguese to accomodate strangers , with a pretty chappel handsomely beautified with a tower , and bell therein . near it is a stream of excellent fresh water , divers handsome walks planted on both sides with orange , lemmon , pomegranate , almond-trees and the like , which bare fruit all the year , as do also divers others ; there are store of garden herbs , with wheat , pease , barley , and most kinds of pulse ; but it chiefly aboundeth with cattel and fowl , as goats , swine , sheep , partridges , wild hens , pheasants , pigeons , and wild fowl beyond credit ; but especially about february and march are to be seen huge flocks of a kind of wild swans , ( whereof i shall have occasion to speak more hereafter ) who like our cuckoes and nightingales , go away at a certain season , and are no more seen that year . on this happy island did they set me ashore with a negro to attend me , where i recovered my health , and continued a whole year , solacing my self for want of humane society with birds and brute beasts ; diego my black-moor was forced to live in a cave at the west-end of the isle , for had we dwelt together , victuals would not have been so plenty with us ; but now if one succeeded well in hunting or fowling , the other would find means to treat him , and if both mist , we were ●…ain to look out sharply ; but this seldom happened , since no creature there fears a man more than a goat or cow , whereby i easily tamed divers kinds of birds and beasts by only muzling them , so that till they came either to me or diego they could not feed ; at first i much delighted in a kind of partridges , and a tame fox , whereof i made good use ; for if i had occasion to confer with diego , i would take one of them muzled and hungry , and tying a note about his neck , beat him from me , whereupon he would streight away to diego's cave , and if he were not there , would beat about till he found him ; yet this conveyance being not without some inconvenience , i perswaded dieg●… , ( who though a fellow of good parts , was content to be ruled by me ) to remove to a cape on the north-west part of the island , being though a league off , yet within sight of my house and chappel , and so when the weather was fair , we could by signals declare our minds each to other in an instant either by night or day , wherein we took much pleasure . if in the night i would signifie any thing to him , i set up a light in the bell tower , which was a pretty large room with a fair window well glazed , and the walls within plaistered white , so that though the light were but small , it made a great show ; after this light had stood half an hour i covered it , and then if i saw any signal of light again from my companion i knew he waited for my notice , and so by hiding and shewing my light according to the agreement betwixt us i certified him of what i pleased . in the day i advertised him by smoke , dust , and other refined ways . after a while i grew weary of it as too painful , and again used my winged messengers ; upon the shoar , about the mouth of our river , i found store of a kind of wild swans feeding upon prey , both of fish and birds , and which is more strange having one claw like an eagle , and the other like a swan . these birds breeding here in infinite numbers , i took thirty or forty of them young , and bred them up by hand for recreation ; yet not without some thoughts of that experiment which i after put in practice . these being strong and able to continue a great flight , i taught them first to come at call afar off , not using any noise , but only shewing them a white cloth ; and here i found it true what plutarch affirms , that creatures which eat flesh are more docible than others . 't is wonderful to think what tricks i taught them ere they were a quarter old , amongst others i used them by degrees to fly with burdens , wherein i found them able beyond belief , and a white sheet being displayed to them by diego upon the side of a hill , they would carry from me to him bread , flesh , or whatever i pleased , and upon the like call come to me again . having proceeded thus far , i consulted how to join a number of them together , so as to carry a heavier weight , which if i could compass , i might enable a man to be carried safely in the air from one place to another . i puzled my wits extreamly with this thought , and upon trial found that if many were put to the bearing of one great burthen , by reason it was impossible all of them should rise together just at one instant , the first that rise finding himself stayed by a weight heavier than he could stir , would soon give over , and so the second , third , and all the rest . i contrived at last a way whereby each might rise with only his own proportion of weight , i fastned about each gansa a little pulley of cork , and putting a string of a just length through it , i fastned one end to a block of almost eight pound weight , and tyed a two pound weight to the other end of the string , and then causing the signal to be erected , they all rose together , be●…g four in number , and carried away my block to the place appointed . this hitting so luckily , i added two or three birds more , and made tryal of their carrying a lamb , whose happiness i much ●…vied , that he should be the first living creature to partake of such an excellent device . at length after divers tryals , i was surprized with a great longing to cause my self to be carried in the same manner , diego my moor was likewise possest with the same desire , and had i not loved him well , and wanted his service , i should have resented his ambitious thought ; for i count it greater honour to have been the first flying man , than to be another neptune who first adventured to sail on the sea. yet seeming not to understand his intention , i only told him that all my gansa's were not strong enough to carry him , being a man though of no great bulk , yet twice heavier than my self ; having prepared all necessaries , i one time placed my self and all my utensils on the top of a rock at the rivers mouth , and putting my self upon my engine at full sea , i caused diego to advance the signal , whereupon my birds , 25 in number rose all at once , and carried me over lustily to the rock on the other side , being about a quarter of a league ; i chose this time and place , because if any thing had fallen out contrary to expectation , the worst that could happen was only falling into the water , and being able to swim well , i hoped to receive little hurt in my fall ; when i was once safe over , o how did my heart even swell with joy and admiration at my own invention ; how oft did i wish my self in the midst of spain , that i might fill the world with the fame of my glory and renown ? every hour i had a longing desire for the coming of the indian fleet to take me home with them , which then stay'd , three months beyond their usual time ; at length they arrived being three carricks much weather-beaten , the men sick and weak , and so were constrain'd to refresh themselves in our island a whole month ; the admiral was called alphonso de xima , a valliant wise man , desirous of glory , and worthy better fortune than afterward befell him ; to him i discovered my device of the gansa's being satisfied , that it was impossible otherwise to perswade him to take so many birds into his ship , who for the niceness of their provision , would be more troublesom than so many men ; yet i adjured him by oaths and perswasions to be secret in the business , though i did not much doubt it assuring my self he durst not impart the experiment to any before our king were acquainted therewith . i had more apprehension , lest ambition and the desire of gaining to himself the honour of so admirable an invention should tempt him to dispatch me . however i was forc't to run the risque unless i would adventure the loss of my birds , the like whereof for my purpose were not to be had in christendom , nor was i sure ever to bring up others to serve my turn . it happened all these doubts were causless , the man i believe was honest , but the misfortune we met with prevented all these thoughts , thursday iune 21. 1599. we set sa●… for spain , i having allowed me a convenient cabbin for my birds , and engine , which the captain would have perswaded me to have left behind , and it was a wonder i did not , but my good fortune saved my life for after two months sail we met with an english fleet about 〈◊〉 leagues from the island of teneriff , one of the canaries famous for a hill therein called pico , which is kenned at sea above an hundred leagues off . we had aboard five times their number of men , all in health , and were well provided with ammunition ; yet finding them resolved to fight , and knowing what infinite riches we carried , concluded it better if possible to escape , than by encountring 〈◊〉 crew of desperate fellows , to hazard not only ou●… lives , which a man of courage does not value , 〈◊〉 the estates of many poor merchants , who i 〈◊〉 afraid were undone by the miscarriage of this business . our fleet consisted of five sail , that is three carricks , a bark , and a caravel , who coming from st. thomas isle , had in an ill hour ov●… taken us some days before . the english had three ships well provided , who no sooner spied but presently ingaged us , and changing their course , endeavoured to bring us under their lee , which th●… might easily do as the wind then stood , they being ●…ght n●…mble vessels , as english ships generally are ours heavy , deep laden , and foul with the sea●… so our captain resolved , wisely enough it may be●… out neither valiantly nor fortunately , to fly , commanding us to disperse our selves . the carav●… by too much hast fell upon one of the carricks and bruised her so , that one of the english easily fetcht her up and entred her , the caravel sinking before our eyes . the bark escaped unpursued and another of our carricks after some chase was given over by the enemy , who expecting a sufficient booty of us , and getting us between them , fell upon us with much fury ; our captain hereupon gave direction to run ashoar upon teneriff , the port whereof we could not recover , saying , that he hoped to save part of the goods , and some of our lives , and he had rather the rest should be lost , than all fall into the mercy of our foes . when i heard this resolution , observing the sea to work high , and knowing all the coast to be so full of rocks and shoals , that it was impossible our ship should come near the land unless broken into a thousand pieces , i represented to the captain the desperateness of the attempt , wishing him rather to try the kindness of the enemy , than throw away himself and so many brave men ; but he would by no remonstrances be removed from his resolution , therefore finding it high time to shift for my self , i lockt up my little casket of jewels , which putting into my sleeve , i then betook me to my gansa's , and having harnassed them to my engine , and put my self thereon , supposing , as indeed it happened , that when the ship should split , my birds though they wanted their signal , yet for saving their own lives , which nature hath taught all creatures to preserve , would make toward land , which fell out , according to my expectation ; the people in the ship wondred what i was doing , none being acquainted with the use of my birds but the captain , diego being in the other ship which fled away unpursued ; we were about half a league from land , when our carrick struck upon a rock , and split to pieces , upon which i let loose the reins to my birds , having first placed my self upon the top of the deck , and with the shock they all arose carrying me fortunately to the land , of which you need not doubt but i was very joyful , though it was a miserable fight to behold my friends and acquaintance in that wo●…ul distress , of whom yet many escaped better than they expected , for the english lanching out their cock-boats , discovered more generous tempers than we are pleased to allow them , taking compassion of their calamity , and endeavouring with all diligence to save them from the fury of the waves though with much danger to themselves ; among others they took up our captain , who , as father pacio since told me , having put himself with twelve others into the cock-boat , was forced to yield to one captain raymundo , who carried him and our pilot along with them in their voyage to the east-indies whither they were bound , but it was their hard fate by a breach of the sea neer cape buona esperanca to be swallowed of the merci●…ess waves , whose rage they a while before had so hardly escaped ; the rest as i likewise heard , who were about twenty six persons they took into their ship , and set them a land at cape verde . as for my self being now ashoar in an island inhabited by spaniards , i reckoned i was safe , but found my self mistaken , for it was my hap to pitch upon that part of the isle where the pike begins to rise , which is inhabited by a savage people who live upon the sides of that hill , the top whereof is for the most part covered with snow , and formerly accounted , for its steepness inaccessible either for man or beast , yet these salvages fearing the spaniards , keep as neer the top as they can , never coming down into the fruitful valleys but to seek for booty , a crew of these out-laws happened to spy me soon after i landed , and thinking they had got a prize , approacht me with all speed ; i guest their design before they came within half a mile , when perceiving them come down the hill directly toward me , with long slaves and other weapons , i thought it necessary to secure my self from these villains , who out of hatred to us spaniards , would have cut me to peices ; the countrey was sandy , but the pike beginning to lift up it self , i espled in the side a white cliff , which i hoped my ganza's would take for a mark , and being put up , would make all that way , whereby i might be carried so far that those barbarous raskals should not overtake me , before i got to some spaniards house , or hid my self , till by the covert of the night i might travel to laguna the chief city of the island , three miles off . so i setled my self upon my engine , and let loose the reins to my gansa's who by good fortune took all one course , though not just the way i aimed at . but what of that ! o reader prick up thy ears and prepare thy self to hear the strangest chance that ever happened to any mortal , and which i know thou wilt not have the grace to believe till thou seest the like experiment , which i doubt not in a short time may be performed . my gansa's like so many horses that had gotten the bit between their teeth , made not their flight , toward the cliff i intended , though i used my wonted means to direct the leader of the flock that way , but with might and main took up toward the top of the pike , and never stopt till they came there , a place in vulgar estimation ( though since experimentally contradicted ) fifteen miles in height . what kind of place this was i would gladly relate , but that i hasten to matters of greater importance ; when i was set down there my poor gansa's fell to panting , blowing , and gaping for breath as if they would all have died , so i did not trouble them a while , forbearing to draw them in , which they never use to indure without strugling , but little did i expect what followed . it was now the season that these birds take their flight away , as our cu●…ko's and swallows do in spain toward autumn , and as i afterward found , being mindful of their usual voyage , just when i began to settle my self to take them in , they with one consent rose up , and having no other higher place to make toward , to my unspeakable fear and amazement , struck bolt upright , and never left towring upward , still higher and higher , for the space as i guest , of an hour , after which i thought they laboured less than before , till at length ; ah wonderful ! they remained immoveable as steadily as if they had sate upon so many perches ; the lines slacked , neither i , nor the engine moved at all ▪ but continued still , as having no manner of weight ▪ i found then by experience what no philosopher ever dream't of , namely , that those things we call heavy do not fall toward the center of the earth as their natural place , but are drawn by a secret property of the globe of the earth , or rather something within it , as the load-stone draweth iron which is within the compass of its attractive beams . for though my gansa's could continue unmoved without being sustained by any thing but the air as easily and quietly as a fish in the water , yet if they forced themselves never so little it is impossible to imagine with what swiftness they were carried , either upward , downward or side ways ; i must ingenuously confess my horrour and amazement in this place was such , that had i not been arm'd with a true spanish resolution i should certainly have died for fear . the next thing that disturb'd me was the swiftness of the motion , which was so extraordinary that it almost stopt my breath , if i should liken it to an arrow out of a bow , or a stone thrown down from the top of an high tower , it would come vastly short of it ; another thing was exceeding troublesom to me , that is the illusions of devi's and wicked spirits , who the first day of my arrival came about me in great numbers in the likeness of men and women , wondring at me like so many birds about an owl , and speaking several languages which i understood not , till at last i met with some that spoke good spanish , some dutch , and others italian , all which i understood ; and here i had only a touch of the suns absence once for a short time , having him ever after in my sight . now though my gansa's were entangled in my lines , yet they easily seized upon divers kinds of flies and birds , especially swallows and cuckoes whereof there were multitudes even like motes in the sun , though i never saw them eat any thing at all . i was much obliged to those , whether men or devils i know not , who among divers discourses told me , if i would follow their directions , i should not only be carried safe home , but be assured to command at all times all the pleasures of that place . to which motion not daring to give a flat denial , i desired time to consider , and withal intreated them , ( though i felt no hunger at all , which may seem strange ) to help me to some victuals least i should starve in my journey ; so they readily brought me very good flesh and fish of several sorts and well drest , but that it was extream fresh without any relish of salt. wine likewise i tasted of divers kinds as good as any in spain , and beer no better in all antwerp . they advised me that while i had opportunity i should make my provisions ; telling me that till the next thursday they could help me to no more ; at which time they would find means to carry me back , and set me safe in spain in any place i would desire , provided i would become one of their fraternity , and enter into such covenants as they had made to their captain and master whom they would not name , i answered civilly , i saw little reason to rejoice in such an offer , desiring them to be mindful of me as occasion served ; so for that time i was rid of them ; having first furnished my pockets with as much victuals as i could thrust in , among which i would be sure to find a place for a small bottle of good canary . i shall now declare the quality of the place wherein i was ; the clouds i perceived to be all under between me and the earth . the stars , because it was always day , i●… saw at all times alike , not shining bright as we see in the night upon earth , but of a whitish colour like the moon with us in the day time , those that were seen , which were not many , shewed far greater than with us , yea as i guest no less than ten times bigger ; as for the moon , being then within 2 days of the change , she appeared of an huge and dreadful greatness . it is not to be forgot that no stars appeared but o●… that part of the hemisphere next the moon , and the nearer to her , the larger they appear'd again , whether i lay quiet and rested , or were carried in the air , i perceived my self to be always directly between the moon and the earth , whereby 't is plain that my gansa's took their way directly toward the moon , and that when we rested , as we did at first for many hours , either we were insensibly carried round about the globe of the earth , though i perceived no such motion , or else that according to the opinion of copernicus , the earth is carried about , and turneth round perpetually from west to east , leaving to the planets only that motion which the astronomers call natural , and is not upon the poles of the equinoctial , commonly called the poles of the world , but upon those of the zodiack ; the air in that place i found without any wind , and exceeding temperate , neither hot nor cold , where neither the sun beams had any subject to reflect upon , nor the earth and water so near to affect the air with their natural quality of coldness ; as for the philosophers attributing heat and moisture to the air , i alwaies esteem'd it a fancy ; lastly , i remember that after my departure from the earth , i never felt either hunger or thirst , whether the purity of the air , freed from the vapors of the earth and water , might yield nature sufficient nourishment , or what else might be the cause i cannot determine , but so i found it , though i was perfectly in health both of body and mind , even above my usual vigor . some hours after the departure of that devilish company my gansa's began to bestir themselves , still directing their course toward the globe or body of the moon , making their way with such incredible swiftness , that i conceive they advanced little less than fifty leagues in an hour , in which passage i observed three things very remarkable , one that the farther we went the less the globe of the earth appear'd to us , and that of the moon still larger ; again the earth , which i had ever in mine eye , seemed to mask it self with a kind of brightness like another moon , and as we discern certain spots or clouds as it were in the moon , so did i then see the like in the earth ; but whereas the form of those spots in the moon are always the same , these on the earth seemed by degrees to change every hour ; the reason whereof seems to be , that whereas the earth according to his natural motion ( for such a motion i am now satisfied she hath according to the opinion of coper●…cus ) turns round upon her own axis every four and twenty hours from west to east ) i should at first see in the middle of the body of this new star the earth , a spot like a pear with a morsel bit out on one side , in some hours i should observe this spot move away toward the east ; this no doubt was the main land of africa ; then might i perceive a great shining brightness in that place which continued about the same time , and was questionless the vast atlantick ocean ; after this succeeded a spot almost oval , just as we see america described in our maps , then another immense cleerness representing mare del zur or the south sea , and lastly a number of spots like the countreys and islands in the east-indies , so that it seemed to me no other than an huge mathematical globe turned round leisurely be ore me , wherein successively all the countreys of our earthly world were within twenty four hours represented to my view , and this was all the means i now had to number the days , and reckon the time . i could now wish that philosophers and mathematicians would confess their own blindness , who have hitherto made the world believe that the earth hath no motion , and to confirm it are forc't to attribute to every one of the celestial bodies two motions directly contrary to each other , one from the east to the west to be perform'd in twenty four hours with an impetuous rapid motion ; the other from west to east in several proportions ; o incredible supposition ! that those huge bodies of the fixed stars in the highest orb , whereof they confess divers are above an hundred times bigger than the whole earth , should like so many na●…s in a cart wheel be whirled about in so short a time ; whereas it is many thousand years , no less ( say they ) than thirty thousand , before that orb finishes his course from west to east , which they call his natural motion ; now whereas they allow their natural course from west to east to every one of them , therein they do well ; the moon performs it in seven and twenty days , the sun , venus and mercury in a year or thereabout , mars in three year , iupiter in twelve , and saturn in thirty . but to attribute to these celestial bodies contrary motions at once , is an absurd conceit , and much more to imagine that the same orb wherein the fixed stars are , whose natural course takes up so many thousands of years , should be turned about every twenty four hours . i will not go so far as copernicus who makes the sun the center of the earth and immoveable , neither will i be positive in any thing , only this i say ▪ allow the earth its motion , which these eyes of mine can testify to be true , and all those absurdities are removed , every one having only his own single and proper motion . but where am i ? i promised an history , and am unawares turn'd disputer . one accident more befell me worth mention , that during my stay i saw a kind of a reddish cloud coming toward me , and continually approaching nearer , which at last i perceived was nothing but a huge swarm of locusts . he that reads the discourses of learned men concerning them , as iohn leo of africa and others who relate that they are seen in the air several days before they fall on the earth , and adds thereto this experience of mine , will easily conclude that they can come from no other place than the globe of the moon . but now give me leave to go on quietly in my journey for eleven or twelve days , during all which time i was carried directly toward the globe or body of the moon , with such a violent whirling as is inexpressible , for i cannot imagine a bullet out of a cannon could make ▪ way through the vaporous and muddy air neer the earth with half that celerity ; which is the more strange since my gansa's moved their wings but now and then , and sometimes for a quarter of an hour not at all , only holding them stretcht out , as we see kites , and eagles sometimes do for a short space ; during which pauses i suppose they took their naps , and times of sleeping , for other times i could perceive they never had any ; for my self i was so fastened to mine engine that i durst slumber enough to serve my turn , which i took with as great ease , as if i had lain on the best down-bed in spain . after eleven days passage in this violent flight , i perceived we began to approach to another earth ( if i may so call it ) being the globe or very body of that star which we call the moon . the first difference i found between this and our earth was , that it appeared in its natural colours , as soon as ever i was free from the attraction of the earth ; whereas with us , a thing a league or two from us puts on that deadly colour of blew . i then perceived also that this world was the greatest part covered with a huge mighty sea , those parts only being dry land which are to us somewhat darker than the rest of her body , i mean , what the countrey people call , the man in the moon , and that part which shines so bright is another ocean besprinkled with islands , which for their smalness we cannot discern so far off ; so that the splendor which appears to us in the night , is nothing but the reflection of the sun beams returned to us out of the water as from a lookinglass . how much this disagrees with what our philosophers teach in the schools is evident ; but alas how many of their errors hath time and experience refuted in this our age , and among other vain conjectures , who hath not hitherto believed the upper region of the air to be very hot ; as being next , forsooth , to the natural place of the element of fire ; meer vanities , fancies and dreams ; for after i was once free from the attractive beams of that tyranous load stone the earth , i found the air altogether serene , without winds , rain , mists or clouds , neither hot nor cold , but constantly pleasant , calm and comfortable till my arrival in that new world of the moon ; as for that region of fire our philosophers talk of , i heard no news of it , mine eyes have sufficiently inform'd me there is no such thing . the earth had now by turning about shewed me all her parts twelve times when i finished my course ; for when by my reckoning it seem'd to be ( as indeed it was ) tuesday september 11. at which time the moon being two days old was in the twentieth degree of libra ) my gansa's seem'd by one consent to stay their course , and rested for certain hours , after which they took their flight , and in less than an hour set me on the top of an high hill in that other world , where many wonderful things were presented to my sight . for i observed first , that though the globe of the earth appear'd much greater there than the moon doth to us , even three times bigger , yet all things there were ten , twenty , yea thirty times larger than ours ; their trees were thrice as high , and above five times broader and thicker ; so were their herbs , birds , and beasts , though i cannot well compare them to ours , because i found not any kind of beast or bird there which any way resembled ours , except swallows , nightingals , cuckoes , woodcocks , batts , and some kiad of wild fowl ; and likewise such birds as my gansa's , all which as i now perceived , spend their time in their absence from us , in that world , neither do they differ in any thing from ours , but are the very same kind . no sooner was i upon the ground , but i found my self extream hungry ; stepping then to the next tree i fastned my engine and gansa's thereto , and in great hast fell to examining my pockets for the victuals i had reserved there ; but to my great surprize and vexation , instead of partridges and capons , which i thought i had hoarded there , i found nothing but a medley of dry leaves , goats hair , sheep or goats dung , moss , and the like ; my canary-wine was turned , and stunk like hors-piss ; oh the villany and cheats of these cursed spirits , whose assistance if i had depended on , in what a condition had i been ! while i stood musing at this strange metamorphosis , on a sudden i heard my gansa's fluttering behind me , and looking back , i spied them falling greedily upon a shrub within the reach of their lines , whose leaves they fed earnestly upon , whereas before i had never seen them eat any green thing whatever ; so stepping to the shrub , i put a leaf to my mouth ; the tast was so excellent , that i cannot express it , and if i had not with discretion moderated my appetite , i should have surfeited thereon , yet it happened to be a good bait both for me and my birds , when we had most need of refreshment . scarce had we ended our banquet , when i saw my self surrounded with a strange kind of people both in feature , manners , and apparel ; their stature was very different , but they were generally twice as high as ours ; their shape and countenance pleasant , and their habit hardly to be describ'd ; for i never saw either cloth , silk , nor other stuff , like that whereof their cloths were made ; neither can i possibly relate their colour , they being in a manner all clothed alike ; it was neither black , white , yellow , red nor blue , nor any colour composed of these ; if you ask what was it then , i must tell you , it was a colour never seen in our earthly world , and so neither to be described nor conceived by us ; for as it is hard to make a man born b●…ind understand the difference between green and blue , so neither can i decipher this moon colour , as having no affinity with any i ever beheld ; i can only say it was the most glorious and delightful that can be imagined , neither was any thing more pleasant to me during my stay there . being surprized at the appearance of these people so suddenly and in such accoutrements , i crossed my self and cry●…d out , iesu maria ; no sooner was the word iesu pronounced , but young and old fell all on their knees ( whereat i not a little rejoiced ) holding up their hands on high , and repeating certain words which i understood not ; and presently rising again , one much taller than the rest came and kindly imbraced me , and ordering as i perceived , some of the rest to attend my birds , he took me by the hand , and led me to his dwelling down toward the foot of the hi●… , which was a building so great and beautiful , as nothing in our world is comparable thereto ; yet afterward i saw such as this seem'd but a cottage in respect of them ; there was no door about the house less than thirty foot high , and twelve broad , the rooms were forty or fifty foot in height , and answerable in proportion ; neither could they be much less , the master thereof being full twenty eight high , and i suppose his body would weigh twenty five or thirty of ours ; after i had rested with him about one of our days ▪ he led me five leagues off to the palace of the prince of the countrey ▪ the stateliness whereof i have not now leis●…re to describe ; this prince was much taller than the former , and called ( as neer as i can by letters declare it , for their sounds are not perfectly to be exprest by our characters , ) pyl●…s which in their language is first or chief , if ●…t doth not rather denote his authority and dignity , as being the principal man in all those parts ; though yet there is one supream monarch amongst them , much greater of stature than he , comm●…g over all that whole world , having under him twenty nine other princes of great power ; and every one of these has twenty four inferior governours , whereof this pylonas was one . the first ancestor of this great monarch came out of the earth , as they relate , and by marrying the heiress of that vast monarchy obtaining the government , left it to his posterity , who have enjoyed it ever since , even forty thousand moons , which is 3077 years ; his name was irdonozur whose heirs to this day assume the same name ; he , they say , having continued there about four hundred moons , and begot divers children , return'd ( though by what means they know not ) to the earth again . i doubt they have their fables as well as we , since our historians never mention any earthly man to have been in that world before my self , and much less to have return'd again . i cannot therefore but condemn this tradition as false and romantick , though i found ●…earning was in great esteem among them , and they seem to detest lying and falshood which is there severely punished , and which may yield some credit to their historical narrations . many of them live wonderful long , even beyond belief , affirming to me that some survived thirty thousand moons , which is above a thousand years , so that the ages of three or four men might easily reach to the time of the first irdonozur , and this is generally noted that the taller people are of stature , the more excellent are their endowments of mind , and the longer time they live ; for their stature is very different , great numbers not much exceeding ours , who seldom live above a thousand moons , which is fourscore of our years ; these they account base , unworthy creatures , but one degree above brute beasts , and imploy in mean and servile offices , calling them bastards , counterfeits or changlings ; those whom they account true natural lunars or moon men , exceed ours generally thirty times , both in quantity of body , and length of life , proportionable to the quality of the day in both worlds , theirs containing almost thirty of our days the manner of our travel to the palace of pylonas was more strange and incredible than any thing we have related , for at our first setting forth there were delivered to each of us two feather fans like those our ladies in spain cool themselves with in summer ; you must understand that the globe of the moon has likewise an attractive power , yet so much weaker than the earth , that if a man do but spring upward with all his strength , as dancers do in shewing their tricks , he will be able to mount fifty or sixty foot high ; and being then above all attraction from the moons earth , he falls down no more , but by the help of these fans as with wings , they convey themselves in the air in a short space , ( though not quite so swift as birds ) whither they please . in two hours time ( as i could guess ) by the help of these fans we were carried through the air those five leagues , in all about sixty persons . being arrived at the palace of pylonas , after our conductor had declared what manner of present he had brought , i was called in to him by his attendants ; by the stateliness of his palace and the reverence done him , i soon perceived his greatness , and managed my affairs in order to procure his favour accordingly , and having , as you may remember , a certain little box or casket of jewels , the remainder of those i brought from the east-indies , before i was introduced i secretly took them out of my pocket , and chusing some of each sort . i made them ready to be presented as i should think convenient . i found him sitting in a magnificent chair of state with his wife or queen on one hand , and his eldest son on the other , one attended by a troop of ladies , and the other of young men , and all along the side of the room stood a great number of handsom personages , whereof scarce one was lower of stature than pylonas , whose age they report is now one and twenty thousand moons . at my entrance i fell on my knees , and taking out my jewels , i presented to the king seven stones of several sorts , a diamond , a ruby , an emerald , a saphire , a topaz and an opal , which he accepted with joy and admiration . then i offered the queen and prince some others , and design'd to have bestow'd divers more upon his attendants , but pylonas forbid them to accept any , supposing , as i heard , they were all i had , which he would have me reserve for irdonozur his soveraign ; he then imbraced me with much indearedness , and inquired divers things by signs , which i answered in the same manner to the best of my skill 〈◊〉 which not contenting him , he delivered me to the guard of 100 of his giants as i may well call them , strictly charging them that i should want nothing fit for me ; that they should suffer none of the dwarf lunars or little moon men , to come near me . that i should be inst●…ucted in their language , and lastly that they should by no means impart to me the knowledge of several things by him specified , what they were i could never understand . it may be you long to know what pylonas inquired of me ; why what should it be but , whence i came , how i arrived there , what was my name and business , with the like , to all which i answered as near the truth as possible . being dismist i was provided with all necessaries as my heart could wish , so that i seem'd to be in a paradise , the pleasures whereof did not yet so transport me , but i was much concerned with the thoughts of my wife and children , and still retaining some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i 〈◊〉 again 〈◊〉 to them i tended my gansa's daily with much care ; which yet had signified little if other men had not done more than i could ; for now the time came when of necessity all people of our stature , and my self likewise , must needs sleep thirteen or fourteen whole days together ; for by a secret and irresistible decree of nature when the day begins to appear , and the moon to be enlightned by the sun beams which is in the first quarter of the moon , all people of our stature inhabiting these parts fall into a dead sleep , and are not possibly to be wakened till the sun set ; and is withdrawn ; for as owls and bats with us cannot indure the light , so at the first approach of day we begin to be amazed therewith , and fall into a slumber , which grows by degrees into a dead sleep till the light be gone , which is in fourteen or fifteen days , that is till the last quarter . during the suns absence , there is a twofold light , one of the sun which i could not endure to behold , and another of the earth ; now that of the earth was at the height , for when the moon is at the change , then is the earth a full moon to them , and as the moon increaseth with us , so the light of the earth decreaseth with them . i found the light , though the sun was absent , equal to that with us in the day when the sun is clouded ; but toward the quarter it dayly diminisheth , yet leaving still a competent light , which seems very strange ; though not so remarkable as what they there report , that in the other hemisphere of the moon , contrary to that i fell upon , where during half the moon they see not the sun , and the earth never appears to them , they have yet a kind of light not unlike our moon light , which it seems the neerness of the stars and other planets that are at a far less distance than from us , affords them . you must understand that of the true lunars or moon men there are three kinds , some a little taller than we , as perhaps ten or twelve foot high , these can indure the day of the moon , when the earth shines but little , but not the beams of both , and so must then be laid asleep ; others are twenty foot high or above , who can suffer all the light both of the earth and sun. there are in a certain island ( the mysteries whereof are carefully concealed ) men whose stature is at least twenty seven foot high ; if any other come a land there in the moons day time , they instantly fall asleep ; this is called insula martini , and hath a particular governour , who as they report is sixty five thousand moons old , which makes five thousand of our years , his name is said to be hirach , and be in a manner commands irdonozur himself , especially in that island out of which he never removes ; there is another comes often thither , who they say is not above half his age , that is about thirty three thousand moons , or two thousand six hundred of our years , and he orders all things through the globe of the moon in matters of religion , as absolutely as the pope doth in any part of italy , i would fain have seen this man , but was not permitted to come near him , his name is imozes . now let me settle my self to a long nights sleep , to which end my attendants take charge of my birds , prepare my lodging , and signifie to me by signs how i must order my self . it was then about the middle of september , when i perceived the air more clear than ordinary , and with the increase of the light i began to feel my self first dull and then heavy to sleep , though i had not been lately disturb'd of my rest ; at length i delivered my self into the custody of this sister of death , whose prisoner i was for almost a fortnight after , and then awaking , it is not to be believed how brisk and vigorous i found the faculties both of my body and mind ; i then applyed my self to learning the language , , which is the same throughout all the regions of the moon , yet not so wonderful , since i believe all the earth of moon does not amount to the fortieth part of our inhabited earth , partly because the globe of the moon is far less , and besides the sea or ocean covers very nigh three parts of four , whereas the land and sea in our world may be judged of an equal measure . their language is very difficult , since it hath no affinity with any other i ever heard , and consists not so much of words and letters as tunes and strange sounds which no letters can express , for there are few words but signifie several things , and are distinguished only by their sounds , which are sung as it were in uttering ; yea many words consist of tunes only without words ; by occasion whereof i find a language may be framed , and easily learned , as copious as any other in the world only of tunes which is an experiment worth searching after ; notwithstanding these difficulties within two months i attained to such knowledge therein that i understood most questions demanded of me , and with signs and words made reasonable shift to utter my mind ; which pylonas having notice of , he oftimes sent for me , and was pleased to inform me of many things my guardians durst not disclose , though i must needs say i never found they abused me with an untruth , but if i asked a question they were unwilling to resolve , they would shake their heads , and with a spanish shrug divert to some other discourse . after seven months time the great irdonozur making his progress to a place about two hundred leagues from the palace of pylonas , sent for me , yet would not-admit me into his presence but discourst me through a window where i might hear him , and he hear and see me at pleasure . i presented him the remainder of my jewels which he thankfully accepted , saying he would requite them with gifts of a far more considerable value . i stay'd there above a quarter of a moon when i was again sent back to pylonas , for if we had stay'd a day or two longer the sun would have overtaken us before we could have recovered our home . the gifts he bestowed on me were such that a man would part with mountains of gold to purchase ; they were all stones , nine only in number , of three sorts , one called poleastis , another machrus , and the third ebelus , of each sort 3. the first are about the bigness of an hazel-nu●… very like jet , which among many other incredible virtues hath this property , that being once put in the fire they ever after retain their heat , though without any outward appearance , till quenched with some kind of liquor which no way endamages them though heated and cooled therein a thousand times ; their heat is so vehement that it will make any metal within a foot of it red hot , and being in a chimney warms the room as if a great fire were kindled therein . the machrus is yet more precious , in colour like a topaz , so clear and resplendent as though not above the bigness of a bean , yet being placed in the night in the midst of a large church it makes all as light as if an hundred lamps were hanged round ; can any man wish for more useful properties in a stone than these ? yet my ebelus is so excellent that it may be much prefer'd before them , yea prized above all the diamonds , saphires , rubies , and emeralds that our world can afford . the lunar colour is so exceeding beautiful that a man would travel a thousand leagues to behold it , the shape is somewhat flat , of the breadth of a peice of eight , and twice the thickness , one side is of a more orient colour than the other , which being clapt to a mans bare skin , takes away all the weight and ponderousness of his body , but turning the other side , it adds force to the attractive beams of the earth either in this world or that , and makes the body half as heavy again ; do you wonder now why i should so overprize this stone ? before you see me on earth again , you will find i have reason to value this invaluable jewel . i inquired whether they had not any kind of jem , or other means to make a man invisible , which i judged a thing of admirable use , and could mention divers of our learned men who had written to this purpose ; they answered , that if it were possible , yet they were sure heaven would not suffer it to be revealed to us creatures subject to so many imperfections , and which might be easily abused to ill purposes , and this was all i could get of them . now after it was known that irdonozur the great monarch had done me this honour , it is strange how much all respected me more than before ; my guardians who had been hitherto cautious in relating any thing of the government of that world , grew now more open , so that from them and pylonas together i understood many notable particulars ; as that in a thousand years there is found neither thief nor whore-monger , for first there is no want of any thing necessary for the use of man , food growing every where without labour , of all sorts that can be desired . as for cloths , houses , or whatever else a man may be suppos'd to want , it is provided by their superiors , though not without some labour , but yet so easy as if they did it for pleasure ; again their females are all absolute beauties , and by a secret disposition of nature , a man there having once known a woman never desires any other ; murther was never heard of amongst them , neither is it hardly po●…le to be committed , for there can be no wou●… made but what is cureable ; yea they assured me , and for my part i believe it , that though a mans head be out off , yet if within three moons it be joined to the carcass again , and the juice of a certain herb there growing applyed , it will be so consolidated as the wounded party shall be perfectly cured . but the chief cause of their good government is an excellent disposition in the nature of the people , so that all both old and young hate all manner of vice and live in such love , peace , and amity as it seems to be another paradise ; though it is true likewise that some are of a better disposition than others , which they discern immediately at their birth ; and because it is an inviolable law amongst them that none shall be put to death , therefore perceiving by their stature or some other signs who are like to be of a wicked and deba●…ched humor , they send them , i know not by what means , into the earth , and change them for other children , before they have either opportunity or ability to do amiss among them ; but first , they say , they are fain to keep them there for some time till the air of the earth alters their colour like ours . their ordinary vent for them is a certain high hill in the north of ameri●…a , whose people , i am apt to believe , are wholly descended from them , both in regard of their colour , and their continual use of tobacco , which the lunars or moon men smoak exceedingly , the place abounding much with moisture , together with the pleasure they take therein , and some other respects t●…o long to rehearse : sometimes , though but seldom , they mistake their aim and fall upon europe , asia , or africa . i remember some years since i read certain stories tending to confirm what is related by these lunars , and especially one chapter of neubrigensis . inigo mondejar in his description of nova granata . also ioseph defia de carana in his history of mexico if my memory fail not , recount what will make my report more credible ; but i value not testimonies . if you inquire how justice is executed , alas what need is there of exemplary punishment where no offences are committed ; neither need they any lawyers , ●…or there is no contention , the seeds whereof when they begin to sprout are by the wisdom of the next superior pluckt up by the roots . and as little want is there of physicians , they never surfeit themselves ; the air is always pure and temperate , neither is there any cause of sickness , i could never hear of any that were distempered . but the time assign'd them by nature being spent , they dye without the least pain , or rather cease to live , as a candle does to give light when what nourishes it is consumed . i was once at the departure of one of them , and was much surprized that notwithstanding the happy life he liv'd , and the multitude of friends and children he should forsake , yet as soon as he understood his end to approach , he prepar'd a great feast , and inviting all whom he esteem'd , exhorts them , to be merry and re●…oyce with him , since the time was come he should now leave the counterfeit pleasures of that world , and be made partaker of all true joy and perfect happiness ; i did not so much admir●… his own constancy as the behaviour of his friends ; with us in the like case all seem to mourn , when many of them do oft but laugh in their sieeves , or under a vizard . but here all both young and old did , in my conscience , not pretendedly b●… really rejoyce thereat , and if any dissembled , it was only grief for their own particular loss . being dead their bodies putrify not , and so are not buried , but kept in certain rooms appointed to that purpose , so that most of them can shew their an●…stors bodies uncorrupt for many generations ▪ there is never any rain , wind or change of weath●…r , never either summer or winter , but as it were a perpetual spring , yielding all pleasure and content , free from the least trouble or annoyan●… ▪ o my wife and children what wrong have you done me to bereave me of the happiness of that pla●… but it is no great matter , for by this voyage i am sufficiently assured , that when the race of 〈◊〉 mortal life is run i shall attain a greater happine●… elsewhere . it was the ninth of september that i began 〈◊〉 ascend from the pike of tena●…iff ; twelve days was upon my voyage and arrived in that provin●… of the moon called simiri sept. 21. may 12 〈◊〉 came to the court of the great irdonozur and 〈◊〉 turn'd back the 17 to the palace of pyl●…s wh●… i continued till march 1601. when i earne●… requested pylonas , as i had oft done before to g●… me leave to depart , though with hazard of my 〈◊〉 back into the earth again . he dissuaded me , 〈◊〉 sisting on the danger of the voyage , the 〈◊〉 of that place from whence i came , and the ab●… dant happiness i now enjoy'd , but the remembra●… of my wife and children , out weigh'd all th●… reasons , and to say the truth , i was so elated w●… a ●…re of the glory i should purchase at my 〈◊〉 turn , as met ought i deserved not the name o●… 〈◊〉 if i would not hazard twenty lives r●… than lose the least particle thereof . i replyed , i had so strong a desire to see my children , that i could not possibly live any longer without going to them ; he then requested me to stay one year longer , i told him , i must needs depart now or never my birds began to droop for want of their usual voyage , three were already dead , and if a few more failed i was destitute of all possibility of return . at length with much solliciting i prevail'd , having first acquainted the great irdonozur with my intentions , and perceiving by the often baying of my birds a great longing in them to be gone , i trim'd up my engine , and took my leave of pylonas , and march 29. three days after my waking from the last moons light i fastened my self to my engine , not forgetting to take the jewels irdonozur had given me , with the virtues and use whereof pylonas had acquainted me at large , with a small quantity of victuals whereof afterward i had great occa●…on . a vast multitude of people being present and among them pylonas himself , after i had given them all the last farewel , i let loose the reins to my birds , who with much greediness taking wing , quickly carried me out of fight ; it happened to me as in my first passage , for i never felt either hunger or thirst till i fell upon an high mountain in china about five leagues from the high and mighty city of pequin . this voyage was per●…ormed in less then nine days , neither heard i any news of these airy men i met with in my ascending ; nothing stay'd me in my journey , whether because of the earnest desire of my birds to return to the earth , having already missed their season , or that the attraction of the earth was so much stronger than that of the moon , and so made it easier , yet so it was though i had three birds less than before . for the first eight days my birds slew before me , and i on the engine was as it were drawn after , but the ninth day , when i began to approach the clouds , i perceived my self and engine to sink toward the earth , and go before them . i was then horribly afraid least my birds unable to bear our weight , being so few , should be constrained to precipitate bo●…h me and themselves headlong to the earth , and thought it very necessary to make use of my stone eblus which i clapt to my bare skin within my cloths and instantly i perceiv'd my birds made way with greater ease than before , as seeming freed from a great but then , neither do i think they could possibly have let me down safely to the earth without that help . china is a countrey so populous that i think there is scarce a piece of ground thrice a mans length which is not carefully manured ; i being yet in the air some of the countrey people spying me came running by troops , and seizing me would needs carry me before a magistrate , and seeing no other remedy i yielded to them . but when 〈◊〉 try'd to go i found my self so light that one foot being on the ground i had much ado to set down the other , which was by reason my ebelus took all weight away from my body , therefore i pretended a desire of performing the necessities of nature ▪ which being made known to them by signs , for they understood not a word of any language i could speak , they permitted me to go aside among a few ●…shes , assuring themselves it was impossible i should escape from the●… ; being there , i remembred pylonas his directions about the use of my 〈◊〉 , and knit them up , with a few remaining jewels , into an handkerchief , all except the least and worst ebelus , which i found means to apply in such manner to my body that but the half of its side touched my skin ; this done i drew toward my guardians , till coming so neer that they could not cross my way , i shewed them a fair pair of ●…ees , t●…at i might have time to hide my jewels which i knew they would have rob'd me of if not prevented . being thus lightned i led them such a dance , that had they been all upon the backs of so many race horses they could never have overtaken me ; i directed my course to a thick wood , wherein i entred about a quarter of a league and there finding a fine spring , which i took for my mark , i thrust my jewels into a hole made by a mole hard by . i then took my victuals out of my pocket , to which till now in all my voyage i had not the least appetite , and refreshed my self therewith , till the people who pursued overtoo●… m●… , into whose hands i quietly surrender'd my self ; they led me to an inferior officer , who understanding that i escap't from those who first apprehended me , caused an inclosure of boards to be made , wherein they put me , so that only my head was at liberty , and then carried me upon the shoulders of four slaves , like some notorious malefactor , before a person of great authority , who in their language i learnt , was called a mandarin ▪ and resided a le●…gue off the famous city of pequin . i could not understand them , but found i was accused for something with much vehemence , the substance of this accusation it seems was , that i was a magician as appeared by my being so strangely carried in the air , and th●…t being a stranger as both my language and habit did declare , i contrary to the ●…aws of china had entred the kingdom without a warrant , and probably for no good intent . the mandarin heard them with a great deal of gravity , and bein●… a man of quick apprehension , and ●…udious of novelties , he told them he would take such order as the case required , and m●… bold attempt should not go unpunished ; having dismist them he ordered his servants i should be kept in a remote part of his vast pallace , be strictly guarded , and ●…dly used ; this i conjecture b●… my treatment and what followed , for my accommodation was much better than i could expect , i lodg'd well , eat well , was well attended , and could complain of nothing but my restraint ; thus continued i many months , afflicted more with the thoughts of my gansa's than any thing else , who i knew must be irrecoverably lost , as indeed they were . in this time by my own industry , and the assistance of those who accompanied me , i learnt to speak indifferently the language of that province , ( for almost every province in china hath its proper tongue ) whereat i perceived they were much pleased ; at length i was permitted to take the air , and brought into the spacious garden of that pallace , a place of extraordinary pleasure and delight , adorned with herbs and flowers of admirable sweetness and beauty , with almost infinite variety of fruits , european and others , all composed with that rare curiosity as even ravished my senses in the contemplation of such delightful objects ; i had not long recreated my self here , when the mandarin entred the garden on that side i was walking , of which having notice by his servants , and that i ought to kneel to him ( a usual reverence i found toward great officers ) i did so , and humbly intreated his favour toward a poor stranger who arrived in these parts not designedly but by the secret disposal of the heavens ; he answered in a different language which i hear all the mandarins use , and like that of the lunars consisting chiefly of tunes , which was interpreted by one of his attendants , wishing me to be of good comfort since he intended no harm to me . next day i was ordered to come before him , and being conducted into a noble dining room exquisitely painted , the mandarin commanding all to avoid , vouchsafed to confer with me in the vulgar language , inquiring into the state of my countrey , the power of my prince , and the religion and manners of the people ; wherein having satisfied him , he askt me about my education , and what brought me into this remote countrey ; i then declared to him the adventures of my life , omitting what i thought convenient , and especially forbearing to mention the stones given me by irdonozur . the strangeness of my story did much amaze him , and finding in all my discourse nothing tending to magick , wherein he hoped by my means to be instructed , he began to admire the excellency of my wit , applauding me for the happiest man that this world ever saw , and wishing me to repose my self after my long narration , he for that time dismissed me . after which the mandarin took so much delight in me , that no day passed wherein he did not send for me ; at length he advised me to cloth my self in the habit of that countrey , which i willingly did , and gave me not only the liberty of his house , but took me also with him when he went to pequin , whereby i had opportunity to learn the disposition of the people , and the policy of the countrey , neither did i by my attendance on him , gain only the knowledge of these things , but the possibility likewise of being restored to my native soi●… , and to those dear pledges which i value above the world , even my wife and children ; for by often frequenting pequin , i at length heard of some fathers of the society of iesus , who were become famous for their extraordinary favour with the king , to whom they had presented some european as cocks , watches , dials , and the like , which by them were counted exquisite curiosities . to these by the mandarins leave i repaired , and was welcomed by them , they much wondring to see a ●…ay spaniard there , whither they had with so much difficulty obtained leave to arrive . there did i relate to father pantoja and others of the society the forementi●… adventures by whose directions i put them in writing , and sent this story of my fortunes to macao , from thence to be conveyed to spain as a forerunner of my return ; and the mandarin being indulgent to me , i came often to the fathers with whom i consulted about many secrets , and with them also laid the foundation of my return , the blessed ●…our whereof i do with patience expect , that by 〈◊〉 my countrey with the knowledge of these hidden mysteries , i may at last reap the glory of my fortunate misfortunes . a iourney of several english merchants from oratava in teneriff , one of the canary islands on the coast of africa , to the top of the pike in that island , with the observations they made there . mention being made in the preceding story of the pike of teneriff , it may be some diversion to insert the following little journey performed by divers englishmen a few years since to the top , who published the following account thereof . the pike of teneriff is thought not to have its equal in the world for height , its top being so much above the clouds , that in clear weather it may be seen sixty dutch leagues at sea. it cannot be ascended but in iuly and august , lying all the other months covered with snow , though upon this and the near adjacent islands none is to be seen ; it requires three days travel to come to the top ; the merchants and other worthy persons who undertook this journey proceed thus . having farn●… our selves with a guide , servants , and horses to carry 〈◊〉 wine and provision , we set forth from oratava a port town in the island of ten●…riff , s●…tuate on the north 〈◊〉 ▪ two mile distant from the main sea , and travell'd from twelve at night till eight in the morning , by which time we got to the top o●… the first mountain toward the pico de 〈◊〉 ; 〈◊〉 ●…der a very large and conspicuous p●… we took 〈◊〉 breakfast , din'd , and refresht o●… selves till two in the afternoon . then we pa●… through many sandy ways , over many los●…y ●…ountains , but nak●… and bare , and not covered with p●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nights passage was ; this exp●…sed 〈◊〉 to excessive heat , till we arrived to the fo●… of the pico , where we found divers huge ●…oues which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have fallen from some upper part ; a●… 〈◊〉 the evening we began to ●…nd up the vi●… , 〈◊〉 were s●…arce advanced a mile , when 〈◊〉 being no more passable for horses , 〈◊〉 left them with our 〈◊〉 ▪ in the ascent of one mile , some of our company grew very faint and sick , disordered by ●…xes , vomitings and aguish distempers , our 〈◊〉 hair standing up like bristles , and calling for 〈◊〉 of our wine carried in small ●…ls on an horse , we found it so wonderfully cold , th●…t we could not drink it till we had made a 〈◊〉 to warm it ●…otwithstanding the air ●…as very c●…m and moder●… ▪ but when the sun was set , it bega●… to blow with such violence , and grew so cold , that taking up our lodging among the hollow ●…ks , we were necessitated to keep fires in the mou●… of them all night . about four in the morning w●… began to 〈◊〉 again , and being come another ●…ile up , one of our company fail'd and was abl●… to proceed no further ; here began the black roc●… ; th●… 〈◊〉 of us pursued our journey ti●…●…e came to the s●… loaf , where we began to travel again in a white sand , being fitted with shoes , whose single soles are made a finger broader than the upper leathers , to encounter this difficult passage ; having ascended as far as the black rocks , which lay all fl●…t like a plain floor , we climbed within a mile of the very top of the pico , and at last we attained the summit , where we found no such smoak as appeared a little below , but a continual perspiration of a hot and sulphurous vapour that made our faces extreamly sore ; all this way we found no considerable alteration of the air , and very little wind , but on the top it was so impetuous that we had much ado to stand against it whilst we drank k charles ii. health , and fired each of us a gun. here also we took our dinner , but found that our strong waters had lost their vertue , and were almost insipid , while our wine was more brisk and spirituous than before ; the top on which we stood being not above a yard broad is the brink of a pit called the caldera which we judged to be a musket-shot over , and near sourscore yards deep in form of a cone , hollow within like a kettle , and covered over with small loose stones mixed with sulphur and sand , from am●…ng which issued divers spiracles of smoak and heat , which being stirred with any thing puffs and makes a noise , and is so offensive , that we were even suffocated with the sudden rising of vapors upon removing one of these stones , which were so hot as not easily to be handled ; we descended not above four or five yards into the caldera or caldron because of the slippe●…inefs under foot , and the difficulty ; but some have adventured to the bottom ; other matters obser●…able we discovered none , besides a clear sort of sulphur which lay like salt upon the stones ; from this renowned pico we could see the grand cana●…ies fourteen leagues distant , palma eighteen , and 〈◊〉 seven , which interval of sea seemed not much wider than the thames about london , we discerned also the herro being distant about twenty leagues , and so to the utmost limits of the sea much farther ; as soon as the sun appeared the shadow of the pico seem'd to cover not only the whole island and the grand canaries but the sea to the very horizon , where the top of the sugar-loaf or pico visibly appeared to turn up , and cast its shade into the air it self , at which we were much surprized ; but the sun was not far ascended when the clouds began to rise so fast , as intercepted our prospect both of the sea and the whole island , except the tops only of the subj●…cent mountains which seemed to pierce them through ; whether these clouds do ever s●…rmount the pico we cannot say , but to such as are far below they seem sometimes to hang above it , or rather wrap themselves about it , constantly when the west winds blow ; this they cal●… the cap , and is an infall●…le prognostick of ensuing storms ; one of our company who made this journey again two years after , arriving at the top of the pico be●…e day , and creeping under a great stone to shrowd himself from the cold air , after a little space found himself all wet , and perceived it to come from a perpetual trickling of the water from the rocks above him ; many excellent and exuberant springs we sound issuing ▪ from the tops of most of the other mountains , gushing out in great spouts almost as far as the huge pine-tree we mentioned be●…ore ; having stay'd a while at the top , we a●…l des●…nded the s●…ndy way till we came to the foot of the sugar-loaf , which being s●…eep even almost to a perpendicular we soon passed , and here we met with a cave about ten yards deep and fift●…en broad , being in shape like an oven or cupola ▪ having a hole at the top near eight yards over ; this we descended by a rope that our servants held fast on the top , while with the other end being fastned about our middles we swung our selves , till being over a bank of snow , we slid down , lighting upon it ; we were forced to swing thus in the descent , because in the midst of the bottom of this cave opposite to the overt●…re at the top is a round pit of water like a well , the surface whereof is about a yard lower , but as wide as the mouth at top , and about six fathom deep ; we supposed this water was not a spring , b●…t dissolved snow blown in , or water trickling through the rocks ; about the sides of the grott for some height there is ice and isicles hanging down to the snow . but being quickly weary of this excessive cold place , and drawn up again , we continued our descent from the mountains by the same passage we went up the day before , and so about five in the evening arrived at oratava from whence we set forth ; our faces were so red and sore that to cool them we were forced to wash and bath them in whites of eggs ; the whole height of the pics in perpendicular is vulgarly esteemed to be two miles and an 〈◊〉 . no trees , herbs nor shrubs did we find in all the passage , but pines , and among the whiter 〈◊〉 a kind of broom being a bushy plant ; it is the opinion of some ingenious persons who have lived twenty years upon the place , that the whole island being a soil mightily impregnated with brimstone , did in former times take fire , and blow up all or near all at the same time ; and that many mountains of h●…ge stones calcined and burnt , which appear all over this island , especially in the south-west part o●… it , were cast up and raised out of the bowels of the earth at the time of that general 〈◊〉 ; and that the greatest quan●…ty of this sulphur lying about the center of the ●…land raised up the pico to that height at which it now is seen ; which appears by the scitu●…tion of those rocks that lye three or four mile ▪ round the bottom of the pico , and in such order one above another almost to the sugar loaf as it is called , as if the whole ground swel●…ing and rising up together by the asce●…sion of the brimstone , the torrents and rivers of it did with a sudden eruption roul and tumble them down from the rest of the rocks ; especially to the south-west where from the top of the pico to the sea coast lye huge heaps of these burnt rocks one under another , and there still remain the very tracks of 〈◊〉 ●…ne rivers as they ran over this quarter of the island which hath so wasted the ground ▪ ●…ond recovery , that nothing can be made to grow there but broom . a view of the bay of souldania near the cape of good hope , on the coast of africa ; where the ships of the honourable east-india-company used formerly to refresh in their indian voyages . with an account of the natives , birds , and beasts of that countrey , now called cafaria , and monomopata ; or the countrey of the hottentots , with some accidents happening there . before we arrive at the east-indies , i cannot but divert once more to the bay of souldania lying in thirty four degrees and an half of south latitude , about twelve leagues short of the cape of good hope , in a sweet climate full of fragrant herbs , which the soil produceth of it self , pleasing to the sense ; where the honourable east-india companies ships used formerly to refresh , and arriving there very weak and feeble with that sea disease the scurvey , have often found very great relief ; and it is observable if any be not too much overgone with this malady , as soon as they come to enjoy the fresh air on any shore with fresh water and fresh victuals , they presently recover ; but if the s●…urvey has overmuch prevail●…d , they instantly dye as soon as they set their foot on shore . here is a most delicious brook of sweet water arising out of a mighty hill hard by , called for its form , the table , neer which is another hill exceeding high like a pyramid , and called by europeans the sugar-loaf ; here are great store of cattel as little cows , called by the barbarous inhabitants boos , and sheep which they name baas , who bear a short , course , hairy wooll , and seem to have been never shorn . these boos and baas as they term them , were formerly bought in great plenty for small quantities of kettle-brass , and iron hoops taken off our empty cask , which for this long voyage to the indies are hoop't with iron . these salvages had the cattel we bought of them at very great command , for with a call they would presently run to them , and when they had sold a bullock to us for a little piece of brass , if we did not presently knock him down , they would by the same call make the poor creature break from us , and run to them again , and then there was no getting them , but by giving more brass ; thus they sell the same beast two or three times , by the covetousness and deceit of this brutish people . of all metals they love b●…ass best , it may be for the rankness of the smell wearing great rings thereof about their arms , so that if you lay before them a piece of gold worth 40s . and a peice of brass worth two pence , they will leave the gold and take the brass ; on this shoar are excellent small roots for sallads , and store of large fat mullets . this remote part of africa is mountainous , and overun with lyons , tygers , wolves , and many other beasts of prey , which in the night discover themselves by their noise and roaring ; to the teeth and jaws of which cruel creatures the natives here expose their old people , when they grow decrep●…t and troublesome ; laying them forth in some open place in the night , when the wild beasts , and lyons roar after their prey . one poor old wretch was thus exposed when some english ships were there , and by his pitiful cries discovered by our court of guard ashoar , by whom he was delivered from death ; and they asking cooree one of the natives why they did so , he replied , it was their custom when people had lived so long that they knew not what to do with them , thus to be rid of them ; they saw in this bay of souldania many whales , party-coloured fowls and ostriches ; the soil about the bay seems good , but the sun shines not upon a people more barbarous than those which possess it , being rather beasts in the skins of men , than men in the skins of beasts , for by their ig●…rance , habit , language , diet and other things they appear absolutely brutish . for generally all people as well heathen as christian acknowledge the great god of heaven and earth , but they , as cooree told us , own no god at all ; their speech seems rather an inarticulate noise than a language , like the clucking of hens , or gabling of turkies , sounding like the word hott-en-tot , from whence they are so called . as they walk about , they make a strange confused noise ; if there be two , three , ten , twenty or more in company , they walk in rank one after another in small paths they have made by going thus , as cows do when they come home to the pail ; or as wild geese flying in ranks , make a noise , so these walking together gabble from the first to the last as if all spake and none answered ; their habits are sheep skins undrest thonged together , which cover their bodies to the middle , with a little flap tyed before them , being naked downward ; when it is cold they put the woolley , and when hot the fleshy side next their body . their ornaments are bullocks or sheeps guts full of excrements about their necks ; and when we bought their cattel they would take , their skins , guts , and garbage , which plentifully furnish't them with that stinking attire ; when they are hungry they sit down and shaking some of that filthy pudding out of the guts bow down their mouths to their hands almost as low as their knees , and like hungry dogs gnaw and eat the raw guts . the women are adorned , habited and dieted in the same manner , only they wear more about their lower parts than the men . they carry their sucking infants under their skins upon their backs , and their breasts hanging down like ●…agpipes , they put them up with their hands that they may suck them over their shoulders ; both sexes make coverings for their heads of cow-dung mingled with a little stinking grease , and besmear their faces therewith ; which makes their company insufferable if they get the wind of you ; they eat rotten mouldy biskets fit for nothing but the dunghill , yea they will devour what a hungry dog in england would refuse . a couple of them , had found on the shoar a large peice of a dead fish the sea had cast up , which stunk intolerably ; they made a little fire with dry cow-dung warmd and then eat it , with as much appetite as an hungry man would feed upon a savoury dish ; which makes one believe they have but three senses , wanting both smelling and tasting . these brutes devote themselves to idleness , for they neither spin nor dig ; they are streight and well limb'd , though not very tall , their faces are ill favoured , most of their noses flat , have little or no beard ; the hair on their heads short , black and curled ; their skins very tawny ; swift they are of fo●…t , and wi●…l throw darts and shoot arrows very dangerously . in 1615 an east-india ship returning thence , and arriving at this harbor ; when she was ready to sail , having two of these salvages aboard , the commander resolv'd to bring them home with him , imagining that having learnt english here , they might discover something of their countrey to us ; these poor wretches thus carried away against their wills were much disturbed ; one of them meerly out of ●…enness , though he was very well used , died soon after they put to sea ; the other who called himself cooree , was brought to london , and kept six months in sir thomas smiths house governor of the east india-company , where he had good diet , good c●…oths , good lodging ▪ and all other fitting accommodations ; one would have thought that this wretch might have conceived his present , compared with his former condition a heaven upon earth . but all these things gave him no content , though to his good entertainment he had gallantry added , having a chain of bright ●…rass , with breast , back and headpeice of the same , and a buckler all of brass his beloved metal , yet all this did not now please him , for never was any man more weary of ill usage , than he was of courtesies ; being ever more desirous of returning to his countrey ; for he would lve on the ground and cry out very often in broken english , cooree home go , souldania go , home go . not long after he was return'd home , and had no sooner set footing on his own shore but he threw away his cloths , linnen , with all his other covering , and instantly got his sheep-skins upon his back , guts about his neck , and a perfum'd cap of cow-dung on his head , and so returned like a dog to his vomit , and a swine to his wallowing in the mire , without a metaphor ; after this fellow was returned , the natives were shy of us , for though they would come about us in great companies when we arrived , yet three or four days before they thought we would depart not one was to be seen , fearing we would have dealt with them as with cooree . but it had been well he had never seen england , for as he discovered nothing to us , so when he came home he told his countreymen , that brass was but a base and cheap commodity in england ; and we had never after such a free exchange of our brass and iron for their cattel . i asked cooree , who was their god ; he lifting up his hands answered in bad english , england god , great god ; souldania no god. in 1614. ten englishmen being condemned to dye at the old bayly london , had their execution respited by the intreaty of the east-india merchants ▪ upon condition they should be all banished to this place , that they might discover somewhat advantagious to trade . one named duffeld was that year redeemed from this sad banishment by sir thomas row ambassador to the great m●…gol , and afterward brought back to england by that noble gentleman , and being intrusted by him , this ingrateful villain stole some of his plate and ran away ; another was likewise on the voyage , but what became of him i know not . so that only eight were here left with ammunition and victual , and a small boat to carry them to a little uninhabited island , in the mouth of the bay of souldania , as a place of retreat and safety from the natives on the main ; it is called penguin island , probably so named by some welshman , penguin signifying a white head , there being many large fowls with great cole-black bodies and white heads called penguins . the chief person left here was one cross , who call'd himself captain ; he was one of the yeomen of the guard to king iames i. but having twice or thrice had his hand in the bloud of men slain in duels , and being now condemn'd with the rest , upon great suit made he was banished hither with them ; yet divine justice seem'd to persue him , for being a stout man and abusing the natives , he was surprized by them who shot his body so full of arrows that he seemed all one wound ; the other seven recovered their boat , and got off the continent toward the island without much damage ; but the water running high , as soon as they were ashore their boat was split in peices ; so they were for●…'t to continue in that miserable place where neither tree grew , nor any thing else to sustain their lives , having no fresh water but what the showers left in the holes of the rocks ; and so abounded with venemous serpents that it was dangerous treading in the long grass ; they h●…d bu●… a small quantity of dry bisket , their b●…es were hungry , and their sleep unsafe , so that nothing could render their condition more unhappy ; and yet these seven vile wret●…es all lived ●…o be made examples of divine justice . for after the●… had continued in this desolate place five or six months , and were all grown almost mad with famine , an english ship came into that road bound for england ; four of these seven growing impatient of an hours stay there , immediately after the ship came in made a float of the ruins of their sp●…it boat , and with ravell'd boat ropes fastning as well as they could , all together , they got thereon , poizing it to the best advantage , hoping by the ●…enefit of their oars , and strength of the ●…de which ran quick toward the ship to recover her ; but it being toward evening when they made this attemp●… , and not being discovered by the ship which rid a good way up in the bay , before they could come near her , the tyde return'd and carried them back into the sea , where they all were cast away . the day following the ship sent a boat to the island , which took th●…se three yet surviving into her , who gave this account of th●…ir fellows misfortune ; but notwithstanding all the sufferings of these mi●…creants , yet they behaved themselves so lewdly in the ship , that they were often put in the bilbows ; at length the ship arriving in the downs she had not been at anchor three hours , when these villains got ashore , where they had not been above three hours but they committed a robbery , and a few hours after were all apprehended for the fact , and by the lord chief justices special warrant executed as incorrigible wret●…es upon their former sentence , near sandwich in kent , where they committed the crime . in 1615. three other condemned persons were carried to be left in this place ; but hearing of the ill success of their predecessors , when the ships were ready to depart and leave them on shore , they all fell on their knees with tears in their eyes before our captain ioseph , beseeching him they might be ●…nged rather than left there ; it was a sad sight to behold three men in such a condition as to esteem hanging a mercy ; our commander say'd he had no commission to execute them , but to leave them there , and so he must do , and probably h●…d done , but our fifth ship the swan staying a day or two after , took these poor men in . though the english east-india company declined raising a fort , or settling a colony at the cape of good hope , yet the dutch have built a strong fort there by the sea side , against the harbour , where the governour lives . and about 300 pāces distant on the west of the fort is a small dutch town of about 60 houses low , but well built with stone walls , from a quarry close by . the countrey , for near an 100 mile●… up , is p●…etty well setled with farms , and yeilds good crops of wheat . barley , pease , &c. to the industrio●… dutch families , and also to a considerable ●…mber of 〈◊〉 protestants ; some of whom , bless god that their king hath banished them their native countrey ; since they are now setled in a l●…nd of ●…eace , plenty , and security . there are great quantities of grapes , of which the french make excellent white wine , of a pale yellow colour but sweet , pleasant and strong . there are also cows , goats , hogs , horses , and sheep very large and fat . ducks , geese , hens and turkeys are very numerous ; so are ostriches , who lay their eggs in the s●…nd , one of which will very well suffice 2 men . they have plenty of several sorts of fish ; one not so big as a herring of which they pickle great quantities yearly , and send them to europe . on the backside of the town towards the mountains the dutch east-india company have a large house , and a garden , 3 mile long incompassed with a high stone wall ; full of divers sorts of herbs , flowers , roots , and fruits ; with spacious gravel walks and arbours ; watered with a brook which descends from the mountains and being cut into many channells is conveyed into all parts of the garden . this water is afterward in pipes carried into the sea so far , that a longboat may come under the pipe , which is raised to some height , and by turning a cock will fill all the casks with fresh water ▪ with the greatest conveniency ; and is the best watering place in the world. the hedges that make the walks of this garden are very thick , and 9 or 10 foot high ; they are kept heat and even by continual pruning ; they keep each sort of fruit by themselves , as apples , pears , pomogranats , and abundance of quinces , all which thrive well . the roots and garden herbs have also their distinct places , hedged in apart , which makes the whole extream pleasant and beautiful . great numbers of negro slaves are continually weeding and working therein . all strangers are allowed liberty to walk there , but not to tast of the fruit without leave . the dutch that live in the town get well by the ships that touch there . when the men come ashoar to refresh themselves they must give 3s or a dollar a day for their entertainment , tho' bread and flesh is as cheap here as in england . besides , they buy good penniworths of several commodities from seamen , which they sell again to the countrey farmers at a dear rate ; none of which live within 20 miles of the harbour . the high tax that the company lays upon drink makes it very dear . there are but 3 houses in the town that sell strong liquor ; one , where they sell only wine , and you must buy no where else but by stealth , the vintner paying a considerable price to the company ; so that you may sometimes buy as much privately for 8d . as you give 18d . for there ; but if the person that sold it be known , he is ruined . there is another house for beer , and mum ; and a third sells only brandy and tobacco . the natives or hottentots do likewise fell beef and mutton privately at an under rate , which else must be bought only of the companies butchers ; all others being prohibited buying of the hottentots . and so we leave the cape of good hope . the factories of the honourable east-india-company in persia. with an account of the religion , government , and other notable remarks , in that kingdom . also the life and doctrines of mahomet the grand impostor . having clear'd our way let us now sail m rrily toward the indies , doubting first the cape of good hope , and then passing by madagascar called also st. lawrence , one of the greatest island in the world , stored with all manner of provisions , but inhabited by a barbarous and heathenish people yet stout , warlike and very numerous . over against which on the continent of africa are z fala and mazambique , where the portugals have got footing , and may be strongly supposed to be the places whither solomon sent his navy of ships built at eziongebar , which stood on the banks of the red sea in arabia the happy , the countrey of that famous queen of the south , who hearing of his wisdom and renown , took her journey thence to visit the court of king solomon ; from that place solomon sent his ships for gold , and silver , and ivory , coasting all along the african shore , the art of navigation being then unknown ; and the marri●…ers steering without chart or compass , were necessitated to keep the neighbouring lands always in sight , as doubtless they did , these places being stored with those rich commodities above other parts of africa . the portugals , dutch and english , discovered these countries of india in the last age ; and have since setled themselves by forts and castles there ; the portugals first brak●… the ice , who in 1494. sailing from lisbon under vasco de gama , doubled the cape of good hope , and succeeded so well as to conquer and fortify several places in many countreys of asia and the islands thereof ; in 1595. the dutch set out a fleet from amsterdam to india , wherein they used such extraordinary dexterity with their cannon law and steel arguments , that they made themselves masters of 28 forts and castles , and of forty four or forty five factories in a short time . in 1600. the english began their discoveries under sir iames lancaster with four ships , whose endeavours were so blest , and by the good government of the honourable east-india-company prospered so well , that they setled their residence and factories in twenty four several plaees of note , as at ormus and iasques in the entrance of the persian gulf under the persian monarch ; at cambaja , surat , agria and other places in the great mogols countrey ; at maslapatan , armagon , petipoly , pattana , siam , and other places on the coast of cormandel , and the continent of asia ; at achin , ticko , iambo , prianian , on the isle of sumatra ; at bantam , iacatra and iaparra on the island of iava ; at socodana and beniermasa , on the island of borneo ; at macassar in the isle of celebs ; at poleroon on the isle of banda ; at firando in iapan ; and lastly at amhonio , hitto , and other of the molucco's , which they quietly enjoyed , till our covetous neighbours deprived us of some of them , and others were deserted on several accounts . the honourable the east-india company was incorporated in the reign of queen elizabeth , and hath been confirmed , with divers immunities added to their charter by all the succeeding kings , so that now they have as ample priviledges as any company whatsoever ; and are found beneficial to the nation by the great trade they drive in importing so many rich commodities from india , persia , and arabia ; they export from hence peices of eight , dollars , broad cloaths , perpetuana's , gunpowder , elephants teeth , lead , amber , looking-glasses , sizars , knives , beads , bracelets , feathers , coral , quicksilver , vermillion , allom , brimstone and many others ; for which they import all sorts of spices , cotton-yarn , callicoes , pintadoes , tamerinds , sanders , spikenard , bezoar , alloes , mirrhe , rubarb , opium , frankincense , cassia , borax , calamus , mirabolans , green ginger , sugars , sugar candy , camphire , sandal wood , benjamin , musk , civet , ambergreece , rice , indico , silks both raw and wrought ; salt petre , precious stones of several sorts , pearl , mother of pearl , gold , silver , christal , cornelian rings , agats , lacqure , furrs , and skins of wild beasts , porcelane copper , china roots , tea , sanguis draconis , china wares of divers sorts , with several other commodities and drugs . of ispahan , or spawhawn , and gambroon in the kingdom of persia. designing to give some account of persia , wherein these factories are setled , i shall begin with ispahan . this is the capital city of all persia , and the residence of the king , being in the center of his empire , scituate in a great plain , which extends 3 ways , 15 or 20 leagues , healthy and pleasant , beautified with stately pallaces , delicious gardens , magnificent piazza's , and wealthy bazars or market-places ; only the streets are narrow and dark , to prevent the burning rays of the sun ; and annoyed with loads of ordure and filth . in the summer dusty , and in the winter dirty . in this city the east-india company have a factory , as also at bussora . gambroon , or gomrow , is a city of great commerce , guarded with 2 castles , wherein are planted 80 brass cannon . the air is so hot and unwholsome , that no stranger can live there above 3 or 4 months in the year , but retire to the mountains 2 or 3 days journey off . all nations that traffick upon the indian seas , and the land caravans , carry commodities thither , and bring from thence velvets , raw silk , and other persian goods . this city of gombroon , where the english have a factory , is risen upon the ruins of ormus , as you will hear , which besng once the staple of the eastern world , and where we once had a famous factory , i shall give some account of it . ormus is an island in the persian gulf , about 20 miles in compass , stony , and full of rocks , and in a manner barren of all necessaries , except salt , wherewith the very rocks are covered , and of salt stone many houses built ; so destitute of all things fitting for the life of man , that they had their victuals , yea , the water they drank from the adjoining countreys ; the summer so hot , that the people rest in caves covered with wood , and stand or sit in water up to the chin , and have loopholes in their houses to let in the wind ; yet in regard of the scituation , it was one of the richest empories in the world , the wealth of persia and india being brought thither , and conveyed hence by water to the river euphrates ▪ and so by boats , or on camels backs to aleppo , alexandria , tripoly , and thence dispersed into all the countries of the mediterranean sea ; the only city was of the same name with the island , founded 700 years ago by mahomet danku , descended from the kings of saba in arabia felix ; who , with many families of the sabeans . passed over the streights into carmenia , and the isles adjoining , and liking the scituation of this island , built this city in it , which he called ormus , or armuzium , the name of the promontory wherein it lies ; it was seated at one end of the isle , about 2 miles in compass , well built , with a fair market place , some churches , and a well fortified castle , furnished for a siege ; by reason of its wealth and resort of merchants , grown to such esteem that it gave occasion to this distich ▪ si terrarum orbis quaequa patet annulus esset , illius ormusium gemma decusque foret , were all the world a ring , this isle alone might of that ring be thought to be the stone . it was first under its own king , whose dominion extended also to some part of the continent on either side , and over all the rest of the islands within the gulf ; his revenue was of no great yearly due , till the coming of the portugals thither , by whom it was discovered under the conduct of albukerque , in 1509. who having fortified some part of it for their own defence , made it the staple of trade for indian merchandize , which so inricht the same , that the revenues of those kings ( though vassals and tributaries to the portugals ) amounted to an hundred and forty thousand seriffs yearly ; in this flourishing state it stood till 1622. when abbas the sultan of persia having received some affronts from the portuguess , or desirous to remove the trade from ormus to some port of his own , gave order to emangoli chan the duke of shiras to besiege it with fifteen thousand men ; who despairing of prevailing by his land forces only , furnished himself with ships and cannon of some english merchants , to whom he promised many things which he never performed ; for being once master of the city , he utterly destroyed it , removing the canon to lar , the wealth thereof to his own treasury at shiras , and the materials of the houses to gombroon ; the portuguess and christian natives , passing over to muskat in arabia felix ; since which though the english captains that ventured in it were disappointed of the rewards they expected , yet so much honour hath been given by the king of persia to the english nation , that the agent , who resides at gombroon , takes custom of all strangers who traffick thither . the religion of the persians . with the life and doctrines of mahomet the grand impostor . the persians are generally mahometans of the sophian sect , and the difference and hatred is so great between them and the turks , though both own mahomet for their law-giver , that they are absolutely irreconcileable . now because this horrible impostor has infatuated so great a part of the world with his blasphemous dotages , i will here give a breif account of his life , and also of his doctrine , as it is comprehended in his holy book ▪ as they call it , or the alcoran mahomet , the son of abdalla , an idolatrous pagan , was born after his fathers death , at ia●…hrip , an obscure village of arabia foelix ; but now become a city called medina talnahi , or the town of the prophet , to which a multitude of mahometans go in pilgrimage every year . his mother , named hemina , was a perverse jewess both by birth and religion , who dying when he was but 2 years old , left him to the ca●…e of his uncle abdal mu●…alib . he , unable to give him any other education than the irreligion and ignorance of his countrey afforded him , sold him at 10 years of age to the ishmaelites , after the barbarous customs of the arabians ; who exposing him to sale in the open market , he was bought by one abdal 〈◊〉 wealthy merchant ; by him he was imployed as a slave in all servile offices , till observing his great wit , and fitness for better services , he at last used him as his factor , sending him with his camels and loads of merchandize into syria , persia , egypt , and other places , wherein he behaved himself with such dexterity that he much increased his masters wealth , and his own estimation ; of person he is said to be low , and withal scald-headed , but otherwise comely , and of good aspect ; much troubled with the falling sickness , which infirmity he made good use of afterward , affirming those fits were nothing but heavenly raptures in which he conversed with the angel gabriel ; he is likewise said to have been well skill'd in magick , by which he taught a white pigeon to feed at his ear , which he declared was the holy ghost , by whom he was instructed in the law he was to publish ; but this not till afterwards ; by sorcerie , comeliness of person , and the great knowledge he had in his masters business , he gained so far on the affections of his mistriss , that upon the death of abdal she made him her husband . possessed of all his masters wealth , he affected ease , and being till then of no religion , or at least a pagan , he began to hearken to sergius a nestorian monk , who flying out of syria for fear of punishment ( the heresies of nestorius being newly both revived and censured ) came into arabia , where he found entertainment in the house of mahomet ; by his perswasions , who found him a fit instrument for the devil to work on , he began to entertain thoughts of hammering out a new religion which might unite all parties in some common principles , and bring the christians , iews and gentiles , into which the world was then divided , under one profession ; resolv'd on this , he retir'd to a cave not far from mecca , as if he there attended only contemplation ; sergius in the mean time trumpeting in the ears of the people both his parts and piety ; who being thus prepared to behold the pageant , out comes the principal actor , with some parts of his alcoron , pleasing enough to sensual minds , which he professed to have received from the angel gabriel ; and finding that this edified to his expectation , he next proclaimed liberty ▪ to all slaves and servants , as a thing commanded him by god , by whom the natural liberty of mankind was most dearly tendred ; which drew to him such a rabble of unruly people , that without fear or opposition he dispersed his doctrines , reducing them at last to a book , or method . the book of this religion he calleth the alcoran , or collestion of precepts , the original whereof they feign is written on a table kept in heaven , and the copy brought to mahomet by the angel gabriel . a book so highly reverenced by the mahometans , that they write upon the cover of it , let none touch this but he that is clean . the body of it , as it now standeth , was composed by osman , the fourth caliph or governour ; who seeing the saracens daily inclining to divers heresies by reason of some false copies of mahomet's law , and that the empire , by the same means , was likely to fall into civil dissention , by the help of his wife , who was mahomet's daughter , he got a sight of all mahomet's papers , which he reduced into four volumes , and divided it into 124 chapters ; commanding expresly , upon pain of death , that that book , and that only should be received as canonical through his dominions ; the whole body of it being only a gloss and exposition on eight of the commandments . first , every one ought to believe , that god is a great god , and one only god , and mahomet is his prophet . they hold abraham to be the friend of god , moses the messenger of god , and christ the breath of god , whom they deny to be conceived of the holy ghost , affirming , that the virgin mary grew with child of him by smelling to a rose , and was delivered of him at her breasts ; they deny the mistery of the trinity , but punish such as speak against christ , whose religion was not , say they , taken away , but amended by mahomet , and whoever in his pilgrimage to mecca doth not visit the sepulchre of christ either going or coming is reputed not to have merited or bettered himself by his journey . 2. every man must marry to increase the disciples of mahomet . four wives he allows to every man , and as many concubines as he will , between whom the husband makes no difference either in affection or apparel , but that the first wife only enjoys his sabbath days benevolence ; the women are not admitted while alive into their churches , nor after death into paradise ; and whereas in most other countries fathers give some portions with their daughters , the mahometans give money for their wives , which being once paid , the contract is registred in the cadies book , and this is all their formality of marriage . 3. every one must give of his wealth to the poor . hence some buy slaves and set them free , others buy birds and let them fly ; they use commonly to release prisoners and bond-slaves ; to build caves or lodgings in the ways for relief of passengers ; repair bridges and mend high-ways ; but their most ordinary alms consists in sacrifices of sheep and oxen , which , when the solemnity is perform'd , they distribute amongst the poor , to whom also on the first day of every year , they are bound to give the tyth or tenth part of their profits the year past , so that there are scarce any beggars among them . 4. every one must make his prayers five times a day . when they pray they turn their bodies towards mecca , but their faces sometimes one way , and sometimes another , believing that mahomet shall come behind them while at their devotions . the first time is an hour before sun rising , the second at noon-day , the third at three a clock afternoon ▪ the fourth at sun-setting , the fifth and last before they go to sleep ; at all these times the cryers bawl in the steeples ( for the turks and saracens have no bells ) for the people to come to church , and such as cannot , must , when they hear the voice of the cryers , fall down in the place where they are , do their devotions , and kiss the ground thrice . 4. every one must keep a lent one month in a year . this lent is called ramazan , in which they suppose the alcoran was given to mahomet by the angel gabriel . this fast is only in the day time , their law allowing them to be as frolick in the night as they please ; so they abstain from wine and swines flesh , which is prohibited in their law at all times , but never so strictly abstained from as in lent. 6. be obedient to thy parents . which law is most neglected of any in all the alcoran , never any children being generally so nnnatural as the turkish . 7. thou shalt not kill . this they keep inviolate amongst themselves , but the poor christians are sure to feel their fury . and as if by this law the actual shedding of blood only were prohibited , they have invented punishments for their offenders worse than death . as first the strappado which is hanging them by the arms drawn backward , and then drawn up on high , and letting down again with a violent swing which unjointeth all their back and arms. secondly , they sometimes hoise up their heels , and with a great cudgel give them three or four hundred blows on the soles of their feet . thirdly , it is ordinary to draw them naked up to the top of a gibbet or tower full of hooks , and cutting the ropes to let them fall down again , and by the way they are caught by some of the hooks , where they commonly hang till they die for hunger . 8. do unto others as thou wouldst be done unto thy self . to those that keep these laws he promiseth paradise , a place of all delights , adorn'd with flowry fields , water'd with chrystalline rivers , beautified with trees of gold , under whose cool shade they shall spend their time with amorous virgins , whose mansions shall not be far distant . the men shall never exceed the age of thirty , nor the women of fifteen , and those to have their virginities renew'd as oft as lost . friday he ordained to be their sabbath , partly to distinguish his followers from the iews and christians , who solemnize the 2 days ensuing ; but principally because he was on that day proclaimed king , or emperor , and so accordingly created ; wine and swines flesh are the principal things forbidden by the alcoran , from the last whereof they all unanimously refrain , but on the first they are so besotted , that when they come at it they seldom go home again unled ; insomuch that all the wines in constantinople have been thrown about the streets , and death made the penalty for any who shall presume to bring any more into the city ; mahomet taught them , that every one should be saved by his own religion , except those who revolt from the alcoran to another law ; but so that under the notion of religion h●… means only such as worship the one and only god , excluding thereby the old gentile idolaters from the hope of salvation . he likewise taught that at the end of the world all men who professed any such religion should go into paradise , the iews under the banner of moses , the christians under the banner of christ , and the saracens under the banner of mahomet . they compel no man therefore to abjure the faith wherein he was born , but secretly commecd and approve such as are zealous in their own religion , yet counting it a great honour to have daily new proselites , they allure them with hopes of freedom and preferment , which with many are too prevailing motives to cause them to renounce their christian profession ; hence some infer , it is better for a man that desires his liberty , to live in these countries than in some others , since he is never molested if he meddle not with their law , their women , or their slaves . their opinions of the end of the world are very rediculous , as that at the winding of an horn , not all flesh only , but the angels themselves shall dye ; that the earth with an earthquake shall be kneaded together like a lump of dough ; that a second blast of the same horn shall , after forty days , restore all again ; that cain shall be the captain or ring-leader of the damned , who shall have the faces of dogs and swine ; that they shall pass over the bridge of justice laden with their sins in satchels ; that the greater sinners shall fall into hell , the lesser into purgatory only , with a thousand the like fopperies , needless to relate , which may be found in the alcoran ; a●…thing so full of tautologies , incoherences , and gross absurdities of so impure and carnal a mixture , that whoever is taken with it must abandon his natural reason , if force , ambition , or want of christian education , do not induce him to imbrace it . for if we seriously consider the causes of the deplorable increase and long continuance of this religion , we shall find them to be chiefly these . 1. the greatness of the victories obtained by the saracens , who easily compell'd the conquered nations to receive their law. 2. the great zeal and diligence of the arabians themselves , who being a numerous people , and much given to merchandize , have possessed themselves of all the sea-coasts of africk from the streights of babel mandel almost to the cape of good hope ; of all the islands in those seas , and of many factories and good towns on the coast of india , in all which they have setled their religion also , as a thing inseparable from their nation . 3. a peremptory restraint of all disputations in any point of religion whatsoever . 4. the suppressing philosophy , and the study of humane sciences , the light whereof might easily detect the grosness of their superstitions . 5. the sensual liberty allowed of having variety of wives , and as many concubines as they are able to keep . 6. the promise of the like sensual pleasures in the other world , with which a mind not illuminated with the spirit of god , is generally more affected , than with the speculative hope of a future happiness . 7. the forbidding printing and printed books , whereby people might perceive the truth and purity of the christian faith , with the falshood and impurity of the law of mohomet . yet had not these last been sufficient to induce the belief of such absurdities if the first had not opened and prepared the way . for force of arms was really the most prevailing argumen●…y which mahomet himself confirmed , and his successors since have propogated and dispersed his doctrine ; who being strengthned by that rascal rabble which resorted to him , he assaults medina , pretending a quarrel to the iews , who had there a synagogue , he was repulsed at first with loss of men and a wound in his face , by which some of his foreteeth were beaten out , and was there likely to have ended his new religion , but recovered by his soldiers for further mischief . at the next onset he prevail'd , the battel being fought near a place called bedez , scituate betwixt mecca and medina , frequently mentioned in the alcoran . after which fight he took the city , converting the synagogue to a temple for their own impieties ; the news hereof so startled the nobility of mecca , that they armed all their powers against him , and succeeded so well in the beginning of the war , that they drove him forcibly from their territories ; which yet not long after he again subdued , and made his chief residence at mecca . from that his flight the saracens compute their years , ( as w●… from christ's nativity ) which they call the hegira , and begins about the year of our lord ●…17 . so termed from an arabick word that signifies , the persecution raised about religion . it happened about this time that the saracens revolting from heraclius the eastern emperor joined themselves to mahomet , being exasperated by iulian the apostate , whom they served in his wars against the persians , for telling them upon demanding their pay ▪ that he had greater store of steel than gold. but they then wanted a head to resort to . now serving heraclius in the same war , they were used by his officers in the same ill manner , for asking their pay , the treasurer of the army made them this churlish answer , there is scarce money enough to pay the roman and grecian soldiers , and why must these dogs be so importunate for their wages ? provoked herewith , and hearing the fame of mahomet , they joined him , who strengthned by them , and the coming in of the rest of their countrey-men , he soon brought all arabia under his subjection ; and having defeated the emperors forces sent against him , he conquered some parts of syria and egypt , and returning to mecca there died frantick and distempered , in the 70 year of his age , and 23 of his impostures , of which he spent thirteen at medina , and the rest at mecca . his dead body being kept four days in expectation of a resurrection , which he promised to perform at the end of three , grown full of stench and putrefaction , was carried to medina , and there interred . his successors , out of wicked and worldly policy , keeping up the reputation of that religion after his decease , which they scorned and derided in his life , calling themselves caliphs , or vicar generals to him their prophet . thus dyed mahomet the persion and turkish prophet , haraclius being emperor of constantinople●… sadinion bishop of rome , clotaire k. of france , viteric k. of spain , and ecbald k. of england , about 630 years after our savious birth . he was , as himself confessed , altogether unlearned , and tho ▪ naturally subtile and witty , yet often puzzled to invent miracles to confirm the deluded arabians in their vain belief . for he contidually preaching to them , that god sent him to confirm his law by force of arms , the people earnestly demanded some sign of his mission ; so he was constrained to amuse them with the story of a voyage which he made to heaven , to this effect . that the angel gabriel with 70 pair of wings came to him by night , as he was in bed with his wife , saying , that god had sent for him . he going down with this angel , found at his door an heterogeneous beast , called elborach , half ass , half mule , but much swifter than either ; for it would go as far at one step as the most quick-sighted man could see . this beast ( or mahumetan ) would not let mahomet mount him , unless he would first promise to pray for him , which the charitable prophet did ; and was then , in the twinkling of an eye , brought by him to ierusalem ; where the angel gabriel tyed the beast with his girdle to a rock ; and taking mahomet on his shoulders , carried him to heaven gate ▪ they knockt , and the porter understanding mahomet to be there , instantly opened , and bid him welcome . in the first heavens he saw angels of divers and monstrous shapes ; some composed of fire and snow ; others of fire alone , every one of a different form. among the rest , one with the head of a cock , whose feet trod upon one heaven , and his head toucht another ; each heaven being so far distant , that it was a journey of 500 years to pass from one to the other ; and when this cock crows , which it seems is his language , all the cocks upon the earth crow likewise . this angel conveyed him to another , he to a third , and so from one to another , till at length he came to the heaven where god himself was ; who courteously received him , asking how his people did and whether they received his law. god then familiarly lay'd his hand upon his shoulder , which was so cold that it peirced the marrow of his back bone . he was soon dismist , god telling him only how often in a day his disciples should make their prayers ; which were so many that in his return to the fourth heaven , moses met him , advising him to go back , and intreat god that fewer prayers might serve his turn , since his followers were not able to say so many ; so at length the number was reduced to five . he then went back to his elborach , which in a moment brought him home to his house in mecca , where he went to bed again to his wife ; she not once dreaming her husband would leave heaven for her company , or imagining he had been there ; all this he performed in the tenth part of a night . the turks do still believe this romantick story for truth , but the arabians at that time , requiring him to ascend again to heaven in their view , he unwilling to take so long a journey only replyed , praised be god that i am a man , and an apostle . on the seal which he used was ingraven , mahomet the messenger of god. he had several slights to deceive his followers , performed either by art or witchcraft . once an ox brought him a chapter of the alcoran upon his horns in a full assembly . another time being at dinner with one that was his pretended freind , who yet designed to poyson him , and a shoulder of mutton being brought to table , he pretended the meat spoke , and forbid him to eat of it , tho' none but himself heard it among a great company ; however he permitted one of his dearest freinds to eat , and dye , poysoned therewith . other vain miracles he published , as that the trees bowed to him , ( tho' only shaken by a sudden gust of wind ) the wolves howled , and the asses brayed to him , all in their several languages desiring his prayers , which he being a prophet understanding , as religiously performed . he often declared that god gave him commission to fulfil his own desires in all things , and in his alcoran writes , that he thus spake to him , o prophet ! it is permitted thee to lye with all women that are given thee , or which thou dost purchase ; thy aunts , or kindred , and all other good women that freely desire thy company , and this is lawful for thee alone . thus he pretended religion for fulfilling his inordinate lusts , in which it is say'd he equalled his strength to that of 40 men . the day of his death was no less prodigious then the course of his life , a comet resembling a sword , appearing at high noon , pointing from south to north , and continued in the sight of all for thirty days together , which the wise men of that age concluded to be a presage of the fatal riseing and grandeur of the arabian empire . haly was astonisht at his distemper , and the high frenzy wherein he dyed , esteeming it no divine quality in a prophet and a redeemer ( as he called himself ) of so many people . he derided his presumption , yet carefully concealed the manner of his death , being willing to promote his law , that so he might inherite his power and empire . for near 800 years after his decease the arabians , saracens , turks and persians continued in the mahometan faith without any divisions . but in 1482. there happened this memorable alteration of religion and state in persia. mahomet the lawgiver of the saracens by his last will bequeathed to his cosen hali ( who was also the husband of his daughter fatime ) all his estate with the title of caliph ; but abubezar , haumar and osman , 3 powerful men of arabia , and great assistants to mahomet , succeeded one another in that dignity . after their death hali hoped to obtain the government which had so long been detained from him . but m●…avias , a valiant souldier advanced himself , and to remove all future pretensions , he slew hali , with his son ossan , and eleven of ossans sons ; but musa ceresin the twelsth son made his escape ; from this musa one guine sophie derived his pedigree in 1360. and considering that there had been no caliphs for many years past , he began to contrive the reviving and establishing that honourable dignity in his own family . he dying in the midst of his projects , left the prosecution of them to his son aider sophie , who being a man of great industry , sanctity , and power ; and strenghtned with the love , and real affection of his people , ussan cassanes prince of the armenians gave him his daughter to wife . but iacup the son and successor of ussan after his fathers death , envying the glory of aider sophie , and fearing his power , caused him to be slain , and delivered his 2 sons which he had by iacups sister , named ishmael and solyman , to amazor one of his captains to secure them in prison . amazor being of a generous temper , afforded them not only liberty , but gave them ingenuous education . afterward ismael the eldest , a gentleman of promising hopes , undertook to revenge the death of his father , which he likewise performed ▪ staying iacup and his son elvan . after this victory ismael being crowned king , or sophie , or shaa of persia , he altered the form of religion there , declaring hali and himself to be the only true successors of mahomet the prophet , and condemning abubezer , haumar and osman , with the turks their abettors and followers , as usurpers , rebels and schismaticks ; and ordered all books to be burnt , and all monuments to be defaced that mentioned any thing in honour of those 3 caliphs . this difference in religion hath created so mortal an aversion in them to each other , that the turks hold it more meritorious to kill one persian than 70 christians . the city of medina where mahomet lyes buried is in arabia , 3 days journey from the red sea. his tomb is inclosed within an iron grate , and covered with green velvet , which is every year made new and sent by the grand seignior ; the old one being by the preists cut into small peices and sold at great rates , as reliques to the pilgrims . in the temple where this tomb is placed , there are say'd to be 3000 lamps of gold and silver , wherein is balsome , and other rich odours , ointments and oils , continually kept burning . they would impose it for a miracle that this tomb should hang in the air by means of loadstones , but besides that there is no such thing , for it stands on the floor , were it true , there were no such wonder in it . for democrates the atheniah by order of ptolomy k. of egypt , undertook to make the statue of arsinoe all of iron , and to hang in the air. and in the temple of serapis in alexandria , there was an iron sun that hung in the air by the force of a loadstone , being a rare peice of workmanship . the turks make a pilgrimage to this tomb , and all true musselmen are obliged once in their lives , at least , to go thither . to this purpose i will relate the following story , from a late traveller into turkey . a mahumitan having , in obedience to a religious vow , undertaken this journey , and being of the opinion of the rest of his fellow travellers ( or the caravan , as it is called ) that they should meet with water at a certain well or cistern upon the road , had made use of the best part of their provision , as the rest had done , upon the ceremony of the abdest or ablution , which is their washing themseives before their devotious , for they wash the best part of the head and neck ; their arms up to the elbows , their feet , the end of the priapus , and the posterior orifice . and for this reason they never erect any mosquee , or church , without planting fountains round about it , for they firmly believe , that their prayers put up without these washings , and in a state of impurity , would rather draw down the wrath of heaven upon them than procure the blessings of god. and indeed these severe commands of washing so often , are very troublesome , as well to those that live in dry places far from water , as others in the northern cold climates ; so that several turks could wish heartily ▪ that they might be permitted to change their religion , which ties them to so many inconvenient slabberings . when these pilgrims came to the cistern where they hoped to be supplyed , they found the water dryed up by the heat of the sun. they were extreamly concerned thereat , finding themselves in the midst of the sands , deserts , and heats of arabia . they knew not what course to take in that extremity of drowth which tormented them with impatience ; nor had many of them money to buy water of those who had been more provident , and indeed had not much to spare . our poor mahumetan found himself reduced to endure a scorching drouth , and ready to be buried alive in the stifling clouds of sand which the wind raises in that miserable road. inspired him with more execrations against mahomet and his accursed errors , tren the most zealous of the eastern christians could have invented for him . he said , he did not wish the devil had taken mahomet , for he did not believe him so unjust as to let that impostor escape his claws , who being the only cause of the death of so many millions of people as perished in going to his tomb , justly deserved as many deaths in hell as he had caused poor creatures to suffer torments in this infamous cruel pilgrimage ; but he wisht with all his heart , that heaven had thunderstruck from above , and that hell had then swallowed in flames the first contrive s of that accursed alcoran , and the unfortunate propogators of the law of mahomet , or that he himself had been born a christian. some christians in the company were much surprized to hear a mahometan thus blaspheme his own religion , but they were told , that this person was of a sect who were neither turks nor christians , but a sort of mahumetan heretics . when a mahumetan has purified himself , he goes into the church with his eyes fixt upon the ground , and barefoot . to which end the eastern people have shoes , or slippers , of goats skins dyed yellow , red , violet , or black , but none of them may wear them green in the turkish dominions , this being the sacred colour which mahomet so much affected ; only their emirs wear a green bonnet , which they put on with great reverence on their heads ; and is a mark of their being allied to their great prophet and legislator . but this is not regarded in persia. as we may find by the following story . sha abbas , the renowned k. of persia , was the most accomplished prince in all the east . it happened that a turkish ambassador one time at his court , being much concerned to see christians as well as mahometans wearing green shoes and trowses over all persia , he ▪ in the name of his master ▪ required the king to forbid his subjects any longer to prophane a colour which all true mahometans ought to have a greater veneration for . that the king knew very well , that it being the prophets peculiar colour , it did not become the happy observers of his law , to cover any part of the body therewith , but only the head ; or at least the more decent part of the body above the wast ; it being an insupportable comtempt to trample under foot a colour so sacred , as his subjects not only did , but also the giaurs , or christians , the iews , and all other infidels , and impure nations in his dominions . sha abbas perceived the folly of this discourse , and so resolved to make a jest of it . he made shew of consenting to the grand seigniors desire , and promised the ambassador that he would take order his subjects should no longer prophane the prophets colour , hoping the grand seignior would issue out the same orders over his dominions . for , said the king , your master beholds every day a greater prophanation of that colour , and yet lets it go unpunished . my subjects only wear the colour dead upon their shoes and trowses , but all the beasts in turkey dung without any penalty upon the grass , which is the living colour that mahomet lov d. therefore if he will prohibit all the beasts in his empire from defiling the green grass with their excrements , which they do continually , then will i take care that my subjects shall wear green no longer . the ambassador finding the emperor did but deride his folly , withdrew silently from the presence , and left the persians to their own liberty . this washing and cleanliness of the mahometans has occasion'd the building of several necessary houses ( which they call the houses of shame ) for publick conveniency , which are kept very sweet , having a cock to turn and take away all ill smells ; so that you shall never see in all the east , the walls of their churches stain'd with urine or excrements , as in our parts of the world ; nor is any one prejudiced in his health by retaining his ●…rtural evacuations for want of convemency . i never heard so many i●…vectives ( saith a french gentleman ) as were uttered upon this account by a turk at constantinople , who had travelled to marseilles , and thence to paris . he being in france , used , according to the custom of his countrey , to eat great plenty of fruits , salads , and , among the rest , cucumbers half ripe , stalks and all ; a diet enough to break a french horses belly , yet much admired by the eastern people , whose d●…gestion tames it ▪ well enough . this mahometan said , he found it hotter in paris , during the heat of summer , than at damasco in syria , tho' it lye 15 degrees more to the south ; so , to cool himself , he resolv'd to eat a great dish of milk and cucumbers , and so to walk about half a mile off where he had business . returning back , the motion of his body . the coldness of the cucumbers , and the heat of the season , caused great commotion in the bowels of the musselman , and would by no means be appeased . he searched about for an house of easement , yet could discover nothing but open shops and throngs of people ; he grew disconsolate , not knowing what course to take . he cursed all the streets of paris , and wisht himself at damascus , where is a great place walled in , containing 40 of these necessary houses . at last , in the height of his trouble , he thus lamented his misfortunes , were i now at grand cario , my pains would find redress by only bowing the head , and crying according to custom to passengers , pray sir look another way ; but here in paris , where there are more people than stones in the street , what shall a man do in my forlorn condition ? but these sad complaints little availed , for before he could get to his lodgings , the cucumbers forc'd their way open at his back-door , and made the disconsolate syrian know that milk and cucumbers was not so sweet as milk and honey , yet he must endure the smell as well as he made several others , as he passed in that stinking pickle to his lodgings to cleanse himself . this cleanliness of the mahometans makes them call christians filthy , unclean , and nasty infidels , or unbelievers . and thus much for this grand impastor mahomet , whom heaven permitted to be a scourge for punishing the christians ; who , at that time , had forsaken the doctrines of the gospel , and had imbraced damnable herisies . let this excite us to bless the goodness of god , who enjoy the glorious light of his truth ; and to admire gods judgments , who suffers so many large kingdoms and countries to be infatuated , deluded , and inslaved ; and so many millions of people to be abused by that false prophet , and to believe his lyes , nonsense and blasphemy . he belies god in making him the author of his alcoran , boasting that his name is written upon the throne of god , and that he is the greatest of the prophets , having more knowledge than all the men and angels in the world. he belies jesus christ , in saying he could not be gods son , because god was never married , as if there were no other way of generation but what is carnal . he saith the virgin mary conceived christ by the smell of a rose , and that she was the sister of moses , confounding her with miriam , though there were so many hundred years between . he belieth the holy ghost in affirming , that he inspired mahomet to write his alcoran . he belieth the scriptures , in saying they are corrupted by christians ; and that they worship many gods , and give god a companion , by affirming the divinity of christ jesus . he belieth the iews , in saying they make eleazer a god. he belieth the patriarchs , in saying that noah , abraham , isaac and iacob believed his alcoran , tho' they lived so many thousand years before he or his alcoran had a being . he belies the apostles , in making them his scholars , tho' they lived near 600 years before he saw the light. by all which it appears , that the compiler of this alcoran , was not the god of truth but the father of lies . especially if we consider the ridiculous stories found therein . he tells us , that he once divided the noon , one half whereof fell into his lap , the other half on the ground , which he after joined again together ; and , perhaps , in memory of this lying miracle the turks use yet the half moon for their arms , and on their churches and steeples . he tells of a great army of men and angels raised by solomon , which being much disturbed in their march by an army of flies , solnmon reb●…ked and routed them . he tells , that in noah's ark a hog was generated of the elephants dung , and a rat of the hogs dung , which knawing a hole in the ark , noah was so affrighted , that he toucht the forehead of the lyon , out of whose brains leaped a cat that chased away the rat. to conclude , in the paradise which he promises his followers , he allows appartments therein to several beasts , such as abraham's ram ; moses's heifer ▪ solomon's ant ; the queen of sheba's parrot ; esdras his ass ; ionas his whale ; the 7 sleepers dog ; and mahomet's camel. which sufficiently demonstrates the author to be ignorant , impudent and foolish . the government of the kingdom of persia. the government of persia is purely tyranical , for the king has the sole power of life and death over all his subjects , independent from his council , and without any trials at law. he can put to what death he pleases the chief lords of the kingdom , no man daring to dispute the reason ; nor is any soveraign in the world more absolute than he . the king deceasing and leaving male issu●… behind him , the eldest ascends the throne , while his brothers are kept in the haram or castle , and their eyes put out , and if the king have the least jealously , they are instantly put to death , yea the children of the kings brothers and sisters likewise ; formerly they were not so rigorous , but only mov'd a red hot iron to and fro before their eyes ; but sha sefi perceiving that the poor unhappy princes had some sight left , ordered their eyes to be digged out of their heads ; sha sefi's cruelty spared not his eldest son sha abhas the heir of his throne , ordering one of the eunuchs to move an iron before his eyes , no man knowing a reason ; but the eunuch compassionating the young prince , moved an iron yet not red hot before his eyes , and teaching him to counterfeit blindness preserv'd his sight till his father lay upon his death-bed , when being very penitent for having put out the eyes of his eldest son to whom the crown did of right belong , the eunuch seeing the king so sadly afflicted , and ready to give up the ghost , assured him that he would restore the prince to his sight , and brought him with perfect eyes to his bed-side , the sight of whom prolonged the kings life till next day , and gave him time to command all the gaandees of the court to obey sha abbas his eldest son , as his lawful successor . there are several of these blind princes at ispahan , and i knew one particularly , saith my author , a person of excellent natural parts ; as blind as he is , he is a great lover of curiosities , and has built him a house at ispahan worth seeing . he is overjoyed when he meets with any rarities out of europe , feeling them in his hands , and causing his eunuchs to tell him the meaning of every thing : he is a great admirer of clock-work and watches , and to know what a clock it is , has little points set up in the dial-plate , and a half hand which points to the hour ; with certain figures which he makes of soft wax , and sets in order upon a table , he will cast up an account exactly . several other good quilities are eminent in him , and it is a miserable spectacle that a man should be reduced to that deplorable condition only because he is of the blood-royal of persia , this state is distinguished like most of those in europe into three bodies , first that of the sword , which answers to the nobility , and consists of the kings houshold , the kans or governors , and all the souldiery . the second that of the gown , comprehending all those that belong to the law and courts of justice . the third is composed of merchants , handicrafts men , and labourers . among other cunning contrivances of sha abbas to know the true state of his affairs without trusting too much to his ministers , he oft went disguised into the city like an ordinary man under pretence of buying and selling , to discover whether false weights and measures were used ; so going one evening , in the habit of a countrey-man , to a bakers to buy a man of bread , and thence to a cooks to buy a man of roast-meat , ( a man is six pound sixteen ounces to the pound ) having bought his bargains he return'd to the court , where causing them to be weighed exactly , he found the bread to want 57 drams , and the meat 43. upon which he fell into a rage against the officers and the governor of the city ( whose belly he had caused to have been ript up but for the intercession of his lords ) reproaching them for their negligence of the publick good , and of the injustice of false weights , how sadly the cheat fell upon poor men , who having great families , and thinking to give them 800 drams of bread , by that fraud deprived them of 143 , then turning to the lords , he demanded what justice ought to be done to those people ; none daring to open their mouths while he was in that passion ; he commanded a great oven to be made in the market-place ; and a spit big and long enough to roast a man , and the oven to be heated all night , and a fire to be kindled near the oven . next morning the king caused the cook and baker to be apprehended , and led quite though the city , with two men going before proclaiming to the people ; we are going to put the baker into a red hot oven in the piazza , to be baked alive for selling bread by false weights ; and the cook is to be roasted alive for having sold meat by false weights . thus these two men served for an example not only to ispahan but to all the kingdom , every one dreading the severe justice of sha abbas . sha abbas his successor acted almost such another piece of severity , for having made one iafer kan , a great lord , who kept a magnificent train , governouor of asterabat ; at first he was very mild , but at last began to exact such sums from the people , that his violences reached the kings ear ; who being one day drinking with his lords , and seeing the master of his musick in the room , who was a merry droll , and had always some pleasant news to tell the king , he was pleased to ask him what the people said of iafer-kan , adding that he had made him governour of divers provinces , and had never heard any complaint of him , but now he was accused of tyranizing over the people . the musick master being a meer flatterer , and knowing that iafer-kan was extreamly beloved of the king , confidently averd'd , that the governor was falsly accused , and that he had always known him apter to give than receive . there was present an agis lately returned from a pilgrimage to mecca ; him the king also asked what was his opinion of iafer-kan and his government , being a person long acquainted with him ; the agis thinking to please the king , returned the same answer . the king who was well informed of the kans behaviour , turning to the lords present , what think you , said he , of these two flatterers , that absolutely know the contrary to what they speak . and commanded two of the musick masters teeth to be pluckt out and driven into the head of the agis , which had like to have cost him his life , being a very old man ; as for iafer-kan he was disgraced for a time , but his excellent accomplishments soon restored him again to favour . murther is severely punished , nor will money save the criminal ; the murtherer is carried before the magistrate ; he delivers him to the parents or kindred of the person slain , who carry him to execution , and without compassion torture him to death . the governor of shiras had a favourite , who falling in love with a young persian gentleman endeavoured to abuse his body ; one day meeting upon the road , and lying under the same tent , the favourite about mid-night came to his bed-side , and after many sollicitations would have forced him ; but being violently resisted , for madness to find himself disappointed , and liable to be discovered , he stab'd the young gentleman to the heart , and fled to the mountains . the murther being divulged , the mother , widdow , and sister of the young man repaired to the governor for justice , who willing to save his favourite , offered them money , which they with scorn refusing , and threatning to complain to the king ; he was constrained to pursue hi●… favourite ; at length he took and sent him to ispahan , saying , he would not judge of the affair , but refer it to the king. the m●…ther , widdow , and sister followed the murtherer to ispahan and demanded justice with that eagerness , that though the king had an inclination to save the favourite for the governours sake , he was forced to abandon him , and bid them pay themselves with his blood . immediately he was carried to execution , where the widdow first stab'd him to the heart with a dagger , then the mother took he●… turn , and after that the sister , and then holding a cup to receive his b●…ood , drank every one a cup full to quench the thirst of their revenge . extraordinary care is taken for securing the high-ways , and guards set at convenient distances ; as the caravan was one day setting out from tauris to ispahan , a poor fellow took an occasion to rob a cloak-bag , and fled cross the fields not knowing the way , the merchant missing his goods complain'd to the governor , who sent order to the guards to search strictly for him . the thief being constrained to forsake his cloak-bag , and cross the fields for water , was seized and carried to the governor , and soon convicted , for thieves find no mercy in persia ; only they are variously put to death , being sometimes tyed to a camels tayl by the feet , and their bellies ript open . sometimes buried alive all but their heads , and starved to death , in which torment they will oft desire passengers to cut off their heads , though it be a kindness forbidden by the law. but the most cruel punishment is , when they set the thief on horseback with his extended arms fastned to a long stiek behind , then larding him with lighted candles , they burn him to the very bowels ; we met two in this misery who desired us to hasten their deaths , which we durst not do , only we gave them a pipe of tobacco according to their desire . one day there was a great hubbub in a bawdy-house where the woman had prostituted her own daughter , the king being informed of it , commanded the mother to be thrown head long from a tower , and the daughter to be torn in pieces by his dogs , which he keeps on purpose for such chastizements . the forts and factories of the honourable east-india company upon the coasts of malabar , cormandel , in the bay of bengal and in the empire of the great mogul , in india . with an account of the religion , government , trade , marriages , funerals , strange customs of the natives . intermixt with divers accidents and notable remarks . having given some account of persia , let us next advance unto the indies , wherein the honourable the east-india company have these forts and factories . fort st. george fort st david comineer cudaloor . porto novo . madapollam . metchlapatam . pettipolee . carwar . calliutt . surat . bombay island . balla-sore . hugli . chuttanutti . daca . rhajamal . all on the coasts of coromandell , malabar , and the bay of bengale . fort st. george . this fort is on the coast of coromandell where the honourable east-india company have a factory . on november 3. 1684. about 9 at night there happened a violent storm in this place , which continued till 2 next morning . it untiled all the houses in the town , with such a ratling noise , as if some thousands of granadoes had been thrown on them , and lay'd all their gardens ( of which they have many pleasant ones ) as level as the smoothest bowling green. trees of an ancient and prodigious growth , some perhaps as ancient as noahs flood , were violently torn up by the roots , and their aged trunks riven in peices , the noise of the crashing and fall of their boughs and branches seeming almost to equal that of a tempest . but what was most surprizing was , that a strong iron bar which belonged to a window , was with the extream force of the wind , snapped into 3 peices . had this hurricane continued two or 3 hours longer , it would certainly have level'd both the fort and town ; tho' strongly built , and well fortified . fort st. david , commineer , cudaloor , porto noro , madapollam . pettipole and carwar , are all on the coast of coromandell , in all which the east-india company have factories . it is reported that st. thomas the apostle wrought many ●…iracles in these countries ; and foretold the coming of white people thither . and that the children of those that murdered him , have still one leg bigger than another . callicut . this is a town on the coast of malabar , where the portugals first setled themselves , and the english merchants have a factory . the prince of calicut calls himself zamorin , a prince of great power ; and not more black of colour than treacherous in disposition . many deformed pagods are here worshipped , but with this ordinary evasion , that they adore not idols , but the deumo's they represent . the dutch general who was cook of the ship crowned the present prince with those hands which had oftner managed a ladle than a sword. malabar is a low countrey , with a delightful coast , and inhabited by people that practice pyracy . there is a certain wind which blowing there in winter , so disturbs the neighbouring sea , that it rowls the sands to the mouths of the adjoining ports , so that then the water is not deep enough for the least bark to enter . but in the summer another contrary wind , drives back the same sand , and makes the port again navigable . the great number of rivers in this countrey render horses useless , especially for war. a countrey for the most part of the year green , and abounding with cattle , corn , cotton , pepper , ginger , cassia , cardamum , rice , myrabolans ananas papas , melons , dates , coco's , and other fruit. surat . this town is about 40 days journey from agra , and drives as great a trade as any city in asia ; though the access to it be very dangerous . for the river tappy or tindy rising out of the decan mountains , glides through brampore , and in meanders runs by the walls of surat ; and after 15 miles wrigling about , discharges it self into the ocean , but is so shallow at the mouth that it will hardly bear a bark of 70 or 80 tuns ; so that ships are forced to unlade at swally . which is remarkable for the mischance of capt. woodcock , who at the taking of ormus ▪ seized a frigate as prize laden with near a million of ryals ; but coming into swally road the ship sunk , and therewith all his golden hopes vanished . the english east-india company , and also the dutch , have their presidents and factories in this city , making it the greatest mart in the indies . surat is secured with a castle of stone , well stored with cannon . the houses are generally built of sun dried bricks , which are very large , and lasting ; they have flat roofs , railed round about to prevent falling . they have beautiful gardens of pomegranats , melons , figs , and lemons , interlaced with rivulets and springs . the english house for the reception and staple of their goods is very magnificent . baroche not far distant drives a great trade in cottons . the english have a very noble house here . not far from which tavernier writes , that of a dry stick , a mountebank in less then half an hour , made a tree grow five foot high , which did bear leaves and flowers . the history of savagi the indian rebel . the plundeiing of surat by the famous rebel savagi , and other his actions deserve here to be inserted . this raja , or lord savagi was born at bashaim , the son of a captain of the king of visiapour , and being of a turbulent spirit , rebelled in his fathers lite time ; and putting himself in the head of several banditti , and other debauched young men , he retired into the mountains of visiapour , and defended himself against all those that came to attack him . the king of visiapour thinking that his father kept intelligence with him , caused him to be seized and imprisoned where he dyed . savagi was hereat so incensed against the king that he breathed nothing but revenge . and in a short time plundered visiapour his principal city , and with the booty he took there , made himself so powerful , as to be able to seize several towns , as rajapour , sasigar , crapaten , daboul , and to form a little state thereabout . the king dying about that time , and the queens endeavours to reduce him being unsuccessful , she accepted the peace he proposed to her , that he should enjoy the territories which he had subdued , and be tributary to the young king , and pay him half his revenue . however savagi could not rest , but being a stout man , vigilant , bold , and undertaking in the highest degree , he resolved to seize upon cha-bestkan governour of decan , and uncle to the great mogol , with all his treasures even in the midst of his armys , in the town of aurenge abad . and had effected his design if he had not been discovered too soon . for one night being accompanied with a crew of resolute fellows he got into the very apartment of cha-hest kan ; where the governours son , forward in his fathers defence was killed , and he himself grieivously wounded ; savagi in the mean time getting away without damage . yet this disappointment did not daunt him in the least , insomuch that he undertook another bold and dangerous enterprize in the year 1664. which succeded better . he drew about 3000 chosen men out of his army , with whom he took the feild without noise ; spreading a report by the way , that it was a nobleman going to court. when he was neer surat that famous and rich port of the indies , instead of marching farther ▪ as he made the grand provost of that countrey whom he met , believe , he fell into that town , cutting off the arms and legs of the inhabitants to make them discover their treasures , searching , digging , and loading away , or burning what he could not carry away with him . he continued plundring 40 days ; so that none but the dutch and english saved themselves , because they were in a good posture of defence ; especially the english , who having time to send for assistance from some of their ships which lay near the town , behaved themselves gallantly and saved besides their own , several other houses near them . a certain jew of constantinople , who had brought rubies of a great value , to sell them to the great mogol , was thrice brought upon his knees , and had the knife held up to cut his throat , yet still persisted in his denial that he had any , and so saed his life and jewels . at that time the k. of ethiopia had sent an ambassador to the great mogol with several presents , and among others , twelve curious horses , and a little mule , the skin of which was speckled like that of a tyger ; so finely , so variously , and so orderly streaked that no silkin stuff of india was more beautiful . there were also 2 elephants teeth , so prodigiously large that a very strong man could scarce lift one of them from the ground . lastly , the horn of an oxe full of civet , half a foot broad on the top . they were no sooner arrived at surat , but savagi came and ransackt and burnt the town , and there house among the rest , so that they could save nothing but their letters . he emptied the oxes horn , and carried away the horses and the elephants teeth . he durst not attack the castle ; but marcht off without opposition , loaden with gold , silver , jewels , silk stuffs , fine linnen and other rich merchandize , to the value of three hundred thousand pound english money . the great mogol sent an army under iesseingue to besiege the principal fortress of savagi , who being expert in matters of treaty , he so ordered the business , that savagi surrendred before it came to extremity ; and afterward joined with the mogol against visapour ; the mogol declaring him a raja , taking him under his protection , and making his son a considerable commander . some time after the mogol intending war against persia , writ such obliging letters to savagi , extolling his generosity , ability and conduct , that he at length resolved , upon the faith of iesseingue to come to the mogol at dehli . a kinswoman to the mogol being then at court , having a great influence upon him , perswaded him to secure savagi , who had murdered her son , wounded her husband , and destroyed surat . so that one evening savagi saw his pavillions beset with 3 or 4 begments of souldiers . but he made shift to get away in the night ; the eldest son of iesseingue was suspected to have furthered his escape ; but many say'd , that it was by the consent of the great mogol , since he could no longer retain him at court , because of the great spleen of the women against him , for having dipt his hands in the blood of their kinsmen . after this savagi seized on many strong holds , mostly seated upon steep mountains , the mogol not being able to reduce him , and he often ravages the countrey from goa to the very gates of surat . he has likewise ships at sea , and in the year 1683 fifteen hundred of his men in 3 ships and four grabbs , attackt an english east-india ship capt. iohn hide commander , but were bravely repulsed with a great slaughter , though those brave englishmen had not the happiness long to enjoy the honour of that noble action , their ship being unfortunately cast ▪ away coming into the channell , and all the men but two , lost . savagi now acts as king , and secures himself in the mountains where the mogol is not able to attack him . caambaia is 3 miles from the river indus and about 3 miles in compass , one of the neatest and best built citys in all the east , and called the indian grand cairo for its greatness , traffick and fertility of soil , and so populous as to contain an hundred and thirty thousand families . here they cut the agats that come from other countreys , into several sorts of shapes , and in the suburbs they make indico here the east-india company had a factory ; the tydes are so swift , that a horse at full speed cannot keep pace with the waves ; but the sea and the trade is fallen away from it . swalley is more south , and about a mile from the sea , but gives name to a large capacious bay where the ships ride that trade to surat , from which it is about ten mile distant . maslipatan . maslipatan , or metchlapatam is a great city , the houses whereof are only wood , built at a distance from each other . it stands by the sea , and the honourable east-india company have a factory here . this being the most famous road for ships , in the bay of bengal from whence they sail to pegu , siam , ormus , sumatra , and other places of traffick . this city is in golkonda , but the great mogol is so much dreaded there that his commissioner is master thereof , buying , selling , bringing in and sending abroad his merchants ships none daring to contradict him in any thing , nor to demand any customs of him . pa●…ania is a city south from siam , and was governed many years by a queen . in 1612. some english men came hither with a letter from q. elizabeth , and a present from the merchants of 600 rials of eight . the letter was carried in great state , being lay'd in a bason of gold , lay'd on an elephant , adorned with little flaggs , lances and minstrils . they then obtained a grant to trade there , upon the same conditions as the hollanders , and there was an english factory which is now removed . siam is a kingdom ; the chiefest part lying between the gulf of siam and bengale ; the countrey is plentiful in rice and fruits . the forrests stored with deer , elephants , ty●…ers ; rhinocero's , and apes . here grew store of large bamboo canes ; under the knots of them are ants or emmets nests , as big as a mans head ▪ where they preserve themselves during the rains , which continue 4 , or 5 months . the king of siam was accounted a very rich prince , and stiled himself king of heaven and earth ▪ though he be tributary to the kings of china . there were idols in his temples seaven foot high all of massy gold. when the king appeared all the doors and windows of the houses must be shut ; all the people prostrating themselves on the ground , not daring to look up . and because no person was to be in an higher place then the king , they within doors were bound to keep their lowest rooms ; he would suffer no barbar to come near him ; one of his wives cutting his hair for him . one part of his magnificence consists in his train of 200 elephants , among which one was white , which he valued so highly as to stile himself , king of the white elephant . he passionately admires them , accounting them his favourites , and the ornaments of his kingdom . if an elephant dyed he was burned with the same funeral pomp as a nobleman . the english had a factory formerly in this kingdom , as well as at armagon . as for ballasore , hugli , chuttanetti , daca , rajamell ; the present honourable east india company have factorys in all those places , of which little more can be say'd then what has been spoken of others . at the famous port of bombay island , the english have built a strong ●…ort and here they coin both silver copper and tin , which passes among themselves , and the villages along the coast. the empire and government of the great mogol . having given some account of the forts and factrys of the honourable east india company . i shall subjoine a breif relation of the empire and government of that mighty monarch . the name of india is now given to the empire of the great mogol , and to the two peninsula's , one on this side , and the other beyond ganges ; with the islands scattered in the indian sea ; which are all comprehended under the general name of the east-indies ; yea some authors take in all the oriental part of asia . it is recorded , that the old inhabitants consisted in 122 several nations ; originally descended from the sons of noah , before their journey to the valley of shinaar , and their attempt in building the tower of babel . that it was first invaded by the famous queen seinramis , with an army of above four millions , whom staurobates an indian king opposed with equal forces , who overcame and slew her . that the next invasion was by bacchus the son of iupiter and hercules , who by policy and force subdued them , and taught them the use of wine , oyl , and the art of architecture . after this , india was invaded by alexander the great ; he vanquishing first clophae queen of magaza , and then king porus , both whom he took prisoners ; but restoring them again their liberty and kingdom returned back to babylon , where he dyed of poyson . after this they lived in peace under several kings . in 1587. their countrey being discovered by the portugals , and after by the dutch and english , they have had much traffick with them . this vast empire comprehends the greatest part of the continent of asia , wherein are contained 37 kingdoms . as for remains of antiquity , there are few or none , the mogols having ruined all the ancient buildings , which according to the ancients were 30 large citys , and 3●…00 walled towns and castles , so strong as to be thought impregnable ; which may not be improbable , if noah first planted there , after his descent from mount ararat , not far distant from hence . since such mighty armys were raised in those countreys not many years after , and the land so well built and planted ; so that when alexander had overthrown king porus near the river hydaspis , he say'd , he found greater citys and more sumptuous buildings in india then in all the world besides . some of the citys that end in pore , as meliapore , visiapore , and others , seem to retain the memory of k. porus , as others in scander , the name of alexander . the dominions of the great mogol are larger then the persians , and equal to the grand seigniors . his strength lyes in the number of his subjects , the vastnes of his wealth , and the extent of his empire ; his revenue exceeding the persian and the turks both put together . but the k. of persia exceeds him in horse , arms , and warlike people . his revenue is reckoned to be about seaven millions and an half , english money . the throne alone wherein he gives audience , is valued at near four millions , being almost covered with jewels , pearls , and all kind of precious stones of a vast value . the present mogol derives his original from tamberlan the scythian , who overcame all asia , and took bajazet the ottoman emperor prisoner , putting him into an iron cage , against the bars of which he beat out his brains . when tamberlain had taken him prisoner , he was brought before him , who fixing his eyes upon him fell a laughing , b●…jazet being highly offended feircely say'd to him , laugh not at my fortune sir , but know it is god that disposes of kingdoms and empires , and the same may happen to you to morrow that has befaln me to day . to which ●…amerlain replyed , i know this as well as you , nor do i laugh at your misfortunes but am thinking that certainly these kingdoms and empires are very contemptible things in the eyes of god , since he gives them to such inconsiderable persons as we are , you a deformed one eyed man , and i pitiful lame creature . the mogol is the general heir to all those to whom he gives pensions ; and his will is a law in the decision of his subjects affairs , and therefore they carry the names of their imployments , and not of the lands which they enjoy . now because of this barbarous tho' ancient custom , in the late mogols reign one of the ancient governours being very rich , and finding himself near death , thinking upon this unreasonable law , which oft renders the wife of a nobleman and her children poor and miserable in an instant ; he secretly distributed all his great estate to indigent gentlemen , and poor widdows ; filling his trunks , with old iron , old shoes , rags and bones , locking and sealing them close , saying , they were goods belonging to the mogol ; before whom they were brought after his death , and opened in his presence before his lords that all saw this fine stuff ; which so discomposed the mogol , that he rose and went away in a great fury . he is able to bring 100000 horse into the field , but the foot are inconsiderable . chah , iehan the father of the present emperor left behind him about 500000 livers , besides the rich throne aforementioned . the present emperor or mogol is called aureng-zeb , having usurpt the kingdom from his father upon this occasion . this great king having reigned 40 years with much clemency and justice ; in his declining age fancied a young lady of extraordinary beauty not above 13 years old. and because the strength of nature would not permit him to satisfy his passion , he took certain provocatives , which were so hot that he fell into a distemper which had almost killed him . this obliged him to shut himself up in a strong fortress , together with his women , for 2 or 3 months ; during this time he seldom appeared to his people , and then at a great distance , which made them believe he was dead . he had 4 sons and 2 daughters , whom he loved all alike , making his sons governours or vice roys of four of the principal provinces in his kingdom . during this false report of his death , dara his eldest son continued with him ; but soon after they raised armys , and fought against one another ; and after many battels and much bloodshed aurengzeb the third son having destroyed his three brethren , mounted the throne , keeping his father prisoner . some time after , he sent to his father for some of his jewels , that he might appear before his people with the same magnificence his predecessors had done . chah-iehan taking his request for an affront , fell into such a rage that he continued mad for some days , and had like to have died upon it ; he called several times for a mortar and pestle , to beat all his jewels to powder rather than his son should have them , but begum saheb his eldest daughter throwing her self at his feet , by virtue of that criminal power she had over him as being both his daughter and his wife , kept him from it , more out of design to preserve the jewels for her self than her brother , to whom she was a mortal enemy ; for this reason when aureng-zeb ascended the throne he had only one jewel on his bonnet , and as a penance , for so many crimes he would not eat wheaten bread , flesh nor fish , but fed upon barley bread , herbs and sweat meats ; but chajehan his father dying in 1666. finding himself rid of an object that reproached his tyranny , he began to enjoy himself with more delight , receiving his sister begum into favour , and calling her cha begum or princess queen ; a woman of excellent accomplishments , and able to govern an empire ; and had her father and brothers taken her counsel auren-zeb had never been king ; he had another sister called r●…uchenara begum , who always took his part and sent him all the gold and silver she could procure when she heard he had taken arms ; in recompence whereof he promised when he came to be king to give her the title of cha begum , and that she should fit upon a throne ; all which he performed ; and they lived lovingly together . this princess having secretly conveyed a handsom young man into her apartment could not let him out so privately , after she had quite tired him , but the king had notice thereof ; the princess to prevent the shame ran to the king , and in a pretended fright told him , there was a man got into the haram even to her very chamber who designed either to have kill or rob her ; that such an accident was never before known , and that it concerned the safety of his royal person , and he would do well to punish the eunuchs who kept the guard that night . the king ran instantly with a great number of eunuchs , so that the poor young man had no way to escape but by leaping out at a window into the river that runs by the pallace walls ; a multitude of people ran out to seize him , the king commanding they should do him no harm , but carry him to the officer of justice ; yet he happily escaped and has not been since heard of . it is an ancient custom among the heathen indians that the husband happening to dye the wife can never marry again ; so when he is dead , she retires to bewail him , shaves her hair , and lays aside all her ornaments , taking off her arms and legs , the braccelets her husband put on when he espoused her , in token of her submission , and being chained to him ; and all her life after she lives despised , yea worse than a slave in the house where she was formerly mistress . this causes them rather to dye with their husbands than live in such contempt , the bramins or priests perswading them , that after death they shall meet him again in the other world with greater advantage ; yet can no woman burn her self without leave from the governour of the place , who being a mehometan , and abhorring this execrable custom of self murther does often deny it . some women , are so offended thereat that they spend the rest of their lives , in works of charity . some sit on the road boyling pulse in water and giving the liquor to travellers to drink ; others hold fire ready in their hands to light their tobacco ; others make vows to eat nothing but the undigested grains which they find in cow-dung . but when the governor finds no perswasions will alter the womans resolution , and perceives by a sign from his secretary that she has given him money to that purpose , he in a surly manner bids the devil take her , and all her kindred ; immediately the musick strikes up , and away they go to the house of the deceased , with drums beating and flutes playing , in which manner they accompany the person to the place appointed ; all her kindred and friends come and congratulate her for the happiness she is to enjoy in the other world , and the honour their family receives by this her generous resolution . she then dresses her self as if going to be married and is conducted in triumph to the place of execution , with a loud noise of musical instruments and womens voices , singing songs in honour of the miserable creature that is going to dye . the bramins , exhort her to courage and constancy , and many european spectators think that these preists give her some stupifying liquor to take away the fear of death ; for it is their interest that these miserable wretches should destroy themselves : their bracelets about their legs and arms , pendants , rings , and jewels all belonging to them , who rake them from among the ashes when she is burnt ; sometimes a little hut of reeds is erected on the bank of a river , besmeared with oyl and other drugs . the woman is placed in the middle in a leaning posture with her head on a kind of wooden bolster , and reststing her back against a pillar , to which the bramin tyes her about the middle , lest she should run away upon feeling the fire . in this posture she holds the body of her deceased husband upon her knees , chewing betele about half an hour . the woman bids them fire the hut , which is quickly done , her kindred and friends throwing pots of oyl into it , to dispatch her . in some places they only build a pile of wood upon which the woman is placed as on a bed , with her husbands body layed cross her , then some bring her a letter , others peices of calicoe , silver or copper , desiring her to deliver them to their mother , brother , kinsman , or friend in the other world ; when she has received all , she puts them between her husbands body and her own , tyed up in a peice of taffety , and then calls to kindle the pile , wherewith she is soon stifled ; but there being scarcity of wood in bengale , the bodies of these poor wretches arem any times only grilliaded and then cast into the river ganges to be devoured by crocodiles . the magnanimity of many of these women is admirable ; the raja of velou having lost his city and life in a battle against the king of visiapours general , he was extreamly lamented , and eleven of his wives resolved to be burnt at his funeral . the general endeavoured to divert them by kind usage , but finding perswasions in vain he ordered them to be shut up in a room ; the women in a rage told him , that 't was to no purpose to keep them prisoners , for if they might not have leave to do what they had resolved , in three hours there would not one of them be alive . he laughed at this menace , but the keeper of those women opening the doors 3 hours after , found them all stretched out dead upon the place , without the lest mark of any outward violence offered to them . the government of the great mogol is ( as we have say'd ) arbitrary and tyranical , measuring his power by his sword and lance , and making his will his law , there being no laws to regulate governours in the administration of justice but what are written in the breasts of the king and his substitutes ; and so they often take the liberty to punish the offender rather than the offence ; mens persons more than their crimes ; though they still pretend to proceed by proofs and not presumptions . in matters of consequence the mogol himself will sit as judge , and no malefactors lye above one night in prison , and many times not at all , for if the offender be apprehended early in the morning , he is instantly brought before the judge , by whom he is either acquitted or condemned ; if it be whipping , that is executed usually with much severity in the place of justice ; if condemned to dye he is presently carried from sentence to execution , commonly in the market-place ; which quick judgment keeps the people in such awe , that there are not many executions . murder and theft they punish with death of what kind the judge please to impose , some malefactors being hang'd , others beheaded , some imp●…led upon sharp stakes a death of extream cruelty and torture ; some are torn to pieces by wild beasts , some killed by elephants , and others stung to death by serpents . those that suffer by elephants , who are trained up for executions , are thus dealt withal ; if the beast be commanded by his rider to dispatch the poor trembling offender presently , who lies prostrate before him , he with his broad round foot at one stamp kills him , but if he be condemned so to die as to 〈◊〉 himself dye , the elephant will break his bones by degrees with his hard trunk , as first his legs , then his thighs , after that the bones in both his arms , this done his wretched spirit is left to breath its last out of the midst of those broken bones . in other places , some are crucified or nailed to a cross , others rather roasted than burnt to death , for there is a stake set up , and a fire made at a distance round about it ; the condemned person being naked is so fastned to the stake th●… 〈◊〉 may move round about it , so long as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till his flesh begins to blister ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 down , roaring till the fire made about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…h his voice and life ; the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exquisite torments is because they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a manto die by an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…iminals are usually commanded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and those who will not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; h●…nce these condemned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 eat and seem to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…nd i●… the close of the banquet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ddle , the wretched self-m●… ▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into the bottom of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…p ; and if after this he can wipe his bloody knife upon a white paper or napkin laid by him , he is reckoned to dye with honour , and is persuaded he goes to fa●…aman , or the god of war. when i was in india , saith my author . one was sentenced by the mogol for killing his own father to dye thus ; a small iron chain was fastned to his heel , and tyed to the hind leg of a great elephant , who drag'd him one whole remove of that king being about ten miles , so that all his flesh was torn off his bones when we met him , and appeared rather a skeleton than a body . another having killed his mother , the emperour was at a stand to think of a punishment adequate to so horrible a crime , but after a little pause , he adjudged him to be stung to death by serpents ; so one of those mountebanks who keep them to shew tricks to the people , brought two serpents to do execution upon this wretched man ; whom he found naked ( only a little covering before ) and trembling . then having angred these venemous creatures , he put one to his thigh , which presently twined it self about that part till it came near his groin , and there bit him till blood followed ; the other was fastned to the outside of the other thigh twisting it round , and there bit him likewise ; the wretch kept upon his feet a quarter of an hour , before which the serpents were taken from him , but complained extreamly of a fire that tormented all his limbs , and his whole body began to swell exceedingly , like nafidius bit by a libyan serpent called a prester ; and about half an hour after , the soul of that unnatural monster left his groaning carcase . it happened a few years before sir thomas row was ambassador in this court in 1618. that a jugler of bengal , a place famous for witches , brought an ape before the mogol , who loved novelties , that did many strange feats ; the king to try his sk●…l pluckt a ring off his finger , and gave it one of his boys to hide , whom the ape presently discovered ; several other tryals he made , wherein the ape did his part to admiration ; at length this strange and unexpected fancy came into the kings head ; there are many disputes , said he , about that true prophet which should come into the world , we are for mahomet ; the persians magnifie mortis ally , the hindoos or heathens extol bramon , ram. and others , the iews are for moses . and the christians for christ , adding several others to the number of twelve , who have all their several followers in that part of the world ; he then caused them twelve names to be written on twelve several scrolls , and put together to try if the ape could draw out the name of the true prophet ; this done the ape put his paw amongst them and pull'd out the name of christ ; the mogol a second time caused these twelve names to be writ again in twelve other scrolls and characters , and put together , when the ape again pluckt forth the name of christ as before ; mahomet chan a great favourite present , said it was an imposture of the christians , though none were then there ; and desired to make a third trial , which granted , he put but eleven of those names together , reserving the name of christ in his hand ; the ape searching as before , pluckt forth his empty paw , and so twice or thrice together the king demanding the reason , was answered , that happily the thing he looked for was not there ; the ape was bid search for it , who putting out those eleven names one after the other in a seeming indignation rent them , then running to mahomet chan caught him by the hand where the name of christ was concealed , which he opened , and held up to the king , but did not tear it as the former . upon which the mogol took the ape , and gave his keeper a good pension to keep him near about him , calling him the divining ape . and this was all which followed upon this admrable event , except the great wonder and amazement of the people , the truth whereof saith my author , was confirmed to me by several persons of different religions , who all agreed in the story and the several circumstances thereof . i cannot but relate a remarkable example of a gross flatterer , but a great favourite of this king , noted to be a great neglecter of god , believing it religion enough to please the mogol his master , though a souldier of approved valour . this man on a time sitting in dalliance with one of his women , she pluckt an hair from his breast about his nipple in wantonness , without designing any hurt . this little inconsiderable wound by an unparallel'd fare became the occasion of his death , beginning presently to fester , and in a short time turned to an incurable canker ; when he found he must needs dye , he spake these notable words worthy to be recorded . who would not have thought but that i who have been so long a souldier should have died in the face of an enemy , either by a sword , lance , arrow , bullet , or some such instrument of death ? but now , though too late , i am forced to confess that there is a great god above , whose majesty i have ever despised , who needs no bigger lance than an hair to kill an atheist or a despiser of his divinity ; and so desiring these his last words might be told the king his master , he died . the great mogol , is a prince of much wealth and power having multitudes of souldiers in constant pay , and in his ordinary removes which are not usually above ten mile at once , hath such an infinite number of men and other creatures attending him whose drink is water , that in a little time , as it was said of the mighty host of sennacherib , they are able to drink up rivers . aureng-zeb if he be alive , is about 86 yeurs of age , and has lived in tents several years ; the son of savagi being still in rebellion against him . in 1699. sr. william norris was sent ambassador to the great mogol , and received with all the honour imaginable ; he will endeavour to satisfy the mogol , that the pyrates as well english as others nations who have done him very great damages , are brought to justice when taken ; several of them having been already executed in england . the travels of mr thomas coryat . i shall conclude this account of the empire of the great mogol , with the travels of mr. thomas coryat a man in his time sufficiently known . he formerly writ a book intituled coriats crudities hastily globed up in five months travels in france , savoy , italy rhetia , helvetia , or switzerland some parts of high germany , and the netherlands , newly digested in the hungry air of odcomb in somersetshire , printed in 1611. if coryat had lived he designed to have writ his last travels to , in and out of east-india , for he resolved like another ulysses to have rambled up and down the world at least ten years to see tartary in all the vast parts thereof , with as much as he could of china , and after that to have visited the court of prester iohn in ethiopia , who is there called by his own people ho biot , the king , with many other places , which if he had lived to perform and publish , might have been of good use , since he was both a particular and faithful relator of what he saw , ever disclaiming that bold liberty of travellers in speaking and writing what they please of remote parts , where they cannot be easily contradicted . so believing him an honest historian , i shall give some account of his foot-steps and flittings up and down , who while he lived being like a perpetual motion , tho' dead ought not to be forgotten ; in 1612. he shipt himself for constantinople , where he strictly observed all remarkables , and found much respect from st. paul pindar then ambassador there , to whose house he had free access ; here he viewed several parts of greece , and in the hellespont , and of those two castles directly opposite to each other called sestos and abidos on the banks of that narrow sea famous for the story of hero and leander ; he much desired to see those seven churches of asia , which lye now in ruins , only smyrna is still famous for trade , but not religion ; and ephesus , with some others , retain their names , though they have lost the profession of their faith with the rest . he saw the ruins of great troy , once so populous as if sown with people , but now with standing corn ; the very ruins being almost gone to ruine , there only remaining part of an exceeding great house , supposed part of the famous palace of great king priam . from smyrna he went to gran cairo in egypt anciently called memphis and observed the remains of the once famed pyramids ; returning thence to alexandria with another englishman , they passed by sea to ioppa and met some going to ierusalem , with whom joining , they travelled through a solitary , rocky way , full of danger from the wild arabs , who rob travellers ; arriving at ierusalem they saw and heard all wherewith pilgrims are usually treated , of which you have a full account in a small book called two iourneys to ierusalem , &c. here our traveller had the arms of ierusalem made upon his left arm ; and on his right a single cross like that whereon our saviour suffered on the sides of which were written , via , veritas , vita , the way , truth , and life , and on the foot three nails like those which fastened our saviour to it , done so artificially and indelibly by a black powder , as if drawn by some accurate pencil upon parchment . the poor man would much glory in beholding these characters , applying the words of st. paul to himself , i bear in my body the marks of the lord iesus , gal. 6. 17. hence they went to the dead , sea , the river iordan , sidon , alexandretta , scanderoon and aleppo , where he was kindly received by the english consul , staying some time there for the caravan , which consists of a mixt multitude from divers parts , who travel together to prevent theives and murderers ; with these setting forward they came to the city of nineveh in ass●…ria which in ionahs time was three days journey , but now so mean and obscure , that passengers cannot say , this is nineveh , having lost its name and called now mozel . from thence they journeyed to babylon in chaldea upon the river euphrates , once for its magnitude called a countrey , now much contracted , and named bagdat ; from hence they pro ceeded through both the armenias , where our traveller saw mount ararat whereon the ark rested after noahs flood , they went thence to ispahan in persia , and after that to sushan where king ahasuerus kept his court in esthers time ; from thence to candahor the first province north-east under the great mogol , and so to lahore the second city of this empire , a place of great trade , wealth and delight , more temperate than any other of his great cities ; at length he arrived at agra the mogols metropolis ; from lahore to agra is 400 english miles ; the countrey rich , even , and pleasant , and the road on both sides planted with great trees , clothed all the year with leaves , of exceeding benefit to travellers in that hot clime . it is called , the long walk , full of villages and towns convenient for supply of travellers . at agra our traveller was kindly entertained by the english factory , and there learned the turkish , arabian , persian , and indostan tongues ; which was very advantagious to him in his travels through the mogols territories , he wearing the habit , and speakking the language of that nation ; he made an oration to the great mogol in the persian tongue ' bringing in the story of the queen of sheba . 1 king ▪ 10. in which parts of the sacred scripture the mahometans have some knowledge , and told the king , that as the queen of sheba having heard of the fame of king solomon , came from far to visit him , and confessed that she had not been told half of what she now saw concerning the wisdom , greatness , retinue and riches of solomon , so said our orator , i had heard much of your majesty before i had the honour of your sight , when i was very ●…far off in my own countrey , but what i now behold exceedingly surmounts all the reports thereof . intermixing other slatteries therewith which pleased the mogol , who gave him an hundred ro●…pies , being about twelve pound t●…n shillings in our money , looking on him as a dervise prophet , or pilgrim as he called him , who in that countrey value not money , which might be the reason he did not reward him more liberally . he after got the vulgar language ; and a woman belonging to the english ambassador there , having such freedom of speech that she would rail from morning to night , coryat one day undertook her in her own dialect , and by eight a clock in the morning so silenced her that she had not one word more to speak ▪ at the four corners of their mosquets or churches in this countrey there are high , round , small turrets ; into the top of these their ▪ reists ascend five times every day , whence they proclaim aloud these arabian words , la alla illa , alla mahomet resul-alla , that is , there is no god but one god , and mahomet the messenger from god. this is instead of bells , which they use not in their churches , one time tom. coryat hearing priest a thus crying , got upon a high place directly opposite to him , 〈◊〉 thus contradicted him , la alla illa alla , ●…asaret eesa benalla , that is , no god but one god and the lord christ the son of god , and say'd that mahomet was an impostor ; all this he uttered in their own language , as loud as possible , in the ears of many mahometans present , but it may be questioned whether the discretion of our pilgrim were to be commended ; for if this had been acted in many other places of asia it would have cost him his life with as much torture as cruelty could have invented ; but being here taken for a madman he was let alone , haply since every one there has liberty to profess his own religion freely , and may argue against theirs without danger ; as tom coryat did another time with a moola ; the question was which of them was the musselman or true believer ; after much heat on both sides coryat made this learned distinction , that himself was the orthodox musselman or true believer , and the priest the pseudo musselman , or false true believer . he was a man of a coveting eye , never satisfied with seeing , as solomon speaks , and took as much pleasure therein as others in injoying great and rare things ; he had the mastery of many hard languages , besides greek and latin which he brought from england , and had he had wisdom to manage them as he had skill to speak them , he had deserved more fame in his generation , but his attainments made him ignorant ef himself , being so ambitious of praise that he would hear more than he could possibly deserve , yet had he not fallen into the smart hands of the wits of those times he might have passed better . on a time a merchant who came from england met tom. crryat travelling toward east-india , and told him that when he was in england king iames i. inquired after him , and when he had certified him of his meeting him , the king replyed , is that fool yet living ? our pilgrim was much concerned because the king spake no more nor better of him , saying , that kings would speak of poor men what they pleased ; another time the english ambassador gave him a letter ( with a bill to receive ten pound ) to the counsul of aleppo , wherein were these words , sir , when you shall hand these letters , i desire you to receive the bearer of them mr. thom. coryat with courtesy , for you shall find him a very honest poor wretch , and further i must intreat you to furnish him with ten pounds which shall be repay'd , &c. our pilgrim liked the gift well but the language much displeased him , saying , that my lord ambassador had even spoiled his courtesy in the carriage thereof , so that if he had been a very fool indeed he could have said very little less of him than he did to call him honest poor wretch and to say no more of him was t●… say as much as nothing , and his favour does rather trouble than please me ; when i was at venice , said he , a person of honour wrote thus on my behalf to sr. hen. wotton then ambassador there , my lord , good wine needs no bush , neither a worthy man letters commendatory because whithersoever he goes he is his own epistle ; this , said he , was some language on my behalf ; at length his letter was phrased to his mind , but he never lived to receive his money ▪ a little before his death he seem'd apprehensive thereof for swounding away once , upon his recovery he declared the occasion was , for fear he should die in the way toward surat whither he intended to go , and be buried in obscurity , and none of his friends know what became of him , he travelling now as he usually did alone ; upon which the ambassador willed him to stay longer , which he thankfully refused , and presently turned his face for surat , which was then about three hundred english miles distant , and lived to come safe thither , where being over-kindl●… treated by some english who gave him sack which they had brought from england , he calling for it as soon as he heard of it , and crying , sack , sack , is there such a thing as sack , pray give me some sack , and drinking of it , though not immoderately ( being very temperate ) it increased his flux that he had then upon him which caused him in a few days after his tedious and troublesome travels ( for he went most on foot ) to come at this place to his iourneys end , for here he overtook death , dec. 1617. and was buried at swalley under a little monument likt those in our church-yards . the factories of the honourable east-india company in the island of sumatra . sumarra is accounted one of the largest eastern islands , in length about 700 , and in breadth above 200 where the english have two very considerable factories named achen and york fort. york fort. it lyes to leagues from the continent of asia . six kings command therein , the king of acheen is best known to us . they have so well defended their island that the europeans could never erect any fort or castle in it . there is a mountain that casts forth fire like mount etna . the pepper here is better than that of malabar , because the land is more moist . they find gold in grains , and in little peices after great flouds of water . the inland countrey is inhabited by barbarians who kill and eat the bodies of their enemies , being seasoned with pepper and salt. the city of acheen is the best in the island , lying half a league from the sea upon a plain , by the side of a very shallow river , upon the bank thereof there is a fortress built . our english first setled their trade here in the reign of q elizabeth , whose name was then famous for her expoits against the spaniards . the q. letters to this king were received with much pomp , the king entertained the messenger with a banquet , presented him with a robe , and a peice of callicoe wrought with gold , and gave his passport for the generals security , for whom he sent six elephants , wi●… drums , trumpets , streamers and many attendants ; the chief elephant was about 14 foot high having a small cactle like a coach , covered with velvet on his back ; in the midst was a great bason of gold with a rich covering of silk , wherein the letter was put ; the general was mounted on another elephant , and being arrived the dishes wherein he was treated were of gold , their wine is of rice , wherein the king drank to the general out of his gallery , 4 foot higher than where he fate ; it 〈◊〉 as strong as aqua vitae ; after the ●…ast some young women danced and played on the musick , the king sent a letter and a present to the q. and upon parting asked if they had the psalms of david , and caused them to sing one , which he and his nobles seconded with a psalm ( as he sayd ) for their prosperity . another considerable english factory was at bantam on the isle of java major ; tho chief city in the island , at the foot of a mountain , whence issue three rivers , two running by the walls , and the other through the city , yet not deep enough to admit any ships . the houses are very mean , consisting of three chief streets ; the natives are heathens , and believe when they dye their souls enter into some bird , beast or fish , and so eat neither flesh nor fish , toward the south are many of the turkish religion , some called ●…aqui●…s are desperate vilains , who having been at mecca to visit mahomets tomb , run through the streets and kill all they meet with their poysoned daggers , thinking they do god and mahomet good service and shall be saved thereby ; if any of these mad men are killd their followers bury them as saints , erecting them a tomb , which they visit , and bestow alms upon the keeper thereof . i remember saith my author , that in 1642. a vessel of the great mogols returned from mecca to surrat with a great number of these faquir●… or derviches , and one of them was no sooner landed and had said his prayers , but he took his dagger and ran among several dutch marriners unlading goods upon the shore , and ●…fore they were aware this desperate wretch had wounded 1●… of them whereof 13 died at length the sentinel shot him through the body so that he fell down dead ; the other faquirs and mahometans upon the place took up the body and buried it , and in 15 days erected him a fair monument ; every year the english and hollanders pluckt it down , but when they are gone the faquirs rebuild and plant banners over it , nay some perform their devonions at it ; one time , saith my author , my brother and i , and a dutch chyrurgeon going along a narrow way , having the pales of a garden on one hand , one of these rascals thrust hii pike between the pales thinking to have stabd it into one of our breasts , the dutch man being before , the head of the pike ran into hii breeches ; we both laid hold on the staff ; while my brother leap'd over and ran the faquir through ; several chineses came and gave my brother thanks for killing him ; after which we waited on the k. who far from being displeased gave him a girdle , for the k , is glad when those rogues are slain , counting them desperados , and not fit to live . in 1682. the eldest son of the k of bantam declared himself king , and by the assistance of the dutch took the city of bantam and the english factory there , proclaiming the old k his father a rebel , about the same time an ambassador came from the old k. to k. charles . 2 , by whom he was kindly entertained , and having continued here some time oeturned again to his own countrey . at socodona and beniermasa in the isse of borneo the english setled other factories ; it is as big as spain , incompassed with other smaller islands , and hath a city of the same name founded on piles in the salt water , with sumptuou●… buildings of stone covered with coco leaves . the people are more white than other indians , of good wits and divided beewixt two kings and two religions , the k of borneo and his wife being mahumetans , these of laus still remaining in their ancient gentelism : these believe the sun and moon are man and wife , and the stars their children , ascribing to them divine honours , to the sun especially , whom they salute at his rising with great reverence , repeating certain verses ; their publick business being treated in the night , the councellors of state ascend some tree , viewing the heavens till the moon rise , and then go to the senate house . their apparel is very thin by reason of the extream heat , being only a shirt of silk or callico which they wear more for modesty than warmth . one of the isles of celebs is called macassar where the english likewise setled a factory , being 600 miles from east to west , plentiful of all necessaries , in some part over-grown with wood , in which fiery flyes make nightly such light as if every twig or bough were a candel . in the midst are high mountains , out of which flow many 〈◊〉 rivers . the islanders poyson their arrows with the 〈◊〉 of certain trees in 〈◊〉 , so as to work a swift or slow death 〈◊〉 ●…re . they think the k. has only these ret receit to take away the 〈◊〉 of it , who boast●… that he has the most effectual p●…son in the world , which no remedy can cure one time an englishman in heat of b●…d had killed one of the king of macassets subjects , and though the king had pardoned him , yet both english , hollanders and portugals fearing if the englishman should go unpunished the 〈◊〉 would revenge it upon some of them , besought the king to put him to de●… , which 〈◊〉 much ad●… being granted , the king unwilling to put him to a ●…ngring death , and desirous to shew the effect of his poyson resolved to dispatch the criminal himself , so he took a long trunk , and shot him exactly in the great toe of the right foot , the place he particularly aimed at , two ●…hirurgcons one an englishman the other an hollander provided on purpose , immediately cut off his toe , but for all that the poyson had dispersed it self so speedily that the englishman died presently ; all the kings and princes of the east use strong poysons , and some europeans having tried their arrows by shooting at squirrels , they felt down dead as soon as they were touched . the english factories in china . this vast kingdom was governed by kings of their own for many generatiens . but zunchin the last emperor , suffering the eunuchs by extortion to oppress the people , became odious to them . so that in 1640. they joined with 2 revolted generals , one of whom named ly , overra●… the whole empire in a short space and was crowned k : at pequin zunchin to prevent any insult from the rebels , hanged himself upon a tree in the garden , where his empress had just before done the same , the traytor ly enjoyed his usurpation ●…ut a short time , for the cham of tartary reckoning the former league of peace with zunchin , voyd by his death , without an heir , he invaded china with mighty forces and made an absolute conquest thereof , forcing the tyrant to fly and hide himself , and most of the treacherous chinois were cut off by the tartars , the present emperor of china and tartary , is the son of him who made this prodigious conquest the east india company have 3 factories in this kingdom , named amoy canton , and tunqueen , from whence they bring great quantities of druggs , and several other commodities . a late author gives the following lyst of the fo rs , factories , and places of trade wherein the honourable east-india company are concerned in asia . bombay castle & island ; and dabul in decan . on the coast of cormandel . fort st. george . trinity watch. trinity bass. porto novo . fort st. david cudaloor . conimere manjeckpatam arzapore , pettipolee . messulipatam . madapollam . viccegaparam in the gulf of bengale . bengal hugli ballasore cassumbezar moulda daca chutta nutta pattana in the empire of the g●…eat mogol agra cambaia surat amada●…vd on the coast of malabar . callicut carwar gussurat camboia batricullay duno satanam tully chery beataer bringen in arabia faelix muscat mocha macku●…la shahare kisen durga doffare aden in the kingdom of of persia. jspahan gombroon bassora in the isle of sumatra . achem indrapore , bengalis jambee eyer barma eyer dickets ●…yamong ●…ppon ●…amola selabar on the malay coast. peque trinacore cudda in the empire of china . tunqueen canton ●…moy hock●…eu siam , camboida in the kingdom of siam . mindano , in the island of mindano . borneo , in the island of borneo . iudda , upon the red sea. mucassar in the isle of celebs . now expelled . bantam in iava , till expelled by the dutch , 1682. finis . books printed for nath. crouch at the bell in the poultry near cheapside . history . 1. englands mouarchs : or , a relation of the most remarkable transactions , from iulius caesar ; adorned with poems , and the picture of every monarch from king willim the conqueror to this time . with a list of the nobility , and the number of the lords and commons in both houses of parliament , and other useful particulars . price one shilling . 2. the history of the house of orange : or , a relation of the magnanimous atchivements of his majesties renowned predecess●…rs , and likewise of his own heroick actions , till the ●…ate glorious revolution . together with the history of k. william and q. mary . being an account of the most remarkable passages to this time . by r. b. price one shilling . 3. the history of the two late kings , charles ii. and iames ii. and of the most observable passages during their reigns ; and the secret french and popish intrigues in those times pr. 1●… . 4. the history of oliver cromwel l. protector , being an impartial account of all the battles , seiges , and military atchievements , wherein he was ingaged in england , scotland and ireland ; and of his civil administrations . till his death . relating matters of fact , without reflections or observation . price 1 shilling . 5. the wars in england , scotland and ireland , containing an account of all the battels , sieges , other remarkable transactions , from the beginning of the reign of k. charles i. 1625. to 1660. the tryal of k. charles i. at large , and his last speech with pictures of several accidents . price 1 shilling 6. historical remarks and observations of the antient and present state of london and westminster , shewing the foundation , walls ' gates , bridges , churches , rivers , wards , halls ' hospitals , schools , inns of courts , charters , and priviledges thereof ; with the most , remarkable accidents , as to wars , fires , plagues , &c. for above 900 years past . pr. 1. shilling . 7. admirable curiosities , rarities , and wonders in england , scotland and ireland , or an account of many remarkable persons and places ; and of the battels , sieges , earthquakes , tempests , inundations , fires , thunders , murders , and oth●…r occurrences , for many hundred years past : with the natural and artificial rarities in every county , and several pictures . pr. 1s . 8. the history of the kingdom of scotland , containing an account of all the wars , battels , and other remarkable transactions , revolutions , and state intrigues in that nation during the reigns of 72 kings and queens to the reign of king william ii. intermixt with variety of strange accidents , prodigious appearances , and other considerable events . and a list of the present nobility of that kingdom . pr. 1 shilling . 9. the history of the kingdom of ireland , being an account of all the battels , seiges , and other memorable passages during the late wars there , till the entire reduction thereof by the victorious arms of k. will. iii. to which is prefixed a relation of the ancient inhabitants , and the first conquest of that nation by k. henry ii. the horrid rebellion in 164●… . and the popish and arbitrary designs in the two last reigns . pr. 1 s. 10. the history of the principality of wales : containing , a brief account of the antient kings and princes of britain and wales , till the final extinguishng of the royal british line . also remarks upon the lives of all the princes of wales of the royal families of england , from k. edward i. to this time ; with remarkable observations on the most memorable persons and places for many hundred years past : and the birth and strange actions of merlin the famous welch prophet . pr. one shilling . 11. the unfortunate court favourites of england ; exemplified in some remarks upon the lives , actions and 〈◊〉 ●…all of divers great men , who have been favourites to several english kings and queens namely , i. peirce gaveston favourite to k. ed. ii. iii. hugh spencer the father and son , both favourites 〈◊〉 k. ed. 2. i●… rog. mortimer favourite 〈◊〉 q. isabel , mother 〈◊〉 k. ed. 3. with their priva●…●…mours , &c. v. 〈◊〉 . ●…afford favourite to crook-●…t richard with that king 's secret intrigues for usurping the crown and murdering his nephews . likewise the character of jane shore by sir tho. more who saw her . vi. cardinal woo●…ey ; vii . tho. l. cromwell ; both favourites to k. henry s. viii . e. of e●…x , favourite to q. elizabeth . ix . d. of bucks favourite to k. james i. and k. charles i. x. e. of strafford , favourite to k. charles i. with all their pictures . price 1. shilling . 12. the english empire in america , or a p●…ospect of his majesties dominions in the west-indies , namely , new-found-land , new-england , new-york , new-jersey , pensylvania , mary-land , virginia , carolina , bermudas , berbuda , anguilla , monserrat , dominica , st. vincent , antego mevis or nevis , st. christophers , barbadoes , and jamaica . with an account of their discovery , scituation and product : the religion and manners of the indians , &c. with pictures of the strange fruits , birds , beasts , fishes , insects , serpents and monsters found in those parts of the world. pr. 1 s. 13. the english acquisitions in guinea and east india . inlivened with ●…ictures . price one shilling . 14. the english hero : or , sir francis drake revived . being a full account of the dangerous voyages , admirable adventures , notable discoveries and and magnanimous atchievements of that valiant and renowned commander . as i. his voyage in 1572. to nombre de dios in the west-indies , where they saw a pile of bars of silver near 70 foot long , 10 foot broad and 12 foot high . ii. his incompassing the whole world in 1577. which he performed in 2 years and 10 months , gaining a vast quantity of gold and silver . iii. his voyage into america in 1585. and taking the towns of st. jago , st. domingo , carthagena and st. augustine iv. his last voyage into those countries in 1595. with his death and burial . revised corrected , enlarged , and beautified with pictures by r. b. price one shilling . 15. two journeys to ierusalem , containing first , an account of the travels of 2 english pilgrims some years since , and what accidents befel them in their journey to ierusalem , grand cairo , alexandria , &c. ii. the travels of 14 englishmen in 1669. with the antiquities , monuments and memorable places mentioned in scripture . to which are prefixed , memorable remarks on the antient and modern state of the jewish nation , as 1. a description of the holy land its scituation , fertility , &c. 2. the several captivities of the jews , 3. probable conjectures what is become of the ten tribes carried captive by the affyrians . with divers pertinent relations pursuant thereto , 4. the state of the jews since their extermination , with the present condition of palestine . 5. of the septuagint or 70 jewish interpreters of the law of moses . together with a relation of the great council of the iews in hungary , in 1650. to examine the scriptures concerning christ. written by s. b. an eye-witness . beautified with pictures ●…rice one shilling . 16. extraordinary adventures of several famous men. with the strange events , and signal mutations and changes in the fortunes of divers illustrious places and persons in all ages ; being an account of a multitude of stupendious revolutions , accidents , and observable matters in divers states and provinces throughout the world ; with pictures . pr. 1s . 17. the history of the nine worthies of the world three whereof were gentiles . 1. hector son of pri●…mus k. of troy. 2. alexander the great king of macedon . 3. julius caesar first emp. of rome . three jews . 4. joshua c. general of israel . 5. david k. of israel . 6. judas maccabeus a valiant jewish commander against antiochus . three christians 7. arthur k. of britain , 8. charles the great k. of france , and emp. of germany . 9. godfrey of bullen k. of jerusalem . being an account of their lives , and victories . with poems and pictures of each worthy . by r. b. pr. 1s . 18. female excellency , or the ladies glory , illustrated in the lives of nine famous women . as 1. deborah the prophetess . 2. the valiant judi●…h . 3. q. esther . 4. the virtuous susanna . 5. the chast lucretia . 6. boadicia q. of britain , in the reign of nero ; containing an account of the original inhabitants of brittain . the history of danaus and his fifty daughters , who murdered their husbands in one night of the valour of boadicia , under whose conduct the brittans slew 70 thousand romans , with other remarkable particulars . 7. mariamne wife of k. herod . 8. clotilda q. of france . 9. andegona princess of spain . adorned with poems and pictures . pr. 1●… . 19. wonderful prodigies of judgment and mercy , discovered in above 300 memorable histories ; containing , 〈◊〉 . dreadful judgments upon atheists , blasphemers , and perjured villains , 2. the miserable end of many magicians , &c. 3. remarkable predictions and presages of approaching death , and how the event has been answerable . 4. fearful judgments upon bloody tyrants , murderers , &c. 5. admirable deliverances from imminent dangers and deplorable distresses at sea and land. lastly , divine goodness to penitents , with the dying thoughts of several famous men , concerning a future state. with pictures pr. 1 shilling . 20. unparallell'd varieties , or the matchless actions and passions of mankind displayed , in near 300 notable instances and examples , discovering the transcendent effects , 1. of love , eriendship and gratitude . 2. of magnanimity , courage and fidelity . 3. of chastity . temperance and humility : and on the contrary , the tremenduous consequences . 4. of hatred , revenge and ingratitude , 5. of cowardice , barbarity and treachery . 6 ▪ of unchastity , intemperance and ambition . imbellished with figures . pr. 1s . 21. the kingdom of darkness : or , the history of d●…mons , specters , witches , apparitions and other supernatural delusions and malicious impostures of the devil . containing near 80 memorable relations , foreign and domestick , antient and modern . collected from authors of undoubted verity . with pictures . pr. 1s . 22. surprizing miracles of nature and art , in two parts ; containing , 1. miracles of nature , or the wonderful signs , and prodigious aspects and appearances in the heavens , earth and sea ; with an account of the most famous comets , and other prodiges , from the birth of christ to this time . pr. 1s 23. the general history of earthquakes . or an account of the most remarkable earthquakes , in divers parts of the world , from the creation to this time particularly those lately in naples , smyrna , iamaica , england and sicily ; with a description of the famous burning mount aetna . p●… one shilling . 24. memorable accidents and unheard of transactions , containing an account of several strange events : as the deposing of tyrants , lamentable shipwracks dismal misfortunes , stratagems of war , p●…rilous adventures , happy deliverances , with other select historical passages in several countries in this last age. printed at brussels and dedicated to k. william 3 ▪ &c. published in english by r. b. pr. 1 s. 25. martyrs in flames , or the history of popery ; displaying the horrid persecutions and cruelties , exercised upon protestants by the papists for many hundred years past to this time : in piedmont , france , orange , bohemia , hungary , the palatine ▪ poland , lithuania , italy , spain , with the bloody inquisition , portugal , holland , ●…landers , scotland , ireland , with the massacre in 1641. england , containing an account of ▪ 1. the martyrs in the reign of k. hen. 8. and q. mary . 2. the spanish invasion in 1588. iii. the gunpowder treason . iv. the burning of london . v. the horrid popish plot 1678. vi. the murder of sir. ed. b. godfrey . vii . the detestable conspiraces of the papists , and their adherents against k. will. 3. 1. by grandevile a frenchman . 2. by charmock . sr. w. perkins , sr. j. friend , sr j. fennick and others , with their tryals and executions . also gods judgments upon persecutors , with several pictures pr. one shilling . miscellani●…s . 26. delights for the ingenious , in above fifty select emblems , divine and moral , curiously ingraven on copper plates , with 50 delightful poems and lots , for the lively illustration of each emblem , whereby instruction may be promoted by pleasant recreation ; to which is prefixed , a poem , intituled , majesty in misery , or an imploration of the k. of kings , written by k. c. collected by r. b. price . 2 s. od . 27. excellent contemplations divine and moral written by a. l. capel , with some account of his life , his letters to his lady , and his last speech . also the speeches of d. hamilton , and the earl of ●…olland , who suffered with him : pr. 1 s. 28. winter evenings entertainments , in two parts , containing , 1. ten pleasant relations of many notable accidents . 2. fifty ingenious riddles , with explanations observations and morals upon each . enlivened with above 60 pictures , for illustrating every story and riddle . pr. 1 s. 29. esops fables in prose and verse , with pictures and proper morals to every fable ; some very pertinent to the present times . pr. 1 s. divinity . 30 a guide to eternal glory : or , brief directions to all christians how to attain everlasting salvation : to which are added several other small tracts , price one shilling . 31. youths divine pastime 1. and 2 containing 76 remarkable scripture histories , turned into english verse . with 70 pictures proper to each story ; very delightful for the virtuous imploying the vacant hours of young persons . pr. 1 s. 32. the young mans calling , or the whole duty of youth , in a serious and compassionate address to all young persons to remember their creator in the days of their youth . together with remarks upon the lives of several excellent young persons of both sexes as well ancient and modern ; who have been famous for virtue and piety in their generations . with pictures pr. eighteen pence . 33. the vanity of the life of man represented in the seven several stages thereof ; with pictures and poems , exposing the follies of every age. pr. 6d . 34. antichrist stormed , or the church of rome proved to be mystery babylon the great whore , rev. 17. by many and undeniable arguments , answering all the objections of the papists , pr. 1 s. 35. the devout souls daily exercise , in prayers , contemplations and praises containing devotions for morning , noon and night , for every day in the week ; with prayers before and after the holy communion : and likewise for person●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conditions and upon all occasions : with graces and thanksgivins before and after meat . by r. p. d. d. price bound 6 d. 36. sacramental meditations upon divers select places of scripture , wherein believers are assisted in preparing their hearts , and exciting their affections and graces when they draw nigh to god , in that most awful and solemn ordinance of the supper . by jo. flavel late minister of christ in devon pr. bound 1s . 3. jacob wrestling with god , and prevailing ; or , a treatise concerning the necessity and efficacy of faith in prayer : with divers questions resolved by t. taylor . price one shilling . 38. heaven upon earth or good news for repenting sinners . being an account of the remarkable experiences and evidences of many eminent c●…ristians in several declarations made by them upon solemn occasions . displaying the exceeding riches of the free grace and love of god in supporting them under violent temptations , and at length filling their souls with divine consolation . with the memorable conversion , exemplary , repentance , and dying expressions of the late earl of rochester , approved of as very necessary for comforting poor doubting believers , by w. dyer minister of the gospel . pr. 1s . 39. the vvelcome communicant , containing brief directions to the weakest christians how to proceed from one grace to another , according to the rule of the sacred scriptures , that so they may come with cheerfulness and acceptance to the lords table . with devotions and prayers before , at , and after the receiving the ●…y communio●… yy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pri . 6. d ▪ finis voyages and travels over all europe containing all that is most curious in that part of the world. in eight tomes. done out of french. fer, nicolas de, 1646-1720. 1693 approx. 453 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 164 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a70100 wing f726 estc r216771 99828492 99828492 32919 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a70100) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 32919) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2029:15, 1964:11) voyages and travels over all europe containing all that is most curious in that part of the world. in eight tomes. done out of french. fer, nicolas de, 1646-1720. [12], 162, [8], 146, [4], 139, [1] p., [1] leaf of plates : ill., map printed for h. rhodes next bride-lane in fleetstreet, and j. harris at the harrow in the poultry, london : 1693[-1694]. by nicolas de fer. caption title on p. 1 (vol. 1) reads: historical voyages & travels over europe. each volume has separate dated title page, register and pagination. volume 1 has frontispiece portrait, folding map between c1 and c2, and three final pages of advertisement. volume 2 has order to print dated march 13th. 1692/3. volume 3 t.p. dated 1694. imperfect: copy at reel 1964:11 lacks v.2. reproductions of the originals in the british library (reel 1964:11), and the bodleian library (reel 2029:15). created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng voyages and travels -early works to 1800. 2006-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-11 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-12 pip willcox sampled and proofread 2006-12 pip willcox text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion voyages and travels over all europe . containing all that is most curious in that part of the world . in eight tomes . done out of french. london , printed for h. rhodes next bride-lane in fleetstreet , and j. harris at the harrow in the poultry . 1693. french f. h. van . hove . sculp : licensed , jan. 20th . 1692-93 . edm. bohun . to the reader . 't is a custom among travellers , that are persons of curiosity , that when they come to any city or town of note , one of the first questions which they put to their hosts is generally , what is most-remarkable in the place . to this , monsieur la fer , geographer to the dauphin of france , makes a particular answer , so far as concerns the most considerable cities and towns of europe , in eight small tomes of historical travels , successively intended to be presented to your view ; wherein he gives a neat and short accompt of what is most worthy the observation of a quaint and inquisitive traveller in all the most eminent places of this the most noble fourth part of the world. a pleasing pocket information for a traveller , where e're he comes , to desire to see , and not to ask what is to be seen . he gives yee moreover , the true character of the several people , by telling yee their predominant humours ; which is no less a useful direction for him to manage his conversation with that variety of strangers among whom his curiosity or his business leads him . these historical travels , will consist of eight volumes , of which the first as you see begins with france ; the second will treat of spain and portugal ; the third of italy ; the fourth of germany , switzerland and hungary ; the fifth of muscovy , turky and tartary ; the sixth will enclose poland , swedeland and denmark ; the seventh holland and the low-countries ; and the eighth will comprehend england , scotland and ireland . neither is it to be thought that these are collections and relations of the author by hear-say ; for he tells yee that he had been abroad in forreign countries about twelve or thirteen years , and that all that while he made his remarks upon the religion , customs , humours and strength of several nations , and observ'd what was most rare and curious in their countries : confessing withal , that he took into his assistance the memoirs of a certain learned friend of his , who had been two and twenty years collecting 'em together ; but liv'd not long enough to put 'em into order . about the same time came forth the king's geographer , de la croix's universal geographie , or his new method for the understanding that science ; but besides that , there is little in it but what has been repeated over and over again , and that we had nothing to do with learning geography ; i made a vow , had i been a novice , not to learn it by his new method , which is the obscurest that ever i met with ; in regard he has so conceal'd and hid up his towns in references and subdivisions of provinces , that he that looks for any city , must run from post to pillar , and be at a tedious and unnecessary trouble , prevented by the common alphabetical way , before he can find it out . however i made this use of him , that where he had any thing proper for our vse , which la ferr had for brevity omitted , i thought it but reason , that one brother should help another ; and to that end , i took out all that was material in him and made for our purpose . which as it serves to complete la ferr , so it does de la croix no injury ; who may go on with his new method for all us . 't is to be confess'd , that out of a natural propensity of the french to brag of their own country , monsieur la ferr is sometimes too apt to fall into extasies and raptures in applause of the beauties and prodigies of transcending france , and the conquests of his invincible monarch . but though we could not but leave some sprinklings of his folly in some places , as well because we could not interrupt his sence , as to shew the nature of the french bird , yet care has been taken to prune off the greatest part of those impertinencies , and to keep him as close as possible to his text : for in short , the thing in the main is vseful and pleasant , as being the most delightful part of geography , altogether a novelty , and prosecuted with judgment by the author , to the great benefit and ease of those , who not having the opportunity , or bodies fitted to endure the tempers of various climates , are by this means enabled to travel over whole countries and regions with their eyes , and have all the curiosities of europe brought home to their own studies , at the labour and expence of other men. advertisement . you will meet with many hard names of french courts and jurisdictions in the following relations , which many in england understand no more then the french understand our cursitors , custos brevium's , philizers , sheriffs turns , wardmoots , &c. and therefore we thought it convenient to give a short exposition of what the reader will frequently find repeated in this first volume . bailliage , is the precinct , office jurisdiction of a bailly . a bailli , is a magistrate appointed within a province or certain precinct , to execute justice , maintain the peace , and preserve the people from oppression , vexation , and wrong . to which purpose , he takes cognizance of treasons committed , false money coin'd , of robberies , murthers , rebellions , &c. he makes proclamation in his own name , calls the ban and arriere ban ; and leads forth those that are rais'd by it . he also determines appeals from the sentences of the provosts , and other inferiour judges . chamber of accompts , the court of accompts or of the exchequer ; of which there is one in every town of france where there is a parlament . chamber of money , chambre de monnoyes is a soveraign court wherein the currantness , weight and value of money are examin'd , and the disorders and offences of mintmen , coyners , and clippers punish'd . which court has two presidents , and eight general assistants belonging to it . the exchequer of normandy , is an assembly of high justiciaries , wherein the decrees , orders , commissions and injunctions , awarded by bailli's , viscounts , &c. may be 〈◊〉 and avoided . a chancery . by the chanceries of cities are meant the perites chanceleries , or the chanceries of parlaments , which are visited once a year by the masters of requests in their circuits assign'd them by the grand chancellor of france . consular jurisdiction ; the consuls in the good towns of france , are five honest and substantial citizens , who determine all cases of debt not exceeding 400 livres tournois ( a livre tournois is two shillings english ) between merchant and merchant ; their authority continues a year , and the utmost punishment they can inflict extends but to imprisonment . election , the office and circuit of an eleu , who is a general assessor of the kings aids and subsidies , who rates and taxes the villages and parishes of the election or division wherein he resides . generality , a place for the general receipt of the finances , of which there are such a number in france , as rouen , tholouse , orleans , limoges , &c. jurats of bourdeaux , are as the eschevins or sheriffs in other cities . mareschalship is the office and jurisdiction of a marshal of france . the lord marshals of france in the time of francis i. were but two , who having their several provinces assign'd 'em by the king , rode their circuits into 'em , and were present at all general musters , to observe how military discipline was observ'd ; to view the fortifications and reparations of frontier towns ; how the arsenals were stor'd with ammunition and provisions ; and lastly , to provide for the punishment of idle , vagrant and loose persons . but now their number is uncertain ; the marshal's battoon of command being given as the reward of prowess and conduct . presidial seats ; are courts of justice establish'd in the year 1551. in divers good towns of france , wherein civil causes not exceeding 250 livres tournois are heard and adjudg'd soveraignly and without appeals . seneschalship , the jurisdiction of a seneschal , who is a chief justice or magistrate of a precinct , who has the same authority which is enjoy'd by a bailli , from whom he differs only in name . historical voyages & travels over europe . chap. i. of europe in general . the world is usually divided into four parts ; that is to say , asia , africa , america and europe . this last is the smallest of all ; but without contradiction the most considerable , in regard it is most populous , most fertile , and under the most noble and best order'd forms of government . the bounds of it to the north , are the northern , or the frozen sea ; to the west the atlantick ocean ; the mediterranean , to the south , which separates it from africa ; and to the east , the aegean sea , the streight of gallipoli , the sea of marmara , the streight of constantinople , the black sea , the palus maeotis , the tanais , &c. which part it from asia . the length of it from cape st. vincents in the western part of spain , to the mouth of the river ob , in the frontiers of muscovy , is about thirteen hundred leagues . moreover there are always said to be in europe , besides the territories of the church in italy , two empires , that of germany , and that of turky ; seven kingdoms under different soveraigns who acknowledge no superior ; france , spain , england , portugal , sweden , denmark and poland . the first six hereditary , the latter elective . there are now nine electorates , mayence , treves , cologne , bohemia , bavaria , saxony , brandenburgh , the palatinate , and hanover ; which are all soveraign states under the titles of dukedoms , marquisates , &c. we have also in europe two great dukedomes , muscovy and tuscany . six other dukedoms , besides those which are enclos'd within the empire ; viz. lorrain , savoy , mantoua , modena , parma and curland . seven republicks ; viz. the united provinces , otherwise call'd holland , switzerland , venice , genoa , luca , st. marin , and ragusa . and besides all this there is the arch-dukedom of austria , the patrimony of the empire , who also possesses bohemia and hungary . as for the principalities of transylvania , moldavia , and walachia , they are possess'd by particular princes who are tributary either to the emperor or the grand signior , and sometimes to both together . the principal islands of europe are england united to scotland , ireland , majorca , minorca , sicily , sardignia , corfu , creet , and an infinite number of others in the archipelago . and the highest mountains are in france , the pyreneans and the alpes ; la sierra morena in spain ; the apennine in italy ; parnassus in greece ; the crapack in poland ; the rhipheans in muscovy ; and mont gibel in sicily . this part of the world is water'd with an infinite number of fair streams and vast rivers , which contribute not a little to the fertility of it . the most considerable are the seine , the loire , the garonne , the rhone in france ; the duero , the tagus , the guadiana , the guadalquivir , the ebro in spain ; the po and tibur in italy ; the danaw , the rhine , the elbe , the order in germany ; the vistula and niepor in poland ; the volga , and don , in muscovy ; the thames , severn and trent in england , the tay in scotland , and the shanon in ireland . chap. ii. of france in general . france is to europe , as europe is to all the other parts of the world , for number of inhabitants , for the ingenuity of the people , the fertility of the soil , the temper of the climate , and the excellency of the wine . the government is monarchical , but too severely absolute , tho the nobility are brave and warlike . this kingdom is seated between the forty second and fifty first degree of latitude , and the fifteenth and nineteenth of longitude . it is bounded to the west by the great ocean ; to the east , by the rhine and the alpes , that separate it from germany and italy ; to the south , by the mediterranean sea , and the pyreneans that divide it from spain ; and to the north by st. georges-channel , which the french call la manche , that parts it from england . but these bounds have not hinder'd the kings from frequently extending their dominions beyond these limits , and without searching past ages for examples , no body can be ignorant that in our days neither the rhine , the alpes , nor the pyreneans could stop the rapidness of the conquests of lewis the xiv . france is about two hundred and sixty leagues in length , if we take it from the coasts of britany , to the frontiers of switzerland , and two hundred and forty in breadth from dunkirk ro perpignan the kingdom is compos'd of three estates , the clergy , the nobility and the people . in 1614. the states general of the kingdom being summon'd to meet at paris , appear'd there under twelve great governments ; which are picardy , normandy , champagne , the island of france , britany , orleanois , burgogne , lionois , the dauphinate , provence , languedoc and guienne ; and under these governments are comprehended le maine , anjou , tourain , poictou xaintoin , perigort , limozin , querci , rovergne , auvergne , gevodan , albigeois , bearne , bigorre , foix , cominges , armagnac , vivarez , le forest , beaugelois , bugeay , valcomay , la bresse , nivernois , bourbonnois , berri , salogne , gatinois , beauce , &c. all this shews us that france must needs be a very potent kingdom , since it includes so great a number of fair provinces ; some of which contain more cities , burroughs and villages then many soveraign kingdoms and principalities . but if you add to these the conquests of lewis the xiii and xiv , you will find the limits of this kingdom to be of a much larger extent , since those two monarchs subdu'd franche contè , lorraine , alsatia , artois , part of flanders , hainault , luxemburgh , &c. france , which was known to the ancients under the name of gaul , is a hereditary kingdom , the crown of which cannot descend to the female sex , by vertue of the salique law. it always belongs to the eldest son and for want of male issue to the next of kin. france has beheld upon the throne kings of three races . the first was that of meroveus ; the second , that of charlemaigne ; and the third that of hugh capet . pharamond was the first king of france : he began to reign in the year 400 of our salvation ; and clovis who was the fifth king of this monarchy , was the first who embrac'd christianity in 499 being baptiz'd by st. remi , bishop of rheims ; and ever since that time it was that our kings have born the title of most christian king , and eldest son of the church which no other potentate disputes with ' em . as to the humour of the french , they are lookt upon to have a quick and penetrating wit , to be civil , jolly , and generous , but the most inconstant and most impatient in europe . there are reckon'd to be in france eight arch-bishopricks , which have under their jurisdiction a hundred and eleven bishopricks ; that is to say , as far as i can remember , paris , lim , rouen-tours , reims , sens , cambray , bourges , bourdeaux , auch , vienne , ambrun , toulouse , narbonne , aix , arles , avignon , and treves , which have under 'em a hundred twenty five suffragans . fourteen parliaments or soveraign courts ; viz. paris , toulouse , grenoble , bourdeaux , dijon , rouen , aix , rennes , pau , metz , tournay , perpignan , besanson and chamberi . besides an infinite number of colledges , with which all the cities of france are provided for the education of youth , there are sixteen famous universities ; viz ▪ that of paris , toulouse , montpellier , orleans , anger 's , poictiers , caen , bourdeaux , bourges , cahors , nantes , rheims , valence , aix , avignon and orange . this is all i have to say of france in general : i now come to the remarks which i have made in my travels , beginning with provence , which is one of the extream parts of the kingdom . chap. iii. of provence . geographers usually divide this province into the upper and lower provence : the upper is very mountainous and barren : but to recompence compence that defect , the lower may be lookt upon as a terrestrial paradise . and did not sacred history inform us of the rivers phison , gehon , and euphrates , that environ'd the garden of eden , which god gave to our first parent adam , we might have just reason to believe that the paradise of all delights was in lower provence . the air is so mild and temperate , and the soil so fertile , that it produces corn in abundance , wine , oyl , silk , together with great variety of excellent fruits ; and in the depth of winter , you may without any trouble find oranges , jelsomines , roses and violets in flower . the provencials are generally accounted a more rude and clownish sort of people then they who inhabit the neighbouring provinces . perhaps their nearness to the sea , and the resort of all sorts of nations that come thither for the sake of trade , may not a little contribute to it . but the women are merry and jocund , and have excellent voices . aix is the capital city of the province , large and fair ; the houses are built after the modern fashion , and those that stand next the court are like so many palaces . it is the seat of the parliament of provence , and of an arch-bishoprick , a chamber of accounts , a court of aids , a mint , and a generality . there is also in it an university for law and physick , founded by h. the iv. the churches are very beautiful , and the curious fail not to examin the font of baptism in that of st. saviour , supported by eight marble columns , upon which 't is said that in old time they sacrific'd to baal . in the church of the carmelites is to be seen the sepulchre of renatus , king of jerusalem . some leagues from aix stands a burrough call'd sallon , where nostre damus , so famous for his predictions , was born , and interr'd in the church of the franciscan grey-fryers ; his tomb being half within the church , and half without : which has given an occasion for some people to say , that it was so contriv'd , because it was not known whether he were a prophet or a conjurer : but the monk that shew'd it us , told us , that nostre damus himself had order'd it to be erected after that manner : for that finding the world to be so corrupt as it is , he was desirous to leave it in a singular manner . for that having rais'd his tomb to man's height , he caus'd himself to be enclos'd therein while he was living , after he had made provision of oyl for his lamp , pens , ink and paper , and pronounc'd a curse upon him that should open it before such a time ; which by the calculation of the fryer , was to expire at the beginning of the eighteenth age. and upon my saying to the fryer , that by the epitaph which appear'd upon his tomb , it did not appear that he was enterr'd alive , but that he di'd the first of july 1566. in the 62th year of his age ; the monk repli'd , that from that day he was dead to the world , and that in engraving the epitaph , they had follow'd his directions ; all which was to be justifi'd by the registers of the convent ; and that he would have part of his tomb to be in the street , to let the world know the remaining part of human life , which perhaps he employ'd in pious works . for my part , i had much ado to believe the monk , but that the respect which is owing to his character perswaded me that he would not suffer an impostor to escape his lips. however it were , i cannot tell whether honest nostre damus repented or no , but i am sure he was in an ill condition , if he let his lamp go out , before he had finish'd what he had to write . beaucaire is a city seated upon the banks of the rhone , famous for the fair which is there held the 22d of july , which draws to it all the nations of europe , and immense wealth . on the other side of the river is to be seen the city of tarascon , where renatus king of jerusalem and sicily built a very fair castle . some years ago a certain person digging a vault in his cellar , found a wall with an iron gate , which he caus'd to be open'd , and then discover'd a hollow passage , from whence he heard a most dreadful noise , so terrible indeed , that he durst not satisfie his curiosity any farther . however , the magistrates of the city being inform'd of it , were resolv'd to know what it was . to which purpose they proffer'd a condemn'd person his life , if he would but go and take a view of that subterraneal gallery . this man being fortifi'd with every thing which he thought necessary to infuse a confidence into him , enter'd in . but before he got five and twenty or thirty paces , he return'd like a man hard out of his senses , crying out , that they might hang him if they pleas'd , for he would not die a death which he did not understand . he told 'em he heard a most dreadful noise , which grew louder and louder the farther he went. after they had given him time till the next day to recover himself , they offer'd him new favours , and some money if he would go to the end of the gallery . that allurement made him resolve to scorn all dangers , and having recover'd fresh strength , he went to the bottom , where he found another iron gate , at which he knockt , as he said , but no body answer'd ; he added also , that the roaring noise continu'd for half the way , and seem'd to be over his head. this rehearsal augmented the curiosity of the magistrates of tarascon , and oblig'd 'em to send work-men to force open the gate ; but unwillingness or fears over-mastering their obedience and duty , there were none resolute enough to be found : for they lookt upon the last gate to be certainly the gate which led to hell. however , the magistrates found an expedient to gain their good wills , perswading 'em that there was some vast treasure hid there , and that if they found it to be really so , they would give 'em the twenty fifth part of it . upon that , they found work-men more than enow , and the gate being soon open'd , they as soon discover'd that the hollow way led to beaucaire , that it was a subterranean communication between one city and the other , and that the noise was nothing but the rapidness of the rhone , which rolling the stones along with it , caus'd that hideous rumbling in the vault . since which time , 't is a common saying among the bricklayers of tarascon , that the twenty fifth part of beaucaire belongs to them . arles , formerly the capital of a kingdom , is seated also upon the banks of the rhone , drawing towards the sea. people say , the air is not so wholesom there , and that there is a passage from thence under ground to nimes , but i could never find any certainty in that report . there are to be seen in this city two porticoes of an admirable structure , an amphitheater and an obelisque , built by the romans , and the sepulchre of rowland , nephew to charlemaine . there is also in the town-house a marble statue of diana , which goddess had formerly a temple in an island of the rhone a little below the city . travellers that delight in viewing ancient tombs , may find a great number near arles . for 't is said , that the pagans call'd these parts the elysian fields , and that they who inhabited along the river from arles to lyons , desirous that their bodies should be there buri'd , they ty'd 'em to planks , with money sufficient for their enterment , and put 'em into the water , verily believing that the stream would carry 'em to the elysian fields , without going any farther . they also shew'd me the house where eight children , all twins were born at one birth , which the mother would needs have thrown into the river all but the ninth . and they farther told me , 't was through the judgment of god that this woman had so many children at a time , because she had tax'd a beggar-woman of unchastness for having three at one delivery , who thereupon wisht , if she were not a whore , that her accuser might have as many as a sow barrows piggs at once . let the story be true or false , certain it is , that 't is not only in these parts where such prodigies are pretended to have happen'd ; for i have seen in holland the castle of a lady , who is reported to have been brought to bed at one time of as many children as there are days in the year . st. maximin is a little city in the neighbourhood of aix , remarkable for the holy vial , which is there kept , and which draws pilgrims to it from all parts of europe . they pretend that in this holy vial there is the blood and water which issued from our saviour's side , which by a miracle , moves every good friday from eleven a clock till high noon . in the year 1679. i was there upon the same day , and what i happen'd to observe was this . they carri'd us up into a gallery guarded by six halberdeers , as well to prevent disorder as for the security of their pretious relique . in the midst of the gallery in a kind of by-corner we found a jacobin frier holding the sacred vial in his hand ; which is a vial much in the form of our hour glasses of sand , in which you may perceive a liquor as clear as rock-water , with a little black moat that danced up and down in the viol , and which sometimes inclining to fall down to the bottom , sometimes mounted up all of a sudden to the top. this devotion draws great profit to the convent ; so that the inhabitants of the place would never care how often the miracle happen'd . there is also in the same church the head of mary magdalen in a golden shrine , and her body in another . from thence we mounted for four hours together , that we might get to st. baume , through a dreadful desert . in this place they say it was , that mary magdalen did pennance , and there is to be seen in a grotto where the rock-water distills from all parts , one little place dry , which was the place where magdalen lay . there is in this nook a small convent of jacobins , with one only inn belonging to it , where were above four thousand persons in all , very ill accommodated . the next day we ascended above the clouds ; at least when we were at st. piton , we saw the clouds thicken and gather together under us . this is the place , as the tradition goes , where the angels brought penitent magdalen her victuals . afterwards we travell'd through a continual desert to toulton ; for we went above eight leagues before we met with one house , or a drop of water to drink . toulton is a very fair city seated upon the shoar of the mediterranean sea : it has a good haven , where the kings biggest men of war ride secure from the injuries of the weather or the attempts of an enemy . henry iv. fortifi'd it with walls , for the security of the port and the arsenal , which is the chiefest the french have upon that sea. marseilles is another sea port , which is held to be the safest in all europe . the city is very antient ; as having been built six hundred thirty three years before the birth of christ : and 't is the usual place where the kings galleys , which are very numerous , ride . this haven is defended by the fortress of our lady of the guard ; by two citadels at the entrance into the port , which is barr'd up with a huge chain ; and there are there forts in the little islands a league from the city which secure the road. they are call'd the fort of st. john , le rattoneau , and the castle dif , furnish'd with good garrisons , and with all things necessary for their defence . this last castle is remarkable for this , that 't is the place where they shut up youths of good houses , that vex their superiors by their exorbitant debaucheries and leud behaviour ; and where they are kept so long as is thought convenient with a moderate allowance . the city it self is very beautiful and without all contradiction the most wealthy in the province , by reason of the haven , by which means it has all the trade of the levant , italy , spain and africa to it self . the cathedral is dedicated to st. lazarus , in memory of this , that the persecutors of the primitive church , having put lazarus together with mary magdalen and martha his sisters , into a vessel without sails and seamen , and exposing it in that manner to the merciless waves , the vessel after it had been toss'd to and fro for some time by the raging billows , was by providence guided into the port of marseilles , where lazarus having preach'd the gospel was made bishop of the place , and di'd there . the slaves at marseilles , all the length of the port , keep barbers shops and fripperies , like those upon pont neuf at paris , where they sell all manner of linnen cloaths , breeches , and other necessary furniture at second hand . they who have this leave , are chain'd there in the morning , and know what they must give a day to their officers . there are others that make up together companies of fidlers , noises of trumpets , hautboys and other instruments , who being all chain'd together and attended by a souldier , go about from tavern to tavern , and house to house , to play to those that will give 'em any thing . there is in the convent of the observance , the head of one called borduni , the son of a notary publick of marseilles which is of a prodigious bigness . for , tho the man , who liv'd at the beginning of this age , were not above four foot high , his head takes up the fourth part of that heighth , and three foot in compass at the sides . he had so little wit , tho his head were full of brains , that he gave occasion to the proverb , when you would talk of a man that wanted sence , he has no more wit then borduni . when you go out of the city , it looks as if you were entring into suburbs that are near two leagues in extent . for that in the parts adjoining to marseilles , there are above six thousand country houses , which the provensals call bastades , and which stand so near one to another , that many times there is hardly a garden between ' em . this is a very great ornament to the out parts of the city , and of great benefit , when the town is afflicted with the pestilence ; there being few of the burgesses but who have one of those bastades : for they are still in fear lest some vessel or other should bring that spreading contagion among ' em . which is the reason that they are to observe an exact quarantan under the cannon of the castle dif , and those other fortresses which i have mention'd . they are excellent artists at marseilles for working in corral , and you meet there with that which is extraordinary for the whiteness of it . chap. iv. of the county of venaissin , and the principality of orange . the county of venaissin is a little province enclos'd between provence and the dauphinate , the capital city of which is avignon , which is seated upon the banks of the rhone , surrounded with the most beautiful walls in europe . it has been frequently the residence of the roman pontiffs , and that suffices to convince the reader that it must needs be stor'd with beautiful edifices both sacred and prophane . the popes are also still in possession of it to this day , and send a legate thither ; and it was thus that the holy see came to have a title to it . pope clement the sixth , taking advantage of the necessity to which the princess joane , daughter of charles ii. count of provence , to whom avignon with all dependencies belong'd , had reduc'd her self , purchas'd this city of her for forty eight thousand livres , money of france . the contract of sale was passed the 19th of june 1348. and history reports that the money was never paid . however it were , the princess was a minor at the time of the sale , and besides that , she could not alienate her demeans , there being laws that expresly ordain'd the contrary . so that this sale was indeed no more than a mortgage . thereupon the parliament of provence reunited the city of avignon , and the whole county of venaissin to the crown . which shews that the holy see enjoys it onely by the liberality of the kings of france ; neither is this the onely nor the most considerable benefit which rome has receiv'd from the french crown . there is a jewish synagogue at avignon very nasty and out of order ; and though they are bound to hear a frier preach every week ; they are so obstinate in their judaism , that there are very few that embrace christianity . they all wear yellow hats , to distinguish 'em from christians . avignon had formerly a stately bridge over the rhone , but the rapidness of the stream has carried away a good part of it . the pope keeps an italian garrison in it , and they keep a guard as exact there as in the expos'd frontier towns in time of war. they are not contented to examine all strangers that come into the town , to know where they lodge , and to direct people that are not acquainted with the town what inns to go to , but in the night time they visit all those parts where the new comers lodge , and tell how many persons lye in every bed , which sometimes surprizes those that are ignorant of the custom . the university of avignon , founded in 1391. was formerly more famous then now it is . i shall not undertake to describe all the tombs and reliques that are to be seen in most parts of the churches ; which would carry me too far . nor have i seen any thing there more remarkable then the fountain of daucluse , which dividing it self about ten or twelve paces from the source of it , forms a most delightful island and a navigable river . there , are also to be seen the houses of petrach and laura his mistress . orange is the capital of a little province of the same name , not above three leagues broad and four in length . this principality depending upon the county of provence , fell long since to the counts of nassau , by the marriage of claudia de chalons with henry of nassau . this city had not long since a castle belonging to it , which was lookt upon to be one of the strongest castles in france : it had a well digg'd into the solid rock above thirty fathom deep , and a subterranean passage that led from the castle to a house of pleasure about half a league distant . but the castle was raz'd and the city dismantl'd about twenty years since by the king of france , out of a particular enmity to the prince of orange under pretence that it serv'd as a refuge for the protestants that were dragoon'd out of france . however it affords very beautiful pieces of antiquity , and among the rest the circus which is very spacious , with a pavement of mosaick work in a low chamber or room of state ; a triumphal arch erected in honour of marius and lacturius , consuls of rome after the victory which they obtain'd over the cimbrians and teutons . this edifice which is commonly call'd the tower of the arch , was formerly in the middle of the city : afterwards it came to be one of the gates of the city ; but now stands a good quarter of a league from it . which shews that orange was in ancient time a very large and beautiful city . when you are at the top of this tower , you may see all at once five provinces of france , provence , the dauphinate , languedoc , auvergne and forest . chap. v. of the dauphinate and vivarez . the dauphinate is one of the most beautiful provinces of france : historians speak wonders of it ; and as such , they observe seven things extreamly remarkable , which they call the seven wonders of the dauphinate ; that is to say , the tower without poison , the inaccessible mountain , the burning fountain , the caves of sassenage ; the pretious stones of the mountain of sassenage . the manna of brianson , and the grove of our lady de la balme . 't is commonly divided into the upper and lower , and is bounded eastward by piemont and savoy ; to the south by provence ; northward by la bress , and to the west by the county of venaissin . the sterility of the mountains of the upper dauphinate is not so bad , but that they afford great quantities of cassia , manna , turpentine and agaric . but the lower dauphinate bestows in a bundance upon the inhabitants wine , corn , silk and all sorts of fruit. the people in general are stout , civil and courteous to strangers : which civility extends even to the most rustical peasants : for it is a common thing to see a ploughman leave his plough to put a stranger in the right road , when he has lost his way . historians have always character'd the dauphinois to be faithful to their king ; jealous of their liberty ; somewhat given to litigious petty-fogging , and inclin'd to praise themselves . nevertheless , the learned mr. richelet has not done 'em all this justice in his dictionary ; perhaps because he would make the province suffer for the injury which some dauphinois might have done him . this province is not so much celebrated by all those advantages which i have recounted , as for the honour which it has of being the title born by the eldest son of france and presumptive heir of the crown . they who know not why the dauphinate enjoys this honour before any of the provinces of france , may here be inform'd in few words . hubert ii. soveraign prince of the dauphinate , having but one only son , at that time very young , and being at his castle of vienne , took him in his arms to play with him , and making a shew as if he would throw him out of the window , the infant being a brisk lively child , slipt out of his hands and fell into the rhone ; nor did the unfortunate father ever hear more of him . his grief was such as is not to be imagin'd : and his despair transported him so far as to make a donation of the dauphinate to philip valois king of france , in the year 1349. upon condition , among other things , that the first born son of the kings of france , for the time to come should be call'd dauphins . grenoble is the capital city of the province , seated among the mountains upon the banks of the river isere , which divides the city into two parts . it is the seat of a parliament , a chamber of accounts , or place for the publick receipt of the finances , a generality , a baillage , a mint , and a bishoprick . it is adorn'd with magnificent buildings , of which the principal are the palace of the duke de l'ediguieres , the bishops mansion , and the parlament house . the prelates of this diocess assume the title of prince , by reason of several donations of the lords of the country at several times . there are some things in the parts about grenoble , worthy the curious observation of travellers ; chiefly the spatious charter-house , which is usually the residence of the general of that order . never was desert better baptiz'd then this nook which those monks have made choice of for their place of retirement : for indeed the mountain has something of a dreadful aspect . but when you come to the convent , you are presently surpriz'd to meet with so goodly a mansion , so magnificent a church , and monks so civil and courteous , where you thought to find nothing but precipices and wild beasts . the order of the chartreux was founded in 1084 by st. bruno , who was the first general of it . the air is very healthy , the top of the mountain fertile ; and in a word it may be said , that a man is amply recompens'd for the trouble and dread in clambring up , which redoubles when you are about to quit that delightful solitude ; the descent being worse then the ascent , and much more terrible . among the wonders that environ grenoble , the burning fountain is not the least considerable , which darts forth flames through the water a foot high ; whither the young men and virgins go frequently to make fricassees , and fry pancakes . not far from thence is to be seen a tower where no venomous creature will live ; and they which are sometimes brought thither dye presently after . valence is the second city of the dauphinate , and much better scituated then grenoble , as being seated on the banks of the rhone , and upon the high road from paris to marseilles . it is adorn'd with a bishoprick , and a university for law and physick ; founded by lewis the dauphin , son of charles vii . in the year 1452. who confirm'd the priviledges it enjoys , in the year 1475. when he came to the crown . it is also the seat of a presidial-court and a seneschalship . there is to be seen in the church of the jacobins the body of a giant fifteen foot high , and seven in breadth , some of the bones of which were carri'd to paris where they are preserv'd in the kings closet . there is a fountain without the city very hot in the winter , and extreamly cold in the summer . the principal churches are the cathedral dedicated to st. apollinaris ; st. johns which is said to have been a pantheon in ancient time , the abby of st. ruff , and st. peters church in the burrough les-valence , in which is to be seen a cavern which 't is said crosses under the rhone , near to which stands a sepulchre , wherein formerly was found the body of a woman cover'd with gold and precious stones , which appear'd to be fresh , but so soon as it was brought into the air , crumbl'd to dust . there was also found in the same tomb a latin inscription in these words , the happy justina mother ; whence some infer , that it was the empress justina's tomb. near st. felix's gate there is also a round tower which leans forward more at the top then below ; and most people believe that the tower bow'd out of respect when st. felix enter'd the city . pont st. esprit , or the holy ghost's bridge , is a very pleasant city that derives its name from a bridge built over the rhone with extraordinary labour and expence . it consists of two and twenty arches twelve hundred fathom long , and fifteen broad ; so that it may not be vainly lookt upon to be one of the largest and most beautiful bridges in france . the dauphinate includes several other cities which have their particular ornaments and beauties , as montelimar , cret , die , gap , ambrun and vienne , which is the first city you meet with , as you enter into the dauphinate through lionnois . it was formerly inhabited by the allobroges ; at what time le viennois was call'd the island of the allobroges as being scituated between the rhone and the isere . at vienne they make the blades of swords in such vast numbers , that 't is the wonder of all people , how the artificers can sell 'em so cheap . but the reason is , because their engins are so dispos'd as to be mov'd by the water , and that in such a manner , that one workman can attend several sorts of workmanship at one time pilate was banish'd to vienne by the emperor tiberius ; there is also to be seen the tower where he was kept a prisoner ; and the precipice from whence he threw himself headlong , which is always cover'd with clouds and mists . vienne had formerly two castles belongit to it which were accounted impregnable ; but they were demolish'd , for fear they might prove a recepticle for such as had a design to disturb the state. die , or diva augusta , seated upon the drome among the mountains , with a bishoprick , suffragan to the archbishop of vienne . it was one of the nineteen principal cities of the antient vocantis mention'd by tacitus , and once a colony of the romans . gap lyes two leagues from durance with a baileage , a bishoprick , a strong cittadel , and the fort of puymore . but neither the cittadel nor the fort could hinder it from being ruin'd by the duke of savoys army in the year 1692. ambrun is a bishops see , and lyes among the mountains at the foot of a rock upon which stands a castle . this city is said to stand the highest of any city of europe . it is a town of great antiquity ; and 't is said that nero granted the citizens of it the right of latinity , which galba afterwards enlarg'd with new priviledges . in the year 1692. it was taken by the duke of savoy , but quitted the same year , after every thing was demolish'd that render'd it tenable . before i leave the dauphinate , it behoves me to make one observation not unacceptable to the curious , of a peculiar wind that blows at nyons , six leagues from orange . it is call'd the wind pontius , from the name of the mountain whence it comes . nyons is seated in a bottom , upon the bank of a river call'd egue , where there is a bridge with one only arch , accounted the most beautiful in the world. it is said to be a piece of roman workmanship , round like the letter o , and to be as deep from the foundation under ground as above . and indeed , altho it be of a prodigious heighth , yet there appears but the half of the circle above ground . and i have heard the people of the place aver , that when they have gone to search for the foundation , they could never find any . but they perceiv'd , that still the lower they digg'd , the narrower the circle contracted . as to the wind of pontius , it usually blows from midnight till ten or eleven a clock in the morning , and it is almost as cold as the north-wind . it issues out of the cleft of a rock , about a small league from nyons near a hermitage . into this cleft the people have often thrown stones , and let down a sounding line , but could never reach the bottom . nor is the wind so violent in this part , as about a quarter of a league from thence . now in regard the cleft is not very wide , it was stopt up toward the end of the last age , and so it remain'd for seven or eight years ; but then they were forc'd to open it again , in regard the earth surceas'd to bear , the olive trees , vines , and other fruit trees wither'd , so that their autumnal harvests were very barren , and the inhabitants were seiz'd with contagious diseases , which caused a great mortality among ' em . as for vivarez , it being a province very mountainous and barren , travellours take no pleasure in it ; unless it be at viviers , which is the capital city of it , and the see of a bishop . you may also visit annonay , where the gentry are very civil and courteous ; but where the common people make it no scruple of conscience to discharge their fusee's upon you from behind a hedge upon any slight occasion . chap. vi. of savoy and part of piedmont . since the king has brought savoy , the county of nice , and some part of piedmont under his subjection , 't is requisite that i say something of those parts , before i engage farther into france . chamberi is the capital city of savoy , and the seat of a parlament , but the king of france being desirous to extend his conquests this way , having this wind of victory in his poop , first made himself master of this city : after which , the county and city of nice and villa franca which was call'd the bulwark of the mediterranean , were forc'd to acknowledge the dominion of france , under pretence that nice was formerly a part of provence . not long after the fortress of montmelian , which the savoyards accounted impregnable was likewise carry'd by the french , and then they took and burnt oneglia , the only remaining sea port town in savoy . the fortifications of all these towns are very regular , and the churches very beautiful . besides these places , the king of france has pignerol seated upon a mountain of the valley of perousa , five leagues from turin . the other is casal the capital city of montferrat , upon the river po , which the duke of mantoua surrender'd to the king in 1681. these two towns are very considerable in respect of their strength and scituation , in regard they secure france from the invasions of the princes of italy , and open him a passage , when he shall be at leisure to look that way . but in regard i propose to my self a particular volume of italy , i omit here several remarks more proper for that tome , then this of france . chap. vii . of languedoc . there is no province of france so vast in the extent of it as languedoc . eastward , it is bounded by the river rhone , which parts it from the dauphinate and lorrain ; to the south , by the mediterranean and the pyreneans ; by the garonne , to the west ; and to the north by rouergne and quercy . the climate is accounted the best in the kingdom , and the soil is the most fertile ; insomuch that it produces whatever is to be found in all the other parts of the world except spices , your rich gums and sugar . the people are character'd to be very witty , much addicted to study , and to appear often in their accoutrements what they are not . they are accus'd of being great talkers , very inconstant , and unfit to keep a secret . their women are wanton and frolicksome , much given to paint , and love a greater liberty then becomes their sex. however these rules are not so general , but that they admit of many exceptions : and they that are not stain'd with these defects , need not concern themselves with common fame ; and as for others if they are so happy to amend 'em , people of vertue will always do 'em justice . tholouse is the capital city of this beautiful and spacious province , seated upon the garonne ; and so antient , that 't is said , that tholo , one of the sons of japhet was the founder of it . certain it is however that when the romans invaded the gauls they found tholouse to be a very considerable city , and therefore beautify'd it with a capitol , amphitheaters , and aqueducts , the remainders of which , besides her churches and other structures are sufficient testimonies of her antiquity . afterwards it was the metropolis of the kingdom of the visigoths , and after that , of the kingdom of aquitain . it is the seat of a famous parlament , an arch-bishoprick , a generality , a chamber of accounts , and a university . the cathedral is dedicated to st. stephen ; and that of st. saturnin is a beautiful pile ; where 't is said they have the bodies of no less then seven of the apostles , and one of the thorns of our saviour's crown . there is a vast treasure which could never be taken away , whether it be by reason of the noisomness of the water , or whether it be guarded , as they say , by prodigious serpents that threaten to devour all those that disturb their rest . however it were , history tells us , that the gauls making war with the inhabitants of delphos brought away vast riches : and that the share of the tectosages , who inhabited languedoc , came to a hundred and ten thousand pound weight in gold , and five millions of pounds weight in silver : that their priests enforc'd 'em to throw the riches into the lake of tholouse , whence cepio , the roman consul caus'd it to be carri'd away , sometime after , having put the lake to sale by outcry : and there is some reason to believe that a great deal of it might be left behind ; but i am not certain whether it lies in that part where the church of st. saturnin is built . in the church of the observantin friers is a vault which consumes the flesh of dead bodies without hurting the skin , or dislocating their members . in the church of the jacobins is to be seen a pillar that supports after a wonderful manner five or six vaults one above another : i forbear to mention the rest of their monasteries , in some of which there are several reliques and curiosities . the university of tholouse is accountted one of the most famous in europe , except the two universities in england , and the second in france ; for which reason perhaps it was that ausonius calls it the city of pallas , and that it generally bears the epithete of tholouse la savante , or tholouse the learned . castres is another very antient city of languedoc with a bishoprick . lavaur , pamiers , a bishops see , mirepoix , a bishops see , and some other cities in the parts adjoining are very pleasant places , where the people feast and make good chear at a cheap rate ; which is the reason that 't is a common saying among 'em that they have more good victuals then money . carcasson is commanded by a cittadel which is very strong , both by reason of the scituation of it and the works about it ; and before you enter into it you must leave your sword at the gate . the city is considerable for the woollen manufactures , for the neatness and uniformity of the streets , and the sweet temper and civility of the inhabitants . we must not remove far from languedoc without visiting perpignan in roussillon , where the men go after the french fashion ; and the women after the spanish mode . the cittadel is compos'd of five bastions , commanded by a fort which is call'd the donjon . some leagues from thence , you meet with a fountain of salt water , which springs out of a rock in such abundance , that about six or seven paces from thence it forms a river , over which there is built a bridge of several arches . narbonne disputes the point of antiquity with all the other cities of france ; for they pretend that narbo , k. of the country was the founder of it , long before the birth of christ . but that which we find most certain is , that it was in great request in the time of the romans , who grac'd it with a capitol and an amphitheater , erected municipal schools within it , adorn'd it with a bath and aqueducts , and all the marks of roman grandeur , as being the seat of the proconsuls , and their first colony out of italy in europe ; in acknowledgment of which favours , the inhabitants set up a statue to augustus : so that rome and narbonne were leagu'd to each other under the title of sisters ; and 't is said , that the sympathy between 'em was so great , that in the year 145. rome and narbonne were afflicted both at the same time with a dreadful conflagration that happen'd by accident . but the greatest part of the roman antiquities were ruin'd by the goths and vandals . this , being a frontier town , is regularly fortifi'd ; and the canal of conjunction between the two seas , a royal undertaking , becoming a great prince , derives the beginning of it from narbonne . it is the seat of an archbishoprick ; and the archbishop is primate of the province , president born of the states of languedoc , and dignifi'd with the title of lord of the sea. bezieres , is a city not far distant from narbonne , seated upon a hill , the avenues to which are somewhat difficult . it is both large and ancient , and greatly valu'd by the romans , who erected there two famous temples to augustus and julia. it is still one of the most delightful places of abode in france . insomuch , that the beauty of the place , and the fertility of the soil , have begot a proverb among the people of the country , que si dieu habitoit sur la terre , il choisiroit bezieres pour sa sejour . that if god were to live upon the earth , he would make choice of bezieres for his place of residence . the city of pesenas is no less pleasant , and the inhabitants are much more civil and courteous : and no question but the residence of several princes there from time to time , as the late prince of conti deceas'd , and monsieur de montmoranci , contributed not a little to infuse into 'em the air of the court. though i shall end this chapter with the cities of montpellier and nimes , 't is not because they are less considerable : the contrary rather may be said , that travellers tarry longer at montpellier , then in any other city of languedoc , by reason of the variety of divertisements which they meet with in the place , good chear , good company , familiarity , galantry , and learning ; all which advantages they meet with there in a superlative degree . the university is accounted the most famous for physick in all france . and it is to be observ'd that no dr. in that faculty is to be admitted , till he has first receiv'd seven times the robe and bonnet of rabelais in the castle of monac . in such veneration is that doctor among those that govern this academy . the reason of it is this . the scholars having committed some disorders in the city , which occasion'd complaints against the university at court , they were depriv'd of some part of their liberties ▪ and privileges . rabelais , who had been a monk , and was a person of a luxuriant wit , being then at montpellier , could not choose but participate of the trouble the academians were in when they heard the news . what does he do , but goes to paris , and presents himself at the chancellor du pratt's house ? the swiss , who took him for a fool , ask'd him , what his business was ? to which rabelais answer'd him in latin. upon which , the swiss not understanding a word he said , call'd for one of the chancellor's officers , who understood the language ; which rabelais finding out , answer'd him in greek : with that they brought him a person that understood greek perfectly well ; but to him the doctor spoke hebrew : and if they talk'd to him in hebrew , he answer'd in syriack or arabick , &c. so that having puzzl'd and exhausted all the learning in the chancellors house , the chancellor desir'd to see him himself : at what time having harangu'd him in favour of the students of montpellier , he obtain'd the restoration of the privileges that had been taken from ' em . this rabelais was made curate of meudon , and dy'd at paris in 1553. and being a man of such a pleasant humour , this epitaph was made upon him : pluto , prince of shades infernall , where sad souls ne're laugh , but burn all , be kind to rablais , and they 'll all fall a laughing , great and small . near the convent of the cordeleers , there is to be seen a lake full of frogs that have never been heard to make a noise , as the people of the county say , since st. anthony of padua , being interrupted by 'em in his prayers and meditations , commanded 'em to be silent ; and 't is observ'd , that if you take any of those that make most noise in other places , and put 'em into this lake they presently become as mute as fish . on the other side , if you take 'em out of this lake and put 'em in another place , they shall be the first that shall fall a croaking and the loudest in the consort of paddocks . pliny recites the same thing of the frogs in the island of seriphos in the archipelago . the city it self is very ancient , commanded by a cittadel with fair and royal bastions , and is the seat of a bishop suffragan to narbonne , a presidial court , and a seneschalship , a court of aids , a chamber of the finances , &c. without the town is to be seen the royal physick-garden , stor'd with curiosities in abundance . nimes is a very fair city , & where the inhabitants , were they not such great talkers , and less malapert , would be very good company . the city is very ancient ; for they affirm , that nemausus the son of hercules was the founder of it , and gave it his own name as being call'd in latin nemausis or nemausus . it was formerly much more spatious then it is , as including within it seven hills like old rome , and the walls were fortify'd with a thousand towers . among the most remarkable pieces of antiquity we must reckon the amphitheater erected by the emperor antoninus , four hundred and seventy paces in compass . there are also to be seen two gladiators cut in stone ; the wolf that suckl'd romulus and remus , and the vultures that appear'd to those two founders of rome . there is likewise to be seen at nimes , a cavern that runs under-ground as far as arles : for it was the custom of the romans to have in several parts such subterraneal communications between one city and the other . in the neighborhood also appears a very curious piece of roman workmanship ; that is to say , three bridges one above another ; the lowest of six arches ; the second of two ; and the third of thirty : so that the whole structure may be about fourscore and two foot high . this bridge is call'd pont du gard. i shall say nothing of the grotto's , the garden of st. privat , or of the great number of curious statues ; only i may add this in short , that this city is an epitome of the roman antiquities : and give me leave to insert this one thing more , that without the city some remainders of a building are to be seen , which is said to have been a temple of diana , and that the fountain of vesta , which is near it , was famous heretofore , because the water was made use of to purifie the vestal nuns . the city is a town of great trade , & there are made in it great quantities of woollen stuffs . it is also the seat of bishop , a seneschalship , and a presidial court. chap. viii . of guien and gascoignie . many people under the name of gascognie , comprehend all the provinces that lye beyond lion ; as the dauphinate , provence and languedoc ; whereas gascognie is no more then a small province included with in guienne . the garonne contributes not a little to enrich this province ; it receives the merchandizes which forreign vessels import , and carries away the wines and other commodities of the country . the people are look'd upon to be a little insolent , excessive boasters , and somewhat given to thieving . but the rule is not without exceptions , for there are as vertuous people among 'em as in other places , and free-hearted beyond compare . they are the best souldiers in france , especially after they have had a campagne or two i' their bellies ; and the souldiers from the neighbouring provinces are as good as they : their train'd-bands have made themselves sufficiently known in piedmont and catalogna these last years . bourdeaux is the most considerable city of this province , as being the seat of a venerable parliament , an archbishoprick , and a famous university for the civil and canon-law , founded by eugenius iv. and lewis x. in 1473. it affords very beautiful pieces of antiquity ; among the rest the statue of jupiter , and that of the emperour adrian , which a counsellor of the city has got into his study . the hollow-stones that lye at st. severin's , are very much worth observation ; in regard they are full or empty of water , as the moon is either at the full , or in her wain . lewis xiv . has not a little contributed to make this city considerable by the castle trompette , which he built for the defence of the haven , which by means of the garonne , receives the biggest of merchants vessels , that bring great wealth to the city . some years since the parlament of bourdeaux was remov'd to reaule , which did a great injury to the city , discontented the members of that venerable body ; but brought great advantages and profit to that little borough . there are an infinite number of other cities in guyenne , and the parts adjoyning , where travellers may meet with a thousand ▪ pleasing objects ; as cadillac , baza , bayonne , st. jean de luz , &c. but i leave those that have seen 'em , or have a mind to visit 'em , to judge of their beauty . chap. ix . of xaintonge and angoumois . i join these two provinces together , first , because they both give their names to the capital cities , and are very near under the same climate ; and secondly because the remarks which i have made upon each in particular , being added together , will afford matter but for a very small chapter . xaintes , seated upon the banks of the charante , is beautify'd with many marks of antiquity . the bridge over the river makes it evident by a latin inscription that it was built by caesar ; upon which are also to be seen the remains of a triumphal arch. the church of st. peters , which was the one and twentieth of those that charlemaign caus'd to be built was ruin'd in the last civil wars . nor is it less remarkable for the remains of an amphitheater and several aqueducts , and divers other monuments of roman antiquity . it is also a bishops see , and the seat of a presidial court. 't is likewise observ'd that the water of the river charante keeps much longer sweet at sea , then the water of other rivers . there are also several other fair cities in xaintoigne , as coignac , tonnay , and brouage ; famous for the salt-pits adjoyning to it . at the mouth of the sea , which is call'd the sea of bourdeaux , stands a tower built upon a rock , which serves as a pharos or land mark to direct ships that sail upon that coast . it is call'd the tower of cordouan ; and we are assur'd , that it is much higher and more beautiful then the pharos of alexandria . blaye , built upon the river side , is considerable for the fortifications which hinder the entrance of any enemies ships into the harbour . there is also to be seen the sepulchre of charibert king of paris , the eldest son of clotaire the first . the county of xantoigne is very fertile in corn , wine , pasturage , saffron , &c. greatly stor'd with fish , and abounding in roman , or pontic wormwood ; and it is a common proverb among the people of the country , that if france were an egg , xantoigne would be the yolk . though the city of angoulesm be seated upon a rock at the top of a mountain , yet there is a cittadel also built for the better defence of it : which also serves for a curb upon the city it self should their happen any sedition . two leagues from angoulesm , is a fountain to be seen , which issuing out of an abyss , never increases nor diminishes . a certain queen of france , being desirous to know whence the spring of this fountain should arise , order'd a condemn'd person to be let down into the abyss , who reported that he could see nothing but dreadful rocks and monstrous fish , that would have devour'd him , had he not speedily got out of their way . at montmeron a silver mine was discover'd ; but no-body was ever set to work in it . the reason of which i believe to be , because nature has furnish'd it with so small a quantity of that metal , that the mine will not afford ore enough to pay the workmen . the people of xantoigne are lookt on to be very witty , and more courageous . those of angoulesm are no less warlike , and love to live like gentlemen ; but the common people are clowns and brutes . chap. x. of limosin and perigort . the city of limoges , is the capital of limosin ; remarkable for several monuments of antiquity , and for three councils held there in the years 1029. 1031. and 1182. there are also to be seen several aqueducts built by the romans , three churches , and a great number of monasteries . 't is also the seat of a presidial court , and an audit for the king's finances . nor are travellers to pass through it , without seeing the artificers for enamelling , wherein they are so perfect in this city , that there is not better workmanship of that sort in any part of the world : and going to vssel you see 'em no less busily employ'd in making of false diamonds . the other most considerable cities of limosin , are gueret , tulle brive , vserche , a very strong hold , roche abeille , famous for the great battel there fought in 1569. chalos , noted for the horse-fairs there kept , aines , aimotier , &c. though perigort be stony and mountainous , yet the inhabitants are well enough contented with their condition . for the vast number of chesnuts which grow in this county , not only serve 'em for the nourishment of their families , but to fatten their hoggs ; besides , that it is well stor'd with medicinal waters , and iron mines . periguex is the capital city of this province ; so very ancient , that some scruple not to affirm it to have been built by one of the sons of noah . but others from the name of vesuna , which the ancients gave it , derive the name of it from venus , who was formerly worshipt in this city ; where there are still to be seen the ruins of a temple dedicated to that goddess , with several other antiquities . the fountain of marlac , not far off from periguex , ought to be visited , for the ebbing and flowing of the waters that supply it . which contributes not a little to confirm the opinion of those who say , that periguex is built upon a floating piece of ground . some years ago , there was a well in the great market-place stopt up , which was thought to be an abyss , in regard that several people being let down , could could never find a bottom ; only they reported upon their coming up again , that they saw a large plain cover'd with water . it may be some may put the question , whence those people had so much light as to make such a discovery ? to which i shall answer according as they told me , that it was from other wells of the city , and parts thereabout , which let the light into that subterraneal sea , and by floating lanthorns which they drove before 'em with engines . besides there are few houses in the city , but the owners if they dig never so little in their cellars , presently meet with water , which by the weight , the taste , and other marks , seems to be the same with that of the well which was stopt up , because the harlots were wont to throw their children into it . two leagues from the city there is another fountain , the water of which changes it self into stones of what form you please . but among the most remarkable things , there is a cavern near miramont , which is call'd cluseau , which extends it self five or six leagues under ground , wherein are to be found apartments pav'd with mosaic work , altars adorn'd with beautiful pictures , fountains , and a river six and twenty foot broad , and beyond that , as they say , there is a vast plain or champian country , where no body yet durst be so bold as to plant any colonies . in the abby of cadouan at sarlat is to be seen a sacred napkin or rather winding sheet , wherein they affirm that the body of christ was wrapt when he was put into the sepulchre of joseph of arimathea . libourne , upon the banks of the dordogne , is a pleasant city , to which that river ebbing and flowing brings up vessels of a considerable bigness . but there is one thing very extraordinary , nor do i know that there is any other like it in the world , which is , that from time to time there runs from the sea a whirling eddy of water , about the quantity of a tunn , which without being driven by the force of violent gusts of wind , rowls up the river with such an impetuous fury as would overturn the biggest ships , if they stood in the way of it ; but in regard the terrible noise it makes , may be heard three leagues off , and for that they know this whirling eddy which they call macanet , always keeps along by the shoar , the vessels remove to the middle of the river ; and by an instinct no less worthy of admiration , the wild ducks and swans , no sooner hear the noise but they make haste to the land , to secure themselves from the rowling waves . chap. xi . of querci , and rouergne . qverci cannot chuse but be a very fertile country , as being water'd by the garonne , the dordogne , and the tarr , which are three navigable rivers . there are said to be mines both of gold and silver in it ; but the inhabitants take little or no care to look after 'em ; no question because they have plenty of corn , wine , prunes , saffran and pastorage , that will fetch gold and silver without the pains of digging and delving . the common people are boarish , but the gentry and nobility very civil . cahors is the capital city of querci where the amphitheater , the bridges and the towers are infallible proofs of the antiquity of it . pope john xxii . a great disturber of the peace of europe , was born at cahors , and founded there a university for the common law in 1332. wherein he shew'd more love to the place of his nativity then to all the world besides . it is also a bishops see which is said to bring in the greatest profit of any other in france . the cathedral church is dedicated to st. steven , and was consecrated by st. martral . there are also in it several other churches and monasteries and a colledge of jesuits , ever since the year 1605. 't is also the seat of a presidial court , from whence judgments are carry'd by appeal to the parliament of tholouse . part of the diocess of montaubon is seated in languedoc , and therefore the bishops have a seat in the diocess of that province . the hugonots made themselves masters of it in 1562. and fortify'd it so well that it held out three several seiges ; but at length it was snbdu'd in the year 1592. and because it should be no more a refuge for revolt , the fortifications were laid level with the ground . moissac is another city of querci , seated as well as montauban upon the river tarr . it was taken from the romans by the goths , and from them by k. clovis . after that gaiger duke of aquitain took it , and from him it was retaken by k. pepin in 1212. the english utterly ruin'd it . however afterwards it came to be considerable again ; but it will hardly recover the ill usage it receiv'd from the hugonots in the civil wars . a traveller will find little considerable in rouergne except the steeple of the cathedral of rodez , which is lookt upon to be the highest and the best wrought piece of architecture in france . the city of rodez is very ancient but has lost the antient splendour of it , as having been ruin'd by the goths , saracens and francks , &c. however it is still a bishops see , and the seat of a seneschalship . it formerly bore the title of an earldom , which was united to the crown by hen. iv. in the parts adjoining to this city stands the mountain of canseu , which burns when it rains : and two leagues from thence you meet with an abyss , sixty paces wide at the top , and two hunder'd deep : and by the side of this abyss is to be seen a hole which has no bottom . the quercinois are lookt upon to be very great dissemblers ; and the perigordins to be very quarrelsome , especially in their cups . chap. xii . of auvergne . avvergne is one of the principal provinces of france : it bears the title of an earldom ; and is bounded to the east ; by forests , and lyonnois ; by rouergne and velai to the south ; by querci , perigort , and limosin to the west , and by berry and bourbonnois to the north. it is divided into the upper and lower . the upper drives a great trade in cheese , horses , cows , mules , &c. the lower abounds in corn and wine , and trades in tapestry , bone-lace , cloth , knives , and other commodities . the greatest part of the auvergnois are laborious , crafty , full of dissimulation , addicted to quarrel , and very self-conceited and opinionated of themselves ; so that if you do not give 'em their way with much compliance , a little thing will create a squabble . aurillac is the capital city of the upper auvergne , which was formerly adorn'd with several fair churches , for the most part ruin'd in the civil wars . among the most remarkable things we have there to be seen , the refectory of the carmelites is reckon'd to be the chiefest , which much surpasses in neatness , bigness and painting all the rest of the convent . the presidial court of aurillac is lookt upon to be one of the severest tribunals in the whole kingdom . in this division of auvergne stands the mountain cantal , remarkable for the height of it , and for the simples which it produces , tho it be extreamly cold ; the other mountains are also fertile in pastorages . the lower auvergne commonly called la limayne is not so wide in the extent of it as the upper . but it is much a more pleasant place to reside in . the soil is more fertile , and the inhabitants are more civil and sociable . clairmont is the capital city of it . the cathedral is cover'd with lead , which the air has purify'd to that degree , that people have offer'd a considerable summ for the covering , and to lay on another of lead of the same thickness ; but neither would their money be taken , nor their proffer accepted . there is in it a fountain that turns into stone as it falls : upon which account , some aver that the bridge which is there to be seen was the work of this strange operation of nature . it is eight fathom wide , six in thickness , and thirty six long : for which reason charles ix . had the curiosity to see it . several councils have been held at clairmont ; among which the most famous was that in the year 1095. at what time by the sollicitations of vrban the ii. the celebrated croisade was resolv'd upon for the conquest of the holy land. charles the v. assembled the states of the kingdom in this city . 't is believ'd this city was built out of the ruins of the ancient gergovia , so highly applauded by caesar in his commentaries ; and where there was a tower which could not be burnt when that city was all in conflagration , by reason it was made of larch or larinx wood , which resists fire . rion famous for the antiquity of it is seated upon a hill , which renders the situation and the prospect very pleasant . the houses are well built , the streets straight and broad , the churches magnificent , the monasteries stately , the inhabitants sumptuous : but nothing makes the city so remarkable , as st. amable's tooth , which as they say , infallibly cures the bitings of mad dogs , of serpents or any other venemous beasts . in a word the situation of the city and parts adjoining is so pleasant , that it is call'd the garden and paradise of auvergne . this city is the seat of a mareschalship , a presidial-court , a generality of the finances , an election and all the officers of justice sit in a palace built by john of berry . about a small quarter of a league from clairmont stands montferrand another considerable city ; which was the reason that the marquess d'effiat , would fain have had 'em join'd together under the name of clairmont-ferrand , but the jealousie of the inhabitants started so many difficulties , that he could not compass his design . the buildings are very beautiful and the magnificence of the churches inspire devotion . some few leagues from rion is to be seen the little city of old brioude , remarkable for the bridge that belongs to it consisting of one arch ▪ which is supported by two mountains of a prodigious height . it was built by caesar's order ; and it is observable , that one stone falling out of the building some ages since , could never be put again into the place from whence it fell . le puy is a city very considerable for the largeness of it , the riches of it , the fertility of the soil , and other advantages . the great number of reliques which are there preserv'd draws the devotion of the people for above seven or eight leagues round . but in regard the people always magnify objects , and multiply miracles , which the places where reliques are deposited , are seldom sorry for , it many times happens that true devotion is intermix'd with superstition . amongst the pretious gages which that city preserves , there is an image of the holy virgin , of cedarwood , which the ignorant people say was made by a prophet of the old testament that wrought journey work under joseph . the same silly people also give credit to what a demoniack formerly pronounc'd in the church of this city , that a relique which is there preserv'd of one of the innocent children which were massacred by herod was the begotten son of that barbarous king. chap. xiii . of lionnois . lionnois is a small province from the which capital city derives the name of lyon. the people are very courteous and civil to strangers ; their prevailing passion being desire of gain , which extends their trade to that degree , that it is call'd the magazine of france . and it is commonly said in reference to the magnificence of lyon , that if paris be without her equal , lyon has no companion . it was formerly call'd the colony of claudius , because that emperor was born there . the city of lyon , seated upon the confluence of the rhone and the sone , is accounted one of the best situated , most antient , the fairest and one that drives the greatest trade in all france . it is the seat of an archbishop who is primate of the gauls , of a presidial court , an audit for the kings revenues , a mint , a seneschalship , an election , a tribunal of trade under the title of the conservation of lyon. it is said to have been founded by one lugdus , king of the celtae , and therefore was in latin call'd lugdunum . others say that one momor a prince of the gauls built a city upon the confluence of the rhone and sone by command of the emperour , and because he saw a flight of crows settle upon a mountain adjoining he call'd it the lugdune or the hill of the crows . as for those who assert it to have been a colony of the romans , 't is a visible errour , in regard the druids had held their assemblies there before ever rome was talk'd of ; and the phoenicians and greeks had settl'd themselves in it , before that famous republick ever sent any colonies into gaul . however it were certain it is that there was an altar in or near this city where the orators of those times disputed for the prizes of eloquence , and a sacred grove where the ancients offer'd up their sacrifices . the city of lyon is divided into thirty seven quarters , which are call'd penonages , which have every one their several captains , and other officers . it has seven gates , the market places and piazza's are magnificent , and the buildings both sacred and prophane are sumptuous . the cathedral is dedicated to st. john , and was built upon the ruins of the altar which was dedicated to the emperor augustus the same year that the emperour claudius was born . the town house is one of the most superb structures in europe : and among the curiosities which are there to be seen , there are two tables of brass , upon which are engrav'd the speech which claudius made to the roman senate to incline 'em to admit the lionnois and other gauls into the senate as citizens of rome . the arsenal is one of the best supply'd in france . the archiepiscopal palace is very beautiful . pope gregory vii . confirm'd in the year 1079. to the archbishop of lyon the title of primate of the gauls . and this priviledge was adjudg'd to him by several other pontiffs successors to gregory . the chapiter of lyon is compos'd of three churches under one and the same steeple ; and upon the tolling of the same bell divine service begins and ends in all the three churches at the same time , which are st. johns , st. stephans , and holy roods . this chapiter has been always fill'd with persons as well illustrious for the nobility of their birth , as for their learning . five or six celebrated authors have observ'd that in the thirteenth age there had been known to have been canons , one son of an emperour , nine sons of a king , fourteen sons of dukes , thirty sons of counts , and twenty barons . the thirteenth oecumenical council was assembl'd at lyon by innocent iv. in 1245. and gregory x. celebrated another there in 1274. where he presided himself and besides these two councils several other particular councils were held in this city at different times . the castle of pierre aneise may be said to have peculiar beauties , if there be any beauty in a prison . for prisoners of quality and consequence are committed to this place : and thus the duke of milan was under confinement in this castle , when the french took him after his being defeated . the antiquity of lion is easily prov'd by the amphitheaters , aqueducts , and old ruins of the palaces of several roman emperors who resided in it . without the gate of the city is to be seen a sepulchre , call'd , the sepulchre of the two lovers . some will have it to be the monument of herod and herodias ; others , the tomb of two lovers , that had been long in love together , but dy'd in the state of virginity . before the gate of st. justus lyes a stone of an immense weight , which is plac'd in such a true equilibrium , that you may move it with one finger . this city is endowed with several privileges which have been granted her by her soveraigns from time to time ; and they who have been once honour'd with the shrievalty of lion , are ennobl'd , both they and their posterity . chap. xiv . of burgundy and nivernois . bvrgundy is a province with the title of a dutchy and peerdom , though it were formerly a kingdom ; and the title is now born by the dauphin's eldest son. this province extends it self from north to south above fifty leagues ( not above forty , says de la croix ) and thirty from east to west ( thirty two , says de la croix ) . the source of the river seine , rises in a village of burgundy , which is call'd st. seine . the burgundians are an obliging people , and love honour ; but they are naturally opinionated and obstinate , and you must have a great ascendant over 'em to make 'em alter their sentiments . dijon is the capital of this province ; and historians report , that the emperour aurelian having utterly raz'd and destroy'd a certain place call'd burg-dogne , or burgus deorum , was afraid of the anger of the gods to whom that place was consecrated ; whereupon his mother , priestess of the sun , advis'd him for the expiation of his fault , to build a temple and a castle in the same place , which were the first foundations of this capital city . it is remarkable for the walls , which are fortify'd with towers and bastions ; the castle flank'd with four great towers , and two ravelins ; a fair charter-house , wherein are the stately tombs of the dukes of burgundy , the palace of justice , the king's house , sixteen churches , two abbies , five hospitals , the town-house , and for being the place where the states of the country meet every three years . this country enriches it self by her corn and wine , being generally call'd the magazine of paris . st. bernard was born in a village of this province , call'd fontaine . beaune , is a very ancient city , with a chancery and a bailliage , seated advantageously for every thing ; but most chiefly fruitful in delicious wines . autun is also very ancient , and some there are who derive the etymology of the name from augustus . however it were , the romans thought it worthy of their friendship , and enter'd into an alliance with it . the druids held their senate in this city . there are also to be seen the ruins of a temple of juno , which they call janitoye . and among other antiquities , there are still to be seen a field of mars , the mount of jupiter , and the ruins of triumphal arches , pyramids , aqueducts , &c. the cathedral church , and the episcopal palace are worth the sight of the most curious travellers . auxerre is a very good city with an episcopal see , a presidial court , and a bailliage . this city is very ancient , and it 's said , that julian the apostate stopt here for some time to refresh his army . in the next age , it was taken and almost ruin'd by attila in the year 451. after that , k. robert took it in 1005. from landri , count of nevers . since which time it was govern'd by particular counts of her own . 't is a very great thorough-fare , having a stone bridge , large piazza's , several fountains , beautiful churches , among which , the cathedral is very magnificent , stor'd with reliques , and adorn'd with a most beautiful quire , a steeple remarkable for the heighth of it , and a chapter of fifty nine canons : but the earldom is now united to the crown . the bishop resides in the castle , which it would be no difficult thing to fortifie , in regard it stands upon a rising ground which commands the city . there have also been two councils held in this city , the one under the pontificate of pelagius , in 578. the other in 1147. it is seated upon the river yonne , that falls into the seine at montereau . nevers , the capital city of nivernois , is a considerable city , not only for the goodness and fertility of the soil , but for the advantages it receives from the river loire , which washes the walls of it , and runs by the fortress that commands it , and over which it has a bridge of twenty arches . travellers are always us'd to visit these parts , where the inhabitants make glasses and earthen pots , which bring great profit to this city . the bishoprick is under the archbishop of sens , and one of the best in the kingdom . in the last assembly of the states general of the kingdom , the deputies of nivernois appear'd under the government of orleanois . there are in this little province both iron and silver mines , but the people make little advantage of ' em . chap. xv. of berry and burbonnois . though the province of berry be of no great extent , yet is it very rich. the cloth which is there made is in great esteem ; and the wool in this province is the best in the kingdom . the inhabitants who were in ancient time call'd the bituriges , were very formidable : and history informs us not only of the conquests which they made in germany and italy ; but that the same people , who a long time held the empire of the gauls , were they who gave caesar the greatest trouble in his conquests . the capital city of berry is bourges , being an archbishoprick , with the title of a primacy and patriarchate , having also a presidial court , a bailliage , a generality , and a university . the situation of it is very advantageous , by reason of the two rivers that make a kind of bogg , and fill the moats . it has seven gates , and as many suburbs . the walls are in a good condition , fortify'd with four and twenty towers . the ramparts are cannon-proof , the stones being cut diamond fashion , and nineteen foot thick . the cathedral church is dedicated to st. stephen , a most beautiful structure , supported by fifty pillars . the treasury of this cathedral contains many curiosities which foreigners will be glad to see , and of which i would have inserted here a catalogue , had i not unfortunately mislay'd it in my travels . this city suffer'd much by the irruptions of the barbarians in the fifth age , and still it feels the furious sack of the huguenots upon the 27th of may 1562. when the count of montmorancy , who was their general , took it . bourbonnois is separated from burgundy by the river loire , which lyes to the east ; berry bounds it to the west ; auvergne and forest to the south ; and nivernois to the north. this province is not so considerable for it self , though the soil be very fertile , as for the honour which it has to see the illustrious house of bourbon wear the crown of france . the city of bourbon bequeath'd her name to this province , though it be not the capital ; which is attributed to moulins . the castle of bourbon is environ'd with 24 towers , which renders it extremely strong . near the castle lies a great marsh , where are the baths of bourbon , so renown'd all over europe . moulins is a very large and fair city , seated upon the river allier , and remarkable for the mineral waters , and for the great number of cutlers shops . the presidial court is one of the greatest ornaments that belong to it . chap. xvi . of poitou , and the country of aunis . poitou is a large province , containing near sixty leagues from east to west , ( de la croix says , about 30 leagues in length , and 20 in breadth ) it is bounded by berry , limosin , and touraine . to the south , by angoumois and xantoigne ; by anjou and bretaigne to the north ; and to the west by the ocean . the poictovins are civil and obliging ; but they are so addicted to raillery , and nettling , girding sarcasms , that you must either forbear keeping 'em company , or else be forc'd to bear their flouts ; which being so frequent , change their gay and sportive humour into the vice of scurrilous detraction . the capital city of this province is poiters , seated upon a rising ground between two rivers . it is famous for being a bishops see , and has a presidial court , and a university for the law , which pope eugenius iv. and charles vii . founded there in 1431. at what time the parlament of paris was translated thither , because the english were masters of the metropolis of the kingdom . near to poitiers it was that the battel so dismall to france was fought in the year 1356. where the english took k. john prisoner . the city of poitiers is govern'd by a mayor , twelve sheriffs or aldermen , and twelve sworn counsellors . the walls and castle rose from the ruins of the amphitheater , and the other structures are sufficient proofs of the antiquity of it . among the reliques which are there preserv'd , there is to be seen in the cathedral , a part of st. peter's beard , which st. hilary brought thither from rome , as they say . the statue of constantine the great , stands in the church of nostre dame. in the church of st. hilarius , is to be seen the trunk of a tree , which they tell you , serv'd that saint instead of a cradle , and has a peculiar efficacy to restore madmen to their wits . there is also a sepulchre which consumes dead bodies in four & twenty hours , but which becomes noisom to the smell , if you rub it with iron . above half a league from the city , is to be seen that which is call'd la pierre elevée , or the high-rais'd stone , five and twenty foot long , and seventeen broad , supported by four other stones . they tell yee , that pantagruel drew this stone out of a rock , which is call'd , passe-lourain or the lobcoch ; having this distich engrav'd upon it , hic lapis ingentem superat gravitate colossum , ponderis & grandi sidera mole premit . this stone the vast colossus far surpasses , and with its ponderous bulk the stars oppresses . this stone , as i have said already , is supported by four pillars ; and there is also a fifth , upon which the stone does not rest ; though it stand within a fingers breadth of it , of which the people of the country tell this story . that sir aldegonde carrying the great stone upon his head , and the five pillars in his apron , let fall one of 'em ; which the devil presently taking up , follow'd the saint , who stopp'd half a league from poitiers , and set the great stone upon the four pillars that remain'd in his apron . but the devil being desirous to add a fifth , could never raise it so high as to bear with the rest , and to be assistant in supporting the burthen . nor must i pass over in silence a certain cavern about four leagues from the city , the entrance into which is very difficult , and the passage more difficult . 't is said , that formerly they were wont to go and take a walk in this cavern , after the usual mirth and rejoycing that attends upon weddings . but that a young bride having fallen into it and broken her head , they who came after , thinking it more convenient to keep their skulls whole , the custom was abolish'd . they who have a desire to visit the town-house of poitiers , may see the franchises and privileges granted by the kings of france from time to time , to the city , engraven upon plates of brass . there are also other very fair cities in poitou , as lodun , the castle of which is one of the best situated in the kingdom . it was formerly call'd juliodunum , and has a bailliage and a presidial court. next to this chasteleraut , famous for cutlers , and where they make the best false diamonds in any part of the world. 't is said , that about a small league from this city , in former days , a young hind shew'd the souldiers of clovis the great , where to pass the river , going before 'em as their guide , when they went to fight alaric k. of the goths . the bridge which katherine de medicis there built , is a very fair one ; as being sixty six foot broad , and two hundred and thirty long , supported by nine arches . mailluizay and luson , are two episcopal cities , which have very fair churches ; nor are they without some particular beauties : nevertheless the first bishoprick was translated to rochelle in 1648. the country of aunis , so call'd , as they say , because a certain king undertook to conquer it by an ell aday , though it be but of a small extent , yet is very fertile and well peopl'd . the city of rochelle is the capital city . which though it be not very ancient , became famous in the last age , by reason of the civil wars for religion . the first houses that were erected in this place , were built to withstand the incursions of the normans , that many times landed in the harbour . by the treaty of bretigny it was surrender'd to the english against the will of the inhabitants ; but return'd not long after under the dominion of france . the hugonets became masters of it in the last age. and la noue , who was governor of it , valiantly defended it against the siege which charles ix . in vain laid to it , with his forces under the conduct of his brother henry , afterwards henry iii. who left the siege to take possession of the crown of poland . in the year 1620. there was a meeting of the huguenots at rochel , to consult about laying the foundation of a small protestant republick . but lewis xiii . reduc'd 'em to their duty in 1622. but in regard the english and hollanders encourag'd 'em to revolt , and for that the sea afforded an easie entrance for their succour , they soon drew upon 'em the indignation of their soveraign ; at what time , in the year 1627. cardinal richelieu having caus'd a mound or dam to be raised , seven hundred forty seven fathom long , on purpose to hinder their communication with the sea , they surrender'd the 28th of octob. 1628. the king who was personally at the siege , enter'd into the town upon all-saints day , depriv'd the inhabitants of their privileges , and demolish'd their fortifications , leaving only the two towers which charles v. built , and which were thought requisite for the defence of the port , which he secur'd with a chain that reach'd from one tower to another . since that time , the present king has surrounded it with new and strong fortifications , a good cittadel , and other works to hinder the landing of a forreign enemy . it is now a town of great trade , whither all the merchandizes are brought that are transported from the indies ; and besides that it is a bishops see , it is also the seat of a presidial jurisdiction , and a soveraign court for the western salt-pits . the people in their humour , partake of the air of the sea , which they breath , and are therefore very boisterous and insolent , and no less full of vanity and pride . rochefort is a sea-port town at the mouth of the river charante , formerly no more then a village , now a city with good bastions , upon which are planted rows of trees , that make very pleasant walks ; there is also in this place several ware-houses , and an hospital for sick and wounded seamen . chap. xvii . of bretagne . bretagne is a very large province , which is also usually call'd by the name of little bretaigne , to distinguish it from great britain ; which contains the kingdoms of england , scotland and ireland , and the small islands adjoyning . there is no province of france that has so great a number of havens as this ; for it is environ'd by the ocean to the north , south and west : eastward it is bounded by poitou , anjou , maine and normandy . it extends it self above forty leagues from south to north ; that is to say , from the island of bouitz to the mouth of the river couenon , and sixty from east to west ; that is to say , from vitrey , to the point of conquet , and contains nine bishopricks . formerly it was govern'd by kings for above three hundred years together , but was afterwards contented with the title of a dukedom , till the year 1491. that ann of bretaine , the only daughter of francis ii. the last duke , married charles the eighth of france , and after that lewis xii . who both united this dutchy to the crown . the soil is fertile in corn , flax , hemp and fruits , affords good butter , and breeds good horses , but produces little wine , to the great grief of the inhabitants , who are great lovers of it . between chasteau-briant and martigues , are several mines of iron and lead . in the signory of salle , is a source of water that smells of antimony , and drives before it a sort of sand of the colour of gold : and not far off upon a high hill , they find antimony , sulphur and copper : and in another place , they dig out talc and stone allum , which being pounded into powder , may be spun into long threads or candlewieks , which never go out as long as there is any substance remaining , and is thought to be the asbestos of the ancients . in the mines of valgoet , are to be found both jasper stones , and very clear chrystal , with several other rarities . moreover , in this province there is a great value put upon the secrets of the mount menehaldec , the beauties of the forrest of besban , where is still to be seen the square base of stone call'd perron-merlin , the ancient divertisement of the knights errant , and the fountain of balanton , &c. they also make great reckoning of the amber of bell-isle , the aqueducts of dal , the vaults between rieux and redon . the subterraneal torrent in the forrest of st. aubin du cornier , the singularities of the river ardre , and the lake of grandlieu near nantes . and having already told yee how the province is seated upon the sea , i think it needless to tell yee that they are stor'd with all sorts of fish ; among the rest , there is taken upon the coast of bretaigne , a certain fish , which at marseilles is call'd imperador or the emperour , but in bretanie , gracieux seigneur , which is very delightful to the tast . the bretons are of a very sociable humour , and there are two sorts of people , whose company pleases 'em better then any other . the first are those that can stoutly hold out to drink with 'em ; the next , are they who in their discourses , or otherwise , make appear their hatred of the normans . for the people of those two provinces have such an antipathy one against another , that they can never speak well of each other . rennes is the capital city of bretagne , divided by the little river of vilaine , which brings up great barks to the town , though it stands above twenty leagues from the sea. henry ii. erected a parlament in this city , which is also a bishop's see , adorn'd with fair churches , two abbies , st. magdalens and st. georges , with several other religious houses , and the bell belonging to the palace clock , is accompted one of the biggest in the kingdom : and having been formerly the residence of the dukes of bretagne ; it is stor'd with several reliques for travellers to see , either out of curiosity or devotion . nantes contends for superiority with rennes , as being likewise a bishops see , and pretending that her haven renders her more wealthy , more famous , and makes an ample amends for the parlament , with which the other is honour'd . but not to trouble my self to decide the controversie between these two cities , i shall only observe that nantes is very ancient ; and some authors will have it , that nantes , one of the progeny of noah , was the founder of it , and gave it his own name . however it were , she had once particular counts of her own , and the beauty and fertility of her soil , appropriated to her the sirname of the eye of bretagne . there is a castle belonging to this city ; which secures the port : and her presidial court , where there is a tower and a clock , both considerable for the rarity of their workmanship , and an election render her no less remarkable then her university for the law , founded by pope pius ii. in the time of francis ii. the last duke of bretagne . when you visit the churches , you shall see the tombs of several dukes of bretagne : the town-house is built after the modern mode : and her large ware-houses for all sorts of merchandizes merit the view of all travellers , who will then admire the vast wealth of this city . the edict which hen. iv. set forth at nantes , in favour of the protestants in april 1598. was revok'd by lewis xiv . in october 1685. st. malo's is another famous sea-port town of this province seated upon a rock in the sea , in the island of st. aron , joyn'd to the land by a long causey ; the entrance into which is defended by a castle flank'd with large towers , environ'd with good moats , where there is a garison and a governour . the bishoprick of st. quidalet was translated thither in the year 1172. i have here two things to observe concerning st. malo's , one of which is true , the other seems to me to be a fable . the first is , that every night they let out a dozen or fifteen great mastiffs , that presently run their rounds about the city upon the ramparts , and infallibly tear to pieces all people that they meet with . so that before they suffer 'em to walk their patrolle , there is a bell toll'd for some time to give people notice that the merciless watch is a coming . these dogs are kept on purpose to preserve the city from surprize : which gave occasion for some to say , that dogs had the guard of st. malo's . my second remark relates to a raven and a crow that are in the island , whose number never increases . when one of these two dies , all that are in the neighbouring parts flock thither to take possession of the vacancy , as if it were an inheritance ; and in regard they have no knowledge of littleton's tenures or the canon-law , much less of the genealogy of their ancestors , so as to leave their estates to the next heirs , they fall to bloody wars one among another : many are slain on both sides , many are wounded , and many betake themselves to cowardly flight , and save themselves upon the continent ; and thus at length the strongest carries it , and becomes peaceable possessour of the island all the rest of his days . as to the surviver , i know not whether upon the loss of his companion he loses his privileges , or whether he measures beaks and claws , and then duels it out with the new comer . brest is the best seaport-town which the french have upon the ocean ; for which reason it is the great maritime arsenal of the kingdom , and the rendevouz of the french fleets . the entrance into the bay is very dangerous by reason of several rocks that lye under water upon high tides ; but there are always skilful pilots ready to carry in great ships without any hazard . the king caus'd this place to be fortify'd after a wonderful manner , and not without reason , it being one of the principal keys of the kingdom , and the rendevouze of all his men of war. chap. xviii . of anjou and touraine . the province of anjou , dignify'd with the title of a dukedom , has bretagne to the east , maine to the north , touraine to the west , and poitou to the south . it is thirty leagues in length , and twenty broad ( twenty two , says de la croix ) and being water'd with the loire , the sarre , and several other rivers ( no less then six and thirty , says de la croix ) it is extremely fertile , and the people are witty and very crafty . anger 's , the metropolis , call'd by some authors the black city , by reason that all the houses are cover'd with black slate , which they dig out of the quarries adjoyning , is the seat of a bishop , a presidial court , a bailliage , a mint , and a university for the law ; founded by charles v. in 1364. others say , by lewis xii . in 1398. the cathedral dedicated to st. maurice , is a lovely structure , and the three steeples over the portal are wonderful pieces of architecture , of which that in the middle seems as if it hung in the air , being supported by the foundations of the other two . among the antiquities of the treasury , there is to be seen st. maurice's sword , and one of the cisterns , that contain'd some part of the water which christ turn'd into wine at the galilean wedding . the castle is very ancient , and built upon a rock , flank'd with eighteen large round towers , and defended with a wide & deep moat cut out of the rock , whither many times prisoners of state are sent , for more security . the huguenots surpriz'd this castle in the year 1585. but they were soon after expell'd again by the anjovins . anger 's is also remarkable for the university there erected , according to the king's letters patents bearing date june — 1605. with the same privileges which the academy of paris enjoys , except the comittimus . the number of the academies is fix'd to thirty , besides the bishop , the king's lieutenant , the first president , the king's proctor in the presidial court , and some others who have their places in the academy by vertue of their employments . the city it self is govern'd by a mayor and twenty four aldermen or sheriffs . la flesche stands upon the loire , about ten leagues from anger 's to the south . there is in it a very fair college of jesuits , founded in the year 1605. by henry iv. containing three courts , and three piles of lodging chambers , sufficient to lodge the king and all his court. the heart of that great monarch lyes in the chappel under the steps ascending to the altar , as he ordain'd by his last will. saumur , is applauded by all forreigners for the pleasantness of the situation ; where there is also a strong castle and well fortify'd . touraine lyes to the north of anjou , about thirty leagues in length , and as many broad . this country is so fertile , that it 's call'd the garden of france . the people are good natur'd , sincere and witty. if you will gain their friendship , you must have a care of being melancholy : and therefore they are call'd , the laughers of tours , les rieurs de tours . they who have seen tours the capital city of this province agree , that it is one of the most delightful mansions in the kingdom . it is the seat of an archbishop , a presidial court , and a money-chamber . the loire , over which there is a bridge of nineteen arches , causes it to abound with all things . there are great quantities of silk stuffs made in this city , which are thence transported all over europe . the church of st. martins is of a vast length , being a hundred and sixty foot long , with two and fifty windows , twenty columns , nineteen doors , and three very high towers . in the year 1591. there were found in it two urns full of the ashes of several bodies consum'd by fire . amboise stands upon the loire with a castle royal built there by charles viii . to signalize the place of his birth . loches is remarkable for the castle and a beautiful forrest adjoyning to it . lewis xi . enlarg'd this castle , and added a dungeon to it , where he kept the cardinal de balve a long time : and here it was that lewis sforza being confin'd by lewis xiii . dy'd in his imprisonment , and was buri'd in the church of nostre dame , where is to be seen the tomb of agnes surel , charles viith's mistress . chinon is a pleasant city , where charles the seventh was retir'd , when joane of arc came to find him out and proffer him her service : and more lately remarkable for being the place where rablaise was born. chap. xix . of beausse , which comprehends orleanois , blesois , and le pais chartrain . in regard there have been no just bounds given to this province , because several authors , out of a humour joyn the neighbouring provinces to it , i shall not undertake to limit the extent of it ; but following the opinion of those who divide it into upper , middle and lower , which are commonly call'd le pais chartrain , orleanois , and blesois ; i shall only observe what is most curious in the principal cities of the province . by the way , you are to observe that this country is call'd the granary of france , by reason of the great quantity of corn which it produces . as for the people , the chartrains are look'd upon to be zealous catholicks : the orleanois , somewhat addicted to slandering and backbiting : the blesois are said to speak the best french ; yet both the one and the other are very civil and obliging . chartres is a city so ancient , that some authors affirm it to have been built by the gomerites , who were sent into gaul , a little after noah's time . however , certain it is , that the druids built this city long before the birth of christ , whose nativity they foretold , and that he should be born of a virgin ; which was the reason that priscus the roman governor erected a temple there , which he consecrated virgini pariturae , to the virgin that should bear a son. and seeing that st. paul coming to athens , met with an altar dedicated to the vnknown god , we may the more readily believe that either by some prophetick spirit , or by some other prerogatives only known to providence , that the pagans in the midst of their darkness had some glimmerings of that knowledge which god reserv'd for the christians . and hence i may observe , that if some christians were to be met among the pagans of those times , there are more pagans to be found among the christians at this day . there is a well to be seen at chartres , which is call'd the saints well , because the romans were wont to throw the primitive christians into it . there belongs to this city a presidial court , together with a bishops see , under the archbishop of paris , ever since 1622. for before it depended upon the archbishop of sens. there are to be seen in this city many pieces of antiquity , and a great number of reliques . the cathedral dedicated to the holy virgin is very considerable for the quire , & the church under-ground , and the two steeples are the admiration of forreigners . the streets are fair and straight , the houses neatly built , the market-places large , and the river eure affords a water very proper for several sorts of manufacture . in the year 1591. hen. iv. took it from the league , and caus'd himself to be crown'd in it , by reason that reims held out in rebellion . orleans is a very considerable city , dignify'd with the title of dukedom , and a bishop's see , under the archbishop of paris , with a presidial court and a university for the law , founded by st. lewis , and confirm'd by philip the fair in 1312. all this advances much the honour of the city , but her greater ▪ glory to be the appanage or childs portion and title always belonging to the second son of france , much more exalts the idea that forreigners have of her . this city is seated upon the banks of the river loire , in a country full of vineyards that furnish it with excellent wine . among the most considerable buildings is to be seen the church of the holy cross , which the religionaries ruin'd in the last age ; but though henry the great caus'd it to be rebuilt , he has not restor'd it the beauty of her pristin antiquity . this city was several times besieg'd , and twice miraculously deliver'd : once by the prayers of her bishop st. aignan , when attila king of the hunns besieg'd it in the year 450. long after that the english besieg'd it in the year 1417. at what time it was succour'd by joan of arc , call'd the maid of orleans . the kingdom was then in a low condition , and upon the very brink of ruin ; at what time this maid , who was no more then a poor shepherdess , born at dompremi upon the meuse , receiv'd a command from god to go and succour orleans , and to crown charles vii . k. of france at reims . coming to court , she made up to the king , whom she had never seen in her life before ; and though he had nothing to be signaliz'd from the rest , in the croud of courtiers that were in a huddle about him . she told him of the command she had receiv'd from heaven ; they gave her what men she desir'd , with which she defeated the english and reliev'd orleans . after that she caus'd the king to be crown'd at reims , re-conquer'd all champagne , and had expell'd the english quite out of france , but that she had the misfortune to be taken before compiegne , which she had laid siege to . when the english had her in their power , they carri'd her to rouen , and burnt her for a witch . she was call'd the maid or virgin , because that having been search'd by several matrons in the presence of the queen of sicily , she was found to be so . the orleanois had so great a veneration for her memory , that they set up her statue upon the bridge of orleans . there are several very fair country seats in the parts about orleans , of which chambort is the most remarkable , as being built by the command of francis i. and the stairs belonging to it , are look'd upon to be a kind of a prodigy ; for that when you would go up into the chamber over head from the room where you are , instead of ascending , you must descend . the loire washes the walls of bloise as well as of orleans . this city is seated in a most delightful air , which the pleasure of the walks about it renders much more charming , provided the weather be dry . for otherwise the soil is so fat , that the least rain makes the ways almost impassable . there is a very beautiful castle belongs to it , built upon a rock , which has been the seat of several kings . there is also a pyramid erected upon the bridge that crosses the river , in honour of hen. iv. of france . there are also to be seen some fair ruins of roman antiquity : and travellers will find a great deal of pleasure in viewing the park that belongs to the royal castle . at some distance from the city is to be seen the castle of buri , in the court of which is erected a pillar , on the top of which stands a figure of king david in brass , which was brought from rome . the lake also which is in the dutchy of vendosme is very remarkable for this , that the water abounds in it for seven years together ; but the next seven years it lyes quite dry . during which time you may perceive caverns in it that are extreamly deep . the country people also know by certain marks of the height of the water , whether the seven years that the water is absent will be fruitful or barren . amboise is a very ancient city , where charles viii . was born ; and this prince it was who built the castle , which is the greatest ornament of it . in this castle lewis xii . instituted the order of the knights of st. michael , the first day of august in the year 1469. this city is also famous for the conspiracy there discover'd against francis ii. catherine de medicis , his mother , and all the court in 1560. and history informs us , that there was a most bloody butchery of the conspirators , among whom there was a great number of persons of quality . chap. xx. of the island of france . vvhen forreigners hear talk of the island of france , unless they cast their eyes upon the map , they take it for a land divided from the rest of the kingdom . but though it be intercut and intercepted with many rivers , however they do not make any island ; only it is a name which the province has deriv'd from little islands which the seine surrounds in several places , and among the rest , from two within the circuit of paris ; which are call'd , the island of nostre dame , and the island of the palace . this island is the most noble portion of the most illustrious , most potent and most flourishing kingdom in the world. this is what the author stretches out in praise of his own country ; but whether it agree so well with the present condition of france , is left for the impartial to judge . paris is not only the capital of this province , but the metropolis of the whole kingdom ; nor is it without good reason that a certain author calls it , the queen of the cities in the world. it is so ancient , that the time is not positively known when it began to be built . some say , that the foundations of it were laid before the death of noah . however it were , authors agree that it is more ancient then rome , as it is much larger ; in regard that rome is not above twenty three thousand and fifty paces in circuit ; but that paris is twenty six thousand eight hundred and fifty paces in compass , the suburbs being therein comprehended . in the year 1622. the bishoprick was erected into an archbishoprick ; the present archbishop is one of the most learned , the most illustrious , and the most obliging prelates in the kingdom ; messire francois de harlay , duke and peer of france ; commander of the king's orders ; formerly archbishop of rouen , and one whose merit is universally known . he has a seat in the parlament of paris , which is the first in the kingdom ; and which is usually call'd the parlament of peers . but besides this tribunal , there are several others in paris , as the chamber of accompts or of the exchequer , which was made sedentary at paris , at the same time that the parlament was fix'd ; the grand chastelet , where the provost of paris sits as a judge , and may be call'd the sessions house of paris . there is also the conseil du roy , or the king's council , which consists of such persons as he pleases to make choice of to consult about publick and important business ; conseil de finances , compos'd of a superintendant , intendants , comptrollers , registers , &c. and the conseil privè de parties , which is assembled about particular causes and controversies between party and party : besides several other courts and chambers which we omit for brevities sake . the university of paris is the most famous in all france , italy , spain , or germany ; where all manner of learning and sciences are taught . it was founded in the year 791. by charlemaign , at the perswasion of the learned alcuin , who was the first professor of it . and i am apt to believe , that to justifie the opinion of m. balzac , who calls the university of paris the latin country , there needs no more then to tell yee , that it consists of fifty five colleges , which are always full of an infinite number of scholars ; and every body knows that the sorbonne is a nursery of learned men , and the most rigid college in france . i do not here propose to my self to make an exact description of all the beauties of paris ; for a volume in folio would not contain 'em all . i shall only take notice of those things that render it most remarkable , without entring into a particular enumeration of all particulars . the chiefest without doubt is this , that it is the place where the monarchs of france have all along kept their courts : and when the palace of the louvre , which is joyn'd to that of the tuilleries , shall be finish'd , with that order and magnificence as it is begun , 't will be the most noble building in the universe . there will not be only lodging sufficient for all the court ; but also for the ministers of state , for all the officers of the crown , and all forreign ambassadors that come to reside in the city . the cathedral church which is dedicated to the holy virgin , is a hundred seventy four paces in length , and sixty broad , and a hundred paces high . there is to be seen the old and new testament engrav'd upon the stones of the quire ; and over the door of the quire is to be seen a crucifix , with an image of our lady , which are two master-pieces of workmanship . the frontispiece of the church is adorn'd with three large portals , over which are one and twenty figures of the king 's that reign'd from childebert , to philip the august . two high square towers serve it instead of a steeple , which are esteem'd to be the fairest in france . so that 't is commonly said , if you would have a perfect cathedral , you must joyn the quire of bauvaise , the body of amiens , the portal of reimes , the steeple of chartres , and the towers of paris . from the bottom to the top of these towers you ascend with three hundred eighty nine steps ; and at the top there is a gallery that leads from one tower to the other . to the church it self belong seven doors and forty five chappels . but that which is most of all to be wonder'd at is this , that this vast and magnificent structure is built upon piles driven into the ground , by reason it stands at the farther end of the island of the palace . the quire , the body of the church , and the chappels are adorn'd with lovely pictures , and many precious reliques are preserv'd within those sacred walls . the holy chappel of the palace , is a church which is very remarkable , not only for antiquities and reliques , but for the workmanship of the building which is supported by pillars so small , that a man would wonder how they are able to bear so great a weight . the most famous reliques that are lockt up within these two places , are the crown of thorns with which christ was crown'd : the table-cloath upon which he supp'd with his apostles : the spunge , and head of the spear wherewith his side was pierc'd ; some of the virgins milk , moses's rod , a piece of st. john baptist's head , &c. in short , not to engage my self to give an account of all the churches in particular ; i shall only tell yee that paris contains one and fifty parishes ▪ of which the most part consist of twenty five , thirty and thirty five thousand communicants ; two and fifty monasteries , seventy eight nunneries , and thirty hospitals . if we add to this , that there are in paris eight hundred and thirty streets , twelve suburbs , of which st. german des prez alone is larger then many capital cities ; ten bridges , seventy three piazza's and market-places , though de la croix says but twenty five , and a great number of palaces or noble-men's houses , 't will be no wonder to us what charles v. said , that he had seen in france a world , a city and a village : the world was paris ; the city was orleans , and the village was poitiers . it would be no difficult thing to arm in paris two hundred thousand men for the service of the state ; for an army might be rais'd only of the people that wear liveries , from eighteen to thirty years of age. the bastille is a castle built near st. anthony's gate for the security of the arsenal , which is one of the best provided in europe . this fortress is flank'd with four towers , surrounded with moats , and furnish'd with good artillery ; and is the place where many times prisoners of state are secur'd . the royal hospital for the infirm , is a house which lewis xiv . caus'd to be built for the entertainment of officers and souldiers who are not in a condition to bear arms , as having been maim'd in the king's service . and there may be conveniently lodg'd in this hospital four thousand men , who keep as exact guard within the place , as if they were in a garrison . now in regard that paris lyes in the heart of the kingdom , there is no need of keeping any garrison in it . but because it is the general concourse of all sorts of people , and for that it frequently happens that rogues and night-robbers wait their opportunities , and generally practise their villanies in places of great resort ; the city therefore keeps a standing watch of two hundred and fifty men , part horse and part foot , which are divided into several quarters to walk the rounds and ride the patroule . but in regard the criminals make it their business to avoid 'em , the citizens and others are frequently set upon after the watch is past , not being able to help themselves . 't is true , that in my opinion it were an easie thing to secure paris against the robberies and murthers which are too frequently there committed , with little charge to the city ; but it would be a rashness in me to go about to instruct the most understanding magistrates in the world. i have already mention'd , that in paris there are seventy and three publick piazza's or market-places . i shall only speak of those three which are the most modern , and which are also the most considerable . the first is call'd the royal place , which is in that part where formerly stood the palais des tournelles , or of the parlamental court for criminal causes , near st. antonies-street . 't is very regular , and environ'd with thirty six pavillions no less proportionable , and rail'd quite round with iron spikes on all the four sides . all the foreparts of the houses round the piazza are supported with pillars that make a kind of a gallery or portico , under which people may walk at all times shelter'd from the sun and the rain . hen. iv. began it , but in regard it was not finish'd till in the reign of lewis xiii . they set up a brass statue of king lewis , omitting his predecessor , erected the 27th . of septemb. 1639. upon a pedestal of white marble , with inscriptions on the four sides . the second is the place de victoires in the parish of st. eustachius , at the end of the street des petits champs ; which some people know better by mazarin's quarter . messire francois d'aubusson , duke de fueillade , built this piazza , as an eternal monument of his fidelity and zeal for the honour of lewis xiv . in the year 1686. and in his memory erected in the middle of it , the king's statue of gilt brass . the groupe of this statue is compos'd of three figures : the one represents the king standing upright in his royal robes : the other victory , which stands behind , having one foot upon a globe , from whence she raises her self , and puts a crown upon the king's head. the third is a cerberus , which the king tramples under foot ; alluding to the triple alliance , which the king made a shift to break by the help of a kind neighbour . the king's statue is thirteen foot high : and the groupe with a hercules's club , a lions skin , and a helmet weighs above thirty thousand weight . the whole is very neatly gilt , and rais'd upon a pedestal of vein'd marble , two and twenty foot high , adorn'd with four bodies of brass in chains , with inscriptions denoting the subjection to which the king has reduc'd his enemies . at the four entrances into the place stands a brass lanthorn gilt , into which there are candles put every night to enlighten the place . which lanthorns are sustain'd by three columns of marble , adorn'd with base reliefs of brass which represent the king's victories . monsieur de la fueillade foreseeing that time brings all things to ruin , and defaces the noblest structures ; and being desirous to preserve this monument entire to perpetuity , made a deed of conveyance of all his estate to the present duke of fueillade , & the male heirs of his body , and for want of such issue to the next of kin , that bore the name and arms of aubusson , and for want of such to the city of paris , upon condition that whoever inherit shall every five and twenty years reguild the statue , lanthorns and ornaments at their own costs and charges , keep all the several pieces of workmanship in repair , and find candles for the lanthorns to enlighten the piazza . the third is a very fair and large piazza very like the royal piazza , only that it has not arches round about in form of a portico . it joyns to st. honor's street facing the convents of the brown mendicants and the capuchins ; and runs as far as the new street of the little fields . m. de louvois began it , but since his death , the buildings have been discontinu'd . 't is call'd the piazza of the conquests , and was design'd for the setting up the king's statue on horseback , which is already finish'd ; and the ornaments that are to accompany it , are to set forth the glorious actions of that monarch . and since i am speaking of the publick places where the statues of our kings are to be seen , i must not omit the statue of henry the great erected upon pont neuf , just against the dauphin piazza . it is of brass , upon a horse of the same metal , rais'd upon a pedestal of marble and jasper , adorn'd with base reliefs , and inscriptions in letters of gold , denoting the principal victories of that great monarch . pont neuf , standing over the point of the island of the palace , was begun in 1578. under the reign of henry iii. but was not finish'd till 1604. when henry iv. was come to the crown , and had in part appeas'd the troubles of his kingdom . it consists of two bridges , which the point of the island joyns together , supported by twelve arches . on both sides of this bridge upon an elevation of about three foot , stand a great number of brokers shops , which do not hinder , but that four coaches may go a-breast in the middle . it is also adorn'd with a house that stands upon piles , which is commonly call'd la samaritaine , because of the figure of the samaritan woman which is there to be seen , together with that of christ , who instructs her that there is a water more wholesom then that which she seeks for . within these few years there was another bridge built much after the fashion of pont neuf , over against the palace of the tuilleries , which is now call'd pont royal , the royal bridge , and stands where the red bridge stood before . there are moreover several other bridges very considerable , as the change bridge , st. michael's , the bridge of nostredame , and pont marie ; which have houses on both sides , so high that they cannot be perceiv'd to stand over the water . the french academy is become so famous over europe , that all men have a particular esteem for all the learned men who have the honour to be members of it . it was not confirm'd by the king's edict till the year 1635. though it were set up five or six years before , and was instituted by chance . for that in the year 1620. certain learned persons that lodg'd in several parts of the city , resolv'd to meet once a week at one of their houses by turns , that so they might with more ease confer together . and this was that which gave a beginning to this academy , which was at first under the protection of cardinal richlieu . now the number of the academies is fix'd to forty . besides this academy , paris has also three others ; the academy royal of painting , which owes the beginning of it to m. de noyers secretary of state , and surveyor of the king's buildings in the reign of lewis xiii . they met at first in the palais royal , but were afterwards remov'd into the galleries of the louvre , at what time it was settl'd by a decree of council in the year 1648. the academy royal of sciences , compos'd of a great number of learned physicians , philosophers , and mathematicians , settl'd by mr. colbert , minister of state , at the sollicitation of m. du clos , and the abbot of bonzaisi . and for the sake of these learned men it is , that the king has erected an observatory in the suburb of st. james , for the making new experiences , and discovery of new secrets in physick and mathematicks . and lastly , the royal academy of architecture , settl'd by the same mr. colbert in 1671. as for the divertisements of paris ▪ no body can be ignorant that there are wanting neither exquisite voices for opera's , nor good actors for french and italian comedies ; nor any sort of excellent company ; whether for conversation , play , or courtship . and for places of meeting and walking , there are the tuilleries , the queen's court , and the groves of boulogne and vincennes . but i perceive this chapter has carried me too far , which obliges me to omit a thousand wonderful things which paris encloses , and only to tell forreigners ▪ that they can never be able to understand the beauty and magnificence of it , till they have made a considerable stay in the place ; and that the most elevated idea's which i could give 'em , by a more copious description and better study'd , would come short of what they really are . chap. xxi . of the places adjoyning to paris . after what i have said of the grandeur , beauty and magnificence of paris , 't will be no hard matter to believe that the parts about it are extreamly well peopled ; there being ten thousand boroughs , villages or castles within ten leagues round it . i shall only say something of the most considerable places , not much caring for the criticisms of those who shall censure me for not reporting faithfully all their beauties . for i declare to 'em before hand , that i shall not engage to satisfie 'em with a piece of perfection . for in short , if a man should go about to examine all the wonders , magnificence and riches of the royal seats not far from paris , it would be enough to dazle his eyes ; nor can any man contemplate 'em without being ravish'd into extasie . since the reign of lewis the just , versailles was no more then an ordinary castle , consisting of a body of lodgings , accompani'd with two wings , and ending in four pavillons . but in 1661. the king proposing to himself to make some stay there , enlarg'd this building with another much more magnificent . at length in 1678 , the old castle not appearing worthy the state and grandeur of so great a monarch , it was pull'd down , to make room for another more superb : for the rearing of which , all the most famous masters in europe for architecture , sculpture and painting were sent for to display their utmost skill . so that the magnificence of every apartment out-does whatever there is of most rare in forreign countries : even the stables of versailles are more magnificent and nobler then the palaces of several princes of europe . there is a city built on two sides of the castle with extraordinary symmetry . the castle is of so large extent , that not only all the princes and princesses of the blood have large and convenient lodgings within it , but also all the ministers and secretaries of state , and a great number of other lords . the soil about versailles is naturally dry and unpleasant . but lewis the great , has enforc'd nature , as i may so say , to be more favourable to that part which he had made choice of for his residence . for the earth not only produces all the plants , the fruits , the flowers that grow in the most fertile places in the world , but by the benefit of the aqueducts this place abounds so much in water , that you would take it rather for a sea , when all the engins play , then for a garden of pleasure . and what is more particular and almost incredible , those engins throw the water up into the air in different figures . you shall perceive galleries of water , triumphal arches , pavillions , arbors , theatres , mountains , &c. the fairest receptacles for water , are those of ceres , flora , apollo and bacchus . the banqueting-hall , the labyrinth , the walk of water , are machines worthy the curiosity of strangers . all this water is drawn from the sein , by the assistance of a great number of pumps ranvers'd , and carry'd to versailles by the only engin which is to be seen in europe ; being the invention of the sieurs de ville and ranequin . this piece of workmanship which may contend with the seven wonders of the world , consists of fourteen wheels that have eight and twenty motions , which are caus'd by twenty chains , and eight water engins , with which they force up the water into an aqueduct of thirty six arches seated upon the top of a mountain , and five hundred and seventy foot from the side of the river . all these motions work night and day , there being no more then 18 men , in three different divisions to look after ' em . all people admire the effects of the king's glory and grandeur , and the large extent of the genius of those artists who invented this engin to the highest degree of perfection . they who will visit the apartments of versailles , the gardens , the park , the place where all sorts of strange creatures are kept ; the grotto's , the labyrinths , and the castle of trianon , which is a real jewel , all wrought within and without with marble of divers colours , have need of eight days time ; neither will that suffice to view all these wonders that surpass imagination . the castle of merli , but a small league from versailles , is another royal seat , whither the king goes usually twice a month , to spend two or three days ; during which time , he gives audience to no body , unless it be to his ministers , and those that are sent for to council , which his majesty holds there , concerning the most important affairs of state. next to versailles , st. german on laie may dispute for priority before all the other royal houses . this place is famous for the birth of lewis xiv . upon the 5th . of septemb. 1638. he was baptiz'd in the old castle the 21st . of april , 1643. besides the regularity and magnificence of the castle , there are the gardens and grotto's to be seen , adorn'd with a thousand figures of water . among the rest , in one of these grotto's there is an orpheus playing upon his harp , and with the motion of his head and his body keeping time to his instrument . he is also attended by a great number of beasts that follow him , as being enchanted with the melody of his harp ; which also draws after him rocks , trees and plants . there is likewise paradise , hell , the sea , and the four elements so livelily represented , that you would think your self in some enchanted place . about a league from st. germans , upon one side of paris , you meet with the traytors wood , divided into two parts by a spacious high-way . the branches which you break off from one side of this wood sink ; but those which you break off from the other side swim in the water . in this wood it was that the perfidious ganelon contriv'd his treason against the peers of france , and all the great captains of charlemagne , which was put in execution at the battel of roncevaux , so fatal to france , in the passage of the pyreneans . st. clou is another very beautiful royal seat , belonging to monsieur , the king 's only brother . it stands upon a hill near the banks of the river seine , almost half way between paris and versailles . the paintings are very noble , the furniture very rich , and the cabinet of china ; wherein there are an infinite number of curiosities , and vast riches , is worthy the grandeur and magnificence of the prince to whom it belongs . as for the castle of madrit , francis i. caus'd it to be built in the wood of boulogne , in memory of his being carry'd a prisoner into spain ; to let the spaniards understand , that he held it for no shame to have been made a prisoner of war at the head of his army ; which had never befall'n him , had he contented himself to command in his cabinet , as the kings of spain do . they who believe this castle to be built after the same form as that , where this monarch was kept in durance , are much deceiv'd ; for it is little or nothing like it . it is nothing so magnificent now as formerly ; and the little care that is tak'n to repair it , shews that the king has no great fancy for the seat , nor minds whether it go to ruin or no. the castle of vincennes is considerable , as being the place where prisoners of war of great quality are confin'd ; and many times prisoners of state ; witness the princes of conde and conti , and the duke of longueville , in the time of cardinal mazarin . it is very large , and flank'd with eight great towers . here are kept the chains of the streets of paris ; which charles vi. took away after he had chastiz'd that city for her rebellion . fountainbleau , is another royal seat , so call'd from the great number of springs in that place . it lyes about twelve leagues from paris : and in regard it is a country proper for hunting , the court spends a great part of the autumn in this place . this castle is very large , as being said to contain nine hundred chambers , halls , cabinets or galleries ; where art has quite exhausted her self to render every thing worthy the residence of our monarchs . at fontainbleau it was where marshal biron was disarm'd by the king's order ; and where cardinal perron and the sieur du plessis-mornai met in the presence of hen. 4. to dispute upon matters of religion ; which drew thither the most learned of both parties : and 't is said , that when the two disputants could not agree , the king addressing himself to the cardinal , ask'd him , whether all those that were separated from the roman church were damn'd ? his eminency and the rest of the catholick doctors , assur'd him , that there was nothing more certain . after which , the k. demanding from those of the protestant party , whether it were a point of their doctrine , that there was no salvation for those that were not of their communion ? they made answer , 't was none of their opinion ; for that they thought the mercy of god might extend to all men. that being so , reply'd the king , ' t is my judgment to choose the certainty before the vncertainty : and so turn'd roman catholick . chantilli is a fair seat belonging to monsieur the prince , whither the court often goes for the recreation of hunting . it is an epitome of art and nature . 't is observ'd , that hen. iv. being to answer a letter which he had receiv'd from the k. of spain , cramm'd full of titles , not only of the kingdoms which the kings of spain , and their ancestors possess'd , but of those they never had ; as also of territories in the new world , not yet discover'd ; took upon him no other titles , but only citizen of paris , and lord of chantilli . and there is much the same story of francis i. who writeing to charles v. fill'd the first page with only these words repeated , king of france , king of france ; adding only at the lower end , lord of vauvre and gonesse . i shall say nothing of an infinite number of other beautiful seats and houses of pleasure in the parts adjoyning to paris , as ruel , meudon , conflans , seaux , &c. which are all fit for the entertainment of kings , whether in respect of their bigness or magnificence . it remains that i now say something of st. denis , the burying-place of our monarchs ; for which i design a particular chapter . only before i conclude this , i must not omit to tell yee , that there is at alincourt near paris , the tomb of a mother and her children that gave occasion to this epitaph . here lyes the son , here lyes the mother , here lyes the daughter with the father , here lyes the sister and the brother , here lyes the husband , here the wife ; all but three body 's , on my life . to expound this riddle , you must know , that a certain young stripling importun'd his mothers maid to grant him you may guess what ; who told her mistress , the mother of the young man and a widow . she order'd the servant to give him a meeting in her chamber , where the mother put her self in place of the maid ; and having had the company of her son without discovering who she was , at nine months end was brought to bed of a daughter ; which she put out till she came to such an age , and then sent for her home . the son in the mean time had been travelling for several years , but then returning home and finding the young virgin , which his mother said was an orphan , to be very pretty , marry'd her ; and so of his daughter and his sister made her his wife . the young couple dy'd before the mother , who then discover'd the secret , and would needs be interr'd in the same tomb. chap. xxii . of st. denis . st . denis is a small city in the island of france , six miles from paris . it was formerly call'd catuliaca ; but was call'd st. denis , from st. denis the areopagite , who being beheaded at montmartre , carry'd his head in his hands as far as catuliaque ; that is to say , about a league and a half . king dagobert erected a very stately church in this place , three hundred foot in length , two hundred broad , and fourscore foot high , supported by sixty pillars . 't is now a royal abby of the benedictin order ; wherein are kept all the ornaments for the coronation of our kings ; which do not a little augment the lustre and riches of the treasury of this abby . the church is also famous for being the burying-place of our monarchs , and of all the royal family . here follows a catalogue of the kings and queens whose tombs are to be seen in the church of st. denis . dagobert , who dy'd in the year 638 clovis the second . 656 clotaire iii. 664 thieri i. 690 clotaire iv. 720 childeric iii. a monk. pepin the short. 768 charles the bald. 877 lewis iii. 882 charlemane 884 eudes . 898 hugh capet . 997 robert. 1033 henry i. 1060 philip i. 1131 lewis vi. 1137 philip ii. 1223 lewis viii . 1226 lewis ix . sirnam'd the saint . 1270 philip iii. 1285 philip iv. 1314 lewis x. 1316 john i. 1316 philip v. 1322 charles iv. 1328 philip vi. de valois . 1350 john ii. 1364 charles v. 1380 charles vi. 1422 charles vii . 1461 charles viii . 1498 lewis xii . 1515 francis i. 1547 henry ii. 1559 francis ii. 1560 charles ix . 1574 henry iii. 1589 henry iv. 1610 lewis xiii . 1643 a catalogue of the queens that lye buried at st. denis's . nantild , the wife of dagobert . bertha , the wife of pepin . hermintrude , the wife of charles the bald. constance , the wife of robert. margaret , the wife of st. lewis . isabel , the wife of philip iii. joane of eureux , the wife of charles iv. joane , the wife of philip vi. joane , queen of navarre . joane , wife of charles vi. marie , wife of charles vii . clandia , wife of francis i. blanch , second wife of philip vi. ann of bretaigne , wife of lewis xii . catherine de medicis , wife of hen. ii. margaret , queen of navarre . mary de medicis , wife of hen. iv. ann of austria , wife of lewis xiii . henrietta maria , queen of england . mary teresa of austria , wife of lewis xiv . and , marie ann , christina , victoria , dauphiness of france , who deceas'd in 1690. i do not here insert the tombs of the children of france , nor those of the princes and princesses of the blood , nor of those of the bodies of the saints that lye in this church , for fear of being too tedious ; believing moreover , that the reader will take more delight to peruse the following inventory of the most remarkable things that are to be seen in the treasury of st. denis's , which makes so great a noise in the world , and which alone draws thither such an infinite number of forreigners . before i ascend into the room wherein this treasure is lockt up , there is to be seen above the chief altar , a cross of gold seven foot high , enrich'd with pretious stones and oriental pearl . a table of gold five foot long , and three foot high , in the middle of which is to be seen our saviour in relief , together with six apostles and four angels , the whole of gold , enrich'd with pretious stones and oriental pearls , a sea agate , a topaze , and two admirable grenates . another cross of gold six foot high , adorn'd with pretious stones . so soon as you come into the great room , entring in upon the right , you meet with in the first cup-board or press , a great cross of massy gold cover'd with rubies , saphirs , emeraulds , and oriental pearls ; and under the croison , a piece of wood , which as they say , is a piece of the real cross , about a foot and a half long . a shrine of gold enclosing a crucifix made of the same wood , by the hands of clement iii. the oratory of philip the august , enrich'd with an infinite number of pretious stones , which encloses thirty four sorts of reliques ; among which are reck'nd one of the thorns of our saviour's crown ▪ the spunge , with which they gave him vinegar and gall ; a piece of his garment ; a viol full of the blood and water which issu'd from his side ; and some of the myrrh which the magi offer'd . one of the nails , with which our saviour was fasten'd to the cross . and image of the holy virgin ▪ gilt and enamell'd , which holds in one hand a shrine containing her own hair , and some pieces of her garments . another of the same , holding another casket , wherein are preserv'd the linnen made use of in burying our saviour . an image of the same metal of st. john the evangelist , with one of his teeth . a shrine of gold , containing as they assure us , the bones of several saints . an arm-bone of st. eustachius . such another bone of st. simeon in a shrine of gold enchac'd with pretious stone . one of the pitchers of cana in galilee . the two crowns made use of at the coronation of hen. iv. one of which is of gold , the other enamell'd . the scepter , and the hand of justice in silver , of the same king. this hand of justice , is a hand at the top of a rod , held by the king as a mark of soveraignty . two costly mitres of abbots ; one of which is adorn'd with an embellishment of pretious stones upon a ground of pearls . a fair crosier , once an abbots , and a battoon of silver gilt , enrich'd with pretious stones . in the second press or ambrie . an enamell'd image of st. hilary , enrich'd with pretious stones and pearls . a great cross of massy gold , enrich'd with grenates , saphirs and pearls . a shrine of silver gilt , with a finger flesh and bone , of st. bartholomew . another of the same , with the shoulder bone , as they say , of john the baptist . a cross silver gilt , with a piece of the real cross . an image silver gilt of st. denis of areopagus . another of the same of st. nicholas . another of the same of st. katherine . an eye of st. leger , bishop of autun . a shrine silver gilt , enclosing the reliques of the prophet isaiah . another of the same , with a bone of st. pantaleon . another of chrystal , with the hair and garments of st. margerie . another of silver , containing the leprosie which christ took from the leper mention'd in the gospel . an eagle of gold enrich'd with pretious stones , which serv'd for a clasp for k. dagobert's cloak . dagobert's scepter of gold enamell'd . an oriental jacinth . the two crowns of lewis xiii . the one of gold , the other enamell'd . an enamell'd crown made use of at the funeral pomp of ann of austria . an image of our lady in ivory , enrich'd with pretious stones . a missal in manuscript , the cover of which is enrich'd with plates of gold. a manuscript of the four evangelists , written above eleven hundred years ago , in letters of gold and silver , upon purple vellum . in the third ambrie . the head of st. denis enrich'd with pretious stones : his cross of wood all cover'd with gold and precious stones , as also his travelling stick . the right hand , flesh and bone , of the apostle st. thomas , in a shrine of gold , enrich'd with pearls , rubies , and great pearls . an enamell'd shrine , where through a christal you see the lower chap of st. lewis . the crown of the same st. lewis , of massy gold , beset with pretious stones . a seal of gold with a saphir stone , wherein his image is engrav'd with these letters , s. l. a sword which he brought in his first expedition from the holy land. a wooden cup of tamarisk wherein he drank . a shrine which he carried along with him in his expeditions , with a bone of st. denis . his hand of justice , of silver gilt . the clasp of his cloak of the same , beset with pretious stones . a chalice of oriental agate , with a great number of pretious stones . the effigies of the queen of sheba upon a brouch of agate . a gondola of agate and onyx . the two crowns of lewis xiv . the one of gold , the other enamell'd . in the fourth ambrie . a great image , silver gilt of st. benedict , extreamly rich. a great cross of massy gold , cover'd with pearl , and enrich'd with large saphirs . the oratory of charlemain , all of gold , where the multitudes of saphirs , emraulds , agates , and oriental pearls that glitter in it , vastly enhaunce the price of it . this oratory preserves an arm of st. george . the crown of charlemain , all of gold , and embellish'd like the oratory . this crown is carry'd to reims , at the coronation of our kings ; with the scepter , the hand of justice , the spurs , the clasp for the mantle ▪ the book of ceremonies , and prayers for the coronation . all the ornaments are of that richness as befits the use which is made of ' em . the crown of gold that joane of eureux were , enrich'd with rubies , saphirs and pearl , serves for the coronation of the queens that is perform'd at st. denis . several vessels of gold , chrystal , and other materials very rich. the portraiture of nero upon an agate ; which is look'd upon as one of the noblest pieces of curiosity in the treasury . in other cupboards in general . there are moreover four other ambries , which do not contain such vast wealth , but only reliques or antiquities ; of which these are the most considerable . an enamell'd shrine , embellish'd with pretious stones , wherein lyes the body of st. lewis . judas's lanthorn ; the sword of the maid of orlean's ; a unicorn's horn , seven foot long ; and a stool of copper , which , as they say , was dagobert's throne . beside all these things of which i have given you a catalogue , there are several other things very remarkable , which i insert not here , for fear of being tedious ; and therefore to conclude this chapter , i shall only inform the reader , that the monks who shew the treasury , very distinctly give an accompt of every thing , and tell you the time and the occasion that all these curiosities were brought to this place . chap. xxiii . of normandy , and the country of maine . normandy is a very fair large province of france , with the title of a dukedom , bounded eastward by the island of france and picardy ; by the ocean to the north ; by bretagne to the west , and beausse and le maine to the south . the length of it is seventy two leagues ( de la croix says 73. from aumale to the coast of courantin ) and thirty in breadth ( 37. says de la croix from alenson to the city of eu ) . the name of it is absolutely german ; for noort-man , signifies a man of the north : so that the name it bears was given it by the people of the north , that pipirated upon the seas , and afterwards settl'd themselves in normandy , and ravag'd the country to the very walls of paris . william the norman laid claim to england , and invading it under pretence of title , his successors kings of england , became masters of normandy . but philip the august united it to the crown of france , & charles the seventh expell'd the english . this province being the most northern part of the kingdom is also the goldest . it is divided into upper and lower . it abounds in all sorts of fruit , especially pears and apples , of which they make cider , and which serves 'em instead of wine ; for wine they have none but what they fetch from the neighbouring provinces . as for corn , it produces more then suffices the inhabitants . the dyers also have their madder and woad from thence . the humour of the common people does 'em no great credit : they are look'd upon to have more defects then perfections . the normans are accus'd to be very cholerick , litigious upon every trifle , and not to be too great slaves to their words , when their interest is concern'd . so then , when you deal with a norman , the first question is , whether he will insist upon the privileges of the country ; that is to say , whether he will go from his word , when the bargain is concluded . and therefore when a man has fail'd of his word , 't is a common thing to say , he is a norman . but the gentry and persons well educated , who have a share of honour , are to be excepted out of this number . moreover , they have as great an antipathy against the bretons , as the bretons have against them . rouen is the principal city of normandy , dignify'd with an archbishop's see , and the seat of a parliament , a chamber of accompts , an audit of the treasurers of france , a chamber of money and a presidial court. the parliament had that name given it first of all by francis i. in 1515. whereas before it was call'd the court of exchequer , founded by philip the fair in 1286. this city is seated upon the banks of the river seine , on the one side , on the other in a valley environ'd with hills thick spread with wood. from the east come little rivers , which run through the town , keep the streets clean , and after they have turn'd several mills , fall into the seine . but the nearness of it to the sea , is that which makes it a town of great trade when commerce is open . among those things which it has most remarkable , we are to admire the bridge of boats over the seine , two hundred and seventy paces in length . for though it be all pav'd , and appear as firm as a bridge of stone ; yet it rises and sinks according to the ebbing and flowing of the sea. this bridge was made to supply the want of another stone bridge of 15 arches that was ruin'd , and was accompted one of the fairest bridges in france . the castle is fortified with eleven great towers , which all vessels outward or inward bound , are engag'd to salute with three guns at a time . the fortifications are regular and of good defence . the cathedral is consecrated to the holy virgin ; wherein are to be seen several mausoleum's of the dukes of normandy , with a treasury in the vestry ; which was much more considerable before the huguenots plunder's it during the civil wars of the last age. there are three towers that serve instead of a steeple ; one of which is so high , that you must ascend five hundred and fifty steps , before you come at the great bell , which is call'd george d' amboise , by reason it was made by the order of the cardinal d' amboise . over the portal of this cathedral is to be seen a triumphal arch , where henry iv. is represented chasing the lions and the wolves out of his sheep-fold ; the league enchain'd and gnawing her chains ; and the king of spain beholding all these trophies with a pensive and melancholy look . there are very fair structures at rouen , as well sacred as prophane , which are marks of her antiquity , and strangers always go to see the place where the english burnt the maid of orleance . normandy is blest with several other good ports ; as that of st. valeri , which is a very commodious haven . but diepe is much the stronger . this city is seated at the foot of the mountains from whence the river of arques takes its rise ; which separates the suburbs from the city . the castle of pollet commands the haven , and a cittadel defends the other side of the town . the streets are large , adorn'd with several churches and market-places . the haven brings it a good trade , and the seamen have gain'd a reputation in the world ; for that the best sea-compasses , and the most exact quadrants , are there said to be made . the inhabitants also were the first that wrought in ivory and tortoise-shell . they are also excellent and very quick at the riming exercises , call'd jeux floraux , where the best doer is rewarded with an eglantine , the second with a marigold in silver ; which sports are usual in this town at christmas , and the festival of the assumption . havre de grace is also a considerable sea town , situated at the mouth of the river seine , and is lookt upon to be one of the havens in france , upon st. george's channel . francis i. began to fortifie it ; but the huguenots having seiz'd it , deliver'd it up to the english in 1562. from whom charles ix . retook it ; lewis xiii . added a cittadel to it , flank'd with four bastions : but lewis xiv . compleated the work , and has made it impregnable by regular fortifications . in times of peace with england and holland , it drives a great trade . evreux is a very ancient city , dignify'd with a bishop's see , a bailliage and a presidial court , and adorn'd with a good number of churches and religious houses ; among which , the abbies of st. thurin , and st. saviour are very remarkable . several princes of the blood , and other great lords , have been counts of evreux ; and it is said , that walter and robert d' evreux earls of essex in england , came originally from this place . caen , seated upon the river orne , is not so famous for the antiquity of it , as for the privileges and variety of tribunals that it enjoys . for it is dignify'd with a presidial court , a bailliage , an election , a generality , an audit of the finances , and a university for the civil and canon law there founded in 1411. by hen. vi. king of england . it has had the same fate with other cities of normandy , as having suffer'd very much during the troubles that shook the french monarchy in the 16th age. however the town-house built upon st. peter's bridge is a noble structure adorn'd with four large towers . the people boast of their fidelity to their prince , for which reason they are permitted to bear the three flower-de-luces in their arms. william the norman king of england , lyes buried in st. stephen's abby , which was one of his own foundations . mount st. michael , is a town built at the foot of a mountain , on the top of which stands a church and an abby consecrated to st. michael the arch-angel . for the story goes , that in the year 708. st. michael appear'd to aubert bishop of avranches , and told him , 't was the will of god that a church should be built upon the hill , and dedicated to him in particular . upon the same mount stands also a very fair castle . the flowing in of the sea makes a perfect island of it , covering for near a league together all the land between the mount and the firm land ; which the ebb soon after leaves dry agen . nevertheless , they who travel thither , must be very exact in observing the time of the motion of the water ; for if they should be surpriz'd in that sandy plain , they would run the risque of being drown'd ; which many times falls out . this place is famous for the resort of pilgrims to st. michael ; and for the sand of which they make salt , by straining the sea-water through it . in 966 , richard i founded the abby of the benedictins , and his son richard ii. finish'd the church . maine is a province dignify'd with the title of a dutchy , border'd by normandy to the north ; by perche , vendomois and la beausse to the east ; bretagne to the west ; and by tourain and anjou to the south . this province is fruitful in wine , corn , fruit and cattle ; and has some iron mines . the same defects are attributed to the manceaux , as to the normans : and as to their exactness in keeping their words , it is become a proverb , that a manceau is worth a norman and a half . the capital city of this province is mans , seated upon the banks of the river sarte , dignify'd with a presidial court and a bishop's see. this city is very ancient , and is thought to have been one of the most considerable cities of the gauls in the time of charlemagne . it is said to have been built by sarthon , grandchild to samothes king of the gauls ; but being destroy'd by the druids and the sarrhonides , it was repair'd by le mant , k. of the gauls ; who gave it his own name . but however it were , there is nothing now remaining but only some few ruins of what formerly render'd it so famous . chap. xxiv . of picardy . picardy is a very large province , having champagne to the east ; the island of france to the south ; normandy and part of mance or the ocean to the west ; artois and flanders to the north. it is fertile in corn and fruits . but as for the people , 't is said they are generally hot-headed , and being apt to take snuff upon every trifle , men are willing to avoid their company for fear of running themselves into quarrels that are often attended with fatal consequences . amiens upon the somme dignify'd with a bishoprick , a presidial court , a bailliage and a generality , is the capital city of picardy , and has been taken several times in the preceding wars : among the rest , the spaniards took it with a bag of nuts in the month of march 1597. as the learned m. hardouin , formerly tutor to the king , informs us in his history of henry the great : for the spaniards , then masters of artois , understanding that amiens was only guarded by the citizens , laid a design to surprize it . to which purpose , by the favour of the night , they laid a party of souldiers in ambuscado near the city ; and so soon as the gates were open'd , they order'd other souldiers , in the habit of peasants , to drive several carts to market ; of which one being laden with nuts , they let a sack fall , as if it had been by accident , in the gate ; upon which the nuts tumbling out , and the guards being no less busie upon the scramble , the suppos'd peasants stopp'd up the gate with their carts , while the spaniards that lay in ambush advanc'd and seiz'd upon the city . but they did not keep it long ; for hen. iv. retook it by main force within a few months after ; and built a cittadel to secure it for the future from the like mischances . there is now to be seen upon one of the gates this distich . amiens was taken by fox-like craft , and retaken by lion-like force . the cathedral is a noble structure ; the body of the church being lookt upon to be the most beautiful in the whole kingdom . it is dedicated to the holy virgin ; and the treasury that belongs to it is very rich ; where among other things is preserv'd the head of john the baptist in a shrine set all with pretious stones , and brought from constantinople by one vallon de sarton , a gentleman of picardy . the pillars , the quire , the chappels , the tombs , the paintings , the place for the singing men , the portal , over which are two great towers adorn'd with above a thousand statues , are all admir'd by travellers . in ancient time , caesar made it a magazine for his army ; and held an assembly of the gauls in this city . the emperor antoninus and m ▪ aurelius , his son , much enlarg'd it ; and the emperors constantine , constans , julian , valentinian , valens , gratian and theodosius made choice of it for the place of their residence among the gauls . queen isabel of bavaria , settl'd a parlament in this city ; but now the bishop , the vidame and the bailli are chief in authority next the king. the other principal cities of picardy are soissons , laon and noyen , all three episcopal sees . for the last of which the huguenots have a great veneration , as being the place of calvin's nativity . corbie , is a place of strength surpriz'd by the spaniards in 1636. but soon after regain'd by the french. and the story goes , that being press'd by the k. of france's army , the spaniards wrote to prince thomas , then general of the spanish army in these words , fiat misericordia tua , domine , super nos , quemadmodum speravimus in te , let thy mercy be shewn us , lord , as we have , put our trust in thee . senlis is also an episcopal city , with a presidial court. in the parts adjoyning to it , stand several stately houses of pleasure ; as vernueil , chantilli , dreux and anet ; which is a palace becoming the residence of a king , and whither the dauphin often retires for the pastime of hunting ▪ among the wonders of this castle , great observation is to be taken of the clock . for when it is ready to strike , you shall see about fifteen or eighteen hounds of brass come out and open with a full cry ; after which , follows a stag of the same metal , bigger then the life , and strikes the hour with his foot. usually bourbonnois and the county of oie is joyn'd to picardy . the first owns boulogne for the capital city ; the other calais . boulogne is seated upon the streight of calais ; being a bishop's see , with a county and a bailliage . the cathedral church is consecrated to our lady ; and to which the kings of france , at their first coming to the crown , are by custom oblig'd to offer a heart of massy gold , weighing 2000 crowns . lewis xi . was so devoted to the holy virgin , that he would needs have the count of artois hold of our lady of boulogne and not of him . in 1544. the english besieg'd and took it , but it was restor'd again to the french , by the peace concluded in 1550. calais is a town seated upon the narrowest part of the streight between england and france , built in a triangular form , defended by a good castle , having no access to it from the land , but over a causey that crosses a great marsh or fenn ; and you must have the permission of the garrison of risban to enter the port. the most remarkable things in this town are the two towers , the altar of the great church , the rich tabernacle , and the stately domo . it was tak'n by edward iii. of england , and remain'd in possession of the english 210 years , till the reign of queen mary . history observes , that when the french had expell'd the english , one of the duke of guise's officers cry'd to an english man in a jeering manner , when will you come agen ? to whom the other reply'd , when the measure of your sins is full , and that we are less wicked then you . intimating thereby , that the english would never set foot there agen , so long as the french nation ▪ continu'd well united to their head. abbeville , seated upon the river somme , is one of the strongest and most important places of france . she has all along preserv'd her privileges , and is call'd the faithful and the maiden ; because she was never taken . the somme brings up barks to the very middle of the town . chap. xxv . champaigne , dignify'd with the title of an earldom , is bounded by lorrain and part of franche conté ; to the west it has picardy and the island of france ; burgundy to the south , and hainault and luxemburgh to the north. the extent of it from north to south is 70 leagues ( 67 says de la croix ) that is to say , from ravieres to rocroy ; and from west to south-east 47 leagues . it abounds in corn and cattel ; and the wine which it produces , is extreamly desir'd at the tables of princes and great lords . the champenois are somewhat opinionated ; nevertheless , they are irreconcileable enemies of libertinism and impiety . rheimes , the capital city of this fair province may vaunt it self to be one of the fairest and most famous in the kingdom . for her archbishop has the advantage of being the first duke and peer of france . the cathedral of this city is dedicated to our lady , adorn'd with the most noble front of any cathedral in france , and the most admir'd for the architecture , the figures and base reliefs that render it so gorgeous . in this church it is that the archbishop of rheims crowns the kings of france with the holy oil , sent from heaven to crown clovis i. the first king of france . the antiquity of it appears by the inscriptions of the names of the pagan deities upon the gates , and caesar's fort close by the city ; which is also the seat of a presidial court , a bailliage , and a university founded by charles of lorrain , archbishop of the city by the permission of hen. ii. and the approbation of paul iii. chalon's may pass for the second city of champaigne for the beauty of the streets , market-places , and buildings , and the antiquity of it ; for that in the time of julian the apostate , it was look'd upon as one of the principal cities of belgick gaul . the cathedral is remarkable for the tower that adorns it very large and very high . there is also in this city a generality and a presidial court. troyes is another very fair city , and very ancient , with a presidial seat and a bailliage . the cathedral is consecrated to st. peter , wherein are preserv'd many pretious curiosities . among the rest , they pretend to shew yee some locks of christ's hair ; one of the dishes made use of at the last supper ; a tooth of st. peter's ; and the body of st. helena , which still appears to be fresh . charleville has this peculiar to it , that though the duke of mantua be soveraign lord of the city ; yet the gates , the walls , and the castle of mount olympus belong to the king of france . sens , seated upon the confluence of the seine and the yonne , is the seat of an archbishop ; and a city both large , beautiful and very ancient . the cathedral of st. stephens is very remarkable for the front of it , adorn'd with variety of figures , and two stately towers ; for the largeness of the body of the church , for the richness of the chappels , the antiquity of the tombs , the base of the cheif altar ; where is to be seen upon a table of gold , enrich'd with a great number of pretious stones , a representation of the four evangelists ; and in the middle , a st. steven kneeling . to this city also belongs a presidial court , and a bailliage . there are several other cities in this province of champaign , as langres , auxerre , &c. of which i omit to say any thing in particular , in regard i never propos'd to my self to make a particular description of all the cities of france , designing only an account of what is most worthy the curious view of a traveller . chap. xxvi . in regard our monarch has united the dutchy of lorrain to his crown , whether by right of conquest , or by vertue of a donation and resignation which charles iii. made to his majesty in 1662 , i find my self bound to add in this place a short description of it . it is bounded by champaigne to the west , by luxemburgh to the north , by the rhine to the east , and by burgundy to the south . it extends it self forty leagues from east to west , and as many from south to north. it was the allotment that fell to lothair , who gave it his name , and the germans still call it luttheringe . the people have been always accompted warlike , and at this day the lorrainers are look'd upon to be good souldiers . nanci , seated in the middle of a plain , with a chamber of accompts , and a seneschalship , is the chief city of lorrain ; where formerly the dukes kept their courts . the city of metz is very ancient , as being formerly the capital of the medromatrices ; it is the seat of a bishop , and lewis xiii . honour'd it with a parlament in 1633 , which renders it the most considerable of any in the whole province . the cathedral is consecrated to st. stephen , where there is to be seen a vessel of red porphyrie , all of one piece , above ten foot long , wherein the holy water is put . this province abounds in all sorts of cattle ; and is furnish'd with salt-pits . it affords also mines of iron and lead ; and at the foot of the mountain volege , the people find pearls , azure stones , and materials for good looking-glasses . toul & verdune are also both bishopricks . and this is all i have at present to say of lorrain . for as for the conquer'd countries , i have a design , god willing , to treat of 'em in a particular volume , under the title of the conquests of lewis the great . i shall only observe , that under the conquer'd countries , i comprehend artois , luxemburg , hainault , the county of namur , and part of flanders ; of which the principal cities are arras , cambrai , tournai , douai , valenciennes , lisle , dunkirk , luxemburgh , mons and namur ; all which impregnanable places are in the hands of the french. the end of the first tome . books printed for henry rhodes , next bride lane in fleet-street . 1. letters writ by a turkish spy , who lived five and forty years undiscovered at paris : giving an impartial account to the divan at constantinople , of the most remarkable transactions of europe , and discovering several intrigues , and secrets of the christian courts , especially that of france , from the year 1637 , to the year 1682. written originally in arabick , first translated into italian , afterwards into french , and now into english : five volumes already done in twelves . 2. the comical history of the states and empires of the worlds of the moon and sun ▪ written in french by cyrano bergerac , newly done into english : in octavo . 3. thesaurus chirurgiae : the chirurgical and anatomical works of paul barbette , m. d composed according to the circulation of the blood ; with a treatise of the plague . illustrated with observations , done into english ; the fourth 〈◊〉 to which is added . the chirurgion's chest , with instruments , and medicines . illustrated with copper plates 〈…〉 a treatise of diseases , attending 〈…〉 fleets : in octavo . 4. the whole duty of a communicant , being rules and directions for the worthy receiving the most holy sacrament of the lord's supper . with meditations and prayers for every morning and evening throughout the week : also some useful directions 〈◊〉 considerations in order to a holy life , after 〈◊〉 have received the blessed communion . by the reverend john gauden , late bishop of exeter . the fifth edition , in twelves ; price 1 s. books printed for h rhodes in fleet street , and j. harris in the poultry . 1. memoirs for the ingenious : containing several curious observations in philosophy , mathematicks , physick , history , philology , and other arts and sciences ; in miscellaneous letters . by j. de la crose . e. a. p. january , 1693. to be continued monthly . vol. 1st . price 6 d. 2. the present court of spain : or , modern gallantry of the spanish nobility unfolded . in several histories and seventy five letters from the enamour'd teresa , to her beloved the marquis of mansera . by the ingenious lady — author of the memoirs and travels into spain . done into english , by j. p. 〈…〉 triumph royal : containing , a short 〈…〉 the most remarkable battels , sieges , sea-fights , treaties , & famous atchievements of the princes of the house of nassau , &c. describ'd in the triumphal arches , pyramids , pictures , inscriptions and devices ; erected at the hague , in honour of william iii. k. of england , &c. curiously engraven in 62 figures , on copper-plates , with their history ; an elaborate piece of curiosity . first done in dutch , then into french , and now into english . dedicated to her majesty , in octavo . price 4 s. 4. the present condition of france , in reference to her revenues ; comparing them with the infinite expences she is forc'd to be at ; demonstrating thereby , that it is impossible for her to support her self , if the war with the confederates continues . done out of french. price 6 d. books printed for john harris at the harrow in the poultry . 1. medicina practica : or , practical physick . shewing the method of curing the most usual diseases happening to humane bodies , &c. to which is added , the philosophick works of hermes trismegistus , kalid persicus , geber arabs , artefius longaevus , nicholas flammel , roger bachon , and george ripley . all translated out of the best latin editions into english ; and carefully claused , or divided into chapters , and sections , for the more pleasant reading , and easier understanding of those authors . together with a singular comment upon the first book of hermes , the most ancient of philosophers . the whole compleated in three books . by william salmon , professor of physick . price 5 s. 2. angliae metropolis : or , the present state of london : with memorials comprehending a full and succinct account of the ancient and modern state thereof . it s original , government , rights , liberties , charters , trade , customs , priviledges , and other remarkables , &c. first written by the late ingenious tho. delaune gent. and continu'd to this present year by a careful hand . price 2 s. 6 d. 3. the treasury of drugs vnlook'd : or , a full and true description of all sorts of drugs , and chymical preparations , sold by druggists . whereby you may know the place of their growth , and from whence they come , and how to distinguish the good from the bad. very useful for all gentlemen , merchants , druggists , doctors , apothecaries , chirurgeons , and their apprentices . as also for all travellers , sea-men , custom-house officers , and all others that either traffick in them , or make any use of them , or those that import or deliver any of 'em at the water-side . giving a true account of all those that are prohibited , and those that are not , whereby many needless disputes and law suits may be prevented . the whole work alphabetically digested , with a compleat catalogue of all drugs , &c. by jo. jacob berlu of london , merchant in drugs . price 1 s. 4. the revelation vnveiled : or , an essay discovering , 1. when many scripture prophesies had their accomplishment , and turned into history . 2. what are now fulfilling . 3. what rest still to be fulfilled , with a guess at the time of them . with an appendix , proving , that pagan rome was not babylon , rev. 17. and that the jews shall be converted . by samuel petto , minister of the gospel at sudbury in suffolk . price 1 s. 6 d. the third volume of historical travels over europe , containing the most select curiosities of italy , the various constitutions of government under several sovereign princes and states ; their strength , their riches and revenues ; the sundry customs , manners , coyns , and trade of the people . together with a particular description of the city of rome , the conclave , the election of the pope , and promotion of the cardinals . accompany'd with a great number of remarks never yet before imparted to the world. done out of french. london , printed for hen. rhodes , at the star , the corner of bride-lane in fleetstreet . 1694. to the reader . 't is very true that several have set forth descriptions of italy ; but 't is no wonder that all geographers should be ambitious of making their court to a country that was once the mistress of the world. the author is also very brief , i must confess ; but many timas succinct manuals are better companions for a gentleman , then large volumes : they will go by water with him , and ride in his coach , where weighty folio's would be too cumbersomo and unweildy . besides , the author himself assures ye , that though he has not been so tedious as others , yet that you shall meet in the succeeding few chapters , not only with novelties , which are pleasing to all men , but with an infinite number of most curious remarks , which never yet before were committed to the press ; and which were the observations of a great and learned cardinal in some particulars , and as to others of an eminent person , who by means of his publick employments , and his long residence in the courts of several princes of italy , had gain'd a peculiar and perfect knowledge of the country : a great argument of the truth of what is offer'd to your view ; that there is much in a little , and all clean from fabulous report : now then , after these encouragements to heighten your curiosity , i think it not convenient to add any more , for fear of putting a long epistle before a little book . historical travels over europe . italy . chap. i. of italy in general . althô above fourscore authors have wrote the description of italy , nevertheless it is not known from whence it derives its name . some deduce it from oxen or bulls , which in the ancient obsolete greek were called itali ; and for the feeding of which , italy was then in high repute others will have it so called from one italus , one of the first kings of the country . it formerly bore the names of saturnia , ausonia , oenopia , and hesperia , which it receiv'd from several princes and renowned captains that regin'd therein at several times . this part of europe is seated in the middle of the temperate zone , between the 28th degree and a half and the 42d and a half of longitude , and between the 37th degree and a half and 48th and a half of latitude . it is bounded to the north by a ridge of mountains called the alpes , which separate it from germany and switzerland ; to the west , by the alpes also and the river var , which divides it from france and savoy ; to the east , by the mediterranean sea , otherwise call'd the adriatic sea , or the golph of venice ; and to the south , by the tyrrhene or tuscan sea. where it is longest , to take it from the frontiers of savoy , to the farthest extremity of the kingdom of naples , it extends it self about 280 french leagues , or 450 italian miles . but the breadth of it is not all alike , sometimes 30 , in other places 40 , 60 , 80 , and 100 french leagues , resembling a boot , that seems to kick at sicily , to force it into africa . most geographers divide italy into four parts ; the first comprehends the ancient lombardy , wherein are contain'd , the states or dominions of the dukes of savoy , mantua , parma , modena , milanois , the republic of venice , genoa , and some other petty principalities . the second includes the ecclesiastical state , and tuscany . the third , the kingdom of naples . and the fourth , the islands of sardigna , sicily , corsica , &c. the air is very wholsome and very temperate over all italy , except in the ecclesiastical state , where certain malignant fevers are very rife , and were much more frequent before the use of ice in summer to cool their drink . italy produces in great plenty whatever is necessary for the support of human life ; as corn , oyl , oranges , citrons , pomegranates , with all sorts of fruits and flowers . there is to be found both sugar and cotton in the kingdom of naples ; besides great store of silkworms , very good horses and bufalo's . the mountains afford mines of sulphur , and several quarries of alablaster , and all sorts of marble . the principal rivers that water it , are the po , the adige , adda , arno , and tiber , which contribute not a little to the fertility of it , from whence it is call'd , the garden of europe . the highest mountains are the alpes , the apennine , which runs quite through the whole length of italy , mount masso , mount barboro , vesuvius , and mount gibello . 't is said , the italians are very wicked , or very honest and virtuous . the people are generally polite , obliging , quick of apprehension , ingenious , crafty , eloquent , politic , and want not worth , when they have once rid themselves of a certain reservedness , which frequently begets 'em the epithete of knaves . these good qualities are accompanied with some bad ones , to which they are a little too much enclined : for they are jealous , quick of their promises , slow to perform ; but above all , revengeful ; insomuch that many times revenge descends from family to family . the italian language is a kind of adulterated latin , which the goths , huns , vandals , lombards , and other people inhabiting italy , have much corrupted : nor do they speak it equally polite in all parts of the kingdom . it is more refined in tuscany then any where else : but the tuscans do not pronounce it so well as the romans ; which is the reason of the italian proverb , lingua tuscana in bucca romana . and it is observed , that the italians speak in the throat , the venetians in the roof of the mouth , the neapolitans between the teeth , and the genoeses between the lips. the roman apostolic religion , is the only religion allowed over all the states of italy , wherein , for the preservation of it , there are several tribunals of the inquisition erected ; not but that there are great numbers of lutherans and calvenists settl'd upon the sea-coasts , drawn thither by the conveniency of trade : and thô the magistrates know that they are departed from the church , yet 't is their interest to take no cognizance of it . the jews enjoy much more freedom , and have their synagogues even in rome it self , upon the payment of an annual tribute . there are also greeks and armenians in some cities , who perform their church worship according to the customs of their country . history informs us , that after the foundation of rome , italy was govern'd by kings for the space of 245 years , and that tarquin the proud was the last of her kings . that afterwards the romans erected themselves into a commonwealth , which , under the conduct of consuls and senarors , acquir'd immortal honour , as well for their policy , as for an infinite number of victories which they obtain'd over their enemies . that commonwealth lasted till the 706th year of rome , at what time julius caesar was proclaim'd emperor , and extended the roman empire in all the three parts of the world which were then known ; for america was not discover'd in those days . after this empire had mounted to the highest period of its grandeur , it declin'd in such a manner , that it has left us a memorable example of the instability and fleeting condition of all earthly grandeur . this formidable empire being fallen to decay , was dismember'd in the reign of honorius , who dy'd in the year of christ 423 , and 4176th after the foundation of rome . italy after this fell under the dominion of the emperors of constantinople , who sent thither their viceroys or governors under the title of exarchs , who kept their court at ravenna . but that government , which began in the year of christ 568 , lasted not above 184 years , at what time those emperors were expell'd by the kings of lombardy . afterwards , the emperors of the west conquer'd italy ; and the kingdom of lombardy was quite extinguish'd in 774 , by charlemain , who made great presents to the holy see : that monarch , and the kings of france , his successors , being the only princes who rais'd the temporal power of the pope to that degree wherein we now behold it . this part of europe is at this day divided among several potentates . that is to say , the pope in the ecclesiastical state : the king of spain , who is of the house of austria , of the branch of burgundy , possesses the kingdoms of naples and sicily , the state of milan , and the island of sardigna . these two potentates are the most considerable in italy ; the next to them are , the republic of venice . the republic of genoa . the republic of luca. the grand duke of tuscany of the house of medici . the duke of savoy of the house of saxony . the duke of mantua of the house of gonzaga . the duke of parma of the house of farneze . the duke of modena of the house of d'este . there are many other sovereign princes who have power of life and death over their subjects , with absolute authority to make war and peace , and to coyn money ; but by reason of the small extent of their territories , are call'd the petty princes of italy . such are , the republic of st. marin . the bishop of trent . the duke of guastalla . the duke of sabionetta . the count of novelare . the prince of bozzolo . the duke of mirandola . the prince of monaco . the prince of massera . the prince of piombino . the duke of bracciano : and several others . all the states of these princes hold of the church , or of the emperor of germany . only the territories of the pope and the republic of venice are independent . 't is to be observ'd , that the states that hold of the church , devolve to it again , if the proprietors happen to die without issue male ; the daughters not being admitted to succeed their fathers . there are reckon'd to be in italy 68 principalities ; 95 dukedoms ; an infinite number of archbishoprics and bishoprics , and great store of universities ; of which the most famous are those of padua , venice , turin , pavia , siena , pisa , bologna , rome , ferrara , fermo , macerata , salerno , naples . the principal cities of italy , are rome , which is the metropolis of the whole country , term'd the holy ; next to that , naples the noble , florence the fair , genoa the proud , milan the great , ravenna the ancient , venice the rich , padua the learned , and bologna the fat. it remains that i should speak of some customs that are general in italy . in regard the coasts of italy upon the mediterranean sea are much infested by the pyrates of barbary , who often land there , and carry away the inhabitants in the country with the best of their goods , there are little forts built all along the coasts , about a mile distance one from another ; more especially upon the riviera di genoa , and upon the coasts of naples and sicily , where six men keep garrison with two pieces of cannon to prevent descents . these guards every night kindle one or two fires upon the neighbouring mountains . when there is but one , it is call'd a fire of assurance , as being a sign that no turkish brigantine has appear'd all that day . but if they kindle two some paces off one from another , 't is to give notice to the inhabitants to stand upon their guards , and that they have seen some pirates sounding where to get ashore . those fires they call fires of mistrust . the italians never tell the clock as other people of europe do . they begin to tell one at the close of the day ; so that the hours of noon and midnight alter higher or lower according to the seasons . for example , the 12th of august which we reckon to be noon in france , the italians count it 17 a clock , and 24 when the sun disappears . they keep a man at their principal clocks , who , when the clock has strook , with a hammer strikes as many times upon the same bell as the clock strook ; that if any one were mistaken in telling the first time , he may not fail to tell right the second . 't is also a usual thing to be robb'd upon the high way , more especially near any garrison towns ; but most of all in the territories of the king of spain . nor is there any trusting to the guards which are granted to those that desire 'em , because those guards many times share the booty with the thieves , who for the most part disguise themselves in the habit of pilgrims or hermits . neither wives nor maids stir out of doors unless it be to church , or at least very seldom ; and when they do , they are attended by some spy which their jealous parents or husbands send along with 'em to watch ' em . that sex never appears either in shops or markets ; for the men drive all the trade . marriages are usually celebrated by proxies ; and many times the man and the woman never see one another till they come before the priest to be married . when mass is said in italy , only the men rise up at the gospel . i could relate many more things of italy in general ; but i reserve 'em for the several chapters of each particular state , to which they more properly belong . chap. ii. of the states of the duke of savoy . the dukes of savoy descend from the house of saxony , one of the most ancient and most illustrious families of germany . 't is above a thousand years since that they have been in sovereign possession of piemont and savoy , and no less then five emperors and four kings have descended from it . the duke of savoy bears a crown fasten'd over his arms , ever since charlote de lusignan queen of jerusalem , cyprus and armenia , being driven out of her kingdom by her bastard brother , and flying for refuge to rome under the pontificate of sixtus iv. where she died in 1489 , bequeath'd all her pretensions to cyprus , in the presence of the pope and several cardinals , to charles duke of savoy her nephew . nevertheless , he is not address'd to by the title of majesty , but only of his royal highness , and perpetual vicar of the holy empire in italy . the duke of savoy , upon a stress of necessity , may be able to bring into the field about 30000 foot , and 5000 horse . his fixed revenue in time of peace amounts to six millions fourscore and eighteen thousand livres of piemont . but that livre not being worth above five french sols , that sum amounts to no more then to four millions five hundred forty three thousand six hundred livres of our money . althô the duke of savoy coins pistols , ducatoons , pieces of six sols , and other small money , however the pieces of france and spain go currant in his country . the french crowns go there for-seventy two sols , and the other pieces proportionably . but nothing is so much talk'd if in piemont as florins ; which is a chimerical sort of money like our livres of france , the florin not being worth above twelve sols , and the ducatoon goes in piemont for 84 sols . as for the manners of the savoyards and piemontois , the nobility are endow'd with all the qualities requir'd in persons of their rank . the people are laborious , and naturally very affable , good husbands , sober , and fit to undergo any sort of hardship ; but they have no great inclination to war. the dukes of savoy have always appear'd very zealous for the catholic religion , which has often induc'd 'em to make use of their power to constrain their subjects in the vallies of vaudois to return to the bosom of the church , from whence they departed in the last age. the duke now reigning is the only person that brought his design to pass , by forcing the most obstinate in their religion to leave their habitations , and to retire into switzerland and germany . but two years after , in 1689. he recall'd 'em to serve in his war against france , and permits 'em the free exercise of their religion . the government of savoy is purely monarchical ; and the salic law takes place there as well as in france , for the daughters never inherit the sovereignty . for want of male issue , the succession appertains to the next of kin to the duke , of the masculine line . savoy was erected into a dukedom by the emperor sigismund , in favour of amadeus , the 8th count of savoy . thô the country be altogether mountainous , yet it abounds in very fertile valleys . the principal cities in it are chamberi , nice . and villa franca , which are now reduc'd under the dominion of france , together with all the rest of the province , which is bounded to the north by the river rhine and the lake of geneva ; to the east , by switzerland and piemont ; to the south , by the dauphinate ; and to the west , by the rhine , which separates it from la bress and burgundy . piemont is another province of the states of savoy , so called from the situation of it at the foot of the alpes . the eldest sons of the princes of piemont bear the title of dukes of piemont . this province is much more fertile then savoy ; being bounded to the east by milanois and montferrat ; to the south , by the republic of genoa , and the county of nice ; by savoy and the dauphinate to the west ; and le velais to the north. turin is not only the capital city of piemont , but of all the duke's territories , where he also keops his court. it is seated in a fertile plain , between the rivers po , and doire . it is secur'd by a citadel with five good bastions , furnish'd with all things necessary for the defence of it . nevertheless the french took it , with an army far inferior to that of the spaniards who defended it . during the siege , the spaniards threw in powder , letters , &c. by the assistance of a mortar , invented by a fleming , which for that reason was call'd , the courier cannon . the city of turin is adorn'd with an archbishopric and a university , wherein all sciences are profess'd , and it boasts it self to be the first city of italy where printing was made use of . the chiefest curiosity in turin most worthy the observation of a traveller is the citadel , wherein there is a well to be admir'd for the largeness of it , and the conveniency of watering a great number of horses without any trouble ; for they ascend one way , and descend another . the ducal palace is magnificent for the furniture of it , as well for the winter as for the summer . among the rarities which are shewn to strangers , there is a chariot of massie gold , having six horses of the same metal spang'd to it , and enchas'd all over with precious stones . there is also a little castle of gold , with artillery and fortifications of the same metal . there is besides an engin , that carries her royal highness from her chamber to her baths , with a single pulley , by the favour of a counterpoise , and that with all the safety and ease imaginable . the cathedral church of turin is very stately ; wherein is kept the sacred sudary , in which the face and part of the body of our saviour are imprinted . they assure ye , that is the same wherein the saviour of the world was shrouded before he was laid in the sepulchre of arimathea , and that it was brought into savoy by the daughter of john king of cyprus and jerusalem , who marry'd lewis of savoy . but that which raises a greater contest is this , that they shew ye such another sudary at besanton , the capital of franche conte . they whose curiosity leads 'em to see the tomb of clement marot , the famous poet and valet de chambre to francis the first , will find it at turin . for that having been banish'd for his irregular life from the court of france , he went to geneva , from whence he was also expell'd for his loose living , and retiring to turin , died in 1544 , in the 60th year of his age. althô he understood neither hebrew , greek , nor latin , nevertheless he translated one part of david's psalms into french verse , which are sung by the protestants at this day , both in holland , germany , and switzerland . and notwithstanding that the more learned among them agree , that he observ'd little exactness , and that there are many versions much better , both for the sense and the poetry , yet marot's are still preferr'd before all others , perhaps because he was censur'd by the sorbon in the reign of francis the first . marot was born at cahors in querci , and after his death the following epitaph was made upon him : querci , the court , piemont and all the earth , bred , fed , enterr'd me , knew my worth. querci my love , the court had all my time , piemont my bones , and all the earth my rhime . the duke has also several houses of pleasure in the parts adjoyning to turin , of which the chiefest are parc , valentin , and mille fleurs ; but they have all suffer'd very much through the violences of the war , as well as the rest of piemont . suza is one of the principal cities of piemont , by the romans call'd segusium , which was one of pompey's colonies , who was the first that open'd the passage of mount genevre . it has undergone however several calamities upon several occasions . history informs us that constantine the great caus'd it to be plunder'd and then burnt . in a second conflagration which it suffer'd through the provok'd fury of the emperor frederick barbarossa , all the records and rolls of the house of savoy were consum'd . this city is considerable for the situation of it , in regard it shuts up one of the principal inlets of france into italy however the french have forc'd it several times ; more especially at the beginning of this age , though the duke of savoy had rais'd a dozen barricado's in the defiles , which defended one another ; and in our time the king's armies clear'd their way through it , and are still in possession of it . there are still to be seen at suza very fair remains of a triumphal arch , which some say was erected by the goths , others by the romans ; though others are of opinion that they are the ruines of the trophies rear'd by the emperor augustus 740 years after the building of rome , and 14 before the birth of our saviour . nice is the capital city of a county of the same name , which was formerly included within provence , and which amadeus the seventh usurp'd from joan countess of provence , at the same time that she was busi'd in pacifying the troubles of naples . to palliate which usurpation , the dukes of savoy alledge , that ioland , the mother and nurse of lewis the third , count of provence , and king of naples , surrendred that county to amadeus of savoy in 1419 , in compensation for the sum of 160000 livres , which he pretended to be due to him from his pupil . but besides that that sum was never due , nor a sufficient equivalent giv'n for that county , ioland had no power to grant away the territories of her son , thô the duke's pretensions had been just . however it were , both the city and the county are now in the hands of the french ; catinat making himself master of the cities of nice and villa franca at the beginning of the year 1691. the city of nice was founded by the inhabitants of marseilles , who made it one of their colonies : and it was enlarg'd out of the ruins of cemella , the bishopric of which place was translated to nice , it is a town of great trade , wherein are still to be seen some remainders of an amphitheatre erected in honour of the romans , and some footsteps of a temple of pluto , and another dedicated to juno . the citadel is built upon a steep rock , and is look'd upon as one of the strongest forts in europe . the turks besieg'd it in the year 1543 , but were forc'd to leave it . the cathedral church is dedicated to st. repareus . the cities of chamberi , montmelian , and villa franca , together with the cities of casal and pignerol , are already described in the sixth chapter of the first volume of these voyages . chap. iii. the state of milan . milanois is a province of italy with the title of a dukedom , seated in the most beautiful country of all lombardy . the soyl is so fertile in corn , wine , and all manner of fruits , that it bears twice a year . the high-ways are all drawn in a line , with a canal of running water on each side , which , besides the ornament of it , serves for the transportation of goods and merchandize from the adjoyning countries . the goodness and fertility of the country procur'd it formerly the envy of many , and made it the seat of cruel wars . the revenues of it in time of peace may amount to two millions and four hundred thousand crowns ; which sum is advanc'd a third part in time of war. this state is so numerously peopl'd , that in case of necessity it is able to bring above 50000 men into the field . nevertheless , the king of spain is so ill serv'd , that the officers only make the benefit of the revenue , and his catholick majesty is constrain'd to send considerable sums for the payment of 20000 men which he maintains in the country . besides the spanish money , and the genoese coyn that goes currant in milanois , the mint sends forth also philipins , ducatoons , creusons , parbayolles , and sesins . a philipin contains the value of 6 livres 6 sols of the country ; the ducatoon , 7 livres ; the creuson , 5 livres 10 sols ; the parbayolle , 2 sols and a half , or 5 sesins , which is a small copper coyn , two of which make a sol. the milanois livre is worth about 10 sols of france . milan , an archiepiscopal city , is the metropolis of the duchy , built by the gauls when they settl'd in italy about the year 170 , after the building of rome . the romans expell'd 'em thence 462 years after . this country was often expos'd to the incursions of the barbarians , the goths , and huns ; and after that , was subdu'd by the lombards , who possess'd it till the reign of charlemain , who made it a part of the empire . by degrees this city became so powerful , that she commanded all her neighbours ; and her pride swell'd to that height , that she several times rebell'd against her sovereigns . the emperor frederic the first was constrain'd to make use of force to reduce her to obedience , which he brought to pass in 1160 ; and soon after the empress his wife going to milan , the people rose , out the throats of the imperial garrison , and seizing upon the empress , set her upon an ass with her face toward the tail , which they gave her in her hand in stead of a bridle , and so led her through the whole city . the emperor justly incens'd at such a piece of insolence , besieg'd the city , and forc'd it to surrender at discretion the 3d of march , 1162. which done , he levell'd it with the earth all but three churches , drew a plough over the whole , and sow'd it with salt , as an eternal memorial of reproach and infamy upon the people , who had no way to redeem their lives , but by drawing with their teeth a fig out of the fundament of the ass upon which they had set the empress ; and they that refus'd to do it were put to the sword. nine years after the city was rebuilt , and rose by degrees in such a manner , that now it is call'd the great . the duchy of milan is claim'd by the kings of france , upon account that john galeazzo , first duke of milan , having given his daughter valentina in marriage to lewis of france duke of orleans , second son of charles the fifth , surnamed the wise , it was covenanted by the articles of the contract , that if the said john happen'd to dye without male issue , the duchy of milan should descend to lewis his son-in-law , and his successors . so that john-maria and philip-maria dying without legitimate offspring , the succession belong'd without dispute to charles duke of orleans , the son of lewis . charles the fifth was not ignorant of this pretension , when he promis'd francis the first , king of france , to give him the investiture of it for one of his sons , at the sollicitation of the electors of the empire . but taking the advantage of his power , and the disorders of france , the emperor was so far from standing to his word , that he gave the investiture to philip the second , his own son ; and ever since the kings of spain have possess'd that duchy . it is observ'd , that the city of milan has been besieg'd 40 times , taken 22 ; that it has 22 gates , including those belonging to the suburbs ; 230 churches , 96 parishes , and that it is 10 miles in circuit . it has a senate , consisting of a president and twelve senators , of which three must be natural spaniards . there is in it so great a number of handicraft tradesmen , that 't is commonly said , that milan ought to be ruin'd to accommodate italy . this city is defended by a castle fortifi'd with six bastions lin'd with brick , and environ'd with moats of running waters . there are three different inclosures able to make great resistance ; for which reason it is look'd upon to be one of the best fortresses of europe . it is about a mile in compass , containing whole streets , wherein all manner of artificers keep their shops . it also includes large palaces , where the officers lodge ; and several piazza's , in one of which 6000 men may be drawn up in battel-array . there are in it likewise four wells or fountains , which are never empty ; one mill , above 200 pieces of cannon mounted upon the bastions , not counting in those which are in the arsenal , which is furnish'd with all manner of arms. in one hall of the castle is to be seen the cannon that kill'd marshal crequi when he besieg'd breme , which is laid upon the ground , to the end it may never be made use of again . the cathedral church , which is call'd the domo , is the largest and most superb in all italy , except st. peter's in rome ; being lin'd with marble within and without , sustain'd with 60 columns of white marble , which three men can hardly fathom , the least of which cost 1000 crowns ; those of adam and st. bartholomew are the best esteem'd : the whole church is about 250 paces long . in st. anthony's church is to be seen a brazen serpent , which they would make you believe to be the same that moses lifted up in the desert ; and that the emperor theodosius brought it to milan . strangers go to see the great hospital at milan , considerable for the largeness and magnificence of it , the conveniency of the building , and the good order of the government . it is endow'd with a revenue for the maintenance of above 4000 persons . the chambers of the sick are built in form of a cross , with an altar open on four sides in the middle , where the sick people go to say mass at their going to bed . besides this hospital , there is another upon the moat of the city , wherein there are as many chambers as there are days in the year . there are to be seen at milan the ruins of triumphal arches , baths , and other roman edifices ; and the church of st. lanrence , built after the model of the roman pantheon , was a temple dedicated to hercules . in former times the emperors were crown'd at milan with an iron crown , and at alexandria in the same province with a crown of straw . the other cities belonging to this duchy are coma , cremona , tortona , lodi , novara , valencia , pavia , &c. which are all considerable in some respect or other ; but my purpose is to speak of milan and pavia only , which are the principal . pavia , regularle fortified , is seated in a plain upon the river tecino . in the cathedral is to be seen a small mast of a ship , which the people believe to be rowland's lance , who was nephew to charlemain . st , austin's is remarkable for the tomb where that saint lies enterr'd . in the grand piazza stands a statue of the emperor constantine , though some will rather have it to be the statue of the emperor antoninus . it stood formerly at ravenna , from whence it was remov'd to pavia . and history observes upon this subject , that laurec the french general having taken that city by storm in 1527 , a soldier of ravenna , who enter'd first , desir'd of his general that statue for his reward , to the end he might send it back to ravenna . but the inhabitants being more afflicted with that loss , then the loss of their estates which the soldiers were just going to plunder from 'em , or the lives of their country-men , made such lamentable outcries , that they mov'd the victor to let 'em have their statue for a crown of gold , which he engag'd 'em to give the soldier . the city of pavia is adorn'd with a university , founded by charlemain , who , in 734 , took the city , and didier , the last king of the lombards , prisoner . in 1525 , francis the first having laid siege to pavia , and sent a part of his army to naples , charles the fifth taking advantage of that diversion , gave him battel , which prov'd so fatal to france , that the king was taken prisoner , and carry'd into spain . 't is observ'd , that this happen'd upon st. matthias's day , a day always fortunate to that emperor . for he was born upon that day , and receiv'd the imperial crown upon that day . chap. iv. of the republic of genoa . the state of genoa , is a fief of the empire which possesses that part of the mediterranean coast , which we call la riviera di genoa , and which was heretofore the country of the ancient ligurians . this republic carries the name of the capital city , which some will have to derive the name of it from janus . at this day it is divided into the western and the eastern riviera ; being bounded by the river magro to the east , by the principality of monaco to the west , the mountains of piemont and milanois to the north , and the ligustic sea to the south . the maritime force of this commonwealth consists in armed gallies , and two men of war carrying between 60 and 70 guns apiece , for the security of trade . upon a case of extremity they can bring into the field 30000 foot. there are about 69000 souls in the city of genoa , 80000 in the eastern riviera , and about 113000 in the western riviera . the revenues of this republic amount to 1200000 crowns , but in regard the most part of it is engag'd for the debts of the state , there remains not above 150000 livres , as i have learnt from the most exact memoirs drawn up by a person , who by reason of his employment was perfectly well acquainted with the finances of the republic . the money stamp'd with the arms of spain goes currant in the state of genoa , when it is weight . nevertheless , the republic coins pistolets , genoeses , piasters , reals , and some other small money . the spanish pistole is worth 17 livres 16 sols , which is as much as 3 piasters ; one genoese goes for 3 piasters and a half . the piaster of perou , which weighs a french crown , is worth 4 livres 16 sols : so that a french livre amounts to 32 sols of genoa . the genoeses are very expert in sea-affairs , and have contributed very much toward all the enterprizes that have been undertaken for the conquest of the holy land. in former times they won from the infidels the kingdoms of corfu , sardinia , and cyprus ; as also the islands of metelite and chio ; and have been masters of the cities of coffa and pera. 't is true , that at present they are despoil'd of all these countries except corse , from whence they have no other advantage but that of a royal crown affixed over the arms of the republic , and the title of most serene . the genoeses are proud and inconstant ; of which , the sundry sorts of government which they have admitted within these few years are an uncontroulable proof . at present they keep much to the humour of the spaniards , even to an affection of their habit. nor are they belov'd by the rest of the people of italy , among whom these characters of the genoeses are very common . gente senza fide , mare senza pesce , monte senza legno , & donna senza veregogna . a people without faith , a sea without fish , mountains without wood , and women without modesty . the genoeses differ from the spaniards in this , that they are much addicted to trade and labour . the gentlemen drive a trade in all manner of stuffs , which they sell by wholesale ; for they are not permitted to sell by retail , nor to keep shops . 't is a custom in genoa , that the parties never sign the acts which are pass'd before the public notary , who by this means are the masters of the estates and tranquility of families . nor do the witnesses sign their depositions , neither are they brought face to face with the parties accus'd . the nobility are not to have either directly or indirectly any private communication with any foreign ministers . when a stranger arrives at genoa , he is oblig'd to give in his name to the commissioners appointed , from whom they have leave to remain four days in the city , without which they would not be admitted into any inn. and it is observable , that if a man be not very careful to carry this permission about him , and to renew it in case he intends to stay any longer , he is in danger to be seiz'd by the sbirri , and condemn'd to a forfeiture of 5 pistoles . when they proceed to the election of senators , several persons put money into that which is call'd the seminary , as into a lottery : and they who have the good fortune to divine who will be the five senators , whose names are first drawn , among a hundred and twenty , out of a small box by a little boy , such is the multiplication of the money at that sort of play , that a man who has ventur'd 10 pistoles , may win between 7 and 800. which thô it rarely falls out , yet the accident is not without example . the genoeses wear fardingales , which is the reason that they frequently embarrass one another when they meet in the streets , which are very narrow . one day , a lady made use of her fardingale to get her son out of prison : he was about 18 years of age , and was condemn'd to die . his mother having leave to visit him in order to the taking of her last leave of him , put him under her petticoat , which was born up by a circle of steel in stead of whalebone , and two women leading her as she went along , according to the custom of italy , she got home , and was deliver'd without the help of a midwife , and the same day sent away her child as far as marseilles to nurse . the most part of the houses in genoa are built with terrasses at the top , where the women go to dry their hair after they have wash'd 'em , to make 'em look yellow . there is no state in europe that has submitted to so many sorts of government , as that of genoa . not to make an exact enumeration of 'em , i shall only acquaint ye , that they were first subjected to the romans , afterwards to the lombards , and then to the emperors . 't is observ'd , that from the year 1454 , to 1528 , genoa has been under twelve sorts of government . she has been rul'd by consuls , podesta's , captains , governors , lieutenants , rectors of the people , abbots of the people , reformers , dukes both noble and popular , &c. the kings of france have been in possession of genoa at several different times . in 1396 , this city was surrender'd to charles vi. and in 1409 , the inhabitants massacred the french , and put themselves under the marquiss of montferrat . four years after they chose dukes . in 1421 , they submitted to the duke of milan . but in 1436 , being weary of that government , they made choice of dukes again , who govern'd 'em till 1458 , at what time they gave themselves into the hands of charles vii . king of france . in 1461 , the french were expell'd to make way for the popular dukes , of whom there were five sorts in three years . after which the city surrender'd it self to francis forza duke of milan , who was expell'd in 1478 , after which they had dukes till 1488 ▪ and then the duke of milan took possession of it again . history informs us , that the genoeses having sent ambassadors to lewis xi . king of france , with offers to surrender themselves into his hands ; that monarch , who foresaw how little reason they had to rely upon the faith of a people so inconstant and subject to rebel , return'd 'em for answer , that if they gave their city to him , he would give it to the devil . however it were in 1499 , lewis xii . took genoa by assault , and had resolv'd to ruin it by fire and sword. but the inhabitants having laid about four thousand small children in the grand piazza that cry'd out for mercy , the king touch'd with compassion , pardon'd the parents in favour of the innocent children . but the people growing never the better for it , revolted in 1506 ; the french retook it in 1507 , and were expell'd again in 1512. the next year they got possession of it once more , and remain'd masters of it till 1522 , at what time the city was taken and pillag'd by the army of charles v. francis i. reconquer'd it in 1527 ; but the next year andrew doria , a genoese , who commanded the french fleet , revolted , and betraying his king and his own honour , made use of the forces of the french crown to deliver genoa from the dominion of france ; and since that time it has been govern'd by a senate , of which the chief , who is call'd the duke , is chang'd every two years . this new government is aristocratical : the duke is assisted with eight senator-governors , and four procurators ; two of which , in their turns , lodge with him in the ducal palace four months in the year : and this is that which is call'd the senate . but the basis and foundation of the republic resides in the grand council , compos'd out of 400 gentlemen chosen out of the ancient and new nobility . this council deliberates joyntly with the duke and the senators of whatever concerns peace or war. there are also two sorts of noble families , which are dist●nguish'd by antiquity and new creation ; the number of the first is no more then 28 , the others are in all 437 ; and the duke and the senators are chosen alternatively out of these two sorts of nobility . philip ii. king of spain , and his successors , out of a prospect purely politic , have insensibly fasten'd the genoeses to their interests , by borrowing vast sums of money . philip ii. borrow'd two millions of this republic , which was never repay'd : quite the contrary this sum has been so multiply'd , as well by new loans , as by the interests added to the principal , that it has occasion'd a common saying , that the king of spain holds the genoeses faster chain'd to his yoak , then if he were in possession of the city ; in regard these republicans must be either slaves to his catholic majesty , or lose their debt . the duke must be at least 50 years of age before he can be elected ; and after his two years regency , he cannot obtain the same employment till after the expiration of 12 years . he can admit no visits , give no audiences , open no letters that are directed to him , but in the presence of the senators that are lodg'd with him in his palace . his robe of ceremony is of red velvet or damask , made after the old fashion , ruffled below , with a pointed cap of the same stuff with the robe . when the term of his regency is expir'd , which falls out to be upon the 13th of august , at 14 a clock and half an hour after , he repairs to the assembly of the colledges , where the secretary of the assembly returns him thanks in these terms : vostra serenita ha fornito il suo tempo , vostra eccellenza sene vadi a casa . your serenity has compleated your time , you may return home again . which he does at the same time , and being come to his own door , he returns thanks to the senators and gentlemen that attended him ; which done , he puts off his red robe , and puts on his senators gown , which he wears all the rest of his life . three days after , they proceed to the election of a new duke , the dean of the senators performing the function . presently the grand council is call'd together , which names fifteen persons proper for that dignity : out of these fifteen the little council chuses six , who being communicated back to the grand council , they chuse one , who , nevertheless is not crown'd till three months after , thô some have been crown'd sooner ; and among others , francesco maria sercaro , who was elected , and crown'd the same day . the ceremony is perform'd by the arch-bishop of genoa in the cathedral church . moreover , the duke and the senators are oblig'd to take the communion twice a year , at christmas and easter . the lesser council is compos'd of the duke , the senators , the colledges , and 200 gentlemen , none under seven and twenty years of age. this council is summon'd together by the sound of a bell ; and as every gentleman enters into the chamber , an usher in a long red robe presents him with a little wooden ball silver'd over , which he throws into a bason over against the duke . when all the noblemen are enter'd , the door is shut , and the chancellor counts the balls , that he may know the number of those that compose the assembly ; and after the duke has made known the occasion of their assembling , the suffrages are gather'd after this manner : a sub-chancellor distributes to every one a white woollen or linen ball ; and another sub-chancellor gives about a black ball ; and a third presents 'em with an urn , which they call a pix , where are two pipes the one for the negative , the other for the affirmative , which close together at the top in such a manner , that the hand of him that throws in the ball , covering all the entrance , it cannot be discern'd into which pipe he puts in the black or the white . it is also to be observ'd , that the decrees of this council must be render'd authentick by a hunderd thirty four voices at least , which are two thirds of the two hundred . the grand council is compos'd of the duke , the senate , and all the colledges , the lesser council , and all the nobility of the city . it is summon'd together after the same manner as the lesser council , and the duke also declares the occasion of their coming . it is then chiefly call'd together when any law is to be abolish'd , or any new ones to be made ; or when plebean is to be admitted into the nobility ; or for the laying new taxes or impositions . in short , in this assembly it is that all the power and authority of the state resides . but these matters are all prepar'd in the lesser council , before they are propos'd in the grand ones . the city of genoa , adorn'd with an arch-bishoprick , is the capital city of the state ; surnam'd the superb , as well by reason of the humor of the inhabitants , as the magnificence of the buildings ; being seated by the sea side upon the ascent of a hill , in the form of an amphi-theater . it is surrounded with good walls on that side next the land , and well fortify'd in all parts where it lies liable to be attackt . it is about six italian miles in circuit , but the streets are very narrow and dark , by reason of the height of the houses . four gates belong to it , a great number of magnificent palaces , and a good harbor , tho' the entrance into it be somewhat difficult , by reason of several rocks that lye round about it under water . it is defended by a mole which the genoeses built since they revolted from france . at the end of the mole stands a phanal , fot the direction of ships that sail along the coast in the night time ; and by the situation of the lanthorn , they in the city understand what course the vessels steer , which they perceive . this phanal is built in that part where lewis xii k. of france built a fort to bridle the city . there is to be seen in genoa an aquaeduct , which carries the water from one to the other end of the city , and which supplies an infinite number of fountains ; some of which furnish the vessels before they put to sea , with fresh water . if they who sail from genoa to legorne should happen to want water , they will meet with a spring of fresh water in the middle of the golph de l'esprece , that bubbles up through the salt water , to the surface of the sea , and still preserves its sweetness . the domo ( for so are all the cathedrals call'd in italy ) is consecrated to st. laurence . it is all lin'd without side with black and white marble , having three doors in the front , sustain'd with fair columns of marble . the riches within-side also , is exactly correspondent to the out-side imbellishments . but they who are desirous to see the reliques , are oblig'd under a forfeiture , to leave their weapons at the door . an iron gate with four locks opens into the treasury , of which , the senators keep the keys . among other things , they shew ye a dish all of one emrauld , which they would make ye believe was presented to solomon by the queen of sheba , and that christ made use of it at his last supper with his disciples ; adding withal , that when antioch was taken , the genoeses made choice of it for their share of the booty . nevertheless , some authors say , that christ eat the paschal lamb in a silver dish , as richard lassels the famous english traveller has observ'd . moreover , they will have the ashes of john the baptist to be preserv'd in this cathedral . there are also other very fair churches in genoa , of which i forbear to say any thing , for fear of prolixity ; i shall also say nothing of the palaces , of which there are almost as many as there are houses . which magnificence has occasion'd this remark , that the genoeses are the richest private persons in italy , and the poorest state , and that the people took as much care of their private estates , as the venetians of their republick . but of all the palaces , prince doria's is , without all contradiction , the most superb . for among other rooms , there is in it a long gallery pav'd with black and white marble , sixscore paces long , and six and twenty broad , from whence you may behold all the vessels and ships that enter the port of genoa . the apartments are so richly furnish'd , that a governor of milan , not being able to believe that they could all belong to doria , told the queen of spain , who was to take shipping at genoa , that she should lodge in one of the most noble palaces of the world , but that the sumptuous furniture , was borrow'd out of all the most wealthy houses in the city . doria being told of this , before the queens arrival , caus'd to be engrav'd upon the gate of his palace , by the grace of god and the king , the whole belongs to the master of the house . in his garden is to be seen a large statue of a giant , under which is to be read the epitaph of a dog , that while he liv'd , had five hundred crowns a year allow'd him for his maintenance . there are few states of europe where the civil policy is better establish'd then at genoa . there are certain magistrates who are call'd the magistrates of abundance , whose care it is to see that the city be provided with corn , meal , wine and oil for a whole year ( how dear soever it be ) besides what comes daily to the market , and to regulate and set the price of provision , according to the fertility or scarcity of the year . and to prevent mis-management , there are in all the quarters of the city , more especially , near the courts of judicature , certain holes in the wall , into which all people have the liberty to throw in accusations against those whom they suspect to have mis-manag'd themselves in their imployments or commissions ; and sometimes without any other conviction it happens to be the misfortune of an innocent person to be punish'd . i must not conclude this chapter , without speaking a word of that which gave the occasion to the bombing of genoa in 1684. by the french fleet. the king having make several complaints to this republick , by mr. s. olon , his envoy extraordinary , of the proceeding of this city , in opposition to the interests of that crown , and the injuries done his subjects , that minister could obtain no reasonable satisfaction . in the second place , his majesty demanded of the republick , free passage by land through their territories , for his salt to cazal , and that he might erect a magazine at savona , of which the magistrates of genoa had one key , to secure 'em from any suspition that it was vended in the city of savona ; which the republick refused ; and not so contented , they made a private treaty with spain against france , by which the republick oblig'd themselves to maintain four thousand men in the state of genoa , which were to be rais'd in the name of the count de melgar , and at the charges of the republick ; as also to add six more gallies to the six already prepar'd , to joyn with the spanish fleet. the most christian king therefore , inform'd of their design , commanded his minister to know their reason , and offer'd at the same time his mediation , or his forces if they had occasion . but the genoeses were so far from accepting the king's proposals , that they return'd haughty and ambiguous answers , which enforc'd the king to send a fleet thither , to the end , that the appearance of it might scare 'em into their duty . to that purpose m. de signeley , minister and secretary of state , who was aboard the fleet , being arriv'd in the port of genoa , sent for some of the senators , to whom he made known the causes of resentment which the republick had given the king , and that he was come to demand satisfaction : that in the mean time they might prevent the mischief that threaten'd 'em , if they unrigg'd the four new gallies that were already fitted for sea , and sent to paris four senators to excuse their miscarriages to his majesty . but they refused to accept of this expedient ; and were so bold as to let fly first of all upon the king's gallies , which had not as yet committed any act of hostility ; which drew upon 'em a shower of bombs for some days , that ruin'd a good part of their palaces . there is also some reason to believe , that the king would not have stopp'd there , had not the genoeses besought pope innocent xi . to intercede with his majesty in their behalf , offering to give his majesty such satisfaction as he should desire . the king therefore , consented to an accommodation , which was mediated by ranuccio , bishop of fano , his holiness's nuncio , with m. colbert , minister and secretary of state , whom his majesty had appointed his plenipotentiary 〈◊〉 the marquis de marini , envoy extraordin●●● from the republick . the treaty was sign'd at versailles the 12th of february , 1685. ratifi'd by the republick the 25th of the same month , and by his majesty the 3d. of march following , the substance of which was , i. that the duke then governing , and four of the senators should repair to the king in their ceremonial habit , and that the duke , speaking in behalf of the rest , should in the name of the republick , acknowledge their extream sorrow for having displeas'd his majesty , and that he should in his speech , make use of most submissive and respectful expressions , and such as should manifest the sincere desire they had to merit his majesties good will for the future , and carefully to study the preservation of it . ii. that the duke and the four senators , at their return to genoa , should exercise their employments , and retain their dignities , and that no others should be chosen into their places during their absence . iii. that the republick of genoa , within a months time , should dismiss all the spanish forces ▪ that had been admitted into the strong holds and countrey belonging to the state , and should renounce from henceforth , by virtue of this treaty , all other leagues and associations by them enter'd into , since the first of january 1683. iv. that the genoeses might refit at the same time , the same number of gallies which they had three years agoe , and should lay up those that they had since equipp'd . v. that the republick should restore to the french all that they could recover of the effects that had been taken from 'em in the city and territories of genoa , the king consenting , out of his royal compassion , that instead of reparation of damages , to which his subjects might pretend , for such of their effects as could not be found , that the republick should engage themselves , as they did by this article , to contribute toward the repair of the churches and sacred places endamag'd by the bombs ; the king referring it to the pope to settle the sum that should be thought convenient for that purpose , and to limit the time for bringing those repairs to perfection . vi. that the republick should pay a hundred thousand crowns to the count de fiesque , in deduction of his ancient pretensions , upon the sole consideration that the said count is under the king's protection ; and upon condition that the payment of this money should no way prejudice the reasons which the republick has to alledge against the said pretensions . vii . that the king being content with the satisfactions above-nam●d , will vouchsafe the honour of his favours to the republick of genoa . viii . that all acts of hostility shall cease by land , from the day of this treaty , and by sea within a month ; and the pris'ners on both sides to be set at liberty . ix . that this treaty shall be ratify'd , and the ratifications exchang'd , at farthest within three weeks , &c. by vertue of this treaty , the republick sent the duke francis-maria-imperiale lercaro , then ruling , together with four senators , marcellino durazzo , paris maria salvago , giovanni garibaldo , and agostino lomellino ; who departed from genoa the 29th of march , 1685. attended by six young gentlemen appointed by the republick . they arriv'd the 10th of april at lions , and the 18th at paris ; where the duke spent about five and twenty days in preparing his equipage , and the 4th of may had his audience of the king at versailles , to which he was conducted by m. bonnueil introductor of embassadors . some days before , he had caus'd the nails that fasten'd the cloath of state of his coach to be taken away , as being a distinction that belongs to none but royal persons , and sovereign princes . the king was seated upon a throne rais'd ten or twelve steps at the end of the great gallery . the king had on each side of him , the dauphin , monsieur the king's brother , the duke of bourbon , the duke of main , and the count of tholouze , and upon the duke of genoa's approach he rose up and put off his hat : then he caus'd the duke to be cover'd , but the four senators remain'd uncover'd . the duke made an elegant harangue which i shall insert at the end of the chapter . which done , the senators also made their compliments , and it was observ'd that the duke was uncover'd all the while the senators spoke . the audience being over , they were treated at dinner by the king's order with all the profusion and magnificence imaginable ; and after dinner resuming their ceremonial habits , which they put off before they sate down to dinner , they were conducted to wait upon monseigneur , the dauphiness , the dukes of burgundy and anjou , monsieur , madame , and all the princes and princesses of the royal family . and it was observable that the senators did not cover till they came to the duke of chartres's apartment . they returned that evening to paris , but the 18th and 23d they went back to versailles in the habit of gentlemen to view the apartments , the water-works , the place where the great horses are manag'd , and the castles of trianon and marli . the 26th the duke and three senators , salvago being sick , had their audience of leave of the king , and departed within a few days for genoa , where they continu'd in their employments , till the usual time of a new choice . the duke of genoa's speech to the king at versailles , may 14th . 1685. sir , my republick has always held it for one of the fundamental maxims of their government , to signalize themselves by a profound veneration for this great crown , which being transmitted to your majesty by your august progenitors , you have exalted to so high a degree of power and glory , by such prodigious and unheard of atchievements , that fame , upon other occasions accustom'd to multiply , proves deficient in this , not being able should she lessen 'em , to render your great actions credible to posterity . prerogatives so sublime , that they enforce all states to look upon 'em with a most profound obsequiousness , and have particularly induc'd my republick to distinguish her self above all others , to manifest it in such a manner , that all the world may be apparently convinc'd of it : and the most terrible and fatal accident that ever befel her is this of incurring your majesties high displeasure . i cannot therefore proportionably display her extream sorrow to have offended your majesty ; though she is apt to flatter her self that this is befallen through an effect of pure misfortune , nevertheless she is desirous that whatever may have dissatisfy'd your majesty , may be cancell'd at any rate , not only from your memory , but from the remembrance of all men ; she not knowing any way to alleviate her afflictions till she beholds her self restor'd to your majesties inestimable favour . therefore , that she may become worthy of obtaining it , she assures your majesty , that all her most intent applications , and most sollicitous cares shall be imploy'd to procure not only the preservation of it , but also to habituate her self to increase it . in order to which , not content with expressions the most proper and most obsequious , she resolv'd to make use of unusual and singular forms , sending her duke and four senators , in hopes that by such special demonstrations your majesty will be fully convinc'd of the most high esteem which my republick has of your favour and good will. as for my own part , sir , i acknowledge it for my greatest good fortune , to have the honour of declaring these my most sincere and most respectful sentiments , and prize above all things this opportunity of appearing in the presence of so great a monarch , who invincible for his valour , and reverenc'd for his unparallel'd magnanimity and grandeur , as you have surmounted all others in ages past , so you secure the same prosperity to your progeny . from so happy an augury , i assume the confidence , that your majesty , to make known to the universe the singularity of your most generous soul , will incline your heart to look upon these remonstrances no less just then sincere , as testimonies not only of the integrity of my heart , as of the minds of these illustrious senators , and citizens of my country , who with impatience attend the reciprocal marks that your majesty will vouchsafe to grant 'em of your benignity and kindness . chap. v. of the states of the dukes of parma and modena . the duke of parma is a vassal to the holy see ; to which he pays a tribute of ten thousand crowns for his dutchies of parma and piacenza . this state has undergone several revolutions since the decay of the empire , till the church being in peaceable possession of it , alexander farneze being advanc'd to the pontificate , under the name of paul iii. erected parma into a dukedom , and gave it his son peter farneze , in the year 1545. but the emperor charles v. disputed the possession of it with him , till the death of the said duke , who died two years after . however , octavio farneze his son , being powerfully protected by the king of france , secur'd that state to his successors , by the marriage of margaret of austria , natural daughter of the same emperor . the country adjoyning is very ferril in corn , wine , fruit , but more especially in cheese , the excellency of which is sufficiently known . 't is sufficient to say that they make some of these cheeses that weigh a hundred and fifty pound , and that they are esteem'd for so great delicacies among the turks , that they are usually serv'd up to the great turk and his visiers at their banquets . there are likewise several wells of salt water in the adjacent parts , out of which they draw white salt ; and some iron and copper mines . the revenue of the duke of parma amounts to five hundred thousand roman crowns a year , which make seventeen hundred and fifty livres of france ; and at a pinch of necessity , he is able to bring into the field eighteen thousand foot of his own subjects . the city of parma , capital of the dntchy , and where the duke keeps his court , is divided into three parts by the river parma , over which are built three bridges that joyn the whole together . it is adorn'd with a bishoprick , under the arch-bishop of bologna , and a famous university , founded in the year 1599 , by ranuccio farneze . the citadel consisting of five bastions , is one of the strongest and best fortifi'd in italy . foreigners always visit the dukes palace , which is a most magnificent structure , wherein there was no spare made of marble , jasper or porphyrie . the gardens belonging to the palace and the cathedral church , are the rarities which next the palace are worthy observation . piacenza is the second city in the duke of parma's territories ; bearing the title of a a dutchy , with a bishoprick suffragan to bologna . 't is thought that it deriv'd the name of it from the situation , which is in a plain extreamly fertile . it stands not far from the river po , being about five miles in circuit . near the city to the west , they shew ye the place where st. anthony call'd down fire from heaven upon the soldiers that derided his name . thô what is more considerable , is the fountain in the great piazza of piacenza , which augustus caus'd to be brought to the city ; and the statue of alexander farneze the first , a horseback , in brass . modenois , or the state of medena , lies to the east of parma . it was erected into a dukedom by the emperor frederick iii. in 1452. in favour of borso d'este . the country abounds with plenty of all things . as for the dutchy it self , it holds of the emperor , to whom the duke of modena pays a yearly tribute of 4000 crowns . the revenue of it amounts to about a million of italian livres , which make seven hundred and fifty thousand livres of france : and in a time of need , the duke is able to arm five and twenty thousand men. modena the capital of the dutchy , is the usual residence of the duke . it is seated between the rivers of sechia and panaro ; and altho the streets are somewhat narrow , yet it is a very pleasant habitation . foreigners go to see the duke's and the bishop's palaces , the cathedral and the citadel , where there is nothing , however very remarkable . history informs us , that modena was formerly a roman colony , and that after the death of julius caesar , brutus was there in vain besieg'd by marc antonie , in the year of rome 710. that the city was afterwards ruin'd by the goths and lombards , and rebuilt under the reign of the sons charlemain : and that it was near modena , that in the year of rome 711 , hirtius and pansa were defeated by marc antonie . the steeple of modena is one of the highest towers in italy . chap. vi. of the territories of the duke of mantua . the duke of mantua holds the fee of his territories from the emperor , by whom he is invested . mantua was formerly no more then a marquisate , till by charles v. erected into a dukedom in 1530. the duke in present possession , is of the illustrious house of gonzaga , he assumes the titles of duke of mantua , montferrat and guastalla , perpetual vicar of the empire , &c. the country is seated between the territories of the church , the states of modena , venice and milancis , in length about fifty miles , and forty broad . the po that runs through it , makes it one of the most fertile countries in italy , especially in corn ; seeing that one good harvest is sufficient to supply the inhabitants for five years . 't is true , that by reason of the inundations of the po , the wine 's a little green and sowre . his highness may be able to bring into the field , an army of twelve thousand foot , and eight hundred horse , and his revenue amounts to 300000 crowns a year , the chiefest part of which is raised either by his mills , or upon the jews , who give considerable sums for liberty of free trade ; but they are oblig'd to wear yellow ribonds in their hats , to distinguish 'em from the christians . the city of mantua is the metropolis of the dutchy . it is seated in a lake twenty miles in compass , that fills the river mincius , so that there is no way to approach it , but over two causeys , with two draw-bridges at the ends . upon this lake , there are a prodigious quantity of mills ; and it is remarkable that there are three in one house that serve to spin , wind , double and twist silk , which are manag'd by one single man. this city is very ancient : the poets virgil and fass were both born in mantua ; nor is it less remarkable for the manufacture of tabbies , and other rich silks . the streets are broad , straight , and very neat . it contains about four miles in compass , having eight gates , eighteen parishes , forty convents , and one particular quarter for the jews . there is the same custom observ'd here as in most of the other cities of italy ; that is , that at your entrance into the city you are oblig'd to leave your fire arms at the gate , which are return'd to you again upon your departure at the gate , which you go forth at . but you must be careful to mark 'em that you may know 'em again . travellers take great delight to visit the manufactures , the town-house , the cathedral , the roof of which is all over gold and azure , but more especially the duke's palace , which without question is the fairest ornament of the city : nor is it without good reason , that this palace is said to be able to lodge five kings with all their retinue ; there being no less then five hundred and fifty chambers in it richly furnish'd every one ( though formerly there were seven hundred . the apartments design'd for the lodging of princes , embassadors , and cardinals , are proportionable in magnificence to the grandeur of the person that is to be entertain'd in ' em . there are beds embroider'd with gold and pearls , silk tapestries emboss'd with gold. six tables about three foot long , of which the one is all compos'd of emraulds so well joyn'd together , that you would swear it to be all one stone , as well as the rest , which are one compos'd of turquoises , a third of violet saphirs , one of amber , and another of jasper . there is also to be seen a noble organ of alabaster ; after which i think it needless to give a description of the gold , silver and pretious stones that glister in all the cabinets , nor of the silver , brass , and marble statues that adorn the chambers and the galleries ; for there is no question but that every thing else is correspondent to the magnificence of the palace , and the grandeur of the prince who is the lord of it . give me leave to say this by the by , that there are harnesses for horses all cover'd with pearls and diamonds , a great number of arms enrich'd in the same manner : chalices of gold , crosses basons and other ornaments of the chappels belonging to the cardinals of the same house , all enrich'd with pearls , rubies , emraulds and other pretious stones . to which i shall add , that all this wealth was much more considerable before the palace was pillag'd by the emperour ferdinand the second's forces , under the conduct of colalto ; who made himself master of it in 1630. at what time the barbarism of the soldiers , not being satiated with the plunder , was such , that they broke and spoil'd an infinite number of statues , and rare pieces of workmanship . chap. vii . of the state and republick of venice . we call the state of venice the whole extent of territory that the republick possesses in italy , which was part of the lower lombardy . venice is likewise mistress of istria , dalmatia , the morea , and part of the islands of the archipelago . this republick is the only sovereign state in italy , the rest being feudataries either to the church or to the empire . the air of venice is not wholsome , as being annoy'd byt he stench of the canalls , which together with the little society that strangers find there for the reasons which i shall hereafter mention , is the occasion that travellers care not to reside long in the city , when they have once seen the curiosities that beautifie it . this republick is addrest to by the title of most serene , as being the most potent state of italy . the revenue of it amounts to about fifteen millions ; and the city of venice alone pays about two millions and five hundred thousand ducats ; nor is it less true that she alone contributes as much as all the demeans which she possesses upon the firm land. she is very sparing , and lays up vastly in time of peace , of which , her famous treasury of st. mark is an undeniable proof . in a time of need , she is able to set out to sea two hundred sail of ships and gallies , and to arm 400000 of her own subjects . in times of peace she always keeps forty gallies in pay , to clear the golph of the pyrates of barbary . when the republick is at war with the turk , she always makes use of foreign forces , which she hires out of germany and other places ; reserving her own subjects to people her cities and her conquests ; which nevertheless does no way diminish her treasure , for that the money which she lays out , is all spent again in her own territories . almost all the money currant in italy goes at venice , proportionably to their weight and alloy . nevertheless the republick coins pistols , sequins , ducats , crowns , pieces of twenty four sols , twenty sols , and gazettes , &c. the sequin is worth seventeen livres or two ducats ; the pistole eight and twenty livres ; the ducatoon six livres four sols ; the crown nine livres , twelve sols , and the gazette , two sols . the ducatoon is not worth above fifty french sols ; and between forty eight and fifty sols of venice , make a livre of france . 't is not without reason that venice is counted one of the richest cities in the world , in regard it was never yet taken or plunder'd by her enemies ; which makes it a common saying , that 't is as impossible that money should be wanting in the treasury of st. mark , as soldiers in france . the city of venice is the metropolis of the whole state : and i have already said that she is very potent , and i may add , that if she had but plenty of fresh water , she would want nothing . but that defect proceeds from her being built upon seventy two fenny islands . most authors agree , that venice was founded in the year 421. of christ ; to which others more precisely add , that the building was begun upon the 25th of march ; which day is principally observ'd , for that it was the day when the world was created , and of the incarnation of christ . the inhabitants of padua were they who founded this city , at what time attila king of the hunns , after he had laid aquileia in ashes , undertook to subdue and ruine all italy . his cruelties enforc'd the paduans and other people that inhabited between the alps and the golph , now call'd the golph of venice , to shelter themselves in certain unwholsome fenns . and in the year 421. they began to build some houses in the island of rialto , which was proclaim'd to be the place of sancturay and refuge ; and so in process of time those buildings multiply'd in such a manner , that venice now takes in seventy two islands , joyn'd together with 450 bridges : and because the soil would not admit of any solid foundations , they built upon piles , as they do at amsterdam in holland . the bridge of rialto , over the great canal , is the most beautiful in venice , and indeed in all europe . it has but one arch , all of marble , built upon 6328 piles , and border'd with two rows of shops . the situation of the city in this manner , is the reason that there is no use of coaches in venice , so that when they goe from one place to another , they take water in shallops or boats call'd gondola's , with which the canals are cover'd . the canals and the bridges are lin'd with a white shining stone , and in regard the women are handsome , and the gown-men very severe , this has occasion'd a proverb , which admonishes travellers to have a care of the women , the white stones , and the men of the long robe . at first the government of venice was democratical , under consuls and tribunes . every island had their particular consuls , that assum'd to themselves a petty sovereignty . but the jealousies that arose among 'em , were the occasion that in the year 709. the tribunes of the twelve principal islands , resolv'd to set up a republick , and to elect a chieftain to command 'em ; and first of all they cast their eyes upon paolo lucio anafesto , to whom they gave the title of duke or doge . this first duke and his successors rul'd with absolute authority till the year 1172. because that in their life time they caus'd their sons or their brothers to be chosen to succeed 'em ; and went about in that manner to perpetuate the ducal dignity in their families . but the principal citizens abolish'd the election which was made till then by the people , and set up an independent and sovereign council , out of which they elected their duke . this tribunal was compos'd of 240 citizens , indifferently chosen out of the nobility , the burgesses and artificers ; and at the same time they created twelve tribunes , , who were to oppose the decrees of the prince , if they appear'd to be unjust . this form of government lasted till the year 1289. at what time duke peter gradenigo chang'd it into a real aristocracy , such as it is at this day ; all the authority being devolv'd into the hands of a certain number of families , writ down in a golden book , which is the register of the venetian nobility . there are four different councils in venice ; the first which is called the grand council , compos'd of 2000 noblemen ; out of which they choose all the magistrates , podesta's , generals of their armies , proveditors , ambassadors , &c. and they make all the laws which are deem'd necessary for the welfare of the state. the second is call'd the council of pregati , which determines all things that relate to peace or war , alliances or leagues ; and this is that which we call the senate of venice . the third is the council call'd the colledge , compos'd of 26 noblemen , that gives audience to ambassadors , and carries their demands to the senate . the fourth is the council of ten , which judges all crimes against the state , and is the most redoubted council in europe . this council is renew'd every year . this council every month chooses three inquisitors of state , who are always taken out of the ten , to the end that every one may serve in his turn , and the authority of this triumvirate is such , that they have as much power over the duke's life , as over the life of the meanest subject , without acquainting the senate . this council has cavs'd several heads of marble to be plac'd against the walls of the palace with gaping mouths , upon which these words are to be read , secret denunciations , into which they who have any accusation against any magistrate , or other person holding criminal correspondence , throw in little notes . and upon these accusations it is , and sometimes upon the least suspicion that they put people to death , who are sometimes guilty of no other crime then not to please their enemies . for such is the policy of venice rather to take away the lives of the innocent , then to let the guilty go unpunish'd . we must not forget that all the nobility , when they betake themselves to the church , are excluded from all their councils , and from all employments in the state to prevent the court of rome from having any knowledge of the secrets of the state. as to spirituals , venice is govern'd by a patriarch , who by a particular rubrick , at the beginning of his commands and orders never sets any other titles , than n. divina misericordia venetiarum patriarcha , without ever adding , like the prelates of the roman church , et sanctae sedis apostolicae gratia , as if he were no member of it . he is primate of dalmatia , and metropolitan of the archbishopricks of candy and corfu . venice has also another patriarch within her territories , that is to say , the patriarch of aquileia , who resides at vdena in friuli , and in regard the city of aquileia now belongs to the emperour , he pretends to have a right to appoint the patriarch . but the venetians , to the end the patriarchate may never become vacant , have empowr'd the patriarch to nominate a coadjutor and successor , so soon as he is advanc'd to that dignity , which the senate presently confirms , if they deem him worthy of it . the employment of duke of venice is for life , and generally they choose to that dignity an old man , who has been ambassador in the principal courts of europe , and who is perfectly acquainted with forreign countries . he cannot stir out of the laguna without leave , and can do nothing without the advice of his counsellors which are allotted him , chosen out of the most considerable gentlemen of the republick . when the duke gives his opinion in the senate , he has but one voice ; but his suffrage goes for two in the grand council . the duke is clad in a purple robe with hanging sleeves ; and when he parades upon any publick ceremony , he walks under a canopy of cloth of gold , eight silver trumpets marching before him , and a youth carrying a torch of white wax ; a sword is also carried before him as a mark of his dependency . all declarations and letters of state are written in his name , and the money is also stamp'd with his portraiture , though there is always on the reverse a lyon and the image of st. mark , with the duke kneeling before him . the duke is elected after the following manner : the grand council being assembl'd at the hour prefix'd , the door is shut ; and after they have counted the number of those in the hall , they throw into a bason an equal number of little balls , among which there are thirty guilt ; and when they are well jumbl'd and mix'd , every gentleman goes and takes one . then the thirty that have the golden balls , assemble together in another room , where there are ready prepar'd as many little balls , of which there are but nine guilt . these nine gentlemen whose chance it is to light upon the nine guilt balls , choose out forty gentlemen of the assembly , which forty are reduc'd to twelve by means of the guilt balls ; and those twelve elect five and twenty , which are reduc'd to nine . those nine choose out forty five , who are reduced at length to eleven , who choose out one and forty gentlemen , and they elect the duke . this tedious ballating prevents the effects of canvossing . now when these electors are approv'd by the grand council , they are shut up in the palace of st , mark , out of which they never stir till they have elected the duke . and it is to be observ'd , that though the election be authentick , it must be corroborated by five and twenty suffrages ; and while the electors are thus shut up , they are carefully guarded , and diligently lookt after , almost in the same manner as the cardinals in the conclave . the venetian nobility is distinguish'd into four classes : the first comprehends the families descended from the tribunes , who in the year 709. were the electors of the first duke of venice , and which have continu'd by a kind of miracle to this present time . those twelve electoral families are the contarini , the morosini , badouari , ziopoli , micheli , sanudi , gradenighi , meonni , falieri , dandoli , polani , and barozzi . there are also other four noble families that have continu'd in a lineal succession ever since the year 800 , viz. the justiniani , cornari , bragadini and bembi . for which reason the first are vulgarly call'd the twelve apostles , and the latter the four evangelists . the second classis of noblemen , are they that began to be enregister'd in the golden book ▪ when gradenigo the duke settled the aristocracy in 1289. the third comprehends about fourscore and ten or a hundred families , who purchas'd their nobility for a thousand ducats apiece . these noblemen are never employ'd in the high preferments of the republick . the fourth order of nobility is that which the republick confers upon forreign princes and other illustrious personages . thus hen. iii. and hen. iv. of france were admitted into the body of the nobility of venice . the noble venetians walk the streets in a long black robe , and a bonnet of black tissue , border'd with a fringe that hangs round about , and falls down over their hair ; for they are not suffer'd to wear perriwigs ; their gowns are open before , and discover a rich cassock ; their shooes are all of black spanish leather ; and for their gate and aire , they are very grave and majestick . but this nobility of theirs deprives 'em of the freedom of conversing with forreigners : nor will their jealousie of all other nations , permit 'em so much as to give strangers a visit , or to pay the least civility to ambassadors , their wives , nor any other person belonging to their retinue , without express leave from the senate . nor dare they speak to a venetian merchant , if he be known to frequent a forreign minister's house . having thus discours'd of the government , both politick and ecclesiastick of venice , i shall only speak one word of what is most worthy the curious observation of travellers . if they happen to be there at the festival of the ascension , they will see the ceremony , which is annually perform'd upon that day , of the duke's espousing the sea. at what time the duke and the senators in their purple robes , accompanied by the patriarch , the pope's nuncio , and the ambassadors go aboard the bucentaure , which is a sort of galley with several decks , guilded down to the water , and cover'd with crimson velvet with broad gold fringes ; and attended by all the nobility and the people in four or five thousand gondola's and other vessels , rows forward within a mile of the main sea. and then it is that the duke espouses the golf of the adriatick sea , in testimony that the republick is the mistress of it . the ceremony of this espousal is perform'd by casting a gold ring into the sea , and saying these words , we espouse thee our sea , as a mark of real and perpetual superiority . after which the patriarch gives his benediction , accompanied with the roaring of the canon . thence they go to hear mass upon the lido , and so return to the palace , where the duke treats all the senators and great lords . alexander iii. instituted this ceremony as a mark of gratitude to the republick , who had so strenuously upheld him against the prosecutions , of the emperour frederick barbarossa . but it is an errour to believe upon the credit of some historians , ill inform'd , that the republick of venice held the soveraignty of the adriatick , by donation from that pope ; for besides that it was never disputed with the venetians , the holy see never had , nor ever pretended to any right over the adriatick ; so that that same pontiff could never bestow upon the republick a thing that never was in his power to give . and there needs no more then to read the pope's own words to the duke ziani , while he acknowledg'd the republick's right , and instituted the ceremony of espousing the sea. receive ( said he ) this ring , to give it every year upon the same day to the sea , as to your lawful spouse , so that your posterity may know that the sea belongs to you by right of arms. the cathedral church was formerly dedicated to st. theodore ; but after the body of st. mark was brought thither from alexandria , the city made choice of that saint for her patron , and the church is consecrated under his name ; being one of the most beautiful edifices in the world ; and what is more surprizing is , that such a weighty bulk should have no other foundation then piles . the tower which serves for a steeple , is one of the highest in italy . the church is built of nothing else but marble of all colours , the finest in all italy ; and the floor is pav'd with jasper and porphyrie wrought in mosaick work . the chief altar is sustain'd by four large pillars , upon which in releif you see engrav'd the history of the old and new testament ; and over it stands a globe of gold and silver , enrich'd with pearles and diamonds . the chappel of the holy sacrament is supported by four columns of alablaster , which , as they say , had been pillars in the temple of solomon . the church divided into five domes , is cover'd with lead , and has four brass gates ; over the principal of which stand four horses of the same mettal guilt , made formerly on purpose for the triumphal arch erected at rome in honour of nero , after he had vanquish'd the parthians , and afterwards carry'd to constantinople , to adorn constantine's triumphal arch , and afterwards brought away by the venetians when they sack'd that great city . this wonderful structure is supported by thirty six columns of marble two foot in diameter : and the ascent to the steeple which is 246 foot high , and 40 broad , is so made as to be very easie , and without stairs . the treasury of this church encloses a vast heap of immense riches . among other things twelve regal crowns , and twelve corslets of massie gold , enrich'd with pearls and diamonds . ten rubies of eight ounces each . one saphir of ten ounces : a vessel all of one single emrauld : a dish of one single turquoise : a pail to take up water , the whole but one granate : the duke's horned bonnet set with large diamonds and oriental pearls , with an infinite number of other costly rarities : not to speak of the ornaments of the church , as a great number of pixe , candlesticks , silver and chrystal , together with an infinite number of relicks , among which the chiefest are the body of st. mark and his gospel , written by his own hand . they who have a mind to visit st. luke's church , may there see peter aretimes tomb , who liv'd in the fifteenth age , famous for his satyrical writings , which acquir'd him presents and pensions from several great men , and among others from charles v. and francis i. king of france ; whither they fear'd his satyrs , or lik'd his manner of writing ; which occasion'd the following epitaph to be made upon him . qui giace l'aretin , poeta tosco , chi d'ognun disse mal , che di dio , scusandosi col dir , jo no'l conosco . here aretin lies , reduc'd to earthy clod , who wrote in tuscan language many a poem , and rail'd at all mankind , yet spar'd his god ; but his excuse was this , he did not know him. the palace of st. mark 's is admir'd by all forreigners . it has two fronts , lin'd with red and white marble , and cover'd with plates of brass , since the conflagration in 1514. which melted down the lead with which it was overlaid before . there is nothing but gold and azure to be seen in all the apartments , with an infinite number of very fair statues , all curious pieces of workmanship . the grand council-chamber is 150 foot long , and 73 broad , surrounded with other chambers full of fire arms ; of which the greatest part are always charg'd . among others are to be seen the arms which henry iv. made use of to reduce his kingdom to obedience , and which he presented to the republick . one piece of canon and the carriage all of massie silver : a coffer , at the opening of which four pistols discharge , and would kill the person that opens it if they were charg'd : a large canon that discharges thrice at one time ; and a small piece that discharges seven times at once . in this armory there are muskets , pikes and swords to arm a thousand men in an instant , for the security of the senate : and all things are dispos'd in such a manner , that by pulling a cord at one end , the arms fall into the hands of those that have occasion for ' em . the muskets are always charg'd ; and they who are possessed of 'em , as they go out of the armory , will find a large globe boar'd thorough with as many holes as there are muskets , in every one of which there sticks a match ready to be drawn out lighted ; in regard that by means of an engin , and the powder which is scatter'd in those concavities , they can set fire to all those matches in a moment . the piazza of st. mark is environ'd with beautiful houses , of which the symmetry is very gracefully order'd . the mint is one of the fairest , and so built , that there is no danger of fire , because that all the gates and windows are of iron , and for that there is no wood made use of in the whole structure . in the midst of the piazza , three large masts of a ship are fix'd upright in the ground , upon which the republick's standards of gold and silk are hung out upon solemn days , and at the end toward the sea side , stand two marble pillars all of one piece about sixty fathom high , and eight in compass ; upon one of which is erected st. mark 's winged lyon , and upon the other the statue of st. theodore . the arsenal of venice is one of the most beautiful , and one of the best supply'd with all sorts of arms of any in europe . there they shew to the curious the arms of bajamonte theopoli , who at the head of eight ragamuffins had resolv'd to murder the senate in the council chamber , and to have seiz'd upon the soveraignty . they carry'd all their weapons conceal'd under their cloaths : but as they were hastning to the palace , a flower-pot fell out of a window upon the head of their captain , and beat out his brains ; which so dismay'd the rest of his accomplices , that believing their design discover'd , they all dispers'd , and the senate by that means escap'd . they also shew ye the sword of scanderbeg , prince of albania , who won no less then seven battels from the turks , with which he cleft a man quite through at one blow . there is also a great number of other arms and weapons very curious , and among the rest a coffer , which they call the devils organs , because that if you open it , it discharges several pistols , that scattering their shot about the room , make a great havock of all that are in it . after you have seen the city of venice , travellers always visit the glass-house at mirano , where they make admirable pieces of workmanship of that brittle mettal , which are transported over all europe . but in regard i do not undertake to write the history of venice , i forbear to speak of all the places which that republick possesses in italy . i shall therefore only say something of padua which is one of the ancientest cities in the venetian territories , being about 2300 paces in circuit . 't is said , that antenor was the founder of it , and that it is much more ancient then either rome or venice . the church of st. anthony of lisbonne is famous , because that st. anthony , now call'd st. anthony of padua , lies there interr'd : and they say , that the stone that covers his tomb , smells of musk : however certain it is , that 't is the most beautiful church in the city . the palace where justice is administer'd , is cover'd with lead , and there is an ascent of four large marble steps up to it . the great hall is 256 foot long , and 86 broad , where are to be seen the twelve celestial signs and great number of other very beautiful paintings . every night at a certain hour they make the great clock strike 32 times , in memory of so many traytors who would have deliver'd up the city into the enemies hands . padua still retains several footsteps of antiquity , as the remains of an amphitheater , call'd the arenae , near the austin fryars church . and the ruines of such another are also to be seen at veronas another city under the dominion of the venetians ; but there is much more of the structure standing , which is said to have been erected by order of the consul flaminius , 380 foot in length , and 200 broad . there is also a circus where above fourscore thousand people may sit upon seats of marble . chap. viii . of the republicks of luca and st. marino . lvca is a small republican state almost enclos'd within the territories of tuscany , having preserv'd its freedom ever since the year 1430 , under the protection of the emperour . this republick is govern'd by a gonfaloniere , who is elected every two months out of the nobility , and has for his assistants nine ancients , who bear the title of excellentissimo's . however they can determine nothing that is not approv'd in the grand conncil , compos'd of 120 burgesses . though the extent of the territories belonging to this republick be very small , yet they are very well peopl'd ; so that they can easily bring 20000 men into the field to defend themselves , besides that their revenue amounts to above 500000 livres a year . their arsenals are always provided with all things necessary to hold out a long siege . the gonfaloniere , who during his regency lodges in the palace of the signiory , and has a hundred soldiers for his guard , is clad in a robe of crimson velvet or damask , with a bonnet of the same stuff . nor are there but few states wherein the civil government is better regulated then in this republick . the city of luca , the metropolis of the territory is seated upon the river serchio , defended by eleven bastions lin'd with brick , and as regular as can be imagin'd . nor is it less considerable for the antiquity of it , then the fortifications that secure it , several silk stuffs are made in this city , wherein the inhabitants drive a very great trade , which has acquir'd to the city the epithite of luca the industrious . the churches are very beautiful , especially the cathedral consecrated to st. martin , where they shew a picture , upon which they would make ye believe that the angels painted our saviour's face . it is crown'd with a crown of gold , having over it the two letters alpha and omega ; that is to say , the beginning and the end ; or he that is , was and shall be . in the austin-fryars church they shew ye a kind of an abyss , which as they say , open'd to swallow up a gamester that blasphem'd the name of his creator . the territories of the republick of st. marino are of a smaller extent then those belonging to luca , because they include only the city of sancto marino , and some few castles that serve to defend it , the whole containing not above six thousand inhabitants . it settl'd it self in the year of christ 600 , and has all along supported it self under the protection of the pope , being almost enclos'd within the territories of the church . it is govern'd by two captains that are new chosen every year . she still preserves her gravity , especially in respect of other republicks ; so that when she writes to the republick of venice , she calls her dear sister . the city of sancto marino is very strong , not only by reason of the situation of it , which is upon the top of a mountain in the dutchy of vrbin , but also because of the fortifications , which are very regular , and certain castles that defend it . the name of it was deriv'd from one sancto marino , a stone-cutter , born in dalmatia ; who coming into italy in the third age , and being addicted to piety , preach'd the gospel to the pagans , and converted several to the faith. he dy'd in a kind of hermitage where he had his oratory upon the top of the mountain where now the city of sancto marino stands . chap. ix . of tuscany . the state of tuscany is purely monarchical and despotick . it is compos'd of three estates , which were formerly as many republicks ; the florentin , pisan and sienese , which derive their names from their capital city , where the grand duke has built good citadels . this is one of the most considerable states of italy , and wants nothing but the title of a kingdom , which a pope of that family had a design once to have conferr'd upon it . in the mean time according to the italian proverb , the grand duke wants nothing but luca and sarzana to be king of tuscany . this prince is one of the richest in italy : his ordinary revenue amounts to two millions and a half of crowns , and 't is said that he has above five and twenty millions of gold in his treasury , besides his moveables and jewels which are of an inestimable value . he is able to bring into the field 30000 foot , and 3000 horse ; and as to his strength by sea , in a case of necessity he can set out twenty men of war , a dozen galleys , and some galeasses . as to the money , spanish pistoles , piasters and reals of peru go currant all over the dukedom , provided they be weight . the money which the grand duke coyns are pistoles , ducatoons , julio's and gratie . the pistole of spain goes for forty two livres of the country ; but the tuscan pistole goes but for forty . a ducatoon is worth seven livres . a julio is worth eight gratie , which is a small piece of money , part copper , part silver . a livre is worth a julio and a half , and every gratia is worth eleven deneers of france ; so that the tuscan livre is not worth above eleven french sols . florence is the metropolis of the dukedom , with an archbishobprick erected in the year 1421. by pope martin v. surnam'd the fair , because that without all contradiction it surpasses in beauty and magnificence all the cities round about it ; to which the situation of it contributes not a little , being built upon the river arno , which divides it into two unequal parts , joyn'd together by four stone bridges ; and it is about six miles in circuit , with very neat streets and well kept . some authors will have sylla's soldiers to be the founders of florence , to whom he gave the land as a reward of their services : that it was at first call'd fluentia , by reason of the confluence of the rivers arno and the main , but that the fertility of the soil gave it afterwards the name of florentia . the ordinary residence of the grand signior's court contributes not a little to the magnificence of it . for assuredly the grand duke's palace deserves to be the mansion of an emperour . it is adorn'd with statues of marble and brass much more noble then are to be found in any other place . the painting , sculpture and guilding appear to be the effects of profusion . and therefore not to engage in an exact description of this palace , i shall only take notice of some pieces the most magnificent . there is to be seen a candlestick or luster all of amber ; a domo of mother of pearl , and gold enamell'd with red ; a table where you see the city and harbour of leghorn , represented by several stones of jasper , marble , lapis lazuli , topazes and emraulds most artificially enchas'd ; another table of calcedon enamell'd with flowers , empal'd with agates , lapis lazuli , and emraulds , supported with enamel'd pillars : a cabinet of jet inlay'd with several gold plates , with seven doors where as many organs play ; and withinside the passion of our saviour figur'd in marble : a loadstone that sustains about sixty pound weight of iron , but it has lost much of the vertue of it since the last fire that happen'd in the palace . a nail half iron half gold , which was thought to be an effect of chimical operation , but some years since it was found out that the two metals were only soder'd together , but so imperceptibly , that it was not possible to be discern'd : an agate table , a statue of lewis xiii . on horseback of massie gold ; an entire service of massie gold plate ; and a prodigious quantity of silver enamel'd plate . in short all the apartments of the palace , and the equipage of the grand duke are proportionable to this immense treasure . nor are these the only rarities which this palace encloses , the only objects worthy a travellers curiosity . the gallery wherein are the portraitures of the family of the medicis , and of all the famous men of this age , as well for learning as for arms , delightfully allures a travellers eye for some hours , the great captains are plac'd upon the right hand , among whom is hannibal the terrour of rome ; scipio who took carthage and vanquish'd hannibal : pyrrhus who rejoyc'd rome by declaring war against it : scanderbeg the scourge of the turks . alexander farneze , who never lost a battel . cortesius , who discover'd the streight of magellan . andrew doria , who recover'd genoa from the french. gaston de foix , whose memory is still terrible to the spaniard . duke d' alva , who though bloody and cruel perform'd many great exploits , and who lamented at his death not the mischiefs he had committed , but that he had never fought against the turks . custruccio , of whom no body ever spoke ill . eccellino , of whom no body ever spoke any thing that was good ; and madam de momorancy , who was well contented to die in a battel against the religionaries of france . in an armory adjoyning are to be seen several curious arms : a harquebuse , the barrel of which is gold , and which carries much farther then a barrel of iron : a pistol which is call'd the good night , that discharges five times with once pulling the trigger . also another with ten barrels , that discharges as many times at once . in one of the cabinets stands a mirrour , into which if a man looks , he seems to be a woman ; and if a woman looks into it , she seems to be a man. i forgot to tell ye , that among the grand duke's jewels , there is a diamond as thick as a man's finger , that weighs a hundred thirty eight carrats , and is lookt upon to be one of the fairest in europe , being valued at 150000 crowns . the church of st. mary of the flowre , is the cathedral of florence . it is lin'd without-side with great square panes of marble , white , red and black intermix'd . the inside is answerable to the outside , and the steeple is of marble though of a prodigious heigth . st. laurence's also is a very beautiful church ; but that which renders it more remarkable , is the chappel wherein the dukes of florence lie buried . this chappel is built all of marble , lin'd with jasper , alablaster , and other rare stones , so well polish'd and wrought , that the workmanship is more esteem'd then the materials . the vault is lin'd with lapis lazuli of persia , which is a pretious stone of a blue colour interlac'd with veins of gold , and which perfectly resembles the colour of the skie in a clear and serene season . round about this chappel are plac'd the statues of all the dukes of florence , all of copper guilded in their ducal habits ; and between two tombs one of the cities of the state of florence , which takes up the whole void space . in a word the magnificence of that mausoleum is so great that 't is enough to make those who are wrapt up with the pride and vanity of this world wish for death , if they might be assur'd of such glorious monuments after their decease . having thus view'd the magnificence of the palace and mausoleums of the great duke , we come to the curiosities of the city ; where there are to be seen upon the bridge that leads to the grand piazza , four statues of white marble representing the four seasons ; and in the piazza stands a brass statue upon a pedestal of the same metal , representing como de medicis , the first duke of florence , together with his most remarkable exploits , in relief . this piazza lies before the old palace , on both sides of which are to be seen the statues of david and hercules . to this palace belongs a tower which is a hundred and fifty fathom high , without any other foundations then those of the palace it self , which gave an occasion to the saying of the florentines , that they have one tower in the air , another in the water , meaning the pharo of livorn , and another in the earth , which is the steeple of florence . near the river is to be seen a large column , upon which is plac'd the statue of justice in porphyrie ; upon which the criticks have made two burlesque remarks ; the one is that justice is plac'd so high , that the poor cannot reach it ; the other is , that she turns her back to those places where justice is usually administer'd . it would be a great oversight not to visit the houses of pleasure belonging to the grand duke , of which the most considerable are poggio imperiale , pratolino , aad lampeggio ; where the arbours , the alleys , the labyrinths , grotto's , waterworks , and whatever can make any place delightful , are in their highest perfection . strangers are often trickt near cupid's grotto in the garden of pratolino . for before they come at it , they are led a great way about ; so that coming to the seats that are not far off , they are willing to sit down and rest themselves : but no sooner are they sate down , but the pillars of the seat giving way to the weight of their bodies , out flies the water all of a sndden , and washes 'em from head to foot. siena , with an archbishoprick and a university , was formerly much more considerable then now it is , as having once contain'd above seventy five thousand inhabitants , whereas now there are not above four and twenty thousand in the city . the streets are broad and all pav'd with brick . formerly the sienois , who had a great many children were exempted from all manner of impositions , in regard they had supply'd the republick with several members ; and they who had no children bare the burthen of the taxes . the cathedral is pav'd with spotted marble , upon which is engrav'd the sacrifice of abraham , and several other histories of the old testament . the roof is all of azure , spangl'd with stars of gold : there are also to be seen the marble statues of several popes and emperors , together with twelve angels of brass , every one holding a wax taper in their hands . the piazza of siena is round , and the houses built exactly according to the rules of symmetry , supported by arches like those in the royal piazza in paris , where you may walk winter and summer without being annoy'd either by rain , or sunshine . the middle of the piazza is hollowed like a scallop shell , and may be fill'd with water from a fountain adjoyning , for the lanching of several shallops into it , wherewith to imitate a naval engagement . and near to the roman gate , upon two high pillars , stands a wolf giving suck to rhemus and romulus . but is siena has lost her ancient splendour , pisa ▪ is no less unfortunate . for she was once the most potent city of all tuscany ; as having been mistress of the islands of corse and sardigna , as also of the city of carthage , at what time above 50 gallies might have been seen in her harbour all belonging to her ; but now she is no longer remarkable for any thing else but her archbishopprick , her university , and the house of the knights of st. stephen ; where several who prefer celibacy before a marry'd life , are maintain'd at the charges of the order . they wear a cross of red sattin upon their habits ; and in st. stephen's church are to be seen several flags , ship-lanthorns and colours taken from the turks by those knights . the steeple of the domo is admir'd for the height of it , because it seems to lean on one side , though in the judgment of skilful workmen , it stands as upright as it is possible . this church is supported by seventy six columns of marble of all colours , and has three gates of brass ▪ which they say belong'd to the temple of salomon . the great piazza is call'd campo santo , by reason it was fill'd up with a vast quantity of earth which the galleys brought from jerusalem , in 1224. livorno or ligorno . is a sea-port town within the territories of tuscany , of which the haven is accounted one of the safest and most convenient on that side , now in regard the city is but new built , the streets are large and streight , and the houses very convenient , here it is that the duke's galleys and men of war lie . the pharos , or tower of livorn is lookt upon to be one of the most beautiful , and most necessary in all italy . one of the most remarkable . things in this city is the marble statue of ferdinand . i. having under his feet four slaves of brass , in allusion to the four turkish slaves who seiz'd one night upon a galley , with a design to have made their escapes into barbary , but were taken in the act. some say 't was the father and his three sons who came on purpose from turkey by the sultan's order , to have massaker'd the grand duke ; but that their design being discover'd , they were taken and punish'd according to their deserts . chap. x. of the ecclesiastical state. this state is called the ecclesiastical state , because the pope is both the spiritual and temporal sovereign of it . it is compos'd of twelve provinces ; la campagna di roma , st. peter's patrimony , la terra sabina , ombria , or the dutchy of spoleto , orvietano , perugia , the earldom of the city of castello , la marca d' ancona , the dukedom of vrbin , la romagna , the territories of bologna and ferrara . this state is bounded to the north by the republick of venice ; to the south by the dukedomes of mantua and modena ; to the west by the grand dukedome of tuscany ; and to the east by the kingdom of naples . the pope is able to bring into the field an army of 50000 foot and 10000 horse , and ought to have twelve galleys for the security of his coasts . the revenues of the holy see , amount to about two millions of god. but the popes have a blessed and easie way to augment it when they please ; and therefore sixtus iv. had good reason to say , that he could never want money so long as he had a hand and a pen. this easie way of filling the apostolick treasuries with money , has been the cause several popes not having children of their own to enrich , as paul iii. had , have solely apply'd themselves to raise the fortunes of their nephews . paul v. left the prince of salmone , his nephew , a revenue of a thousand crowns a day . and others have done well for theirs , proportionably to the times that they enjoy'd the papal chair ; and by this means it was that the number of petty princes multiply'd so greatly in italy . besides the spanish pistoles , piasters , sequins , and some other foreign pieces that are currant in the ecclesiastical state , the pope coyns several sorts of money , viz. pistoles , piasters , testons , giulios , gros , half baioques , and quatrini . the popes pistole goes at 30 giulio's , and the spanish at 31 : three giulio's make a teston ; the giulio is worth 5 baioques , and one baioque worth 5 quatrini . one baioque is worth 8 deneers of france , the giulio 3 sols 4 deneers ; so that by that accompt the ecclesiastical pistole is not worth above 100 sols , money of france . now in regard i intend a particular chapter for the city of rome , i shall in this chapter mention only the other principal cities of the ecclesiastical state , and begin with bologna , call'd , the fat , because of the excellency and fertility of the soil . it is so delightfully built , that in the most part of the streets you walk under portico's secur'd from rain and sun : it is not above 5 miles in circuit ; but if the air were not so unwholsome , it would be one of the most pleasant abodes in italy . though it be under the jurisdiction of the holy see , yet is it lookt upon at rome , rather as a sister then a subject ; in regard that by voluntarily surrendring her self to the church , she has preserv'd to her self the freedom of sending ambassadors to rome , from whence she has coadjurors ; which is a kind of bridle to curb the power and pride of the legates . the bolognese's also have this farther considerable priviledge , that if one citizen kills another , and that he can make his escape , his goods cannot be confiscated . there is also a tower at bologna , which by reason of the height of it , seems to lean on one side , like that of pisa ; which some assert to be an effect of art ; others that it was occasion'd by an earthquake . in the treasury of the dominicans church is to be seen a manuscript bible in parchment , which as they say was written by esdras with his own hand . they who have a mind to visit the churches of bologna , will see the body of katherine de vigri , a nun of the order of santa clara , who though she dy'd in 1463 , looks still as fresh as if she were but newly dead . but that which is more wonderful is this , that every month they pair her nails , and cut her hair once a year before a great number of credible persons ; nevertheless both the hair and the nails still grow as if she were alive . there are an infinite number of country seats in the parts adjacent to bologna , but that of the senator volta surpasses all the rest in magnificence . there is an inscription there to be seen , which has puzzl'd the most learned wits of several nations , for my part , i cannot aspire to that excellency ; and therefore i shall only mention here the interpretations of others . this enigmatick inscription is in latin , and 't is said to have been made by a person that was neither man nor woman , nor hermaphrodite ; that she dy'd neither of hunger , nor thirst , nor by the sword , nor by poyson , yet by all together ; that she was neither in the water , nor in the air , nor in the earth , but in all at once ; and that this inscription was made by lycus agatho priscus , who was neither her husband , nor her gallant , nor her kinsman , but all three at one time . many people have thought they could expound this riddle ; some saying that it was rain water ; another materia prima ; another chymical mercury ; and a fourth ascrib'd it to love. since my remarques have not led me out of bologna , i cannot leave it without observing , that there is frequently seen in the parts adjoyning to the city , a certain meteor , toward the appennine mountain , when the weather is obscure and dark , which is a light almost as round as a globe , by the country people , call'd bocca d'inferno , the mouth of hell , because it has so fall'n out , that traveliers , having lost their way in the night , and following this light at a distance , have been led into precipices . ancona the metropolis of marca d'ancona , is one of the strongest places in the ecclesiastical state , where the magazines are always abundantly stor'd with all things necessary for the defence of it . the harbor was formerly in great request , insomuch that it was a proverb , porto d'ancona , torre di cremona , e petro di roma ; the port of ancona ; the tower of cremona ; and peter of rome . the port was formerly lin'd with marble , and the ships were moor'd to pillars of marble , set up all along the haven at a certain distance one from the other . but time and the wars have ruin'd the greatest part , and the trade is gone off to other places . however , it still preserves a very fair triumphal arch , which the romans erected in honor of the emperor trajan . loretto is another city of marca d'ancona , built upon a hill , and well fortify'd . this city has been famous for some ages , as being the repository of the chamber where the holy virgin conceiv'd the divine word . this chamber is about four fathom long , two broad , and as many in heighth . it is built of a stone inclining to a red colour , resembling brick , but much bigger and harder . there is also a little chimney against one of the walls on the right side , with an old cupboard , where they still preserve some earthen platters and dishes , which being found there when the building was remov'd , make people believe that it was the plate wherein the holy virgin was serv'd . some years since they made a silver door to the cupboard ; and at the end of the chamber is a window , through whch the angel enter'd when he brought her the mysterious tidings of the incarnation . there is also the portraicture of our saviour , and of the happy virgin , which they would have the world believe was drawn by st. luke . this chamber is now inclos'd within a chappel of the church of loretio , consecrated to the holy virgin ; and by the help of a candle you may perceive that this chamber stands upon no foundation . there is a world of riches in that church , which has often tempted the pyrates of barbary to try whither they could be so fortunate as carry it away , but without any success . among the rest of the wealth , for it would be too tedious to give an inventory of it all , there is to be seen two crowns and a dolphin of massy gold , which ann of austria queen of france , gave that church upon the birth of lewis xiv . an infinite number of crowns , lamps , gold and silver candlesticks set with precious stones . in the treasury of the church are to be seen several sumptuous altar-services ; and among others , one made of chrystal ; candlesticks , crevets , a bason and eure , and the foot of a chalice , all of amber . another service of agate , another of chrystal of the rock ; another of engrav'd or carv'd silver . i forbear to mention any more , that i may have room to say something of the miraculous removal of this chamber . the story is engrav'd upon the pillars of the great church in thirteen sorts of languages , for the information of pilgrims ; by which they are given to understand , that the turks having begun to invade the holy land , god , unwilling that the place where his son receiv'd his incarnation , should be polluted by the infidels , ordered the angels to take this poor domicil , and carry it the 9th of may 1291. from nazareth in galilee , where then it was , into dalmatia , or as others say , into slavonia : that three or four years after it was remov'd by those blessed spirits into the diocess of reconati in marca d'ancona , upon the lands belonging to a pious lady , whose name was loretta ; but that the little house being seated in a wood , where often robbers set upon the pilgrims , it was afterwards remov'd halfe a league from thence upon a hill , and then a little further to the place where this magnificent and wealthy church stands , and wherein this chamber is now inclos'd , before the great church stands a very fair brass statue of sixtus v. one of its benefactors . several strangers visit the apartments of the chapter-house , which are very superb , and sufficient to lodge the courts of several princes at a time . the cellars are always replenished with excellent wine , not only for the provision of the governor , the canons , and all the ecclesiasticks , but also for the entertainment of the princes , cardinals , bishops , ambassadors , and generally all the pilgrims that resort thither , of which there are an infinite number . the storehouse for drugs and medicines where the pilgrims are supply'd with physick gratis , is worth a travsller's observation . among other things there are in that infirmatory , four earthen pots , upon which , raphael vrbin painted the four evangelists , for which the king of france's ambassador offer'd in exchange , in his master's name , four vessels of gold of the same bigness and thickness , but could not obtain his request , which caus'd a saying , that raphael ' s fingers had a greater virtue in 'em than midas ' s , to change all things into gold which they touch'd . ferrara , the capital city of that province , seated upon one of the arms of the po , has appertain'd to the holy see , ever since the year 1597. at what time alphonso ii. duke of ferrara , of the house of d' este , dying without issue , the apostolick chamber seiz'd it into her hands , pretending it to be devolv'd to her ; which could not be done without revolutions , that did not a little contribute to the ruine of the inhabitants . this city bears the title of a dutchy , and is adorn'd with a bishoprick : the streets are also fair , and the palaces magnificent . the cathedral is the most ancient in italy . pope clement viii . caus'd a citadel to be built , consisting of six bastions , which cost him above two millions of gold , and set up his statue in the middle of the piazza . near the gate of the new piazza stand two brass statues of the two princes of the house of d'este , the one a horseback the other sitting . strangers must take notice , that before they can lodge in the inns of ferrara , they must have a ticket from the town-house . civita vecchia is one of the best sea-port towns in the ecclesiastical state , where the pope's gallies generally ride . but it now begins to grow more considerable then ever , in regard the present pope has declar'd it a free port , and granted franchises and priviledges , not only to christians , but also to the jews that will settle there . in the province of vmbria , near a place call'd terni , there is a wonderful sort of earth , which in a time of drowth , turns into mudd , and in rainy weather turns into dust . in the same province is to be seen the lake call'd pie di luco , of which , the water , as they say , in a little time petrifies pieces of wood that are thrown into it . the lake of norcia , of norcera is no less remarkable , in the vulgar opinion , who believe that the devil walks there , and that the magicians and witches keep their rendezvous upon the banks of it . nor is it less certain that the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages are often upon their guards to interrupt those sorts of meeting . the sybils cave is in that quarter , the subterraneal concavity of which leads , as they report , into a very far kingdom , where the men and women sport all day , and are turn'd into serpents in the night . visiting the parts about rome , you come to see nariri an episcopal city , anciently call'd the wicked city , for that the inhabitants finding themselves constrain'd to surrender , resolv'd rather all of 'em to die , and kill one another , then to be spectators of their enemies victory . they began with cutting their children's , their sister's and their mother's throats , soon after they did the same to their wives , and then setting fire to the four corners of the city , fell a massakring one another , till not one was left alive . before i conclude this chapter , i must inform the reader , that near tivoli , an episcopal city of la campagna di roma , there is a very deep lake , in which there are several floating islands , which when the wind blows , are driven to the sides of the lake , by the motion of the water . this lake is about 500 paces in length , and in regard the water is very sulphury , 't is thought that the boiling of the water forces up the mudd to the surface of the lake , which sticking to the reeds and other herbage , forms those islands , that in time grow bigger and bigger . chap. xii . of the city of rome , and the curiosities therein contain'd . rome , formerly the metropolis of a famous empire , and now the chief city of christendom , is-without contradiction the most famous city of the vniverse . her fame is spread abroad to all the most distant parts of the world , where she has manifestly made appear the puissance of her arms , and the prowess of her governors . men may easily judge of the strength and power of the ancient romans , when they find that their armies consisted of between two hundred and fifty and three hundred thousand men ; when they had about 1500 gallies , and an infinite number of other vessels : and lastly , that the bounds of their empire were euphrates , mount taurus , and armenia eastward ; aethiopia southward ; the danaw to the north ; and the ocean to the west . she has now acquir'd the epithite of holy , not only because she has been dy'd with the blood of an infinite number of martyrs , but because she is now the usual residence of the popes , accounted the visible heads of the roman apostolical church . this famous city was founded in the year of the world 3301. by remus and romulus , who were the grand-children by rhea sylvia their mother ( for their father is not known ) of numitor king of albania : which has giv'n an occasion to the historians , to publish 'em to posterity for the sons of mars , because their mother was found to be big with child , thô she were in the number of the vestal virgins . these two founders could not agree about the name , which they should give their city : for some authors will have it , that at first it was call'd valencia ; but the disputes between the two brothers being reconcil'd , or rather determin'd in favour of romulus , he gave it the name of rome , and was the first of the seven kings that govern'd it . after which , she had consuls till julius caesar , who was the first emperor of rome . thô this city has been sackt and burnt an infinite number of times , as well by foreigners as by her own citizens , yet has she been so fortunate , as still to preserve some lovely remains of her antiquity and magnificence . however , she is neither so potent , nor so spacious as formerly she was ; since history assutes us , that once she was above thirty miles in compass , whereas now she incloses no more then 23050 common paces , and 360 towres within the circuit of her walls and suburbs . she had formerly thirty gates , which occasion'd as many high roads that lead to 'em , which are still pav'd with great stones , and in many places adorn'd with marble pillars set up at every miles end . and it was in those high-ways , all along , that they enterr'd their dead ; there being a law which forbids burials in the city . now there are not above nineteen gates ; of which we shall give you both the ancient and modern names . 1. la porta del popolo , formerly flaminia 2. sancta merodia ' s gate , formerly gabiosa . 3. la porta piciana , formerly colatina . 4. the latin gate , formerly terentia . 5. la porta agonia , formerly quirinalis . 6. st. sebastian's gate , formerly capena . 7. st. agnes's gate formerly viminalis . 8. st. paul's , or ostia-gate , formerly trigemina . 9. la porta ripa , formerly portuensis . 10. st. laurence's gate , formerly esquilina . 11. st. pancrace's gate , formerly aurelia and septima . 12. the porta maggiore , formerly nevia . 13. la porta septimiana , formerly fontinalis . 14. st. john's gate , or coeliomontana . 15. the vatican gate near tiber. 16. la porta fabricia . 17. la porta pertusa . 18. la porta angelica . 19. the castle gate . rome is peopl'd with about 300000 christians , and about 8 or 10000 jews , who are obliged every saturday to hear a fryar preach upon their incredulity . the whole circuit of rome encloses seven hills ; but generally they never reckon above seven which are the biggest . 1. monte capitolino , where formerly stood the temples of above sixty deities . 2. monte palatino , formerly the mansion of the ancient kings , where still are to be seen a great number of subterraneal vaults , and the garden farnaise , one of the most lovely gardens for pleasure in italy . 3. monte aventino , where now stands santa sabina . 4. monte celio , which extends from st. gregories to st. john de laterano . 5. monte esquelino , so call'd from the watch that stood there . 6. monte vioninale , so call'd from the oziers with which it was formerly overgrown . and 7. monte quirinale , now monte cavallo , ever since the setting up in that place of the two marble bucephalus's which tiridates king of armenia presented to nero. the popes also have built upon it a magnificent palace for their summer habitation . they reck'n fourscore parishes in rome , and above three hundred churches : of which the seven principal , whither the people repair to obtain indulgences , are st. peter's in vaticano , st. paul's without the city , st. maria maggiore , st. sebastians , st. john di laterano , of the holy cross of jerusalem , and st. laurences . but in extream hot weather they go to sancta maria del popola , instead of st. sebastians . there are two sorts of government in rome ; that of the city , and that of the church ; and both the one and the other is in the hands of some ecclesiastick upon whom the pope confers it . the first has under him a captain of a hunderd men , to be ready upon all occasions to execute the orders of the civil government . this captain is call'd bargello , and his soldiers sbirri . it may be said that there is no city in the world wherein the civil government is better settl'd then at rome . all sorts of provisions are rated in the markets , in the shops and in the inns , where no body can sell any thing but according to the rate set . there are bills set up in all inns containing the price of bread , wine and meat , &c. and-for the information of strangers , and to the end that the inn-keepers may not deceive those who are ignorant of the language , or who cannot read , the sbirri many times stop strangers in the streets , to know of 'em where they lodge , and what they pay a meal , to the end that they who offend against the orders of the civil government may be soundly fin'd ; and the better to take the inn-keepers napping , many times the sbirri go and lodge in the inns , in the disguise of forreigners , especially where they have any suspicion . as to the ecclesiastical government , it resides in the person of the pope , or the cardinal patron under the character of his vicar general . when there is any thing to be regulated , the pope calls a congregation , where not only the cardinals are present , but the bishops and doctors ; and if any important affairs of the church are in agitation , they are propos'd in a consistory , which the pope usually holds every 15 days , where all the cardinals that are in rome must be present . none but the cardinals , whose assembly is call'd the sacred colledge , have any right in the election of the new pope . this name of cardinal was formerly given to all the curates of parishes in rome . nor was it till after the famous council held at rome , in the pontificare of nicholas ii. in 1053. that the cardinals assum'd to themselves the only right of choosing the soveraign pontiff . their number is fix'd to seventy , viz. fifty priest cardinals , fourteen deacon cardinals , and six bishop cardinals , which are the bishops of porto , ostia , sabina , palestrina , frescari , and albano . for these bishopprick suffragans to the pope , as their metropolitain are always enjoy'd by a cardinal . at the council of lion held in 1243. pope innocent iv. gave the red cap to the cardinals . paul ii. in 1464. allow'd 'em red habits ; gregory xiv . gave a red bonnet to the regular cardinals , who before that time wore only a hat , and vrban viii . allow'd 'em the title of eminency , till then addrest to by no other title than that of illustrissimo . at the time of the promotion of cardinals , the pope being then in the consistory , tells the cardinals that are present , you have for your brethren , n. n. and then he causes the list of their names and qualities to be read . which done the cardinal patron sends for those who are at rome , and carries 'em to the pope to receive the red bonnet at his hands i and in the next first consistory , his holiness gives 'em the hat , and this ceremony is call'd the opening and shuting the mouths of the new cardinals . as for those that are absent , the pope dispatches away an express to carry 'em the bonnet ; but they are oblig'd to go to rome , to receive the hat from his holinesses hands . the cardinals habits , are a cassock , a rochet , a mantelet , the mozette , and the papal cope upon solemn days . the colour of their habit varies according to the season , sometimes light crimson , sometimes violet , sometimes murrey , or a very dark crimson , the cardinals are in great reputation at rome , and have great priviledges : among which one of the most considerable is , that if a cardinal chances to pass through any place where any criminal is led to punishment , the cardinals presence gives a full pardon for his crime . the place where the cardinals meet in order to the election of a new pope when the see is vacant , is call'd the conclave . this conclave is not fix'd to any place , but is in the power of the cardinals to make choice of any place which they shall deem convenient . however in regard the vatican is the most commodious for many reasons , this assembly has been held there for a long time ; so that the deliberation of the cardinals about the choice of a place for the conclave is no more then a bare formality . there are so many cells as there are cardinals , erected in a spacious apartment of the palace ; which cells are made of deal-boards , every cardinals conclavist having his partition also , who is a person shut up with the cardinal to wait upon him . when the cells are ready , they are drawn by lot , and every cardinal furnishes his own , and sets up his arms over the door . the cells are finish'd in nine days , by which time the pope's funeral obsequies being over , upon the tenth , the cardinals that are at rome , enter the conclave ; and without staying for the arriual of the absent cardinals , labour morning and evening in the election of the pope . when the absent cardinals arrive at rome , they spend some days in visits , and reposing themselves , and then they enter the conclave also . so soon as the pope is dead , the publick is inform'd of it by the ringing of a bell that hangs in the capitol , and which is never towl'd upon any other occasion . at the same time courriers are dispatch'd to all the sovereign princes of europe that profess the roman catholick religion , to inform 'em of the pope's death , the cardinal chamberlain removes to the palace , and takes possession of the fishermans ring , which was the deceased pope's signet , and breaks it to pieces , because all dispatches of bulls cease during the vacancy of the see. afterwards he gives out all necessary orders for the pope's funeral , whose body is embaulm'd and carry'd into a chappel of st. peter's church , and expos'd upon a bed of state , for the people to come and kiss his feet through a grate . the funeral obsequies last nine days , and the ceremony is perform'd by the sacred colledge . during the vacancies of the holy see , the three chiefs of the orders of the colledge , viz. the dean of the cardinal bishops , the first cardinal priest , and the first cardinal deacon , have in their hands the whole government of the city and ecclesiastical state , and before they shut themselves up in the conclave , they issue forth all necessary orders for the publick security as well in rome as in all the cities of the state. i shall not enter into a particular description of the manner of electing popes since linus's time , who was the first that succeeded st. peter till this present time , as well for that it would carry me too far , as for that the ecclesiastical history has amply satisfy'd that piece of curiosity . 't is observable in that history , that the people and the clergy joyntly , and sometimes the clergy alone proceeded to this election ; that at other times the princes and emperors have assum'd to themselves the power of appointing whom they pleased to be popes , and reserv'd the confirmation also to themselves : that lewis the debonaire , and his successors lotharre i. and lewis ii. restor'd the liberty of election to the church in the ninth age : that it was again taken from her in the reign of otho i. and not restor'd to her again till in the twelfth age. but now briefly to the manner of election in use at this day . the cardinals that compose the conclave repair morning and evening to the chappel , to make the scrutiny ; to which purpose they carry every one of 'em a little ticket , wherein is written the name of the cardinal for whom they give their suffrage for the pontificate : this billet also contains the name of the cardinal elector , which nevertheless is inclos'd in a cover and seal'd up , and instead of a superscription such a motto or short saying as the person thinks of ; as for example , god is my help . — the holy ghost be my guide . every cardinal throws his billet into a chalice that stands upon the altar of the chappel of the conclave ; and after all the tickets are in , two cardinals are appointed to open the first fould of the ticket , and read aloud the persons nam'd to the pontificate which are writ down in a register , yet not breaking open the seal that encloses the name of him that gives his suffrage , unless it be found that two thirds of the suffrages are for one and the same person , which is the number requisite to render the election authentick ; but then the seals are broke open , and the new pope has the satisfaction to know who were the persons that contributed to his election . this scrutiny also continues till two thirds of the voices meet ; and after reading of the scrutiny , if the two thirds of the suffrages do not agree upon the same person , then they have recourse to that which they call anough ; that is to say , that every one is at liberty to give his voice for him who had the most by the scrutiny , with this reservation , that the person is not permitted to give his voice , by the anough , for him to whom they had given it by the scrutiny . but if at length , neither the scrutiny , nor the anough determine the election , all the tickets are burnt , to the end the names of the electors may be kept secret . sometimes the election is carry'd by way of inspiration , as they call it , which is as it were an open declaration , several cardinals crying out at the same time , such a one pope . but this is never us'd , but when they who make that exclamation are assur'd that they shall be upheld by the suffrages of two thirds of the assembly . when any one of the cardinals is elected . pope , the masters of the ceremonies repairs to his cell , to carry him the tidings of his exaltatation ; after which he is conducted to the chappel , and rob'd with the pontifical habit : which done he receives the adoration of the cardinals ; that is to say , the respects which they are accustom'd to pay the sovereign pontiff . that done , they seat him in the pontifical chair , and set him upon the altar of the apostles in st. peter's church ▪ where the cardinals perform the ceremony of adoration a second time . from thence his holiness is reconducted to his apartment , and some days after they proceed to the ceremony of his coronation , as of a temporal prince . and here are to be observ'd the two qualifications of a pope ; the one is as he is the soveraign pontiff and head of the church ; the other , as he is a temporal prince , and sovereign of a considerable state. the ceremony of the coronation is perform'd in st. peter's church , where there is a throne erected , to which the new pope ascends , and being seated ▪ his miter is taken off , and the crown set upon his head before all the people . and then begins the cavalcade from st. peters to st. john di laterano , at what time all the cardinals , princes , and ambassadors accompany him on horseback . being arriv'd at st. john di laterano , the archbishop of that church presents the pope with two keys , the one of gold , the other of silver ; and after he has given the canons leave to kiss his feet , his holiness is attended back to his palace with the same ceremony . in the account which i am going to give of the curiosities in rome most worthy the observation of a traveller , i shall endeavour to omit nothing considerable of what came to my knowledge , and begin with a description of the churches , which are the fairest and best adorn'd of any in the world. the church of st. peter is deservedly lookt upon to be the most beautiful , the largest and the most superb in europe . it is built in the form of a cross , 840 geometrical paces in length , 725 in breadth , 300 high , and 1465 in circuit . the roof of it is guilt , and it is cover'd with lead and copper guilt . the whole structure is lin'd with marble within and without side ; and it is pav'd with square panes of marble : above one hundred pillars support the roof . of which the ancient emperors despoyl'd asia : among the rest there are twelve that vespatian brought away from the temple of solomon . i say nothing of the riches that glister in all the chappels of the church , nor of the infinite number of relicks which are there preserv'd . those for which the people have the greatest veneration are the vail of st. veronica , with the picture of our saviour's face ; the lance that was run into his body ; st. peter's wooden pulpit , with the bodies of several saints . the portico of this church is 289 foot long , 40 broad , and 133 in height ; and it has five doors that answer to the five doors of the church ; of which one is call'd the holy door , as being never open'd but in time of jubilee . over the domo of the church stands a cupola , or globe of copper guilt , which below seems not to be a foot in diameter , nevertheless it will hold above twenty men. after you have ascended a great number of steps , you come to a ladder of eighteen rounds which joyns to the foot that sustains the globe , so that you must get up with great trouble by the help of a rope that is fasten'd above , and hangs down by the side of the ladder . this globe is about a fingers breadth in thickness , having no more than four small clefts , two inches broad , and six high to let in the light , and two iron bars run a-cross it for people to sit upon . 't is observable that no body is permitted to go into it in the heat of summer , for fear of being stifl'd . 't is said that st. peter's church cost forty three millions of gold , and was the work of twenty three popes . the church of st. john , di laterano , is very considerable , as well for the antiquity of it , as for that it is the episcopal church of rome ; and because there it is , that the pope takes possession of his dignity . there it was also where the emperors receiv'd a crown of gold : it is all pav'd with marble , and supported with four rows of guilded pillars . before the church stands an obelisk , a hundred and fifteen foot high , erected by sixtus v. this church was built by constantine the great , after his conversion , in the year 318. and enrich'd with several crowns of massie gold and silver . the kings of france have a right to present two canons of this church to his holiness , in consideration of the great benefits this church has receiv'd from his most christian majesty ; and there is a solemn service said in it every year in memory of henry iv. of france . there is to be seen enchac'd in the great altar , another little altar , upon which they say , that st. peter and some of his successors said mass , before they could be admitted the publick exercise of divine worship . however , it were , no body must say mass upon this altar but the pope himself , or a cardinal that represents his person , and he must have an apostolick brief for that too . a chair of porphyrie is also shown to foreigners , wherein the pope seats himself at the door of the church , when he takes possession of the papacy . there are a world of relicks in this church , as the ark of the old testament , moses's rod , the heads of st. peter , st. paul , and st. zacharie , &c. too tedious to be here repeated . upon one side you ascend to st. john de laterano , by the scala santa , or holy ladder , which are twelve steps of white marble , the same by which christ ascended into pilates palace , and which helena sent from jerusalem to her son constantine , then at rome . people creep up these stairs upon their knees out of devotion . st. anastasius's church was formerly the temple of neptune . the church of st. theodore was formerly the temple of romulus and remus ; and as it is said , 't is built in the very same place where the two founders of rome were suckl'd by the wolfe . the hospital of nostra madonna of consolation , was the temple of vesta , where the vestal virgins kept the sacred fire . st. agnes's church was formerly the temple of bacchus ; that of st. alexis upon mount aventine , was the temple of hercules . upon st. anthony of padua's day , the people bring all manner of beasts to his church in the martian valley , in hopes that saint will preserve 'em from all sickness , and from the devouring jaws of the wolfe . sta. barba's in the quarter of pigna , was the temple of venus . st. bartholomews in the island , was the temple of jupiter and escubapius . st. blase's in the field of mars , was another temple of neptune . st. cosmo and st. damian was another temple , formerly dedicated to romulus and remus . st. laurences by janicola was the temple of juno-lucina . st. lucius near the palace , was the temple of apollo . st. maries upon the capitoline hill was the temple of jupiter feretrius . st. nerea's was the temple of isis . sta. sabina up the aventine mount was the temple of diana . st. martin's church in the mount , is remarkable for the vault , which , as they say , was the place wherein the christian religion was first exercised , and where st. sylvester held two councils , during the persecution of the church . the church of the holy cross in jerusalem , which is one of the seven consecrated to the cross , was built by constantine , out of the ruins of the temple of venus and jupiter ; and because the infidels had erected the statue of venus upon mount calvarie , and had given the name of that goddess to the mount. sta. helena caus'd the superficies of the mountain to be par'd off , and sent the earth to the emperor constantine her son , who put it into the chappel of that church , where it is kept among the rest of the reliques . st. pauls church , a mile without the city , was also founded by constantine , in honour of that apostle , who lies there enterr'd . it is 477 foot long , 258 broad , and is supported by 100 pillars of white marble , in four rows . the church of st. maries de la rotonda , formerly the pantheon , is a considerable structure , as well for that agrippa , who was the founder of it , set up the statues of all the ancient deities therein , in that order of dignity which the heathens ascrib'd to 'em ; as for that the model of several new churches has been taken from the round form of it . this same structure is a hundred and forty foot high , and as many broad , without pillars , having no other support then that of the walls ; which makes it lookt upon , as one of the boldest pieces of architecture that is in italy . there is no light but what comes in at the door , and at an overture , about eight fathom in circumference , it the top of the church . this building was formerly cover'd with plates of silver , afterwards of copper , and since that with lead ; but now lastly , at this day with large stones . there are a great many hospitals in rome , every nation having one particularly belonging to it . but the hospital of the trinity , erected by clement viii . actually maintains five thousand persons ; not to mention such as come by chance . in the apostles church , there is to be seen every year an election of twelve gentlemen and one prelate , for the distribution of alms to such as are asham'd to make known their necessities ; and to the end they may be the more easily discovered , there are several boxes lock'd up , and set up in publick places , having little grates at the top , wherein they who are in want , may put in little notes containing the places of their abode . there are also houses for young girls of ten or twelve years of age , when their parents are not able to provide for 'em , for fear lest poverty should tempt 'em to prostitute themselves . there is another house , over the gate of which is to be read this inscription , per le donne mal maritate . for the women ill married ; where they put such women as are unfortunately married , or cannot agree with their husbands : and where they stay till their differences are reconcil'd , and that the one or the other testifies a desire to live peaceably together . all sorts of lewd strumpets that signifie a desire to repent and reform their lives , are admitted into st. mary magdalains in corse , and are there maintain'd all the rest of their lives : nor are they lock'd up by force , as in the spinning-house , in amsterdam ; but they must see no men , unless it be their confessor and their physitian . they who report that brothel-houses are permitted in rome , say true ; but not when they add that the pope approves 'em , and receives a tribute from ' em . for there is a great difference between approving and conniving . judaism is no more approved in italy , then in england and holland , thô the jews are suffer'd in all these places , and have their publick synagogues . and the popes are so far from laying any tribute upon the infamous traffick of the daughters of joy , that they have been the founders of several hospitals for the maintenance of young girls , whose fathers and mothers are not able to keep 'em , lest poverty should tempt them to libertinism : and they are maintain'd in those houses , till they are of an age to marry , or enter into a religious house ; and they that are dispos'd to marry , have a reasonable portion allow'd 'em , proportionable to the match that offers it self , and every annunciation day , there is a considerable sum of money distributed in the dominicans church to 300 young virgins that are in those hospitals . the laws in respect of common prostitutes are very rigorous : they are forbid to come into the assemblies of honest women , or to frequent the places where they walk to take the air : they must not go in a coach in the day time ; nor stirr out of their houses in the night ; nor may they converse together , to the end they may have no opportunity to encourage one another to debaucherie . they are forbid upon pain of exemplary punishment , to admit any company into their houses during lent , nor during the advent . they are bound to register their names in the publick registers , kept on purpose for the curtisans ; who by that means are lookt upon as infamous for ever . they are not admitted to the holy communion , nor buried in holy ground , but in the nasty places along by the walls of the city . lastly , they cannot make a will , so that if they leave any estate behind 'em , which is very rarely , 't is all confiscated for the benefit of the hospitals for young virgins . those places which they call catacombs , are certain subterraneal walks , or caverns . where the primitive christians performed the exercises of their religion , during the persecutions of the pagan emperors , and where they privately also held some councils . the catacombs , most known in rome , are those that open into the churches st. pancras , st. sebastian , st. agnes , and st. laurence . they who have gone through 'em report , that they run almost quite under the city , even under the river tiber. these vaults are for the most part about five foot high , and three in breadth . by the sides of which lie the bodies of several saints and martyrs , from whence the pope causes the holy bodies to be taken up , and presents 'em to princes and ambassadors , by such names as his holiness thinks proper to give ' em . there are some places in these catacombs , where people are forc'd to crawl along upon their bellies , for twenty or thirty paces : and several persons that have gone thither to visit the tombs of the ancient christians have laid their own bones in the same place . for being engag'd too far without good guides , they have lost themselves ; either their light failing 'em before they can find the way out again . or else being stifl'd with the smoak of the torches . the palace of st. peter's of the vatican , where the popes usually reside in winter , is seated in the burrough , the best fortify'd place in all the city . this palace is of a very vast extent , in regard it côntains above 5000 rooms and chambers . it has three rows of galleries adorn'd with pictures , representing the principal histories of the old and new testament . in the chambers also are an infinite number of marble and alablaster statues ; more especially there is a stone to be admir'd in the imperial chamber , upon which nature has form'd the image of pius v. more exactly then any pencil could have drawn it upon cloth. this palace so call'd from the name of the hill upon which it is seated , was begun in the pontificate of nicholas v. and finish'd under leo v. but was embellish'd with painting and statues by sixtus v. clement viii . vrban viii . and their successors , who have made it a palace fit for the residence of the severeign pontiffs . in the midst of the gallery that leads to belvedere , stands the vatican library , which is lookt upon to be the fairest and the most famous for number and curiosity of books in the world. there are an infinite variety of manuscripts in hebrew , greek , latin , arabick , &c. writings upon leaves of wood , and tablets of wax , of which they made use before the invention of paper . there is a large manuscript hebrew bible , and another hebrew bible written upon pieces of parchment roll'd up , from whence the latin word volumen , with another manuscript written upon the leaves of a tree , as the custome was in those days , whence the latin word folium for the leaf of a book . lastly , there is a greek bible , which as they assure us , was one of the seventy copies of the seventy interpreters who translated the old testament by the command of ptolomy philadelphus , being shut up every one apart by themselves . before they leave the vatican , travellers go to see the garden of belvedere , so call'd because from that place you have a prospect over the whole city . 't is to be observ'd that what we call a garden of pleasure , in italy they call a vinyard . this vinyard of belvedcre is remarkable for an infinite number of marble . brass , and alablaster statues ; among which is the statue of the river tiber , resting upon a wolf that gives suck to romulus and rhemus ; and on the other side nilus with seventeen children , every one about a fathom in height , denoting the seventeen various measures to which the waters of that river encrease . there is also to be seen a cleopatra expiring after her being bitten by a serpent twisted about her arm ; a venus ericina coming out of a bath ; the statues of bacchus , mercury , apollo , and laocoon and his children folded about with two surpents . the piazza of the vatican , commonly call'd st. peter's piazza , is one of the fairest in rome , adorn'd with a fountain that spouts up the water , as big about as a man 's middle , and as high as a half-pike ; and an obelisk , which is call'd the needle by reason of the shape and height of it . this is a stone that was brought from egypt , by the command of caligula , at an incredible charge , and was set up in nero's circus ; but sixtus v. caus'd it to be remov'd into the vatioan piazza . it is 217 foot high , comprehending the basis about 12 foot in circumference below , and 8 at the top . it is supported by four lions of brass guilt , that stand upon a large pedestal of marble . the castle of st. angelo is one of the best fortresses in italy , and has been the sanctuary of several popes in the troubles of italy . alexander vi. built a private coridor , or gallery , which leads from the palace of st. peter , to the castle , to the end the popes might retire in a time of necessity without being seen . prisoners of state are committed thither ; and the treasure of the church , the records and rolls , the triple crown , with the five millions which sixtus v. laid up there , with a prohibition upon pain of excommunication to all his successors , forbiding 'em to touch it , but upon a most urgent necessity for the defence of the city , to which end that sum was only design'd . as to the name of the castle , it was so call'd , as they say , from the statue of an angel that stands at the top of the frontispiece with a sword in his hand , in memory of st. gregories vision , in which an angel appear'd to him sheathing his sword , to let him understand that the wrath of god was appeasd toward the romans , who had been very much afflicted with war , pestilence and famine . near the castle is a bridge over the tiber , call'd st. angelo's bridge , built almost in the same place where formerly stood the triumphal bridge , by reason that all the triumphs that were decreed in rome , pass'd that way . but now we see no more remaining but only the sad ruines of that pompous vanity , it being the will of god , that that piece of solemn luxury should be quite extinct , by reason the excess of those triumphs was grown to that degree of exorbitancy , that had the use of 'em continu'd , men would have been made use of instead of beasts to draw the victors chariot . camillus's was drawn by four white horses ; pompey's by four elephants ; mark-antony's by four lyons ; and nero's by four hermophradites ; aurelian's by six harts , and firmius's by six ostriches . the capitol is one of the most ancient buildings in rome , so call'd from the head of a man that was found when the foundations of it were laid by the orders of tarquin the proud. the structure was finish'd and cover'd with brass guilt in the consulship of pulvillus . catulus consecrated it to jupiter capitolinus ; and it was adorn'd with a great number of statues of massie gold and silver , which represented the ancient roman magistrates and consuls , and it had 3000 brass tables when one part of it was consum'd by fire . nor was that the only fire which defac'd this building , for it was again burnt down in sylla's time : a third time in the reign of domitian ; and a fourth under commodus . so that it wants that wealth and magnificence which formerly render'd it so famous . an ascent of 128 steps led up to it , and there are still remarkable in it for curious pieces of workmanship two statues of constantine upon two horses of marble , and in the grand piazza stands a brass statue of marcus aurelius antoninus on horse-back . the palace of the conservators , which is also a part of the capitol , is adorn'd with an infinite number very curious statues . upon the quirinal hill are to be seen the ruines of constantine's bathing places . these sorts of buildings were very large and sumptuous in every respect ; and there are also to be seen at rome some ruines of the emperors alexander , severus , nero , titus , trajan , philippus , and caracalla's baths . they that are very curious are easily led to see upon the palatin hill , the lake or gulf of curtius , a kind of an abyss whence formerly issued forth a stench that caus'd the pestilence in rome , upon which the oracle being consulted , return'd for answer , that the contagion should not cease , till they had thrown into the gulph whatever rome had of most precious . presently the roman ladies threw in all their jewels ; but that not availing curtius , a roman knight , imagining there was nothing more pretious than a brave and a valiant man , and willing to signalize his presumption and his zeal for his country , threw himself headlong horse and man into the abyss , and then the plague ceas'd . in that quarter which is call'd the field of mars , stands antoninus's pillar , upon which are represented in half relief the glorious actions of that emperor against the armenians , the parthians , the germans , &c. two hunder'd and seven marble steps lead up to the top of it , the light coming in at six little windows . it consists of no more then eight and twenty marble stones , which being joyn'd together , make a hundred seventy five foot in heighth . of late they have plac'd upon the top of it a statue of st. paul of guilt brass . trajan's column in the piazza of the same name consists of no more then four stones that rise to 140 foot in heighth ; to the top of which there is an ascent of 185 steps , enlighten'd by 44 windows . formerly they had set upon the top of this column an urn with trajan's ashes in it ; but that is since taken down , and the statue of st. peter in brass erected in the room of it . nor must i bury in silence the statues of pasquin and manforio ; for they that talk so often of others , must not be themselves forgotten . it is call'd the statue of pasquin , because that all the satyrs which are made in rome , call'd pasquinades are always fix'd upon it . some say this statue was erected in honour of one of alexander's soldiers who had done him many signal services . others reject this opinion , and tell us that the word pasquin is deriv'd from a taylor who made cloaths for persons of quality in rome ; and in regard he was a very great droll , he observ'd their blind sides , to make lampoons upon 'em in his shop , which always gain'd him good company . they add that sometime after his decease the paviers digging before his door found a statue , to which they presently gave the name of pasquin , and set it up in the next quarter to his house . however it were , it was propos'd to one of the popes , that it might be thrown into tiber , to take away all opportunities of libelling and lampoons that were fix'd upon it . but the holy father made answer that he was afraid it would turn to a frog that would be croaking day and night : intimating thereby , that instead of stopping the course of satyrs , the lampooners would fix 'em upon all the statues in the city . not far from the capitol stands another statue call'd manforio , where generally are hung up the answers made to the lampoons which are fix'd upon pasquin . some say this statue was erected in honour or jupiter panarius ; others that it is a statue of the rhine . because that formerly the emperot domitian's brazen horse set his foot upon the head of it . there is no city in the world wherein there are more magnificent palaces . the learned mr. spon , in his travels into the east has given us a catalogue of 'em , which has sav'd me the trouble . i shall only say , that the palace of the farnezi is one of the most sumptuous . it has four fronts with a large gate belonging to every one that leads into the court , and is surrounded with pillars forming portico's that support an open gallery that leads to every apartment , in this court stand two statues of hercules leaning upon his club ; one of which was found in caracalla's baths ; the other is an imitation of that . in the palace hall stands the statue of alexander farneze , duke of parma , who tramples under foot two statues representing heresie and rebellion , while fame sets a crown upon his head. this piece is so much the more esteem'd , because all the four peices are all of one single stone of white marble . there are an infinite number of other lovely statues and pictures in the apartments belonging to this palace : more particularly there is to be seen a marble statue in a small back-court , representing the figure of a bull , all of one stone , having one of the horns ty'd with a woman's hair , while two men endeavour to throw 'em into the sea. 't is the history of amphion and zethes , who in revenge of the injury done their mother , whom lycus king of thebes had repudiated , upon the importunity of dirce , ty'd dirce to the horns of a bull , and cast 'em both headlong into the sea. one of the curiosities of rome , which strangers always visit , is to be found in prince ludovisio's palace ; that is to say , the body of a man petrefy'd and laid in a velvet box , with one leg broken , to convince the incredulity of the curious , who will not believe that the skeleton was cover'd with stone , because they say it was a garment made on purpose . this justifies what ortelius affirms , that upon certain mountains of tartary , there are to be found men , camels , sheep , & e. chang'd into stones for above three hundred years past : and ▪ aristotle reports that there is a cave near bergamo , where are to be seen the petrify'd bodys of several men. when i enumerated the churches of rome , i forgot to tell ye , that in the church call'd la bocca di verita , there is a piece of marble representing a head with the mouth open ; and the good women do say , that if a woman unfaithful to her husband's bed , lays her hand upon it , the mouth will shut . the roman women who have jealous and credulous husbands , frequently justifie their chastity by this means , wherein they run far less hazard then they who formerly were constrain'd to walk bare-foot over red hot coals , and plough-shares . this is what i purpos'd to say of the famous city of rome , wherein though i have omitted many things , yet there is sufficient to give an advantageous idea of it to those who have never seen it ; and to breed in others a desire of seeing it . chap. xii . of the kingdom of naples . there is not any state in italy of that vast extent as the kingdom of naples . some italian authors have call'd it sicily on this side the pharos , which is the reason that the kings of spain have assum'd the title of kings of both sicilies . generally this kingdom is divided into twelve provinces ; viz. la terra di lavore , principato giteriore , principato vlteriore , calabria vlteriore , la terra d' otranto , la terra di bari , la capitanata , the county of molisso , the hithermost abruzzo , and the furthermost abruzzo : it is reckon'd to contain 24 archbishopricks , 60 principalities , 100 dukedoms , as many marquisates , 66 earldoms , and above 1000 baronies . which shews us , that the nobility multiplies in that kingdom , more then any where else ; which is the reason that naples is call'd naples the noble . the air is very wholsome , and the country very fruitful in corn , wine , and all sorts of fruits , this kingdom has not been free from revolutions that have turmoyl'd the repose of italy upon several occasions . it has been in the possession of the romans , goths , lombards , normans , suabians , french and spaniards . which latter usurp'd it from the french who have an undoubted claim to it , as well by the investiture given by clement iv. both of that kingdom , as also of sicily , to charles of france , duke of anjou and provence , brother of st. lewis in 1265. as for that queen joan i. by her last will and testament , dated june 29 , 1480. adopted lewis of france i. of that name : jane ii. who possessed the throne from the year 1414. till the year 1434. adopted rene of france , sirnam'd , the good ; which acquir'd him a double right . but ferdinand king of spain , contrary to the treaty made with lewis xii . king of france , sent a puissant army into italy , under the leading of the famous gonsalvo , who drove the french out of naples and sicily ; since which time the spaniards have been in possession of 'em , and keep a viceroy there , who is chang'd every three years . the kingdom of naples holds of the holy see ; and the king of spain pays every year to the pope upon st. peter's day a tribute of a white nag , and a purse of 7000 ducats . but the neapolitans do not willingly brook the spanish yoak : and therefore they have endeavour'd to cast it off several times : but their last insurrection was in the years 1646. and 1647. tho they fail'd in the success , because the design was ill laid , and ' for that the male-contents had no body to head em but a sorry fisherman , vulgarly known by the name of masaniello , who for above 15 days commanded above 200000 men , who paid him a blind obedience . this kidgdom that stretches it self forth in form of a peninsula , is bounded to the east by the ionian sea ; to the north by the gulph of venice , by the tuscan sea to the south ; and by the ecclesiastical territories to the west . it is about 500 miles broad , and 1500 in circuit . the city of naples , the metropolitan of this flourishing kingdom , is seated upon the sea-shore ; formerly call'd parthenopea , and is defended by three citadels provided with all things necessary to keep the neapolitans under the spanish yoke ; of which one is call'd the norman castle , as being founded by william iii. duke of normandy and king of naples : the second call'd the new castle , was built by charles i. brothrr to st. lewis ; but ferdinand king of arragon , who understood the importance of it , caus'd it to be fortify'd after an extraordinary manner ; and it has always a garrison in it of 500 natural spaniards . the castle of st. elmo which cemmands one part of the city , was built by robert i. the son of charles ii. and the emperor charles v. after he had caus'd it to be well fortify'd , call'd it the bridle of naples . besides these castles there are also some towres and other buildings , which are call'd by the name of fortresses , as the capuan castle , which however are of no other use then for the councils of justice and the civil government to assemble in . the viceroy's palace is very spacious , richly furnish'd , and incloses several curiosities , among others , a plant about two fingers in breadth , and about a foot and a halfe long , upon which the ancients wrote before the use of paper was invented . a stone , which being scrap'd , yields a kind of cotton , of which the pagans made a certain sort of cloth to wrap the dead bodies , which they burnt , by reason that this cloth being incombustible , preserv'd the ashes of the corps entire , this sort of cloth is in use among some people in india ; the nature of it being such , thar when 't is foul , 't is but throwing it into the fire , and it becomes as white as snow . the port of naples would be one of the best ports in italy ▪ were it but shelter'd from the south-east wind. the city is very neatly built ; the streets are broad , long , and as streight as a line , and so order'd ▪ that there runs a canal through every street , as in the cities of holland , which receive the filth and nastiness through iron grates , so that the streets are always clean . it may be about six miles in compass , comprehending the seven suburbs ; and it has been all along the residence of illustrious men , by reason of the mild and temperate air which it enjoys ; in the number of which we may reckon virgil , livie , horace , seneca , &c. the cathedral church is dedicated to st. januarius formerly bishop of beneventum , who is the fourteenth patron that the neapolitans have made choice of : and they keep the blood of this saint as a sacred relique , which is congeal'd in vessels : but if they lay it to the saints head , such is the story which they tell , it presently turns liquid , and rowls up into little bubbles . as for the neapolitan money , they reckon all by carolino's ; every carolino being worth about ten sols of france : the spanish pistol goes for three and thirty carolino's ; a sequin for twenty carolino's ; a piaster weighs nine carolino's ; besides which , they have some small copper-money , that goes in the markets . after that strangers have seen the curiosities of naples , rhey visit the wonders in the parts adjoyning : for an infinite number of surprizing things that are to be met with in the kingdom of naples , may well be call'd by that name . the mountain vesuvius may well deserve to be plac'd in the first rank of these wonders , as being so frequently all in a flame . not to mention that inundation of fire which hap'ned in titus's reign , wherein plinie was a little too far engag'd , out of curiosity ; nor of several others ; i shall only say , that this mountain , which is above seven leagues from naples , continually vomits forth fire , sometimes more , sometimes less violently ; which has many times laid wast the country , and very much annoy'd the city of naples . there was formerly upon this hill , the loveliest vineyards in the country , and a very beautiful village , containing above 2500 inhabitants ; but in the year 1631. this infernal chimney , as tertullian calls it , vomited forth such a deluge of flames , accompanied with a torrent of sulphur , and a shower of stones , that all the poor people were either burnt of stifl'd , and their town was buried in the cinders , that lay more then ten foot thick above the steeple of the church . stones are also there to be seen , of a prodigious igness , and there are people still living , that beheld a torrent of sulphur , alome and salt-peter fall from the top of the mountain . some time before this dismal ravage , the smoak , that issu'd continually forth , increas'd , and was intermix'd with flames and ashes ; soon after , it was accompany'd with a noise so dreadful , that you would have thought that nature was about to have been swallow'd up : this noise was attended with an earthquake that swell'd up the sea ; and at length the mountain bursting , pieces of rock , all of a light fire , flew out , and the sulphur that ran down , floated upon the sea no less then three miles from the shore ; and 't is thought that if the wind had not prov'd favourable to the city of naples , it had been buried in the cinders that flew from the mountain . this terrible accident is engrav'd upon a marble stone , that stands in the high way which leads from naples to vesuvius , several people out of curiosity , have gone up to the top of the mountain , by a way cut out of the ashes for above two miles together , and found at the top of the mountain , a wide abyss , about two miles in circumference , and as many deep ; wherein there appear'd another , no less wide then the first , from whence issu'd out a thick smoak that smelt of sulphur . the mountain pausilipus is remarkable for the subterraneal way cut through the mountain for above a mile together , thô it be all of free stone ; this cavern is call'd the grotto of naples , and was made to shorten the passage from naples to puzzuolo . for in regard that mountain stretches out into the sea , like a promontory there is no passage left upon the shore : so that before that way was made , the ascent and descent of the mountain was very painful and laborious . there are some who averr it to be the work of lucullus ; others ascribe it to cocceius nerva : but however it were , the way is about a mile in length , and between twelve and thirteen foot high , and so broad that two coaches may goe a breast , there is no light comes into it but by the two entrances , and by two small overtures , which alphonso vii . king of naples caus'd to be boar'd through the top of the grotto , much about the middle of it , where there is a lamp continually burning before the image of the virgin ; but notwithstanding the darkness of the place , you are never pester'd , by reason that they who come from naples , always keep the right hand , and they who travel thither take the left. virgil's tomb stands in the garden of severino , shaded with laurels , almost at the entrance into the grotto . after this you must see the lake avernus , which virgil calls the lake of hell , because the birds that fly over it , are poison'd with the stench that exhales from the water . it may be above two thousand paces long , and half as broad . the ancients faign'd that charon ply'd there with his boat , in regard the river acheron forms this lake , upon the banks of which are to be seen the ruines of the temple of apollo . nor is the lake d'agnano far from it , environn'd with mountains , and thought to be bottomless in the middle . thô the water be full of serpents , yet has it the good quality to cure such beasts , as entring into such a venemous grotto adjoyning , call'd the dogs grotto , are dragg'd , halfe stifl'd with the sulphurie steam , that in an hours time would kill 'em quite . the lake lucrinus , the most abounding in fish of any in the kingdom , formerly intermix'd with avernus , by means of a canal : but in 1538. or as others say , upon michaelmas night in 1636. an earthquake , not only fill'd up the canal , but sett a mountain above four miles in compass , between the two lakes . the alome mountain yields a great revenue to the king of spain . the ancients made an infernal mansion of it , and plac'd vulcan's work-house there ; because they saw nothing but flames all night upon it , and smoak all day ; and for that the sulphurie vapour infected the air for above a league round ; the trench , from which this smoak arises , being a thousand foot wide , and fifteen hundred in length . all the land about puzzuolo is nothing but sulphurie earth , so that you shall see the smoak rise under your feet through the clefts in the high way , occasion'd by the drowth of the weather . not far from the mountain of brimstone , lies the vsurers lake , because it never restores any thing that is plung'd into the water , which is very black , thick , and bolls all day long . if you throw meat into it , it comes out halfe boil'd , and the one halfe of it consum'd : and if you put into it three eggs in a close basket , 't is said , that be as cautious as you can , you shall pull out but two , the lake taking the third as due for tribute . near puzzuolo , is a subterraneal labyrinth , into which you must not enter without lighted torches , and a skein of thread , which you must be very careful to preserve from breaking , unless you will run the hazard of losing your way . this labyrinth is compos'd of an infinite number of rooms , one within another : and there are likewise to be seen in the same place , some ruins of the temples of diana and neptune : nero's stoves , that yield a very great heat ; four chambers furnish'd with stone beds , and boulsters of the same materials , would entice a man to take his rest there , were they not a little of the hardest : cicero's baths are in a large room , where the letters are scrap'd out that were written upon the roof , because that sick people were so vain as to believe they should be cur'd so soon as they had read ' em . others affirm , that those inscriptions were only the names of such sick people as those baths had cur'd , but that the physitians caus'd 'em to be raz'd out , under pretence that they were magical characters . the baths of tirtola lie not far distant ; being a very long grotto , into which you are no sooner enter'd but you begin to sweat ; but when you are at the end of the grotto , you feel less heat : and if you feel it too hot , you need no more then stoop to the ground , and there comes up a coolness very refreshing . 't is said that at the farther end of this grotto there are baths that are qualify'd with excellent vertues ; but that they are but very little frequented , by reason the access to 'em is so frightful . about a 100 paces from the lake lucrinus , you meet with other baths , some cold , others hot . these are caverns in the rock , wherein they have cut out certain receptacles to bath in . when you enter into the cold baths , there are several chambers hew'd out of the rock , where there are a great number of those receptacles , some full , others empty . 't is said that every receptacle had a peculiar vertue to cure several distempers ; and they know 'em by the statues erected near the receptacles , laying a hand upon the part affected . when you leave these baths , you ascend some steps that are cut out of the rock which lead to the hot baths ; and when you have gone forward about 20 or 30 paces , there is a deep place full of water almost boyling hot ; on the side of which there is a grotto . ; but the descent into it is so hot , that it fetches out the sweat by very great drops , because the vapours and exhalations are so violent . near to cumae , which is lookt upon to be the mother of naples , is to be seen the grotto of the cumaean sybil , which though a pagan , foretold the birth of christ , and the mysteries of the incarnation . you enter into it through a long and wide walk cut out of the rock , which formerly led to the city of cumae . after you have gone 450 paces , upon the right hand you meet with a very low door , which leads into a chamber 14 foot long , and 8 wide , the roof of which is painted with gold and azure , and the walls inlay'd with coral , and mother of pearl . on the left hand of that chamber , is another door which leads into a walk cut out of the rock also , 4 foot high , and 40 long . at the end of it is a chamber that leads into two other chambers , in the one of which is a kind of a small lake : now in regard the room is very hot , and for that you cannot tarry long in it without sweating , 't is conjectur'd that it was the sybil's bath . and because that all these apartments are under ground , and for that no light comes into 'em , you must take care to be well furnish'd with flambeaus , or wax-candles , and to be no less cautious that they do not go out . now because all the rocks in this part of the kingdom of naples are full of these grotto's , 't is thought that the ancient inhabitants liv'd under ground . after you have taken a view of all the rarities about puzzuolo , you take boat and slip over to baiae , which lies not above 4 miles distant , and where there are also several remarkable curiosities . more especially some ruins of caligula's famous bridge , who to fulfil the prophesie of an astrologer , that in the time of tiberius foretold that caligula should be emperor when he should ride on horseback over the golph between puzzuolo and baiae , joyn'd to the bridge which the romans had then already begun , two rows of ships stay'd by huge anchors , over which he laid a great number of planks , and so rode over both on horseback , and in his chariot . there are some who believe that caligula did not only design the fulfilling of that prophesie , but that he was at that vast expence , to imitate xerxes , and to terrisie the people of europe that were unsubdu'd at that time . the sand all along that coast has two peculiar qualities ; that although the water be cold , the sand at the bottom of the sea is so hot that you can scarce endure to touch it , and when it comes out of the water , it becomes as hard as marble . it was at baiae where agrippina was stabb'd by the command of nero her son , who was so cruel as to rip open her body , that he might inspect the place where he had lain nine months . this misfortune was foretold that princess long before . for having consulted the oracle concerning the destiny of the fruit which she bare in her womb ; answer was return'd her , thou shalt bring forth a son who shall be emperor , but he shall put thee to death . to which she reply'd . let him put me to death , provided that he reign . her tomb is in a grotto , where there is a cave cut out of the rock , adorn'd with some sculptures which represent the empress surrounded with some birds of prey . there is also a certain subterraneal structure to be seen at baiae , which is call'd piscina mirabile , or , the wonderful fish-pond . it is supported with about 45 or 50 pillars , and lin'd with ciment ; which makes people believe that it is a cistern wherein the ancients preserv'd rain-water for their drink , in regard that all the water thereabout tastes strong of the minerals . there is another subterraneal structure , call'd the hundred little chambers , all built of brick , wherein they formerly put their slaves belonging to the galleys that always winter'd at baiae . there are an infinite number of curiosities more in the parts about puzzuolo and baiae : and without question , there is no part of europe where there are to be seen the ruines of so many pagan temples , tombs , amphitheaters , aqueducts , grotto's , palaces , &c. so that in regard it would take up above six months for a traveller to take up an exact view of all those rarities , it would require a volume in folio to make a faithful enumeration and description of ' em . but though i am leaving the parts adjoyning to puzzuolo , yet i am not quitting the kingdom of naples , before i have made some other remarks worthy the reader 's curiosity . in the province of tarentum , there are a sort of lizards , by which if a man be bitten , he cannot be cur'd but by dancing , and the sound of instruments . they add further , that these animals never bite any but the people of the country , and that it was a punishment which befel 'em , because that being dancing one day , they would not quit their jollity but for so long time till the host past by ' em . the territory of otranto is a kind of peninsula , environ'd with the adriatick and ionick seas , and much infested with locusts , that are pursu'd and hunted after by a sort of birds not to be seen in other parts . the city of otranto , the metropolis of the province is considerable for being an archbishoprick , and for the haven from whence they generally take shipping for greece . in former time pyrrhus had a design to have joyn'd greece to italy with a bridge of ships , in that part where otranto stands , though the two coasts are above 60 miles , or 25 french leagues asunder . otranto had the misfortune to be plunder'd by the turks in 1481. but it was nothing near so strong then , as it is now . brindisi , or brundusium : another archbishopprick and haven , famous for the passage of julius caesar into greece , in pursuit of pompey , whom he besieg'd , and forc'd to retire into epirus . the extrrordinary devotion that oblig'd several emperors and kings to visit mount st. angelo , especially the emperor otho , who travell'd bare-foot to rome with all his court , engages me to say something of it . 't is reported that st , michael having had a vision in those parts . made choice of it for the place of his abode , and digg'd a grotto in the rock . a marble portal leads into this subterraneal cavern , and you go down a descent of 55 marble steps into it . there is to be seen the little altar consecrated by st. michael himself , together with several other chappels under ground : besides , there is a fountain of water of sovereign vertue for the cure of several distempers . the devotion paid to this place , and the resort of people to it , has occasion'd the building of a city and several churches . rossano is another archiepiscopal city of calabria , for nothing considerable but for the church of st. maries . into which the women are not admitted to enter : for which the people of the country give this reason . the holy virgin , say they , having shew'd st. bartholomew the place where he should build that church , she still appear'd to him at a distance from the enclosure of the walls , while the church was building , and commanded that saint not to let any woman enter into it but to order 'em to stand without and hear mass . they further add , that some women happening to go in , either out of curiosity , or devotion , there arose such a violent storm of rain , hail and thunder , that never ceas'd till the women were gone out , and had given testimonies of their repentance for their rashness ; and they pretend that their ancestors have seen several tryals in confirmation of the truth of this story . salerno , the metropolis of the hithermost principato , derives its name from the little rivers of salo and erno , that water the territory belonging to it . when naples was govern'd by particular kings of their own , their eldest sons bore the title of princes of salerno . in the convent of jacobins , there is a bell that sometimes towls alone of it self ; and they pretend that such a spontaneous towling , presages the approaching death of some fryer in the convent . amalfi in the same province is famous for the invention of the needle and compass , and for being the first place that contributed to the order of the knights of st. john of jerusalem . capoua . an archiepiscopal city in the terra di lavoro , was formerly accounted the third city in the world ; rome and carthage being the other two . it is now seated about two miles distant from the place , where ancient capua stood : nor is considerable for any thing but the name of it , and some deplorable ruins of her ancient theaters , aqueducts , portico's , temples and subterraneal vaults . it was formerly call'd the mansion of pride and pleasure , as well by reason of the magnificence of it ; as for that hannibal in one winter quarter of a year , was so soften'd and effeminated with the pleasures and delights of that city , that he was no longer able to withstand the romans , whom he had so often defeated before . gaeta is another city in the same province , built by aeneas's nurse in honor of his nurse caieta the castle belonging to it , is considerable for the strength of it , and is well provided of all things necessary for the defence of it . the statue of charles of bourbon , constable of france , is also there to be seen , who being in the service of charles v. was slain at the siege of rome , and lies buried at caieta . upon his tomb are written the four following verses in spanish . francia me clio la leche , espagna suerte y ventura . roma me clio la muerte y caieta la sepultura . my infant milk i suckt in france , spain did my lot and fame advance ; death snatcht me from the walls of rome , and now caieta has my tomb. the dolphins that appear upon this coast are very large , which gives an occasion to conclude this chapter with a report of an accident that befell a seaman of caieta . that a sea-man having caught one of these fish , preserv'd it alive in a small pond , and tam'd him to that degree , that he would often get upon his back , and managing him with his voice only , accustom'd the willing fish , proud of his burden , to carry him for his pleasure to and fro upon the wide sea. some time after it happen'd , that the sea-man embarking for spain , the fish made his escape to follow the vessel in which he heard his masters voice : and it so fell out , that the ship being cast away , the faithful fish distinguish'd his master from among all the rest that cry'd out for help , and having taken him upon his back , return'd with him to the port from whence he set out . chap. xiii . os the islands and kingdoms of sicily and sardigna . some authors have written , that sicily which is the biggest island in the mediterranean , with the title of a kingdom , was formerly joyn'd to italy , and that a storm of wind occasion'd the separation ; others assert , that it was divided from it by an earthquake . it was first inhabited by giants , by listrigons and cyclops ; it was likewise call'd the island of the sun , and trinacrea , by reason of the three promontories of faro , passaro and boco , which are so plac'd . that the whole island resembles a greek delta . it is seated between 36 and 40 degree of longitude , and the latiude extends from the 35 to 88 degree . the circuit of the sea-coast takes up a hundred fourscore and ten leagues ; where it is longest ; sixty leagues in length , and fifty , where it is broadest . 't is but seven miles from cape faro to seiglio in the kingdom , of naples . some will have this island to hang in the seas , being supported only by three pillars that are under the three promontories , and to justifie their opinion , assert , that the river salso , that rises out of a hole in the middle of the island , comes from the sea , by reason the water is salt. the air is very wholesome , thô somewhat of the hottest for strangers . the soil is so fertile in corn , wine , and all sorts of fruits , that sicily was call'd the granary of italy . the honey , oil , wax , sugar , saffron , &c. which are all the products of that island , draw a great trade to it . besides , there are found in this island , great store of agates , emraulds , jasper , porphyrie , salt , and several mineral mines : and all the sea-coasts abound in fish . when the roman empire fell to decay , sicily was plunder'd and usurp'd by the vandals . after that the saracins settl'd in it , till they were expell'd by the normans in 1070. charles of france , duke of anjou , count of provence , and brother of st. lewis . was invested in the kingdoms of naples and sicily , and the french remain'd masters of it till the year 1282 , or as others say , 1283. at what time , upon an easter day , at the hour of vespers , the sicilians , sollicited by the arragonians , massacred all the french in the churches , little dreaming of such a fatal surprize : and this was the massacre which still carries the name of the sicilian vespers . since that , the spaniards setl'd themselves there . and are still in possession of it , sending a viceroy thither to govern it . spanish pistoles , piasters and reals , as also sequins of venice goe currant in sicilie , provided the pieces be weight ; for they coin no other money but tarins . a spanish pistole is worth forty tarins ; and the venetian sequin , twenty four : every tarin is worth about five sols of france . when they make any payment , they reckon all by ounces ; and by an ounce they mean 30 tarins , which make seven livres , ten sols of france . one of the customs observ'd in sicily , and which appears very ridiculous in france , is , that neither women nor men , if they have no beards upon their chins , can lodge in the inns , unless they be particularly acquainted with some person of worth in the place , or without very sufficient and authentick certificates . there are also guards appointed to visit the inns in the night time , and to look into the beds , and see whether there be any chins without beards . they likewise seize upon all that are abroad in the streets two hours after night is shut in , and they who are so apprehended , are fin'd , if the cause of their being late out be not sufficient to excuse ' em . this island is infested with so many robbers , that 't is a difficult thing for a man to stir halfe a league out of the city , without losing his cloak-bag , if he scape with his throat . so that the people never travel by land but in caravans , or without good convoys , and you must take a great care too , lest the convoys allow'd ye be not thieves themselves . there is nothing expos'd to sale in sicily , either in the shops or in the markets , till the commissaries of the civil government have set the price : and it would be an unpardonable crime for any merchant or countryman to sell his wares or provision dearer then the sett rate . the sicilians for the most part , and they that inhabit the coasts of calabria , wear a bonnet of goats-skin undrest , their hair being matted or plaited flat behind ; a doublet with great skirts , neither band nor cravatt , their breeches very strait , a cloak of the same stuff which the chimney-sweepers in savoy wear , which they fling under their left arm , with a sword and pistol by their sides . their shooes are made of the rind of bacon well curry'd , which lasts a long time : but the poor have no more then a bare sole made of the bark of a tree , ty'd about their feet with packthread : and as for people of quality , they wear pumps after the spanish fashion . palermo is the metropolis of the kingdom , an archiepiscopal see , and the residence of the viceroy , whose train is more splendid then the king of spain's . the air is temperate , the haven , the fountains , and the magnificence of the buildings , contribute not a little to render palermo a pleasant habitation ; and therefore the chiefest of the nobility reside there . in the great piazza that faces the palace , stands the statue of philip iv. upon a pedestal , upon which are represented the victories of that monarch , supported by four figures representing the four virtues , the whole of white marble . in another piazza stands a brass statue of charles v. upon a pedestal of marble . in the meeting of the new street and cassaron street , which are two of the fairest streets in palermo , is to be seen the palace , a noble fountain ; and four statues of the king 's of spain , charles v. philip ii. iii. iv. which are the most beautiful ornaments of the city . in the piazza right against the palace of justice stands a fountain , which deservedly is lookt upon to be the most beautiful in europe . it consists of several hollow receptacles , one above another , separated by galeries , whither you ascend to admire the variety of large animals that spout forth water after different manners . the whole is of marble , with a great number of figures of the same stone . after that you have seen all that is curious in palermo , travellers go to visit mount peregrin , at the top of which , after an ascent of three miles , you meet with a cave , almost like that of st. beaume in provence , which was the retirement of sta rasalia , and 't is reported that the fountain within that grotto has a peculiar quality to heal several distempers . thô the city of mont real be not above four miles distant from palermo , however it is an archiepiscopal see. from thence there is a prospect of nine islands , call'd by the name of lipari , which is the name of the most considerable among ' em . of which two , vulcano and stromboli , are not inhabited , because of their continual vomiting forth flames and smoak ; for which reason they are call'd the burning islands of sicily . however , these islands are not to be taken confusedly for mount aetna , commonly call'd mount gibello , the highest mountain in sicily ; which thô almost cover'd with snow , yet continually vomits forth flames of fire , like a glass-house furnace ; and spreads the ashes of the consum'd materials with that impetuosity , that the country is frequently much endamaged thereby : thô if the same ashes are but moderately scatter'd over the ground , they enfertilize the earth . the city of catanea , lying under this mountain , has suffer'd many conflagrations , occasion'd by the sparkles of this infernal gulph . several persons that have been so curious as to climb to the top of mount gibello , have been either lost in the snow , or buried in the ashes , and many times the flames enforce their way through chawns and rifts ne'r known before , with such an amazing noise , as alarms all the island . not far from mount gibello is the place where some will have it , that ceres first began to sow wheat ; and they will undertake to shew ye the meadows where hercules fed his oxen. the lake naphtica is noted for this , that the stench of the water is so noisom , that it poisons the adjacent air , and very much impairs the health of the neighbouring inhabitants . there is another lake near castro giovanni , which is said to have no bottom ; 't is call'd the lake of proserpina , upon a suspition that it was the place where proserpina was ravish'd , and carried to the infernal regions by her ravisher . messina is an archiepiscopal city , famous for the haven that belongs to it , near cape faro , which makes it a town of great trade , and much frequented by foreigners . in the grand piazza stands a brass statue of philip iv. upon a horse of the same metal ; the whole adorn'd with base-reliefs , representing his most famous actions . over the door of a tower near the metropolitan church , stands a french inscription . grand-merci a messina , in remembrance , as they say , that the french began with messina , when they made themselves masters of the island . there are several other whirlpools , or abysses of water in the sea adjoyning to messina , among the rest , charybdis , famous among the latin poets . this whirlpool is about thirty paces in diameter ; which compass of the surface is usually cover'd with froth , bulrushes , and other foul excrescencies of the sea , which throw themselves into it , and are swallow'd up by it . nevertheless , the mariners of messina , sail over in flat bottom'd barks , where after several times being whirl'd and turn'd about , they row themselves back . the tides of ebb and flood are so rapid in the channel that separates sicily from italy , that they many times force the vessels riding there , from their anchors , let 'em be never so strong ; which is the loss of many a ship. saragossa or syracuse was formerly lookt upon as the largest and most magnificent city in the universe . athens beheld her self abandon'd by the greatest part of her inhabitants , who betook themselves to settle at syracuse : and the most sumptuous edifices in rome , derive their chiefest ornaments from the spoils of her structures . the most beautiful ruin of her antiquity remaining is the aqueduct , cut out of a rock , that carries the water over the haven , about ten miles in length . without the city is to be seen arethusa's fountain that rises in great abundance , out of a rock by the sea-side ; and they report , that this water comes from the holy land , by a conveyance that runs under the abysses of the sea. but the greatest evidence that they alleadge for it is this , that a pilgrim one day taking up water , out of the river alpheus , by chance let his dish fall into the river , and lost it to his incredible grief ; for that he had hid within it seven pistoles for unforeseen occasions . that embarking to return for europe , he landed in sicily , and going to the fountain arethusa to drink , he found his dish floating upon the water , which he knew again , not only by the seven pistoles , but by several other marks . dionysius , the tyrants grotto , lies not far distant from saragossa , much more considerable than any of those about puzzuolo , for there you may see a whole city cut out of a rock , with subterraneal streets , palaces , piazza's , and other admirable structures . but you must have some notable antiquarie for your guide , that knows all the turnings and windings , and be well provided with matches and torches . there are several other islands between sicily and barbary , as maltha , gozes , limosa , lampadousa , &c. but in regard they rather belong to africa then europe , i shall say nothing of 'em here . nevertheless , i cannot forbear observing , that in the last there is a chappel , where you shall meet with all sorts of refreshments for sea faring people , and all that is necessary for navigation , as biscuit , cordage , anchors , sails , oil , wood , fish , stuffs , &c. and all that sail near that island , and have occasion for any of those things , goe and fetch 'em from that chappel , leaving the value in other commodities , with which their vessel is best provided . all nations , even the turks themselves , goe thither for what they want ; and 't is said , that if they fail to leave a compensation , their ships can stir no farther , let the wind be never so favourable . we are assur'd , that several have known this to be true by many tryals . however it be , that chappel is hewen out of a rock ; and some paces from thence , there is a spring of excellent fresh water , which will keep sweet a long time at sea. as for sardigna , there are not so many remarks to be made upon that island . all that i can say of it is , that 't is an island in the mediterranean sea , with the title of a kingdom , belonging to the king of spain , who governs it by a viceroy . the air is so thick , that formerly such persons were banish'd thither , as the state had a mind to be rid of ; that there is a breed of great dogs there , bigger then the dogs in england ; and such an infinite number of rats , that the king of spain has enjoyn'd all the owners of houses , to keep as many cats as they have rooms . the ancient sardignians had a law , which ordain'd , that the sons should knock out their parents brains , when once they came to be superannuated , for fear the infirmity of their minds should incline 'em to commit faults prejudicial to their families or the government . chap. xiv . of the island of corse . this island is seated to the north of sardigna from whence it is separated by a channel that may be sail'd over in an hour , and lies between the 40 and 42 degree of latitude , and between the 31 and 32 of longitude . the largest extent of it from south to north , is about 40 leagues , 20 broad , and in circuit about fourscore and ten. it is said to have been so call'd from a woman of liguria , whose name was corsa bubulca , who carried thither a colonie out of her own country . the island of corse has belong'd to the genoeses ever since the year 1559. at what time henry ii. granted it to 'em , at the request of the spaniards , after the battel of st. quintin . nevertheless , the people are not pleas'd with their government ; and the genoeses on the other side , who are afraid of their revolting , or lest some foreign power should make themselves masters of it , do as much as in them lies to lay it waste ; and give out , that the air is too unwholsome for people that are not bred there ; besides that , the soil is so ungrateful , that it will hardly return the seed that is sown in it . however , 't is certain that this is spoken , either out of malice or sloth ; for that it brings forth corn , wine , and all sorts of fruits , more then sufficient the inhabitants ; that it produces good horses , and timber for shipping ; and that there are in it several mines of copper , lead , &c. baths and mineral fountains ; among which , that of povera in the province of ampugnano , cures the dropsie ; besides that , they fish for coral upon the coasts . moreover , this island might be made a place of great trade ; for that there is no want of good and convenient havens ; of which , the chiefest are san fiorenzo , ajacho , and porto vecchio , big enough to contain whole fleets . the first was formerly fortifi'd by the french ; but the genoeses have demolish'd the best works , having left nothing but the foundations , which are of free-stone . the corses are good soldiers , very strong , but very slothful , and no less revengeful ; so that upon their death-beds they recommend the revenge of injuries done 'em to their kindred . thô there be five bishopricks in the island , yet there is but one considerable city , which is bastia , the metropolis of the country and residence of the governor . there are but five hundred men in the pay of the republick for security of the whole island ; so that it might be an easie thing to surprize it , especially for those that are stronger at sea then the genoeses are . the end .